Comparison - Mazda CX-3 2016 - vs - Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 2017

Suv one: 

General

Other Names:

Also called:

Mazda CX-3 Maxx

Also called:

--

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Model: 
Average Price: 
27,114
Updated: 
01 Dec 2016
34,500
Updated: 
02 Dec 2016
Car Type: 
SUV
SUV
Drive Type: 
Front Wheel Drive
Front Wheel Drive
Year: 
2016
2017
Total Seating: 
5
5
Transmission: 
6-speed Shiftable Automatic
6-speed Shiftable Automatic
Bluetooth: 
yes
yes
Heated seats: 
yes
yes
Navigation: 
yes
yes
Doors: 
5
Fuel Tank Capacity: 
12.70gals
16.90gals
Exterior Colors: 
Color: 
Ceramic Metallic
#F1F1F3
Crystal White Pearl Mica
#E6E6E8
Deep Crystal Blue Mica
#242F4F
Dynamic Blue Mica
#0688C6
Jet Black Mica
#000000
Meteor Gray Mica
#4A5575
Soul Red Metallic
#78191F
Titanium Flash Mica
#75755A
Color: 
Deep Black Pearl
#000000
Pacific Blue Metallic
#35617A
Pepper Gray Metallic
#5D5C5A
Pure White
#FFFFFF
Reflex Silver Metallic
#D8D8D8

Expert Reviews

Expert reviews: 

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is stylish, well-equipped, and one of the most fun-to-drive vehicles in its segment

U.S. car buyers have never before bought as many SUVs and crossover utility vehicles as they're taking home today. Now a growing segment of even smaller entries is offering new options, including the Mazda CX-3. It's the smallest crossover sold by the sporty Japanese brand, slotting neatly below the CX-5 compact SUV.

Through an alternate lens, you can view the new CX-3 as the capacious hatchback that the Mazda 3 doesn't offer. While we love Mazda's compact cars, they're hardly capable of holding four adults. The CX-3 remedies that problem, and adds optional all-wheel drive to boot. Given continuing cheap gas prices and the rising fuel efficiency of SUVs of all sizes, we suspect the CX-3 will do very well. Its sales may be closer to those of the Fiat 500X or the Mini Countryman than Honda's high-volume HR-V, but it's reasonably priced and much more capable for the usual tasks of hauling people and a whole lot of stuff. And it's fun to drive—which can't be said of the Honda or the Chevy.

Pros
Elegant, stylish exterior
Modern, attractive interior
Ample features, great optional extras
Predictive all-wheel drive system
Impressive performance and handling for the segment

Cons
No manual transmission option
Rear seat is very compact
Styling may not age well
Monochrome gauges look cheap

By: 
thecarconnection.com

Stylish, nimble and well-equipped, the 2016 Mazda CX-3 is a standout among subcompact crossover SUVs.

Although Mazda is one of the smallest automakers, it keeps cranking out excellent vehicles that stand toe-to-toe with the big boys. A case in point is the all-new 2016 Mazda CX-3. A subcompact crossover SUV, the head-turning CX-3 combines the maneuverability of a small hatchback with the extra height of a crossover. It also features available all-wheel drive, Mazda's trademark sporty handling and a stylish, well-equipped cabin with a standard touchscreen interface. All told, it's one of the nicest and most fun-to-drive vehicles in its class.

Another welcome CX-3 trait is its thrifty fuel economy. With front-wheel drive, you'll see an impressive 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving, according to the EPA, while the all-wheel-drive version still registers 29 mpg highway. That's about as good as it gets in this segment. Unlike many fuel misers, the CX-3 can also get out of its own way, providing respectable acceleration that takes some of the stress out of highway merging and passing.

Another rival worth trying is the venerable Nissan Juke, which is the quickest of the bunch in a straight line but has comparatively little interior space. They're all worthy candidates, but the 2016 Mazda CX-3 keeps them honest with its strong performance across the board.

Pros
Excellent fuel economy
Sporty handling
Quiet at speed
Attractive, high-quality interior with appealing features.

Cons
Snug rear seat
Humble cargo capacity

By: 
edmunds.com

In our ranking of subcompact SUVs, the 2016 Mazda CX-3 is one of the top-rated models. Its handling is more athletic than most, and the CX-3's fuel-economy is at the top of the class. Its cabin is replete with quality materials, and there are lots of standard features. However, the rear seats are a bit cramped, and the CX-3's cargo hold is one of the smallest in the class.

