Hmmm. This article is showing slightly higher:
EDIT: OK the OPs article does not include destination charges, whereas my link does. Take that into account and the prices are the same.
2016 Mazda CX-3 Arrives at Dealerships in Mid-August, Starting at $20,840 | Edmunds.com
The biggest minus to the CX-3 right now is that it is actually SMALLER than the 3. It looks like it should be bigger. I can't believe that they did that. I will have to see how much smaller when I see one in person. I already felt that the 3 was really small for me.
The next thing: The base price for a GT is:
$25,870
upgrade to AWD = $1250.
However, since you can't get AWD and manual trans on any of their cars, I would expect the price difference between a base GT (FWD, manual) and the AWD version to actually end up being more in the $3k neighborhood, putting it between $28-29k. IOW, Base FWD Man + Automatic tranny option + AWD option = the price difference.
Now if I got a 3, I would want manual. If I got a CX-3 I would rather have AWD. so we are talking about a $2k price difference, and then include the fact that when the CX-3 is available the 2016s are going to be coming in and the dealers will want to get rid of the 2015s (they are already getting harder and harder to find if you look at the search inventory feature on mazdausa.com), plus they will have incentives, I could get another grand or so off of a 2015 Mazda3 GT, and the price difference becomes even larger. Makes the manual 3 VERY tempting over the CX-3. I really like the looks of the CX-3. I think it looks cooler than the 3 at least on the outside, but if the price difference gets to around $4k, thats almost $100/month in payments, and that could be clincher...