South Africa next? Tech upgraded Mazda CX-3 debuts in Japan

Its long-term future very much in doubt unlike that of its bigger sibling, the CX-5, Mazda has provided the CX-3 with another round of updates in Japan exports markets, including South Africa, are likely to benefit from either next year or towards the end of 2023.

Bigger infotainment

Still in its first generation, and officially Mazda’s oldest SUV having debuted nine years ago, the second series of revisions after an initial facelift in 2018 comprise machined 18-inch alloy wheels with a black metallic finish and a new two-tone colour option called Vivid Monotone made-up of a gloss black roof and a novel body colour dubbed Aero Grey Metallic.

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Inside, the biggest change involves the departure of the eight-inch MZD Connect infotainment system in favour of a new 8.8-inch arrangement with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus improved voice recognition and audio interface.

In a continuum of past and present MZD systems, the new setup does not offer touchscreen functionality and relies instead on a rotary dial located on the centre console.

More premium materials and colours, including an imitation suede-leather option with copper inserts, rounds the interior off.

Same petrol or diesel, but no more manual

Underneath, the CX-3 remains unchanged although up front, the 1.8 SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine has been tweaked for improved fuel consumption and power delivery low-down.

Remaining stagnant though is the oil-burner’s outputs of 85kW/270Nm delivered to the front or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox only as the previously offered six-speed manual has been dropped entirely.

Making up the petrol option is the normally aspirated 1.5 SkyActiv-G from the Mazda2 that, since 2018, has been the sole option available in Japan following the departure of the bigger 2.0-litre used in the South African-spec CX-3.

Paired exclusively to the six-speed automatic ‘box, but with the option of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, the unit produces 82kW/144Nm.

What about South Africa?

In total, the SkyActiv-G range comprises three trim levels; S Touring, Urban Dresser and Vivid Monotone after the discontinuation of the entry-level S and mid-spec Super Edgy.

As for the diesel, known as the XD, the unbadged base model, manual Touring and Super Edgy all depart, leaving automatic versions of the Touring and Monotone as the sole trim choices.

Priced from ¥2 279 200 (R288 114) for the two-wheel-drive SkyActiv-G S Touring to ¥3 434 200 (R434 118) for the all-wheel-drive XD Monotone, Mazda South Africa has not confirmed whether the CX-3 will benefit from the same upgrades as a follow-up to the reworked 2 revealed earlier this month.

Although dropped from Europe and North America two years ago, the CX-3 remains a key model for Hiroshima in South Africa and as such, should the applied revisions receive approval, expect an announcement to be made either later this year or in early 2024.

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