However, a fully loaded CX-3 is still competitively priced in the class, and it's less expensive than several rivals. When you factor in the CX-3's long features list and quality cabin, it's one of the best values among subcompact SUVs.

"An all-new model in the subcompact crossover segment, the 2016 Mazda CX-3 combines a well-built interior, class-best driving dynamics and a small footprint into a curvy body. Excellent fuel mileage, available all-wheel drive and numerous standard and optional features make it one of the top picks in this expanding category." -- Edmunds

"The subcompact-crossover segment is erupting like an overdue volcano-witness the new Chevy Trax, Fiat 500X, and Honda HR-V joining other wee hatchbacks on stilts, such as the Buick Encore, Jeep Renegade, Kia Soul, Mini Countryman, and Nissan Juke. Now, having spent several hours behind the wheel of Mazda's new CX-3, we think it just may be the most compelling of the bunch." -- Car and Driver

"After a few hours behind the wheel, we were quite impressed with the 2016 Mazda CX-3. It's yet another attractive, fun-to-drive, sophisticated car from Mazda. But then we realized something: Mazda already sells a great small hatchback. It's called the Mazda3. As we thought more about the new CX-3, we struggled to see any tangible benefits of stepping up to this crossover, other than the availability of all-wheel drive." -- Automobile Magazine

Pros
Exciting driving dynamics
Outstanding fuel economy
Lots of standard features

Cons
Small cargo capacity
Cramped back seats

By: 
cars.usnews.com

our Soul Red Mazda CX-3 Maxx compact SUV has become a firm favourite, serving purposefully as our office runabout during the week and doubling up nicely as a weekend warrior. We’ve trekked far and wide in the little soft-roader, racking up plenty of trouble-free clicks.

But while weekend getaways to the Hunter Valley and the south coast of NSW are fine and dandy, the CX-3 hasn’t spent a weekend serving as, let’s be honest, what it was designed to do: an inner-city assault vehicle. That’s why we decided to put it to the test in what can only be considered the Mission from Hell – an IKEA run.

research means grabbing a tape measure, folding down the CX-3’s comfy and quite spacious rear seats, and measuring the available space. With the front passenger seat extended to its most forward position, the little Mazda came in it at a touch under 180cm of available length

To be fair, that’s not the fault of the CX-3. Instead, blame for its shortcoming lies entirely on my over-ambitious shoulders in, somewhat wishfully, thinking I could squeeze a two-metre long bed into a compact SUV.

Pros
Comfortable city crawler
Nimble when needed
Reasonable load capacity
Very easy to park in confined inner-city streets
Thrifty on fuel

Cons
Engine a bit whiny in stop/start traffic
Auto gearbox not always on the money

By: 
caradvice.com.au

We test the high-spec VW Tiguan with four-wheel drive in the UK

Although the VW Tiguan offers an attractive blend of practicality, sharp styling and a classy interior, this particular model doesn’t look like good value. The 188bhp diesel engine is powerful, but it’s not the best fit for the car and economy takes a hit. It’s not as good to drive nor as comfortable as the rival SEAT Ateca either, which puts the high price tag into even sharper focus.

The Volkswagen Tiguan sits in a crowded class of talented cars, with the SEAT Ateca, Peugeot 3008 and Nissan Qashqai all going up against it. Indeed, the Tiguan is such a significant a competitor that many manufacturers position it as the main benchmark in the class that their new models have to beat - be that publicly or privately.

Unfortunately for Volkswagen, the latest model hasn’t quite impressed us as much as we had expected, with rivals overtaking it in many areas. Here we’re giving the Tiguan a chance to fight back by testing this SEL model with the 188bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine to see how it stacks up against the competition.

The Tiguan is pretty good to drive, with plenty of grip and composure in corners, but it does feel heavy and the steering doesn’t have enough feedback. The Ateca is more fun to drive, but the crucial thing is that the SEAT is also more comfortable. The Tiguan we tested had 19-inch alloy wheels fitted, and it crashed over lumps in the road. It’s particularly bad over speed bumps, too - while not back-breaking, it’s disappointing in an SUV from this price bracket.

And there lies this Tiguan’s biggest problem, the price tag. The SEL model costs £33,260, which is significantly more than rivals from Nissan, Renault and SEAT with similar specifications. The quality interior and decent kit list goes some way to mitigate that but we still think the price is just too high.

By: 
autoexpress.co.uk

The size-S Tiguan whets our appetite for our size-L version.

