Ace of Base: Mazda CX-3 Sport

Sometimes a manufacturer churns out a base trim that is — all things considered — the primo choice for that particular model. Here’s an example.

Yes, yes, yes. I know. Another bloody crossover. But before you scroll down to re-read one of Jack’s breathless exploits or Sajeev’s rants on automotive style, permit me the following: what would happen if Mazda spent all its R&D budget shoehorning a rotary engine into the upcoming MX-5 RF?

They’d go bankrupt, that’s what would happen. While the keyboard warriors inhabiting dusty corners of the internet would undoubtedly put down their stale popcorn long enough to cheer, the rest of the world (y’know, those of us who actually buy cars) would read the rotary reviews with interest then promptly stampede to a competing dealer to sign on the dotted line for something with a high beltline and a modicum of practicality.

In base Sport trim, the CX-3 stickers at a take-out dinner under $20,000, yet sees fit to include such niceties as air conditioning, a seven-inch touch screen billboard, and a helpful backup camera. All-wheel drive is a $1,250 option and wholly unnecessary unless your backyard decor includes — as mine did for eighteen years — polar bears and a couple of icebergs. An angry version of Mazda’s KODO design language makes the base CX-3 one of the more stylish options in this category to this jaundiced eye, particularly when slathered in a few gallons of $0 Dynamic Blue Mica paint.

The SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine sees fit to channel a pleasingly symmetrical 146 horsepower and 146 pounds-feet of torque. Acceleration is helped by the CX-3’s diet of Lean Cuisines, contributing to curb weight well under 3,000 pounds, 200 lbs less than a base Jeep Renegade. Mazda’s six-speed auto is the sole transmission of choice but manages to avoid any sort of comparisons to slushboxes of yore. The suspension is firm enough to recall Mazda’s core values of sportiness and a rip to the redline will help you forget, if only for a moment, that you got talked into buying a subcompact crossover.

Sure, our ME wasn’t totally enamoured with this thing, but he’s generally delusional (as proven by his decisions about moving day). I will agree the CX-3’s value proposition loses its luster as it zoom-zooms its way into the high $20,000 bracket, and rear seat space is poor for anyone past the fifth grade. At the instant ramen end of the subcompact crossover scale, however, the base CX-3 checks many of the right boxes. Now, do the sensible thing and go buy a Mazda3 hatchback instead.

Not every base model has aced it. The ones which have? They help make our automotive landscape a lot better. Any others you’d like to see in our series? Let us know in the comments. Naturally, feel free to eviscerate our selections.

The model above is shown with American options and is priced in Freedom Dollars. As always, your dealer will probably sell for less.