Akari LE added to Australian Mazda CX-3 lineup

Mazda Australia has added a new model to the top of its hugely successful CX-3 small SUV lineup, called the Akari LE. Building onto the already well equipped Akari, the Akari LE further adds equipment usually found on higher end luxury cars such as Nappa leather upholstery in a dark chocolate colour.

Other detail changes include white leather on the dashboard and door panels with white stitching, while the 18-inch alloy wheels receive a brighter finish to further differentiate it from lesser CX-3 models. The CX-3 Akari LE is on sale now.

“The recent update to Mazda CX-3 achieved a more refined SUV overall, with style, safety, performance and ride all elevated from entry right up to top grades,” said Mr Bhindi.

“Akari LE further enhances the line-up further still, giving discerning customers more choice and the most stylish Mazda CX-3 yet.”

Building onto the high level of standard specification of the previously top model Akari, the Akari LE adds Nappa leather upholstery in Mazda’s Dark Russet chocolate colouring with white leather on the dashboard and doors. The vent rings are finished in a white colour, while the exterior features 18-inch alloy wheels in a bright finish to differentiate it from lesser CX-3 models.

This is on top of the Akari’s lengthy equipment list, which includes autonomous emergency braking in both forward and reverse, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, driver attention monitoring, speed sign recognition, lane departure warning, a 360º parking camera, heated front seats with an electric driver’s seat with memory, automatic LED headlights with adaptive high beam, an electric sunroof, climate control, a colour heads-up display and a rear centre armrest.

Priced from $36,490 drive away, the Akari LE is just $200 more than the equivalent Akari. Unlike the Akari however, manual transmission and diesel engine choices are unavailable – the sole drivetrain option is a 110kW/195Nm 2.0-litre petrol with a six-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive (+$2,000).

2019 Mazda CX-3 pricing (drive away):
Neo Sport manual: $23,990
Neo Sport automatic: $25,990
Maxx Sport manual: $25,490
Maxx Sport automatic: $27,490
Maxx Sport AWD automatic: $29,490
Maxx Sport diesel automatic: $29,990
sTouring manual: $29,040
sTouring automatic: $31,040
sTouring AWD automatic: $33,040
sTouring diesel AWD automatic: $35,540
Akari manual: $34,290
Akari automatic: $36,290
Akari AWD automatic: $37,790
Akari diesel AWD automatic: $40,790
Akari LE automatic: $36,490
Akari LE AWD automatic: $37,990

The 2019 Mazda CX-3 Akari LE is on sale now with the wider 2019 range of CX-3 models, which now offers a total of 16 possible variants for buyers to choose from. 2018 sales of the Mazda CX-3 took a hit with 16,293 sold, which is down 6.6 percent in a segment that was up by 17.2 percent to 122,706 sales.

Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for the latest Mazda news and reviews. Read our review of the updated Mazda CX-3 range here.