Initially available in the Japanese market sub-compact Mazda2 and then the CX-8, the color is now on the CX-3 sub-compact SUV as well.

Interestingly, Mazda didn’t just add the new color palette to its small SUV. Instead, they’ve also decided to paint the lower black body cladding to high-gloss black to give it more “aesthetic impact.”

Mazda’s decision to paint the lower body cladding may not sit well who want their SUVs to look a bit more rugged, but it does tie in nicely with their upscale, premium image. It’s also not known at this point if the decision to paint the lower body cladding is just for the CX-3, or whether we’ll see the same treatment for the refreshed CX-5 (due later this year) and even the CX-30.

The new color and painted lower body cladding aside, the 2022 CX-3 remains unchanged save for a larger 8-inch infotainment screen (up from 7 inches) that now features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

Power still comes from a 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine making 150 horsepower and 195 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic.

With Mazda Philippines sourcing its sole CX-3 variant—the CX-3 2WD Pro—from Japan, it’s going to be just a matter of time when we’ll see this refreshed sub-compact SUV in the local market.