Mazda CX-3 News

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. 

Mazda’s popular but aging CX-3 is poised to adopt the brand’s latest electric and plug-in hybrid technology when its next generation lands in 2027, and with it, a more contemporary design.In the form of fresh digital renders, Japan-based Bestcar has given us a unique insight into how the new CX-3’s design may evolve alongside its new powertrains.Overall, the new generation hasn’t been envisioned as a radical departure from the current CX-3, with much of the popular small SUV’s silhouette and body shape following the same winning formula.That said, it adopts Mazda’s new design language as championed by the new EZ-60 electric sedan, with sharper LED headlights, a smaller, more angular front grille, and body-coloured front bumpers and panelling.The changes are echoed at the rear with sleeker LED tail-lights, flat rear panelling, alternate M-A-Z-D-A badging and a body-coloured rear bumper.Body-coloured panelling remains uniform along the side of the vehicle, replacing its predecessors black plastic wheel arches and housing newly designed alloy wheels.Powertrain details of the upcoming CX-3 remain under wraps for now, however, as reported by BestCar, the CX-3 is expected to be offered in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric guises.The former is expected to utilise Mazda’s revived rotary engine paired to a battery pack for a range-extender set-up, as is the case on Mazda’s MX-30 SUV sold in Japan.Best known for its use on the two-door RX-7 coupe, rotary engines are favoured for their compact size and fewer moving parts, which equates to a smoother, quieter ride. Mazda believes that makes them ideal on a plug-in hybrid.Production of the new CX-3 is poised to commence in 2027 at Mazda’s facility in Thailand, a growing production hub for the brand, with Australia all but certain to be a key market.The current Mazda CX-3 was first launched in 2014 with sales commencing in Australia the following year.Despite its decade-long tenure, the CX-3 remains one of Australia’s best-selling small SUVs, clocking some 4337 sales to March this year, comfortably outselling the Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic.

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Mazda has consolidated its CX-3 and Mazda2 ranges for 2025, while adding some safety and design upgrades in exchange for minor price rises.The Mazda CX-3 and 10 are getting on, having been launched nine and 10 years ago, respectively. Both will continue in their current guise for the foreseeable future, with no all-new models in the works.Despite its age, the CX-3 remains Mazda's second most popular model. For MY25, it is $920 dearer, at $30,370, before on-road costs.The entry point moves from Sport to Pure, with 18-inch machined alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.Those technologies are also allocated to the CX-3 Evolve, which adds fog lamps and keyless entry. It gets sportier 18-inch machine-black alloy wheels and black synthetic leather upholstery as well.Near the top of the range, the GT SP replaces the Touring SP grade and adds a seven-speaker Bose sound system. The top-spec Akari gets new 18-inch bright finish alloys.As before, the CX-3 continues to be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that sends 110kW/195Nm to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.Unlike rivals such as the GWM Haval Jolion and Toyota Yaris Cross, there is no hybrid option.The updated Mazda2 range now starts at $26,990, before on-road costs, while the previous entry-level G15 Pure has been dropped.That means the option of a manual gearbox is gone and a six-speed automatic is now standard across the range.It is $620 more expensive than last year, and adds the same safety suite as the CX-3 range, as well as new 16-inch black metallic alloys.There is now only one other hatch option, the G15 GT, which is priced at $28,190, before on-road costs.The G15 GT is the only available in a sedan, which maintains the same price as the hatch.No changes have been made to the Mazda2's 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which sends 82kW/144Nm to the front wheels.Both models are on sale now.All prices are at before on-road costsAll prices are at before on-road costs

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of new-model releases. Lately, product cycles have been getting ever shorter with China in particular’s immense speed of design, development and production eschewing traditional carmakers' usual six, seven or eight-year model replacements.But that doesn’t mean everyone wants the latest and greatest and, in Australia, there remains a huge appetite for familiar nameplates like the Mazda CX-3, MG3 and Nissan Patrol despite fresher models being available in the same class. In fact, until this year, the now nine-year-old Toyota HiLux has dominated sales charts. It’s taken the ‘T6.2’ Ford Ranger over a year to usurp Toyota’s ute despite its much newer cabin, more powerful engines and fresher tech. Even still, the Ranger held a slim 210 sale margin over the HiLux in May. It’s a little easier to imagine how ute buyers – those after a dependable, rugged vehicle with less concern for the latest and greatest – might be less interested in buying the newest model.Though the media expected the CX-30 to become Mazda’s new entry-level SUV, the plan all along was to sell them side by side. At 10 years old, the CX-3 is no spring chicken any more yet with 1300 sales in may it remains firmly ahead of the Yaris Cross and Hyundai Venue in the light SUV class. It is, amazingly, still more popular than the CX-30 (1010 sales in May) as well. Entry-level Pure leads the way as a first-car option that is bigger than a Mazda2 but not unwieldy. Safety features like AEB and collision warning feature and the CX-3 is a known quantity for both reliability and parts availability. MG is finally replacing the MG3 as it celebrates its 13th year on sale – such age is very rare in cars from China. In its final 31 days in dealerships as a ‘new’ model, 1077 MG3s were registered. This puts it leagues ahead of the Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris. The same vintage Mitsubishi ASX may not be quite as popular as a CX-3 (842 sales in May) though like the others in this list, the ASX is having a bumper year of over 5000 sales – up nearly 30 per cent on 2023. Nissan sold 622 Patrol off-roaders last month for 3274 year-to-date. That may be less than half of Toyota’s LandCruiser 300 Series volume but when you consider the basic design is 14 years old (and therefore cost is long since amortised), Nissan is doing very well. Like ASX, the Patrol’s sales are up for 2024 as well, by an impressive 46.3 per cent. Put that down to demand for the new rough-and-tumble Warrior model. We couldn’t write this article and ignore the oldest car on sale today in Australia. Celebrating its 40th year in production and continuing to sell incredibly is the 70 Series LandCruiser range. An iconic vehicle for Australians who buy more of these things than any other nation – mining fleet is a huge part but a renewed popularity with the off-road crowd helps, too.Toyota’s old fourby may not get another ANCAP test any time soon but the new four-cylinder turbo-diesel will extend its sales life further as emissions regulations take hold. There were 1096 sales of the LandCruiser 70 Series in May for a total of 5030 this year, not including Troop Carrier body styles. Its enduring popularity is unlikely to end soon, either, with the new downsized diesel carrying the ageing Toyota into its next decade of sales.

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A massive recall of more than 176,000 Mazdas has been announced, with two of the brand’s most familiar nameplates affected. Model years between 2013 and 2020 for the Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-3, which covers two generations of the former and one of the latter, have been recalled for a potential wiring problem which could affect the reversing camera’s function.