Question 1

I have sticky steering in my 2022 Mazda CX-3. Is this normal?

Accepted Answer

This sounds like a potentially very dangerous fault. Any car that wanders across the road or doesn’t go where the driver points it is an accident waiting to happen. A serious one, at that. At this point, the first piece of advice is to not drive the vehicle any farther and have it towed to a workshop for it to be inspected. There’s one other possibility here. And that is that what you’re feeling is the car’s lane-keeping assistance program. This can often feel as though the steering it trying to plot its own course (which it is, in a way) in order to keep you centred in your lane. It only works up to a point, beyond which driver input will overcome it. I wonder if that’s what you mean by 'unsticking' the steering. However, as far as I can tell, this model Mazda didn’t some with lane-keeping assistance (it has lane-departure warning only) so I think you’re back to square one and a tow-truck. Either way, this should be a warranty issue if there’s anything seriously wrong, so don’t be afraid to try a different dealership.

Question 2

My phone won't connect to a Mazda CX-3 via Android Auto, what similar model could I buy?

Accepted Answer

It’s odd, but some cars just don’t like some brands of phones. Toyota, in particular a few years back, had all sorts of trouble connecting certain phones to its factory Bluetooth system and, even if you could connect, sometimes the reception was so poor that it wasn’t worth the effort. All the alternatives you’ve listed have their pros and cons, and bear in mind that a Skoda uses VW technology. The main concerns over the years have been failures of, and problems with, dual-cutch transmissions. If the VW tech scares you (or your mechanic) put the Skoda in the same basket. Beyond that, it comes down to your personal driving preferences and what sort of deal you can squeeze out of the dealer. Don’t forget, either, that we generally upgrade our phones every few years, so if your phone is already an older one, maybe your next mobile will pair with the Mazda perfectly. Or, make it the Mazda dealer’s problem: If they’ll throw in a compatible phone as part of the deal, maybe the CX-3 is for you after all.

Question 3

Why does the fuel consumption of my Mazda CX-3 keep increasing?

Accepted Answer

That seems odd, but there might be a really simple explanation. I’d love to know whether you’re calculating your fuel consumption by working out how far each tank is taking you, or whether you’re relying on the trip computer in the car’s dashboard. If it’s the latter, the reason for your higher figure after a service could be very simple. It could easily be that the mechanic test drives the car after each service to make sure everything is working as it should be. To do this, the tester is very likely to give the engine a couple (or more) acceleration runs with lots of throttle. It’s also possible the car is left to idle for a time for the engine to come up to temperature while the mechanic gets on with other things. Both these activities will lead to higher fuel consumption than you might experience in normal driving with no harsh acceleration or extended idling periods. Because the car’s trip-computer works out fuel consumption based on recent use, this treatment at the workshop will lead it to deliver a higher reading on the dashboard. That it happens only after a trip to the workshop is the big clue here. To test this theory, drive the car normally for a week and see if the fuel consumption number drops. If so, you’ve solved the mystery. If not, you need to return the car to the workshop because something is not right and is causing the car to use more fuel.

Question 4

Will I have trouble selling my 2017 Mazda CX-3 because it's manual?

Accepted Answer

It’s certainly true that automatics are far more common than manual cars these days. It all started decades ago when people decided it was easier to have the car shift gears for itself than bother to shift them manually. But there have been other factors, too. One is that modern automatics no longer represent the performance shortfall they once did. Back in the bad old days, autos used to be less efficient than a manual, leading to less acceleration and greater fuel use, making the manual the natural choice for a keener driver. But modern automatics have really caught up and no longer hinder performance or increase thirst. In fact, the best of them can shift faster than a human ever could and, with eight, nine or even 10 ratios, they can be more efficient than a manual. Turbocharged engines have also helped make the case for automatics and – generally speaking – turbo-motors often work best with an automatic where there’s no lengthy gear-change interval to allow the engine to fall of boost. And turbo-diesels which need boost to operate and don’t rev very hard in the first place, are a natural choice for an automatic which also works very well for towing and when driving off-road. But there will always be people who prefer manuals (yours truly included) especially those who actually enjoy the physical aspects of driving a car. So while the manual transmission in your car will turn some people off, if you can find the buyer who wants a manual, you might find the rarity of your manual car will actually be a selling point.

Question 5

Should I buy a Mazda CX-3 or Kona Elite from 2020?

Accepted Answer

Early this year, Hyundai issued a recall for some Konas built between 2020 and 2022 to deal with problems with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission which could cause a loss of drive and, therefore, a dangerous situation on the road. So the first check would be to see if your car you're looking at is affected by that recall (a Hyundai dealer will be able to tell you by looking up the car's VIN). If the car is one of the affected ones but the recall's fixes have been applied, then you have less to worry about. The Kona's engine problems, meanwhile, were another cause for a safety recall after it was discovered that a batch of Konas had defective piston rings which could cause early engine wear and possibly even a fire. Again, these problems were being fixed by Hyundai, but you need to check whether the example you're looking at buying was one of the affected ones and what's been done about it by the previous owner. The Mazda CX-3 of the same era has not been without its recalls either, including one for a suspension joint that could fail, but overall, the experience of owners suggests the Mazda could be the less risky bet. Again, though, check the service and recall history of any car before handing over the money.

Question 6

What are the pros and cons of a 2018 MG ZS?

Accepted Answer

ZS pros include cheap pricing, an easy driving experience and a comparatively spacious interior compared to other direct rivals like a Mazda CX-3. The dash is pleasant, there is a decent amount of equipment and the controls are all simple to use. It should also be fairly inexpensive to run and service, though earlier ZSs like yours require six-monthly rather than 12-monthly service intervals. There are two engine options - a 1.5-litre four-cylinder model with a four-speed auto on the base Excite, or a 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder version on higher-specification Excite Plus and Essence grades with a six-speed auto. Note that the latter powertrain is more expensive to service. Plus, there's still a fair chunk of the manufacturer's warranty left, which is seven years, while capped-price servicing is also offered. But the ZS does not offer AEB Autonomous Emergency Braking, so only rates a four-star ANCAP crash-test rating. Additionally, the ZS's suspension is on the firm side in terms of dealing with road bumps, which might upset some occupants, yet there is not much of the 'fun factor' in regards to steering and handling finesse that rivals like the CX-3, Suzuki Vitara, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Venue, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Kona offer in spades. We've also heard complaints about the interior's perceived quality being sub-par, cabin storage isn't generous and Android Auto isn't supported (though Apple CarPlay is). Finally, the ZS' resale value trails all of the aforementioned competitors by a significant margin, meaning it's on track to be worth less when the time comes to on-sell it.

Question 7

Which SUV should I buy?

Accepted Answer

I can’t give you a specific answer to which has the lowest cabin noise, except to say that all the leading brands are relatively quiet. I would suggest you test drive each and decide which suits your needs the best.

Question 8

Mazda CX-3: Is it a good family car?

Accepted Answer

Without knowing what you mean by casual weekend drives, I will assume they’re not off-road, so either one would be a good choice.

Question 9

Mazda CX-3 2015: How reliable is it?

Accepted Answer

There’s nothing that should be of concern to you, the Mazda diesel is quite reliable.

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