Compact SUV Showdown: Mazda CX-3 vs Honda HR-V vs Renault Captur
TESTEDHonda HR-V VTi-L ADAS ($33,990) Mazda CX-3 sTouring Safety Pack ($30,020) Renault Captur Dynamique ($27,990) |
OVERVIEW
The small SUV segment is booming, we know that much.
On percentage growth, month-by-month, small SUV sales are outpacing both mid-size and large SUVs by a hefty margin, and that trend shows no sign of slowing.
So, yes, small SUVs are now big business for car makers.
But when you look at the category, there are two distinct types of small SUV - the first, what you’d traditionally consider an SUV with AWD and a high-steppin' ride-height.
The second, this new wave of light FWD crossovers - jacked up hatches, with hatch-like prices - that has become such a hotbed of activity in dealer showrooms.
It’s the three newest entrants to that latter group that we’re going to examine here.
While the Holden Trax, Peugeot 2008 and Ford EcoSport have already blazed the trail, the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Renault Captur have arrived to spoil the party.
While all have their own appeal, we've pitted the higher grade variants of those three newest arrivals against each other.
So which is the best? Which is the most frugal, the most fun, the biggest, the most comfortable and the best value-for-money?
THE INTERIOR
Quality and design: The CX-3’s interior is very pretty, and so it should be given it is based on the Mazda2’s cabin.
Originality aside, it boasts an attractive design, good quality plastics (even the harder surfaces, of which there are many) and the best infotainment interface of this trio.
Fit and finish is good, though a loose centre console cost the CX-3 a couple of points.
The Captur doesn’t fare so well.