Mazda Enters Compact SUV Segment With CX-3
Mazda became the latest automaker to enter the compact SUV vehicle segment with its 2016 CX-3 debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Photo of 2016 CX-3 by Paul Clinton.

Photo of 2016 CX-3 by Paul Clinton.
Mazda became the latest automaker to enter the compact SUV vehicle segment with its 2016 CX-3 debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The four-door SUV slots beneath the CX-5 in its lineup and comes with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder SKYACTIV-G engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that Mazda says, “achieves excellent fuel economy, a direct feel similar to that of a manual transmission and powerful acceleration.”
The CX-3 can be optioned with an AWD system that employs the same active torque control coupling used on the CX-5 to achieve better drivability and stability. Mazda says the CX-3 is designed to suit a customer’s lifestyle “from inner city driving to enjoying the great outdoors.”
It also features Mazda’s i-ACTIVESENSE advanced safety technology which uses sensors to actively identify potential risks early to reduce the chance of damage or injury.
The SUV embodies what Mazda calls its KODO design philosophy which emphasizes the “soul of motion.” With a long, pronounced nose, and curvaceous body, Mazda says it was uncompromising when refining the proportions to its standards of beauty.
The Mazda CX-3 will go on sale globally in spring 2015, starting in Japan.
More Operations
The Top 300 Commercial Fleets
The Top 300 Commercial Fleets: See the List
Read More →
Your Local Dealer Knows More Than You Think
Your local dealer can provide an information advantage that extends well beyond courtesy deliveries.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Austin Schutte
Here are some industry insights, personal touches, and words of advice from the CEO and Founder of Anew Solutions.
Read More →Soap Box Derby Challenge: What’s Powering Team Brown
The car is coming together, the students are solving real build problems, and the fleet industry is helping push Team Brown toward the starting line.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains
The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.
Read More →What Fleet Managers Really Want From Vendors
From customer service frustrations and technology breakdowns to RFQs, change management, and the growing impact of turnover across the industry, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the real operational challenges fleet managers are navigating every day.
Read More →Fleet Safety Masterclass: Industry Leaders on Storytelling, Strategy & Innovation
In this special masterclass episode, industry leaders break down what it really takes to build safer fleets in today’s increasingly distracted and data-driven world.
Read More →Integrating Legacy Fleet Systems and Historical Data
In this episode, we bring together fleet and technology leaders to unpack the realities of data integration, system migrations, and the evolving role of AI in fleet management.
Read More →From Resistance to Results: Change Management Strategies for Fleets
From new technologies and safety programs to evolving regulations, fleets are under constant pressure to adapt. But as Dr. Betz explains, success isn’t about the system you implement—it’s about whether your people actually use it.
Read More →


