NA: Honda v. Mazda mini SUVs

[LDJones]

Well, thanks for all the input. After testing the CX-3, CR-V, HR-V and RAV4 my wife liked the HR-V so that's what she got. We were surprised by how much better the HR-V rode compared to the CR-V....big difference is smoothness. The CR-V rode like a truck. I still like the CX-3 handling, but she felt the HR-V cargo space was roomier.

So, time will tell. I tend to keep cars a LONG time (my 2000 Ranger bought new just died), so I sprang for the extras with the expectation I'll keep it awhile.

 

[asicer]

I still like the CX-3 handling, but she felt the HR-V cargo space was roomier.

It is. The HR-V is a Honda Fit on stilts. The CX-3 is a Scion (Toyota) iA on stilts and the Scion iA itself happens to be a re-badged Mazda2. Unlike most other cars (such as the CX-3/iA/Mazda2), the Honda Fit/HR-V has the gas tank under the front seat instead of behind the main cabin section. Putting the gas tank under the pilot/co-pilot opens up a whole lot of space behind the front seats and enables the fold-up/fold-flat "Magic Seat" which is a signature feature of the Fit/HR-V.