The 'light' SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Australian new-car market and the Mazda CX-3 leads it in sales by a country mile. But heading into its ninth year, is this evergreen performer still ahead of the ravenous pack? We spent a week with the mid-spec Evolve model to try and find out.

After three months with the 2023 Mazda CX-3 Akari LE AWD, it's finally time to say goodbye. And as this final instalment of our long-term review shows, the best-selling light SUV may have a timeless exterior design and surprisingly premium features, but it's fallen behind newer rivals when it comes to the driving experience.

Mazda Australia has confirmed a small pricing change to its line-up, almost a standard rise across all models, which took place as of January 1.