New 2027 Mazda CX-3 confirmed as the next-generation small SUV to rival 2026 Hyundai Kona and Chery Tiggo 4

As part of its end-of-year financial results, Mazda has revealed exactly when its next-generation CX-3 will launch.

Buried pages deep on the company’s presentation materials, the confirmation shows the CX-3 arriving in 2027. It will be built in Mazda’s Thailand facility and will account for a significant part of the company’s volume aspirations going forward.

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The company didn’t reveal any more details about the incoming CX-3, although it notes a plan to expand its hybrid offering from one to four models (which leaves at least two models to be electrified, after the existing CX-50 and planned hybrid CX-5), although does note that this electrification plan will be focused on its larger vehicles.

Expect it to follow a similar design theme to the Vision X-Compact concept the brand displayed at the 2025 Tokyo motor show

Mazda’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Guyton told CarsGuide at the 2025 Tokyo show that the next-generation small cars were the next priority after the brand finishes its hybrid development.

“It comes to being a modestly sized company, our return on sales [of small cars] isn’t good enough from a business standpoint,” said Guyton.

“Our highest priority has been our large platform products, and finally getting those right, and using those to make some money.

“Next priority is the CX-5, which will come to your market soon, and soon-ish thereafter is the hybrid version of that car with Mazda’s own hybrid.

“Soon after that next priority is smaller architecture cars,” he said.

Mazda also recently told CarsGuide the current version of the CX-3 and 2 hatchback would get a stay of execution until 2027.

The information in the brand’s EOFY presentation does at least confirm the existence of the next-generation CX-3 and that it won’t be called the CX-20 as previously speculated.

Mazda has long said it won’t abandon its “smaller architecture cars” after its all-important and best-selling CX-5 plans are complete.

One thing which could put a spanner in the works for the CX-3 replacement in Australia is both our tough new emissions laws and our stringent safety requirements, which often see models designed for the South East Asian market nixed for an Australian launch.

The CX-3’s current 2.0-litre petrol engine (110kW/195Nm) mated to a six-speed traditional torque converter automatic transmission won’t be able to continue in Australia, with Mazda already attracting eye-watering penalties under the new emissions scheme.

What this could mean is a delay in the CX-3 launching in Australia if it launches in Thailand without a hybrid system initially.

To ease its emissions burden going forward, Mazda noted in its EOFY presentation that it would continue to lean on its Chinese-built joint-venture models, like the Mazda 6e and CX-6e which will launch in Australia imminently.

With aggressive pricing, both cars are set to compete with not just traditional rivals, but also Chinese newcomer brands in an attempt to put Mazda in the volume space for low-emissions vehicles.

This will no doubt help it offset some of the emissions burden the brand will carry along with the incoming CX-5, which will have a carryover 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in all-wheel drive only.