Mazda's new baby SUV from under $20K

The fastest-growing passenger vehicle segment in Australia has yet another contender – Mazda's highly anticipated CX-3, which enters the compact SUV market this week priced from just $19,990.

The lower than expected sub-$20,000 for the entry-level Neo 2WD petrol manual sees the CX-3 undercut by $800 the current segment bargain, Ford's EcoSport (from $20,790).

It also makes the CX-3 considerably cheaper than the Peugeot 2008 (from 21,990), Nissan JUKE (from $22,090), Renault Captur (from $22,990), Skoda Yeti (from $23,490), Holden Trax (from $23,990), Honda HR-V and Mitsubishi ASX (both from $24,990).

Despite the difference in price, Mazda Australia says its fifth all-SKYACTIV, KODO-styled model is well placed to differentiate itself from the city-crossover crowd.

In fact, provided it can get an adequate supply from Japan, it expects "the most extensive range in the small SUV segment" to make the CX-3 Australia's top-selling compact SUV.

The four-variant CX-3 line-up offers buyers the choice of front- and all-wheel drive, 2.0-litre petrol and 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engines, and six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
An optional Safety Pack adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous low-speed emergency braking.

“We promised that we would have the most comprehensive line-up in the small SUV market, and we have delivered,” said Mazda Australia Marketing Director, Alastair Doak.

“Unlike our rivals we have an entry-level Neo, a mid-grade Maxx, and two new great names for CX-3 — the high-grade sTouring and the high-plus grade Akari."

Doak confirmed that a front-wheel drive petrol powertrain is available across the range, matched to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. An AWD petrol automatic powertrain is available from Maxx level upwards, while the sTouring and Akari range-toppers are available with the auto-only diesel powertrain.

The CX-3 range begins with the six-speed manual front-wheel drive petrol Neo from $19,990. A six-speed automatic is available for $2000 more, while the Safety Pack adds $1030. A ‘Kuroi’ body kit including front, side and rear body kit and black mirror scalps is available for $2432 (fitted). Neo models can optioned with a reversing camera for $778 (dealer fit).

Petrol front-wheel drive variants are offered with manual and automatic transmissions throughout the line-up, which works upward through Maxx (from $22,390), sTouring (from $26,990) and Akari (from $31,290) grades.

Petrol-powered models are motivated by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder SKYACTIV-G engine familiar to the CX-5 and Mazda3. In the CX-3 the unit develops 109kW and 192Nm, returning as little as 6.1L/100km on the ADR Combined cycle (6.3 for manual variants).

Adding all-wheel drive pushes fuel consumption to 6.7L/100km; petrol all-wheel drive variants are offered exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The all-wheel drive line-up begins with the second-tier Maxx variant (from $26,390), and like the front-wheel drive range it comprises sTouring (from $30,990) and Akari (from $35,290) grades.

For those chasing torque and added efficiency the CX-3 range also offers a turbo-diesel engine. Displacing 1.5 litres, the four-cylinder SKYACTIV-D unit develops 77kW and 270Nm, and is hitched exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Mazda says the engine is capable of delivering a combined-cycle fuel figure as low as 4.8L/100km on front-wheel drive variants, with all-wheel drive models sipping 5.1.

A solitary front-wheel drive diesel variant is offered in the new CX-3 range – the Maxx (from $26,790). All-wheel drive diesel models include the sTouring (from $33,390) and range-topping Akari (from $37,690).

As standard Neo variants include 16-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights, cruise control, cloth-trimmed seats, power windows and mirrors, a rear spoiler, manual air-conditioning, a trip computer, reversing sensors and push-button ignition.

A four-speaker audio system includes Bluetooth connectivity and a single CD player, while also offering USB and 3.5mm auxiliary audio ports.

The Maxx adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather-bound steering wheel, gearshift knob and handbrake cover, sat-nav and a reversing camera. Mazda's MZD Connect system is also included, adding a six-speaker audio system with console-mounted multi-function controller, 7.0-inch colour screen and access to internet radio apps like Pandora, Stitcher and Aha.

sTouring models adopt 18-inch alloy wheels, LED front foglights, daytime running lights and headlights, auto headlights and wipers, LED tail-lights, leatherette/cloth-trimmed upholstery, single-zone climate-control, advanced keyless entry and Mazda's Active Driving Display screen (otherwise known as head-up display).

Finally, Akari models add a sunroof, auto high-beam assist and leather upholstery (in black or white, depending on body colour), and include the Safety Pack as standard.

Mazda estimates the CX-3 will bring 1000 new buyers a month to the brand (200 more than Honda expects for its HR-V), excluding to customers who might otherwise have bought the Mazda2 (from $14,990).

Given Mazda sold more than 100,000 vehicles in Australia last year, that should see it close the gap this year on Holden, which finished behind Toyota in 2014 with cumulative sales of 112,059.

Mazda Australia said previously that it does not expect the CX-3 to cannibalise sales of its popular CX-5, but it admits it is likely the model's attractive entry price and convenient size may affect sales of its Mazda2 light hatch.

"We actually researched CX-3, CX-5, Mazda3 and Mazda6 altogether, so that we got a clear picture of everything, rather than just picking individual models and then trying to extrapolate from everything else," said Doak earlier this year.

"It showed that really, the people who buy CX-5 are really in that time of their life where they have got young kids... a pram in the back, a baby seat and all that sort of stuff. CX-3 is really a proper size down on CX5, so there will be minimal impact on [sales] volume from CX-3."

Speaking at the launch of the CX-3 today, Mazda Australia Managing Director, Martin Benders, also admitted that the company's all-new light SUV would likely erode sales of its Mazda2.

“There will be some [erosion of Mazda2 sales], but we’re not really worried about it,” Benders explained.

“We also see that each of our models… are the newest in each of their segments, so there’s still conquest [sales to be found] within their own range. We may lose a few Mazda2 buyers, but at the same time the Mazda2 is still attracting buyers from elsewhere in the light segment.

“We see our net cannibalisation being smaller than most other brands at the moment, at least for this year,” he concluded.

It's predicted CX-3 sales will favour the Maxx variant to the tune of 55 per cent, with the entry-grade Neo comprising a quarter of the sales mix.

Higher grade sTouring (15 per cent) and Akari (five per cent) models are expected to round out the balance, though some sales will likely be cannibalised by the medium SUV segment-leading CX-5, which overlaps the CX-3 with its entry price of $27,190 (plus ORCs).

Mazda expects buyers to favour petrol variants nine to one over the diesel, with 80 per cent of all buyers forecast to prefer an automatic transmission and 85 per cent expected to opt for front-wheel drive.

Mazda says the CX-3 will appeal to “pre-family” buyers, most of whom live in urban areas.

“Our small SUV is very much aimed at educated, urban 25-35 year-olds that may be single, or a couple, but are certainly pre-family," explained Doak.

All versions of the CX-3 will be available in Mazda showrooms from this Saturday (March 20) – except entry-level Neo variants, which will arrive in dealerships in the second quarter of this year.

Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our first on-road Australian drive review of the all-new Mazda CX-3.

2015 Mazda CX-3 pricing (plus on-road costs):