Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Our Fleet Test Drive: Mazda CX-3 - 12th report
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Our Fleet Test Drive: Mazda CX-3 - 12th report

Date: 16 February 2016   |   Author: Tony Rock

Equipment:6 airbags, satnav, DAB radio, auto lights and wipers, climate control, heated front seats, rear privacy glass, rear parking sensors, cruise control, city brake system, lane departure warning
Options: Ceramic metallic paint (£540)

Now that the Mazda CX-3 has shot past the first 12,500-mile service mark, it seems like as good a time as any to assess its fuel consumption.

I'm not sure if it's due to an underlying issue, or something to do with deteriorating driving styles, road environments or even - maybe most likely - the colder and much wetter weather, but the car's average fuel economy is falling. Having started out at 56.1mpg, it first went down to 55.6mpg, and then 55.1mpg and is now at 54.9mpg. It's definitely a trend that even the recent service hasn't corrected.

Individual tanks, meanwhile, have ranged from a high of 59.1mpg (with me nowhere in sight, my wife driving, and all three kids plus the mother-in-law and luggage for a short break in Somerset) to a low of 50.6mpg (probably largely with me driving in an otherwise empty car on a motorway commute - I know: the numbers don't put me in a good light, but please note the 'probably' in the case for the defence). As the service hasn't altered the downward trend, the next stage is to alter my driving style.

Looking at the CX-3 against its rivals, the official combined fuel economy figure of 70.6mpg compares with the Vauxhall Mokka at 68.8mpg and the Renault Captur's 72.4mpg. The Peugeot 2008 delivers the best official figure with 76.3mpg.

Mazda CX-3 1.5D SE-L

Mileage 15,160
P11D price £20,940
Forecast/actual cost per mile 44.3p/44.9p
Our average consumption 54.9mpg
Official combined consumption 70.6mpg

Verdict


  • Customer service at 12,500-mile service
  • That falling mpg figure is a mystery

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