Barely a year after they refreshed the CX-3 sub-compact SUV, Mazda Philippines is doing detail changes for the 2023 model year which sees them discontinuing one variant, while adding a new one in its place. Either way, they’ve made it more affordable or better loaded than before.
Last year, Mazda introduced two styling packages for the CX-3: the CX-3 Elegance and the CX-3 Sport. The Elegance, with its white leather/Grand Luxe suede interior was certainly a head-turner, but the option proved to be polarizing. This has led to Mazda Philippines discontinuing the CX-3 Elegance for 2023. In its place is the new entry-level CX-3 Activ.
The 2023 CX-3 Activ is distinguishable by its 16-inch alloy wheels wearing 215/60R16 tires. And despite its slightly more affordable price tag (P 1,390,000), it maintains the same sort of features: a leather steering wheel, leatherette seating material (now black), manually adjustable front seats, single-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a 7-speaker Bose sound system. Safety-wise, it gets 6 SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking camera with reverse sensors.
For those who want a bit more in their CX-3, Mazda Philippines is bringing back the CX-3 Sport for 2023. Priced the same as the outgoing Sport (P 1,490,000), the 2023 CX-3 Sport gets 18-inch alloy wheels in a gunmetal finish (215/50R18 tires). Inside, it gets genuine leather seats, an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory, heads-up display, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, and slightly different trimming (gray suede/brushed aluminum versus the black leather/aluminum in the CX-3 Activ). In the safety front, it adds a 360-degree camera as well as blind spot indicators with rear cross traffic alert.
Mechanically, both the CX-3 Activ and CX-3 Sport continue unchanged for 2023. It continues to have a 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G gasoline engine putting out 150 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 Nm of torque at 2,800 rpm. Both come solely with a 6-speed automatic with a built-in Sport mode driving the front wheels.
In terms of color, the 2023 CX-3 is available in six shades including Platinum Quartz and Polymetal Gray. Other shades are: Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Snowflake White, Deep Crystal Blue, Jet Black, Ceramic, and Artic White (that’s three shades of white, in case you were counting).
Now, if you’re wondering how Mazda Philippines was able to bring down the pricing of the CX-3 Activ and increase the standard specifications of the CX-3 Sport, it comes down to a difference in sourcing. Previously, the CX-3 was sourced from Japan, but beginning with this update, the CX-3 will now sourced from Thailand where it’s built at the Auto Alliance Thailand (AAT) plant alongside the Mazda2.
I wonder... Does made in Japan or Thailand make a difference in quality?
ReplyDeleteBragging rights mostly. But quality should be consistent whether it's made in Japan or Thailand (or Malaysia in the case of the CX-5/CX-8).
DeleteMaybe same quality but much affordable if from thailand - asean free trade
ReplyDeletestill looks good, but i hope they give it a new interior and a more efficient engine, only features get added everytime but overall its the same as before
ReplyDeleteNew interior and new engine is unlikely to happen now
DeleteLonger crossover SUV version of the Mazda 2
ReplyDeleteIts very hard to sell now due to stiff competition with Chinese SUVs with much bigger interior and longer body.
Still falls short of the competition --pricing, specs, features and powertrain.
ReplyDeleteNice try though from mazda. Appreciate the effort...
Did they misprice this by a 100k? The Sport version costs the same as the Mazda3 Sedan. Add 5k and you get the Fastback. Features also seem to be a bit better on the bigger brother. Why would you choose this one over the more refined and practical Mazda3?
ReplyDeleteIts just an alternative to the Mazda 2,Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-30..Its very hard to sell now though due to its pricing and outdated specs.
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