What are we looking at?
This is the CX-3 - Mazda's new crossover SUV - and it could prove to be one of the Japanese firm's most successful models given the popularity of the segment.
What's the best thing about it?
Proportionally, Mazda's designers appear to have done a very good job in keeping the compact dimensions while still giving the CX-3 some presence - a big part of which is down to that "Kodo - Soul of Motion" design philosophy. At 4,275mm in length and 1,765mm wide, it is the same width and just marginally longer than a Nissan Juke.
What could prove to be the CX-3's trump card though is the 1.5-litre SkyActiv-D diesel engine, which is believed to be almost identical in specification to the new engine that will appear in the forthcoming Mazda2. In that guise it quotes fuel economy of 83.0mpg (combined) and CO2 emissions of just 89g/km.
Mazda plans to offer the CX-3 in both front- and all-wheel drive guises, as well as with manual and automatic transmissions. There will also be a host of active and passive safety systems on board including SkyActiv-Body, which is claimed to offer greater levels of impact absorption in the event of an accident.
Show stopper or filler?
As crossovers go this certainly falls into the show stopper category, as Mazda proves that there is still room for another good-looking small SUV.