Volkswagen was late to the crossover-SUV game with the first-generation Tiguan, and while 2.8 million examples have been sold worldwide since the model’s launch in 2007, the Tiguan hasn’t been a great success in the United States. American customers have complained about a high price and a lack of space compared with vehicles like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4—which is why, when the new version of the Tiguan launches here next summer as a 2018 model, we’ll get only the long-wheelbase variant.

Yet, when invited to drive the smaller, standard-wheelbase version of the new Tiguan on its German home turf, we jumped at the chance. That's because its features, powertrain, and road manners will be almost identical to the U.S. car. And distinguishing the long-wheelbase model from its shorter sibling will be almost impossible unless they’re parked next to each other

As much as we like the new Tiguan, we lament the fact that it is actually less powerful than its predecessor. In this European specification, it has all the ingredients to move to the top of the class, with tasteful design, rich materials, and upmarket features. If the Tiguan is to make a lasting impression here, VW needs to offer high levels of technology and convenience features

By: 
caranddriver.com

The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan is worth checking out if you want your compact crossover to be rewarding to drive. But be aware that it comes up short in many key areas compared to top rivals
.
For 2017, Volkswagen has discontinued the Tiguan's midlevel SE and R-Line trims and replaced them with essentially equivalent Wolfsburg Edition and Sport models. The 6.3-inch touchscreen is now standard, along with VW Car-Net apps and HD and satellite radio.

How does an all-new Volkswagen crossover sound, one that is lighter than the vehicle it replaces, is powered by stronger, more fuel-efficient engines, and has a greater amount of interior space? You get it with the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan ... if you live outside of the United States, that is. Overseas, the Tiguan is new from the ground up, but for now the American Tiguan continues to soldier on, having first been introduced way back in 2009. All of the Tiguan's competitors have been redesigned at least once since then.

Pros
Sporty handling doesn't come at the expense of a comfortable ride quality (except Sport trim)
Engine offers punchy turbocharged performance
Interior materials feel premium
Cabin is quiet at highway speeds.

cons
Limited cargo space and rear seat legroom
Subpar fuel economy
Lackluster crash test results
No high-tech accident avoidance features available.

By: 
edmunds.com

Fuel

Fuel Type: 
Regular Unleaded
Premium Unleaded
Fuel Economy City USA: 
29.00mpg
20.00mpg
Fuel Economy HWY: 
35.00mpg
24.00mpg
Engine type: 
Petrol/Gas
Petrol/Gas

Engine and Performance

Valves: 
16
16
Cylinders: 
4
Inline
4
Inline
Engine Size/Displacement: 
2.00L
2.00L
Torque: 
146ft-lbs
at 2 800rpm
207ft-lbs
at 1 700rpm
Horsepower: 
146hp
at 6 000rpm
200hp
at 5 100rpm
Cam Type: 
Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Turning Circle: 
34.80Feet
39.00Feet

Convenience

Cruise Control: 
yes
yes
Door Pockets: 
yes
yes
Cupholders: 
yes
yes
Overhead console: 
yes
yes
Seatback Storage: 
yes
yes
Power Steering: 
yes
yes
Parking sensors: 
no
no
Steering Wheel Tilt: 
yes
yes
Telescopic steering wheel: 
yes
yes
Rear View Camera: 
yes
yes
Front view Camera: 
no
no
Side view Camera: 
no
no
On steering wheel: 
Transmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel
Transmission controls and audio controls on steering wheel
More in Convenience: 
Keyless Ignition
Cooled Storage Compartment

Exterior Dimensions

Length: 
168.30in
174.50in
Width: 
69.60in
71.20in
Height: 
60.90in
67.10in
Ground Clearance: 
6.20in
6.90in
Front Track: 
61.80in
Rear Track: 
61.90in
Wheel Base: 
101.20in
102.50in

Interior Dimensions

Front Head Room: 
37.60
39.10
Rear Head Room: 
37.20
39.00
Front Leg Room: 
41.70in
40.10in
Rear leg room: 
35.00in
35.80in
Front Hip Room: 
52.30in
58.30in
Front Shoulder Room: 
53.50in
56.20in
Rear Hip Room: 
49.00in
57.40in
Rear Shoulder room: 
50.40in
55.00in

Weights and capacites

Cargo Capacity: 
42.30cu.ft
56.10cu.ft
Maximum Towing Capacity un-break: 
2200lbs
Cargo Capacity with Seats in Place: 
10.10cu.ft
23.80cu.ft
Angle of Approach: 
28.00degrees
Angle of Departure: 
25.00degrees
Curb Weight: 
2809.00lbs
3404.00lbs

