From available all-wheel drive and i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies to Mazda’s signature KODO design language and an interior that is as functional as it is striking, the 2019 CX-3 features aesthetic style and technological innovations that evoke anticipation for every drive. Here’s a closer look at CX-3’s category-defying all-wheel-drive system:

Confidence ignited by intuition

Mazda’s predictive i-ACTIV AWD is an on-demand system featuring sensors that check road conditions 200 times every second. Built to sense, and respond to these conditions, i-ACTIV AWD helps to ensure a more confident drive.

Essentially Predictive

i‑ACTIV AWD monitors driving conditions 200 times per second – everything from steering angle and windshield wiper use to exterior temperature and braking patterns help predict driving conditions. An ideal split of torque between the front and rear wheels is achieved through the i-ACTIV AWD command module’s innovative 200-times-per-second calculations, allowing for quick and responsive reactions that ensure a better, controlled drive.

Driver intent

The i-ACTIV AWD system uses numerous sensors to determine the driver’s intentions. Is the driver intending to accelerate? How sharply is the steering wheel turned? How much pressure is on the brakes? These and other considerations are taken into account, and determine how the system reacts in order to achieve optimum control.

Road conditions

i-ACTIV AWD constantly monitors exterior temperature, wiper operation, the amount of torque required to turn the front wheels and the load on the engine. As a result, the system knows if it’s snowing or raining, if the road is slippery if the driver is on a hill or attempting to turn. This enables the i-ACTIV AWD system to accurately predict when slippage will occur.

Slip protection

i-ACTIV AWD is designed to send just enough torque to the rear wheels to prevent slippage from occurring. By doing this, it provides the traction associated with all-wheel drive, while minimizing the impact on fuel consumption.

Response

Direction from the command module lets the i-ACTIV AWD system apply the required torque to the wheels to deliver an exceptionally stable driving experience with better control over acceleration, turns, breaking and slippage. A slight amount of torque is continuously transferred to the rear wheels to automatically deliver more traction at the precise moment it is needed.

Weight reduction

In creating i-ACTIV AWD, engineers carefully scrutinized the design and materials used for every component. The result of these efforts is a 43% weight reduction compared to the previous generation system.

Uncompromised fuel efficiency

i-ACTIV AWD was designed to deliver exceptional responsiveness and to challenge the convention that an AWD vehicle must be inefficient. In order to deliver the benefits of AWD and excellent fuel efficiency, they set out to reduce the weight of the AWD components and to minimize frictional losses. By ensuring optimal distribution of torque and minimizing drivetrain energy loss, you’re only using fuel to power AWD when you need to.

U.S. model shown

Still not convinced? Click the TEST DRIVE button below to schedule a comprehensive tour and road test of Mazda’s compact and capable CX-3. We think you’ll be impressed.