Mazda has progressively introduced Smart City Brake Support as standard equipment on its passenger car and SUV range, and today the car maker closed the circle on this safety initiative adding it to every New Mazda CX-3 variant.

Safety equipment is a key selling point for new car buyers, so to give its vehicles and owners a safety edge, Mazda made the decision to make more of its award-winning i-ACTIVSENSE safety technology standard across its SUV and passenger car range.

It started in early 2016 when the entire Mazda6 range received Smart City Brake Support-Forward (SCBS-F) - now with pedestrian protection - Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) as standard. The core grade Maxx also got Smart City Brake Support-Reverse (SCBS-R).

The Mazda6's small car sibling, the Mazda3, soon had SCBS-F fitted as standard on all models with the popular Maxx also getting SCBS-R, BSM and RCTA.

Early last month Mazda ensured its entire passenger car range had SCBS-F, surprising the market by announcing its light car Mazda2 would also have this fitted as standard – making it the undisputed class leader when it came to safety. The rest of the Mazda2 range also got SCBS-R.

Sending the message that SUV safety was just as important, when the Brand-New Mazda CX-9 arrived in Australia last July the large SUV flagship had SCBS-F/R (Forward & Reverse), BSM and RCTA as standard equipment.

Then the highly anticipated Next-Gen Mazda CX-5 - which enjoyed a record first month on the market, in April - got even more, with SCBS-F/R, BSM and RCTA fitted as standard on the Maxx up, along with rear parking sensors and a reverse camera.

Finally, today the New Mazda CX-3 goes on sale and is the first in its segment to have SCBS-F/R as standard across the entire range, with the volume-selling Maxx also getting BSM and RCTA.

"It is obvious that safety technology is important to new car buyers, so we made the decision to respond to this and offer Smart City Brake Support – and other i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies – as standard equipment," said Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak.

"Beginning with the passenger and SUV flagships, the Mazda6 and the Mazda CX-9, we have been committed to including these technologies as standard on their smaller siblings.

"Now available on New Mazda2 and New Mazda CX-3, these vehicles are now the class leaders in their respective sales segments.

"The feedback we've had from buyers has been very positive, so it was definitely the right move."

For more information on Mazda, its range of vehicles and its i-ACTIVSENSE safety technology visit your local Mazda Dealership or go to mazda.com.au

Editor's notes:
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
A radar unit on each side of the car detects vehicles in adjacent lanes. It determines when a vehicle is in a potential collision area - within 10 metres of the vehicle - but it is also on the alert for potential collisions from overtaking cars farther away.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
This assists the driver when reversing from a parking space, warning them if a car is approaching from either side of the vehicle. The LED icon on both mirrors is accompanied by a beeping alert.

Smart City Break Support [Forward/Reverse] (SCBS F/R)
The system detects vehicles or obstacles in front or behind the car and helps reduce the amount of damage in the event an accident cannot be avoided when driving slowly around town or in congested traffic, or when backing up. When the system detects a vehicle or other obstacle, and determines that a high risk of collision exists, it automatically applies the brakes to help prevent impact when in forward gear or reduce impact in both forward and reverse gear.