Mazda has revealed slew of tech updates for its Mazda2 city car and Mazda CX-3 small SUV in Japan, however, Australian availability for both updated models remains up in the air.
Just days after Mazda gave its ageing Mazda2 a mild refresh locally, the light hatch and sedan and its related SUV sibling have been revealed in Japan with Mazda’s newest Mazda Connect software and a larger 8.8-inch touch-screen.
Australia’s updated 2023 Mazda2 and Mazda CX-3 persist with smaller touch-screen hardware and MZD Connect software, which doesn’t allow touch-screen functionality when the vehicle is moving – technology that has drawn plenty of criticism in recent years.
Whereas the latest updates are specific to the Japanese market, Australia’s Mazda2 and Mazda CX-3 currently hail from Thailand.
A Mazda Australia spokesperson declined to comment.
Japanese versions of the Mazda2 and Mazda CX-3 also feature an emergency SOS system that alerts authorities in the event of a crash.
Australian pricing for the lightly revised 2023 Mazda2 is up about $1200 due to “rises in raw material and shipping costs, as well as currency fluctuations”.
The updated 2023 Mazda CX-3 will arrive in Australia in the coming weeks, offering more safety and tech features but reducing the popular small SUV range to just five grades – all priced up to around $3000 higher.