A favourite gets a facelift: 2024 Mazda CX-3 compact SUV refreshed to help it hold the crown over Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue

The most popular car in its segment and one of Mazda Australia’s enduring success stories, the compact CX-3 SUV, is about to undergo its second major facelift.

Still in its first generation after eight years on sale, the Mazda CX-3 is the best-selling compact SUV in the country ahead of the Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue cousins, and is this year Mazda’s second-best selling car behind the CX-5 medium SUV.

As it continues to sell well despite its age, Mazda has opted to update it with more safety tech, which will arrive in September this year.

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Starting from $26,800 before on-road costs for an entry-grade G20 Sport, the slimmed-down CX-3 range will be a little pricier to get into compared to the pre-update version, which starts at $23,510 for the Neo Sport.

The previous entry-level manual has been dumped, with the automatic G20 Sport now the most affordable version, as the entire range uses the same front-drive powertrain: a 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine with 110kW and 195Nm, paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Not only the manual transmission, but also all-wheel drive has been removed from the CX-3 range following Mazda's removal of the manual from its Mazda3 hatch recently, as the gearbox was making up a very small segment of the sales.

The CX-3 is Mazda’s second-best selling car behind the CX-5.

Standard for the base model now are 16-inch alloys, blind spot monitoring (BSM) and rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), as well as Wireless Apple Carplay with wired Android Auto.

Replacing the Maxx Sport is the Pure, which starts from $29,300 and adds LED lights front and rear high beam control (HBC), lane departure warning (LDW), driver attention alert (DAA) and a head-up display.

Next, the Evolve variant gets 18-inch machined alloy wheels, front parking sensors, white synthetic ‘leatherette’ and tan suede upholstery for $31,050.

The Mazda CX-3 is the best-selling compact SUV in Australia.

The CX-3 Touring SP starts from $34,300 and adds a black painted roof and black leather and suede interior trim with blue highlights. It also scores a black chrome wing and gloss black front grille. A 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with heating, as well as radar cruise control, advanced keyless entry and traffic sign recognition are also included.

The top-spec CX-3 Akari costs $38,620, and adds a Bose sound system with seven speakers in addition to a glass sunroof, surround-view camera and adaptive LED headlights.

The updated Mazda CX-3 will go on sale in September 2023.

The Evolve variant gets white synthetic ‘leatherette’ and tan suede upholstery.

Below is a table outlining the pricing for the incoming update, followed by a current pricing table for the 2023 CX-3 range that will be on sale until then.

2024 Mazda CX-3 pricing before on-road costs (on sale September 2023)

Current 2023 Mazda CX-3 pricing before on-road costs