Review: Mazda's small CX-3 pounces on style - USA TODAY
-- In a hot segment increasingly clogged with new entries, Mazda is counting on its little CX-3 crossover to stand out from the crowd. The new 2016 CX-3 is a style play, hoping that its attractive looks and fuel thrify, advanced engine will tear buyers away from subcompact SUV competitors. Some of the latest include Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade and its corporate cousin, the Fiat 500X. After a morning of driving through hills north of Los Angeles, it became clear that CX-3 has the potential to shake up the segment. In the end, though, we suspect CX-3 will win the majority of buyers based on looks and the price -- winning hearts and minds -- a potent combination with a target of young, mostly single customers. Designers will tell you that make small cars look good, not just cute, is a challenge. Mazda team did it by resisting the urge to simply downsize its popular CX-5 crossover. Instead, Design Manager Ken Saward says the team gave the CX-3 more aggressive looks with lots of surface curves and detail, a blacked-out rear roof pillar to make the vehicle look longer and adding big 18-inch wheels on the high-trim version. "The vehicle looks like it is moving forward and is ready to strike," Saward says. Even the headlights look they are "locked on its prey. Source: www.usatoday.com
