Mazda commits to affordable compact cars in Australia as it considers new-generation successors

The 12-year-old Mazda 2 and CX-3 are safe in Australia for now, but it's unclear what form their replacement/s will take, and when.

3 hours ago

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James Wong

Marketplace Editor

James Wong

Marketplace Editor

The Mazda 2 and CX-3 might be getting on a bit, but the Japanese brand’s local chief says the long-running light car and light SUV model lines aren’t going anywhere for some time.

Speaking with CarExpert, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi said the brand’s smallest and most affordable models will remain on sale here for at least the next two years.

“There are some articles floating around that [Mazda 2 and CX-3] are coming to an end, and I can confirm Mazda 2 and CX-3 will be in our portfolio this year, they’ll be in our portfolio next year, and it’s an important segment for us,” Mr Bhindi said.

“At some stage there could be replacements, but right here right now those two cars, those two nameplates, are here to stay in our portfolio because they will comply with [Australian Design Rules], they will continue to be manufacturered in our Thailand facility, and therefore we have access to [them].”

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Furthermore, the general manager for global marketing and sales at Mazda Motor Corporation, Manabu Osuga, said the Vision X-Compact Concept shown at last year’s Tokyo motor show demonstrates that Mazda is evaluating a new-generation compact car (or cars) behind the scenes.

“That [Vision X-Compact] is a vision model, meaning a design vision, and also a concept model to test the next generation of Mazda design,” Osuga-san said.

“The discussion with the design team… we need to really evolve our way of design, so this is the first attempt that we tested – based on the Mazda design concept or philosophy, how will we make the compact car?

“The feedback that we received globally was very positive, so that was a win. [However], this is not really intending to apply that design theme to the, let’s say, next generation of the Mazda 2. [It’s] under discussion whether we want to prepare the Mazda 2 successor or not.

“What we care [about] is the customer base, and how we [cater to] customers for [their] lifetimes, meaning life stage cars are very important,” Osuga-san continued.

“So when we think of the life stage of the Mazda 2 and CX-3, that’s an entry car for young people, and also for the empty-nester.

“From that viewpoint, we are having a deep-dive analysis on the global market, what are the customer needs and wants? There are some markets [that] really care about the size of the car – but entry car and empty-nesters care about the price point also.

“Whether we go with making the size [of the new vehicle] Mazda 2 equivalent or Mazda 3 equivalent, or we prioritise the price coverage, that is the discussion we are having [at a global level].

“So [I’m] not necessarily naming the successor of the Mazda 2 or CX-3, [but] our commitment is we will cover the customer base and consumers’ needs in the individual market,” Osuga-san added.

Despite their advancing age, the current Mazda 2 and CX-3 remain enduringly popular in Australia.

Some 15,429 Australians took delivery of a new CX-3 in 2025, with a further 4346 Mazda 2s registered Down Under last year. Both figures were down on 2024 levels, but the CX-3 remains Mazda’s second-best seller in Australia behind the larger CX-5.

Relative to their respective VFACTS segments, the Mazda 2 is second only to the MG 3 in the light-car class, while the CX-3 was once again top dog in the light SUV segment – despite the price-leading base grades of both models being axed last year.

Both compact models are holding their ground in 2026 as well, with the Mazda 2 currently holding just under a 20 per cent market share and the CX-3 just over 30 per cent as of February.

Once a sub-$20,000 proposition, the Mazda 2 now kicks off from $27,290 in its most attainable form, while the CX-3 range starts from $30,670 (both excluding on-road costs).

Both models have been on sale in their current generation since 2014, making Mazda’s entry level models 12 years old.