Mazda CX3 Auto (petrol)

[philip_stevens]

Has anyone used a Mazda CX3 Auto to tow a small caravan - e.g. Bailey 460/4 - or know of anyone who has used one to tow a caravan?

I have not bought a caravan yet, this is on our list for next April or so, but I am interested in knowing whether the CX3 has been used by anyone.

We did once have a motorhome, but sold it when the price of diesel escalated - plus the cost of insurance and road tax when not being used. So now interested in a caravan - no diesel and no road tax.

 

[Raywood]

This is a very new model with very limited towing ability, so I do wonder if you will get anything on this anywhere. The Mazda range though are generally very good tow cars, and I use a Mazda 6 with a petrol engine. I would see no problem using a CX3 as a tow car provided you are looking at a very light caravan, but do be aware that the lack of flexibility in any petrol engine will mean a lot more gear changing on hills. As I see it most driving is done solo so if you can put up with that and the higher fuel consumption, they are a decent buy.

 

[Martin24]

Looks as if the kerb weight of the CX3 petrol is around the 1230 mark giving an 85% ratio (not law to keep to this just recommended by both the main clubs) around the 1045kg mtplm

The old Bailey Ranger 460/4 came in at mtplm 1184 which is pushing the ratio up quite a bit. Haven't looked to see the towing limit for the vehicle but you would need to look at that as well.

Your fuel consumption will obviously rise considerably when you are towing and you may have to work the gears harder than normal to keep up momentum.

All that to one side I wouldn't completely rule it out.

 

[philip_stevens]

My thanks to Raywood and Martin24.
We already have the CX3, and wanted to know others thoughts and/or advice.

The CX3 manual lists total trailer weight with brake at 1200kg. Caravantalk.co.uk gives the caravan we are looking towards getting, a Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass (Kg) - 1208, Mass in Running Order (Kg) - 99, Gross combination weight from the CX3 manual shows 2985kg - being an automatic.

Towcar.info gives this - "The Mazda CX-3 - G 2.0 aut. and the Bailey Ranger 460/4 with a laden weight of 1194 kg is a fairly good match", showing at 80% with 200kg per car and caravan.

We could go for a smaller 2 berth Bailey or other make caravan, but as we had a 29ft motor-sailer yacht for 12 years with a fixed bed and all mod-cons, this is what my wife wants now - a 4 berth caravan with fixed bed - and all mod-cons!

And who am I to disagree?!

I know we are on the limit, but it is either a new car and no caravan, or an older caravan with the CX3.

 

[Hutch]

Philip looks like your looking at Hyundai or Kia for towing. Good cars.
OR just tow the boat on the trailer and sleep in it, Why not best of both worlds. Just enjoy.

 

[philip_stevens]

just tow the boat on the trailer and sleep in it, Why not best of both worlds. Just enjoy.

The boat was 7.5tons - included was 50gals diesel, 100gals water, dinghy, outboard, generator, 4x110 and 1x75Ah batteries - and so on, without tools and extras. Served us well for 12 years until my wife could no longer board the boat due to hip and knee problems.

I would need a big heavy tow vehicle!!

This is why we are now looking at a caravan. At least we will see more than just coast and harbours!
We are looking forward to this next episode of travelling - at home and abroad.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Towcar.info gives this - "The Mazda CX-3 - G 2.0 aut. and the Bailey Ranger 460/4 with a laden weight of 1194 kg is a fairly good match", showing at 80% with 200kg per car and caravan.

What is the kerb weight of your car? A quick look on the web gives some disconcerting figures.

 

[philip_stevens]

The (official) Mazda site gives the weight of the car as - Kerb weight incl. driver (75kg)1270 kg

https://www.mazda.co.uk/cars/mazda-cx-3/compare-specs/#TUysVaf05KvWXJS6.97

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

From the figures you give MTPLM/Kerb weight is 1194/1270 ie 94%, not 80% quoted by towcar.info.

