New Mazda CX-20 takes shape: Replacement for the 2025 Mazda CX-3 small SUV planned for late 2026 to battle the Toyota Yaris Cross, Chery Tiggo 4 and MG ZS

Mazda’s SUV revolution is kicking up a gear.

The Japanese brand is preparing to launch a new version of its hyper-popular CX-3 small SUV. 

Except it won’t be called the CX-3 anymore, with it believed to wear the CX-20 badge when it arrives at the end of 2026.

Japanese magazine, Best Car, which is well known for its sources inside the Japanese auto industry, believes it will use hybrid power and has given us a glimpse of what it might look like via some digital renders.

Best Car’s latest intel states the CX-20 will use a 1.5-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance. It's also reportedly in line to use the company’s mythical rotary hybrid set-up.

This set-up is rumoured to use a rotary engine as a generator, which charges a battery that in turn powers electric motors. This combination is called a range-extender hybrid.

Mazda is also working on an in-house hybrid system to power the new CX-5, too. 

That example is expected be similar to the set-up used in the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, but it is likely too big to fit into the CX-20.

The new CX-20 will continue to be built in Thailand, rather than Japan, which is expected to help keep costs down.

Mazda Australia Managing Director, Vinesh Bhindi, opened the door to the new CX-20. He said to CarsGuide earlier that year that he does not intend to abandon the smaller cars and SUVs like the Mazda 2 and CX-3, but, with limited resources it would take time to develop replacements.

“(A CX-20) would be nice if it’s on offer,” he said. “But at this stage, we’re more likely to see an SUV focus – CX-5 is next, we have to build a business case for EZ-60.

“It comes down to priorities… larger SUVs and where electrified investments are being made.

“But, Mazda being a smaller-scale (manufacturer), means the R&D resources will need to be targeted where it provides the best in terms of what the consumer wants, and that the investment is justified in the returns of it.

“We'd love everything to happen at the same time, but we're very quickly told that we have to a priority list.”