Instruments

External Temperature Display: 
yes
yes
Clock: 
yes
yes
Trip computer: 
yes
yes
Techometer: 
yes
yes
Compass: 
yes
yes

Power Features

Power windows: 
yes
yes
Remote Keyless doors: 
yes
yes
More Power Features: 
1 one-touch power windows
2 One-Touch Power Windows
Heated Mirrors

Seats

Rear Seat Collapsible: 
yes
yes
Front Seats Features: 
Multi-level heating passenger seat
Multi-level heating driver seat
Bucket front seats
Height adjustable driver seat
Leather/suede
Multi-level heating passenger seat
Passenger seat with manual adjustable lumbar support
Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
Height adjustable passenger seat
Bucket front seats
8 -way power driver seat
Multi-level heating driver seat
Height adjustable driver seat
Leather
Rear Seats Features: 
Split-folding rear seatback
Rear ventilation ducts
Split-folding rear seatback
Folding center armrest
Reclining rear seats
Rear ventilation ducts

Suspension

Front Suspension: 
Front independent suspension
Front stabilizer bar
Rear Suspension: 
rear stabilizer bar
Suspension Info: 
Stabilizer bar stabilizer bar
Four-wheel independent suspension

Comfort

Interior air Filtration: 
yes
yes
Climate Control: 
yes
yes
More Comfort Features: 
Leather steering wheel
Dual vanity mirrors
Turn signal in mirrors
Cooled storage compartment
Turn signal in mirrors
Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
Leather steering wheel
Dual zone climate controls - driver and passenger

Entertainment

DVD player: 
no
no
AM/FM Radio: 
yes
yes
Satellite radio: 
yes
yes
Video monitor: 
no
no
More Entertainment: 
Bose premium brand stereo system
7 total speakers
Auxiliary audio input and USB with external media control
4 Months of provided satellite radio service
Speed sensitive volume control
Bose premium brand speakers
Diversity antenna
8 total speakers
1 subwoofer(s)
Memory card slot
3 Months of provided satellite radio service
Auxiliary audio input and USB with external media control
Fender premium brand speakers
USB Connection

Exterior Features

Sunroof: 
yes
yes
Rear defogger: 
yes
yes
More in Glass and Roof: 
Variable intermittent wipers
Rear window wiper
Privacy glass
Fixed glass rear sunroof
Roof rack
Power glass sunroof
Variable intermittent rain sensing wipers
Rear window wiper
Alloy Wheels: 
yes
yes
Wheel size: 
18 x 7
19 x 9.0
Wheels more: 
Temporary spare tire
Inside mounted spare tire
All season tires
Wheel Dimensions: 
Width: 
215.00millimeters
Aspect Ratio: 
50
Width: 
255.00millimeters
Aspect Ratio: 
40

Safety Features

ABS: 
yes
yes
Front head airbags: 
yes
yes
Rear head airbags: 
yes
yes
Dual front side-mounted airbags: 
yes
yes
Emergency braking assist: 
yes
yes
Traction control: 
yes
yes
Child seat anchors: 
yes
yes
Front brakes: 
Front ventilated disc brakes
Ventilated front disc brakes
Stability control: 
yes
yes
Rear brakes: 
solid rear disc brakes
solid rear disc brakes
Rear door child safety locks: 
yes
yes
Daytime running lights: 
yes
yes
Engine immobilizer: 
yes
yes
Front fog lights: 
yes
yes
Dusk sensing headlamps: 
no
yes
Auto delay off headlamps: 
yes
yes
Front headrests: 
yes
yes
Rear headrests: 
yes
yes
Tire pressure monitoring: 
yes
yes
More Safety Features: 
Rear Parking Sensors
Self-leveling headlights
Post-collision safety system
Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
LED headlamp
Rear center 3-point belt
Adaptive headlights
Turn signal mirrors
Rear height adjustable headrests
Brake drying
Adaptive headlights
Rear height adjustable headrests
Xenon high intensity discharge headlamp
Remote anti-theft alarm system
Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
Turn signal mirrors
Rear Center 3-Point Belt
Brake Drying

Options

Exterior Options: 
Trailer Hitch
Tow & Ball Mount, 7-Pin Adapter Plug
Side Steps
Roof Rack
Wheel Locks
Roof Edge Spoiler
Trailer Hitch Kit
Interior Options: 
First Aid Kit
Rubber Mat Kit
Roadside Assistance Kit

Colors

Interior Colors: 
Color: 
Black
#141A1D
Color: 
Black, cloth
#000000