 

[xtrailman]

I don't know of anyone towing with a petrol cx3 or 5.
It lacks a turbo so the engine would have to be worked hard to make progress.
https://www.mazda.co.uk/assets/uk/cars/brochures/cx-3/Mazda%20CX-3%20IPM%20June%202017.pdf?epslanguage=en
Tow limit of only 1200kg gives a clue to its towing ability.

Has anyone used a Mazda CX3 Auto to tow a small caravan - e.g. Bailey 460/4 - or know of anyone who has used one to tow a caravan?

We did once have a motorhome, but sold it when the price of diesel escalated - plus the cost of insurance and road tax when not being used. So now interested in a caravan - no diesel and no road tax.

 

[philip_stevens]

From the figures you give MTPLM/Kerb weight is 1194/1270 i.e. 94%, not 80% quoted by towcar.info.

I wonder where Towcar got the figure of 1495kg from. Most confusing and misleading.

Further down the page on towcar.info, it shows Kerbweight 1295 kg user payload 200 kg for the car, and
MIRO 994 kg Payload 200kg, MTPLM 1208kg for the 460/4. Confusing.

Although within the 100%, 91% is a bit high for a novice like me.

Looks like I will have to look at the 460/2 - without the fixed bed.
MIRO 941 kg Payload 200kg,MTPLM k1131g for the 460/2.

See, this is the reason I posted here. Superior knowledge.

As they say, "back to the drawing board!"

 

[Craigyoung]

Hi
Is changing your car not an option as it will open up your variety off caravans , weights etc , we had a Toyota 2.2 turbo yet that was limited even more by Toyota but since changing our car we've been able to move to better things and are much happier now I am not right on my limits for the car towing

Craig

 

[philip_stevens]

Hi Craig. Yes, we did consider changing the car, but we cannot get the model we want with a petrol engine. I do not want to go to diesel, even with better torque. We have had Mazda's for the best part of 20 years, and wanted a CX5, but for some reason, we cannot get a petrol auto CX5 in this country. They are made, and available all over the right-hand driving world - Aussie, Kiwi, Singapore, South Africa, etc., - but not the UK. Why, when Honda are going petrol only?? Anyway, that is a question for a motoring magazine to answer, not a caravan magazine.

Turbo. Mazda have gone for a bigger petrol engine against a smaller turbo as with many other makers.

As for the Bailey 460/4, I have worked out the figures in Towcar.info. They have added 200kg to each of the figures for the caravan (941kg) and the car (1295kg). So I believe their workings are correct at 80%. If you look at the bottom of this page, it will show - https://towcar.info/GB/outfitmatch.php - for Mazda CX3 Auto, and Bailey Ranger 460/2.

We may yet change cars if we can get a petrol auto of the size we want. We have already looked at Kia and Honda (though the Honda is not much heavier than the CX3). We prefer to try to stick to Japanese made vehicles.

We have a while to go before we buy the caravan, as we want to get our next holiday out of the way first. Maybe April or thereabouts. Just seen a nice one on eBay - 263249162007.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

As for the Bailey 460/4, I have worked out the figures in Towcar.info. They have added 200kg to each of the figures for the caravan (941kg) and the car (1295kg). So I believe their workings are correct at 80%. If you look at the bottom of this page, it will show - https://towcar.info/GB/outfitmatch.php - for Mazda CX3 Auto, and Bailey Ranger 460/2.
.

It doesn't matter what Towcar.info add or don't add, the absolute figures are what is on your V5C for Mass in Service (nearly equivalent to Kerb weight) and the MTPLM of the van (from its weight plate).

 

[philip_stevens]

The CX3 manual lists total trailer weight with brake at 1200kg.
CX3 car weight1295kg - plus 200kg to add.
460/4 Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass (Kg) - 1208 (inc 200kg)

Still a bit tight.

With the CX3 it looks as though we shall have to go to the 460/2 without buying another car.

