Mazda 3 and CX-30 updated in Australia with more tech and price rises of up to $1000

What has changed in Australia

Mazda Australia has updated its Mazda 3 small hatch and sedan and CX-30 small SUV, adding driver-assistance technology and other standard equipment while raising prices by up to $1000 before on-road costs. The CX-30 range has also been expanded with two new model grades, the G25 Evolve SP and G25 GT, taking the line-up to 12 variants powered by either the G20 2.0-litre or G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, as reported by CarExpert. ¹

Per CarExpert, the entry-level CX-30 G20 Pure FWD now starts at $34,760 before on-road costs, up $400, with the same increase applying to all Pure and Evolve versions. Touring variants rise $500, Astina grades $700, and the G25 GT SP Vision costs $1000 more than before. The new G25 Evolve SP is priced from $42,360 plus on-roads and the new G25 GT from $45,360 plus on-roads, both front-wheel drive with the 139kW/252Nm 2.5-litre petrol engine and six-speed automatic. ¹

New equipment and grades

CarExpert details the new grades: the G25 Evolve SP gains 18-inch gloss-black alloy wheels with matching mirror caps, roof rails and badging, plus black cloth upholstery with red stitching carried through the centre console, armrest and dash. The G25 GT adds silver 18-inch wheels, black leather trim, heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a glass sunroof. ¹

Mazda's Vision Technology package — bringing a 360-degree camera with a see-through view, Cruising and Traffic Support, Driver Monitoring, front parking sensors and Front Cross Traffic Alert — is now standard across all G25-powered models, and now includes Front Cross Traffic Brake (FCTB) for the first time. It was already available on the G20 Touring, which uses a 114kW/200Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. The G25 GT SP additionally introduces ventilated front seats to the CX-30 for the first time; they are also offered on the Astina grades, with the G25 Astina AWD now the only all-wheel drive version. ¹

Safety and connectivity upgrades for both models

Mazda says the Smart Brake Support (SBS) system, standard on every CX-30, can now detect motorcycles, potential head-on collisions and hazards when turning across traffic, while intersection collision avoidance assist is now included on all models, according to CarExpert. The larger 10.25-inch Mazda Connect screen replaces the previous 8.8-inch unit on entry grades, and keyless entry with push-button start is now standard across the CX-30 range. ¹

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard for all CX-30 grades. The Mazda 3 sedan and hatch line-up also gains the larger 10.25-inch screen, wireless phone mirroring and the upgraded Smart Brake Support system, per CarExpert. Paint choices change too: both models add a new Aero Grey finish, Ceramic Metallic and Zircon Sand Metallic are dropped, and the CX-30 also gains Zinc Green Metallic, a $595 premium paint borrowed from the MX-5. ¹

The Australian changes largely mirror those announced for the Japanese market, where Car and Driver reports Mazda unveiled the improvements on 23 July 2026, opened orders the same day and began sales in August 2026. Japanese-market safety updates include blind-spot monitoring with a safe exit warning, expanded emergency lane-keeping assist functions, SBS with oncoming-vehicle and intersection responses plus motorcycle detection, adaptive cruise control linked to speed signs, and adaptive LED headlights upgraded to the level of the CX-60 and CX-80. ⁵

The Japanese-market version: new mild-hybrid and Air Edition

In Japan, the updated Mazda 3 and CX-30 gain a new e-Skyactiv G 2.5 mild-hybrid powertrain. Per Car and Driver, it combines a PY-VPH-type 2488cc four-cylinder petrol engine producing 179ps and 24.3kg-m with an MK-type electric motor — rated at 4.8kW in the Mazda 3 and 4kW in the CX-30, with 60.5Nm in both — plus a 10Ah lithium-ion battery. The CX-30's existing e-Skyactiv-G 2.0 with 156ps carries over, and Japanese-market models also feature simplified grade structures, with the previously fleet-only Mazda 3 15C and CX-30 20C converted to catalogue models. ⁵

CarNews reports Japanese pricing of ¥2,365,000–¥4,092,000 for the Mazda 3 Fastback, ¥2,750,000–¥3,267,000 for the sedan, and ¥2,640,000–¥3,756,500 for the CX-30 including consumption tax. The CX-30 also adds a special Air Edition with blacked-out exterior details and a bright grey-and-white interior whose Leganu fabric sections receive stain-resistant and water-repellent treatment, and Zinc Green Metallic production is slated to begin in October. ²

Taiwanese outlet 8891 adds that the SKYactiv-D 1.8-litre diesel has been discontinued in Japan due to emissions regulations, and that the new 2.5-litre mild-hybrid system is shared with the new-generation CX-5. These powertrain arrangements apply to the Japanese market; Australian CX-30 and Mazda 3 models continue with naturally aspirated G20 and G25 petrol engines only, as CarExpert notes the local line-up differs from markets such as the UK, which also offers mild-hybrid and compression-ignition petrol engines and a manual transmission. ⁴³

Where the update has rolled out, and what's next

CarExpert reports the updated CX-30 has also reached the UK and Europe, with the new paint colours, ventilated front seats, see-through surround-view camera and safe exit warning rolling out there before the end of 2026, and a Makoto special edition due in the UK in early 2027 that aligns with Japan's Air Edition. CarExpert had contacted Mazda Australia about when these specific changes would arrive locally; the newly announced Australian update confirms the larger screen, wireless phone mirroring and upgraded SBS for the local ranges, though the UK-specific variant structure does not transfer. ³

The current-generation CX-30 has been on sale in Australia since 2020, and Mazda has produced more than 1.4 million examples globally since the model's 2019 launch, according to CarExpert, which also notes 9020 CX-30s were delivered in Australia to the end of September, making it the brand's third-best seller behind the CX-5 and CX-3. Mazda has confirmed a next-generation CX-30 will launch by March 2031, with chief executive Masahiro Moro telling Japan's Chugoku Shimbun it will incorporate methods used for the new CX-5. ³

For the Mazda 3, the current generation dates to 2019, and CarExpert reports a replacement is not expected until at least 2028, with timing still unconfirmed. Locally, the Mazda 3 now starts at $31,910 before on-road costs for the G20 Pure hatch or sedan, up $300, with other grades rising between $200 and $300. CarExpert places it below the Kia K4 (from $32,090) and the Toyota Corolla hybrid hatch (from $32,585) on list price, and notes petrol CX-30 rivals including the Honda HR-V (from $32,900 drive-away), Hyundai Kona (from $33,950 plus on-roads) and Subaru Crosstrek (from $36,490 plus on-roads). ¹