2015 Mazda CX-3 | new car sales price

Local pricing, model grades and specifications confirmed for all-new Mazda CX-3 small SUV.

The Mazda CX-3 enters the fast-growing small SUV segment this month, with a $19,990 starting price that puts it below all immediate rivals.

The CX-3 will bring a large range of choices for customers, with four model grades, featuring both petrol and turbodiesel engines coupled to six-speed manual or six-speed automatic automatic transmissions in either front or all-wheel drive.

The $19,990 Neo - which will arrive after the rest of the range in the second quarter - kicks off the CX-3 lineup with features including rear parking sensors, engine stop/start, keyless start, the usual connectivity options, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, air conditioning, cruise control, cloth trim and 16-inch steel wheels.

Standard safety features include dual front and side airbags, full length curtain airbags, traction and stability control, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, hill start assist and emergency stop signalling.

Stepping up to the $22,390 Maxx adds Mazda's MZD Connect multimedia system with 7-inch touchscreen, internet radio, satnav and six-speakers. It also includes a reversing camera, leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter, as well as 16-inch alloys.

Priced from $26,990 the sTouring adds LED head and tail lights, fog lights and daytime running lights as well as automatic wipers. In the cabin it adds a heads-up display, single-zone climate control and Maztex synthetic leather trim. The sTouring rides on 18-inch alloys.

At the top of the range is the $31,290 Akari. Building on the sTouring, it adds a powered sunroof, leather/Alcantara trim and auto high-beams.

The Akari also includes additional safety features such as rear cross traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning.

A $1030 factory-fitted safety pack adds the blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and AEB to Neo, Maxx and sTouring models.

Front parking sensors are a $599 (fitted) option across the range.

Cargo space is about average for the class, with 264 litres VDA available with the rear seats up, expanding to 1174 litres VDA with the seats down. These figures include an extra storage space located beneath a handy removable false-floor in the boot.

The petrol engine is a version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit from the Mazda3 and CX-5, however maximum outputs of 109kW/192Nm are down slightly for the CX-3 to bring max torque earlier at an impressive 2800rpm.

Fuel efficiency for the petrol engine ranges from 6.1L/100km to 6.7L/100km depending on the drivetrain.

Mazda has set a new segment benchmark with the CX-3's turbodiesel, however, with a best combined figure of 4.8L/100km.

The auto-only 77kW/270Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit is available on the front-drive Maxx as well as all-wheel drive sTouring and Akari models.

All trim levels, bar the Neo, are available with all-wheel drive and all front-wheel drive petrol models are available with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed torque-converter auto adds $2000 to these models.