 

[Raywood]

Towing with the MTPLM of 2,008kg would not be illegal if you kept the actual weight under 2,000, but the load allowance on caravans is very tight and I would look for something a bit lighter. The towing ratio is also very high and for a beginner I would try to get the MTPLM down a fair bit to say 1,500kg at the most. Towing at over 90% is best left to people experienced at towing.

 

[xtrailman]

Not with Mazda.
Both the V5 figures for both my cars (cx-5) are way out, showing well under, by a lot.
I trust the Mazda figures, and actually have an email from them confirming the kerbweight of my last cx-5.

As for any comparison sites, forget every one except the caravanning and camping one, its the only site that gets my KW spot on.

As for the Bailey 460/4, I have worked out the figures in Towcar.info. They have added 200kg to each of the figures for the caravan (941kg) and the car (1295kg). So I believe their workings are correct at 80%. If you look at the bottom of this page, it will show - https://towcar.info/GB/outfitmatch.php - for Mazda CX3 Auto, and Bailey Ranger 460/2.
.

It doesn't matter what Towcar.info add or don't add, the absolute figures are what is on your V5C for Mass in Service (nearly equivalent to Kerb weight) and the MTPLM of the van (from its weight plate).

 

[xtrailman]

you could import a lhd 2.5 auto from Europe but probably only in a cx-5.

Mazda do a cx-7 or is it a cx-9, available with a stonking 2.5L turbo petrol, available in the US.
Mazda UK as importers decide which trim and engines we get, and it varies a lot from the other countries.

Petrol engines simply did not sell in the heavier cars, more suitable for towing with more power, so sometimes only a diesel is available.

Tiguan does a 180ps turbo petrol, but its not Japanese.

Irronically on the US forums they are really looking forward to them getting the 2.2 175ps diesel.

Hi Craig. Yes, we did consider changing the car, but we cannot get the model we want with a petrol engine. I do not want to go to diesel, even with better torque. We have had Mazda's for the best part of 20 years, and wanted a CX5, but for some reason, we cannot get a petrol auto CX5 in this country. They are made, and available all over the right-hand driving world - Aussie, Kiwi, Singapore, South Africa, etc., - but not the UK. Why, when Honda are going petrol only?? Anyway, that is a question for a motoring magazine to answer, not a caravan magazine.

Turbo. Mazda have gone for a bigger petrol engine against a smaller turbo as with many other makers.

As for the Bailey 460/4, I have worked out the figures in Towcar.info. They have added 200kg to each of the figures for the caravan (941kg) and the car (1295kg). So I believe their workings are correct at 80%. If you look at the bottom of this page, it will show - https://towcar.info/GB/outfitmatch.php - for Mazda CX3 Auto, and Bailey Ranger 460/2.

We may yet change cars if we can get a petrol auto of the size we want. We have already looked at Kia and Honda (though the Honda is not much heavier than the CX3). We prefer to try to stick to Japanese made vehicles.

We have a while to go before we buy the caravan, as we want to get our next holiday out of the way first. Maybe April or thereabouts. Just seen a nice one on eBay - 263249162007.

 

[philip_stevens]

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far.

Viewing the weight of the smaller Bailey 460/2, at MTPLM 1141kg, it is still a bit high.

Yes, it looks as though we will have to go for a diesel CX5 - but will await to hear what the Chancellor may do against diesel vehicles.

 

[otherclive]

Well I have used Towcar.org for my last three outfits and I found the results quite accurate. But you do need to check what exactly the cars= weighs as kerb weight and what its gross weight is. I like the ability to vary car and caravan payload as well as noseweight too. Unlike the C&CC matching service you can adjust the car's kerb weight to align with your particular model, and increase the caravans MTPLM in case you have had payload increase. You can tune Towcar.org to your prosper outfit. My last outfit was a Subaru 2014 Forester 2.0 petrol towing a 1300kg MTPLM Sprite and Towcar.org was accurate regarding its performance particularly on hills. Although the outfit was very well matched for weight, stability etc and when being towed it gave no concerns. But the engine revs were just too high for relaxed towing and its overtaking performance required the proverbial calendar on motorways. Fuel economy was down in the very low 20's. Hence the replacement was a diesel.
Good luck in your selection.

