Mazda CX-3 (2016–2021) Overview
The Mazda CX-3 (2016–2021) is a subcompact crossover on the third-generation Mazda2/Demio (DJ) platform: small, light, sharp-steering, and powered by the 2.0L Skyactiv-G (146–148 hp by year). Every US CX-3 ran the Gen 6 Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen and the rotary Commander knob. This page covers what’s specific to the CX-3; the shared infotainment, firmware, and troubleshooting material lives in the platform KB and is linked below.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Segment | Subcompact crossover (B-segment) |
| Platform | 3rd-gen Mazda2 / Demio (DJ) |
| US model years | 2016–2021 (final year 2021) |
| Engine | 2.0L Skyactiv-G (146 hp 2016–2017, 148 hp 2018–2021) |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive | FWD or i-Activ AWD |
| Infotainment | Gen 6 Mazda Connect, 7-inch touch |
| Effective replacement | CX-30 (from 2020) |
Model years: the 2018 facelift and 2020 trim cull matter most
Section titled “Model years: the 2018 facelift and 2020 trim cull matter most”The CX-3 changed little across its run. The facelift year (2018) and the trim cull (2020) are the two that matter to a buyer.
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2016 | US launch (late 2015). Sport / Touring / Grand Touring trims; 7-inch Mazda Connect from day one. |
| 2017 | Carryover. Touring gained 18-inch wheels; i-Activsense made cheaper. |
| 2018 | Facelift: new grille, revised chassis and added sound deadening (noticeably quieter), electronic parking brake replaces the manual handbrake, Smart City Brake Support standard. |
| 2019 | Midlife refresh. CarPlay/Android Auto standard from fall-2018 production; earlier builds take the retrofit. |
| 2020 | Touring and Grand Touring dropped for the incoming CX-30; Sport only, AWD standard. |
| 2021 | Final US year; essentially unchanged Sport-only. |
The CX-30 that replaced it is a different car on a Gen 7 head unit, not a CX-3 successor for infotainment purposes.
CarPlay arrived with the 2019 refresh
Section titled “CarPlay arrived with the 2019 refresh”This is the one screen-related detail that’s genuinely CX-3-specific. Early cars (2016–2018) did not ship with wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Mazda’s OEM mirroring retrofit (a hardware hub swap plus a firmware update) adds it to those cars, and CX-3s built from fall 2018 (the 2019 refresh) left the factory with it enabled. Part numbers and firmware prerequisites change, so confirm before buying.
The mechanics of the retrofit, wireless adapters, and connection troubleshooting are identical across every Gen 6 Mazda; see the CX-3 CarPlay page for the model summary and CarPlay options and the retrofit guide for the full procedure.
CX-3-specific quirks
Section titled “CX-3-specific quirks”What owners flag that isn’t generic to the platform:
- Cramped rear seat and cargo area. A subcompact constraint, worst in this body style, and the most common non-software complaint.
- Road and engine noise on 2016–2017 cars. The 2018 sound-deadening and chassis revisions meaningfully improved this; if quiet matters, lean to a facelift car.
- Cold-weather navigation reboots. Usually a failing navigation SD card, not the head unit; covered under CX-3 navigation SD card.
The slow boot, the every-start disclaimer screen, laggy menus, ghost touch, and the rest of the Mazda Connect complaint list are not CX-3-specific; they’re the same Gen 6 CMU behavior found across the lineup, and they’re documented (with fixes) in the platform KB:
- Common Mazda Connect problems
- Slow boot fix
- Disclaimer screen on every start
- Ghost touch
- Reboot / reset Mazda Connect
- How to check your firmware
ScreenTune supports the Gen 6 CMU on firmware v74.00.324A, which every US CX-3 can reach; if you’re considering it, start with supported vehicles and ScreenTune.
More on the CX-3
Section titled “More on the CX-3”| Topic | Page |
|---|---|
| Buying a used one | CX-3 buying guide |
| Common complaints | CX-3 common complaints |
| Maintenance | CX-3 maintenance |
| CarPlay | CX-3 CarPlay |
| Navigation SD card | CX-3 navigation SD card |