Subcompact crossovers exist to give drivers all the amenities of a crossover SUV in a small and agile package. These vehicles bring the safety features, cargo space and all-weather handling abilities into a vehicle that can be easily parked in the most crowded urban environments. They tend to have two personalities – being great daily drivers with tons of technology and comfort features during the week, but also weekend warriors with a penchant for the open road and a cargo bay full of gear.
Undoubtedly aware of the versatility of this class, every manufacturer has a model available. The Mazda CX-3 is recognized for its luxury-SUV styling, high-value features and more-than-adequate performance which allows confident passing and highway-speeds thrill. Being compared to the Mazda CX-3 is Honda’s HR-V, a subcompact that aims to bring the personality and features of their larger CR-V into this smaller class. Let’s see how they match up!
It’s not for no reason that Mazda vehicles continue to win best-in-class awards despite their relatively-limited portfolio. Vehicles like the Mazda CX-3 perfectly embody what makes Mazda cars and SUVs consistent winners – their focus on drivers.
The 2018 Mazda CX-3 delivers a refined and elegant crossover SUV to a class marked by chunky overdesign and bland, flat panels. Its sweeping contours and floating roof are compelling and evocative. Inside, the Mazda CX-3 welcomes drivers with a distinct and sophisticated interior.
While the HR-V is near the top of its class, you have to go to Honda’s luxury line, Acura, to find the handcrafted luxury present throughout the interior and exterior of the Mazda CX-3.
Performance metrics also give a win to Mazda, whose SKYACTIV®-G 2.0L 4-cylinder engine paradoxically delivers more horsepower and torque with better fuel efficiency. You’ll pass more confidently, and get up to highway speeds faster than you will with the anemic 1.8L 4-cylinder engine in the HR-V.
The standard transmission on the 2018 Mazda CX-3 is the brilliant SKYACTIV®-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission which shifts precisely and intelligent. The 2018 HR-V foregoes an automatic transmission in favor of either a 6-speed manual or noisy and imprecise 2-speed CVT. Performance in the Mazda CX-3 is aided by the standard SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS with G-Vectoring Control on the Mazda CX-3.
Finally, the 2018 Mazda CX-3 is a winner of the coveted Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). With a standard rearview camera and low-speed automatic braking, Smart City Brake Support System, the 2018 Mazda CX-3 is as safe and functional as it is stylish.
While the Honda HR-V is a good subcompact crossover, it can’t match the standard features, performance and safety of the 2018 Mazda CX-3. The thought paid by Mazda to the way drivers will be using this vehicle is evident in every square inch of the CX-3’s engineering and construction.
Contact us for more information on the 2018 Mazda CX-3 or to schedule a test drive. Medlin Mazda in Wilson has the best SUVs for sale at unbeatable prices.
EPA-estimated fuel efficiency. Actual results will vary with road conditions and driving. To be used for comparison purposes only.
