What's New With The 2019 Mazda CX-3? A Lot, Especially Under The Skin

Since hitting Canadian streets in the third quarter of 2015, the Mazda CX-3 has been widely praised for stunning exterior design. 

"Bold character lines combined with minimal overhangs, a pronounced snout, and a crimped greenhouse give a taut and compact appearance," Car & Driver said, "which is even more fetching in person." Consumer Reports levelled critiques at the competition while applauding the CX-3: "Unlike competitors that appear tall, narrow, and not quite grown-up, the CX-3 is a fully formed vehicle." And the tech gurus at CNET went on and on: "It just looks sportier and more athletic than rivals, and it manages to do so without looking cartoonishly pumped up for such a small vehicle. With its contrasting black fender overriders, it has a strong wheels-at-the-corner stance."

So for 2019, Mazda is not messing with success. The CX-3's exterior styling is only slightly rejigged - you'll see an altered grille shape, new tail lights, and new wheel designs. 

But that steady-as-she-goes exterior design hides a host of important changes under the skin. 

• More sound insulation will deliver a quieter interior. 
• A redesigned centre console design and centre armrest create more storage space. 
• The front seats are re-shaped for better comfort and space, and there's even a new rear armrest with built-in cupholders. 
• Under the hood, the CX-3's SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine now hits its torque peak at 2,800 rpm, rather than 4,000 rpm as before. This makes overtaking easier by bringing all of that power down lower in the rev range.

Mazda Canada continues to offer a 6-speed manual transmission with the front-wheel-drive 2019 CX-3 GX. A 6-speed automatic is optional, and standard on every CX-3 with i-ACTIV all-wheel drive. Feature allotment will change and improve depending on trim level, as one expects with a mid-cycle refresh. You can see full specs for the 2019 GX, GS, and GT at Mazda.ca. 

The first 2019 Mazda CX-3s are expected to arrive at Centennial Mazda in Charlottetown in mid-to-late May.