 

[otherclive]

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far.

Viewing the weight of the smaller Bailey 460/2, at MTPLM 1141kg, it is still a bit high.

Yes, it looks as though we will have to go for a diesel CX5 - but will await to hear what the Chancellor may do against diesel vehicles.

I suspect he will not do a lot as votes are more important than air quality. Possibly put a bit on fuel duty with diesels marked up for a penny or two extra. But my Superb does over 30mpg towing and I regularly get 50mpg solo, whereas the Forester 2.0 petrol was 20-22mpg towing and 40mpg solo on a good day.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Philip.

The big problem about being able to give good advice here is based on the figures you have supplied the proposed outfit is so close to its limits.

We are seeing an increasing trend of manufacturers reducing vehicle weights, and using lower powered engines, and these newer models are beginning to restrict what caravans can be towed.

To be able to make a reasoned assessment of a cars towing potential we need to know a lot more about the cars actual specifications, simply telling us its an "Acme Dalesman", is no longer sufficient. Because many model names are perpetuated, but the core specifications change.

So I suggest we need
Make
Model
Body
Trim level
model Year.
Engine size, fuel, and rated power output and Torque if known.
Kerb Weight or Mass In running Order (MIRO) (found on V5c)
Gross Vehicle Mass (MAM) (Found on vehicle weight plate)
Gross Train Mass (GTM) (Found on vehicle weight plate)
The manufacturer will also specify a maximum towed weight limit for the vehicle

Sadly there are some errors in the data that tow matching sites and services have, and that will make any calculation they do where erroneous data is involved in accurate. The problem is unless you can check the entire data they hold for your specific car you won't know if its erroneous or not. This is evidenced by teh fact that if you use two different sites and they produce different results - which is right? may be neither.

 

[Hutch]

Hi Phillip, , ref people saying about the diesels having better fuel mpg, it all depends on how often you go out in the caravan, and if you prefer the petrol , go for it.
Contact Mazda's tech department to get a "real" answer. .
Goòd luck.
Hutch.

 

[philip_stevens]

Make - Mazda
Model - CX3
Body - SUV
Trim level - Nav Sport
Model Year - 2016
Engine size - 1998
Fuel - petrol
Rated power output - 120ps (88kw) / 6000rpm
Torque - 204Nm / 2800rpm
Kerb Weight or Mass In running Order (MIRO) (found on V5c) - 1270 kg incl. driver (75kg) on Mazda web.
Gross Vehicle Mass (MAM) (Found on vehicle weight plate) - 1190kg
Gross Train Mass (GTM) (Found on vehicle weight plate) - 2930kg
Maximum towed weight limit for the vehicle - 1200kg in manual.
There is 1 - 925 and 2 - 850. These could be braked and unbaked.

This is all I can find on the CX3. We have now decided to look at a CX5 diesel auto.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Make - Mazda
Model - CX3
Body - SUV
Trim level - Nav Sport
Model Year - 2016
Engine size - 1998
Fuel - petrol
Rated power output - 120ps (88kw) / 6000rpm
Torque - 204Nm / 2800rpm
Kerb Weight or Mass In running Order (MIRO) (found on V5c) - 1270 kg incl. driver (75kg) on Mazda web.
Gross Vehicle Mass (MAM) (Found on vehicle weight plate) - 1190kg
Gross Train Mass (GTM) (Found on vehicle weight plate) - 2930kg
Maximum towed weight limit for the vehicle - 1200kg in manual.
There is 1 - 925 and 2 - 850. These could be braked and unbaked.

This is all I can find on the CX3. We have now decided to look at a CX5 diesel auto.

The MAM looks wrong - should be approx GTM-trailer weight = approx 1730

1 and 2 are max axle weights.