Mazda 3 Review

Mazda 3 Review
4 min read

WHAT IS IT?
The Mazda 3 is a family car, not an SUV or crossover that pretends to be something it's not. These days, however, no effort is made to create a whole new platform from scratch without doing more than one thing with it. Hence the CX-30, which is like a three-seater, but longer and a faux SUV.

Mazda likes simplicity overall. Only two gasoline engines are available: a 2.0-liter 120-hp (naturally aspirated, as opposed to the turbo trend) and a devilishly smart 2.0-liter e-Skyactiv-X supercharged engine that essentially runs like a diesel and offers impressive real-world economy. This engine produces 184 horsepower and is the faster of the two (naturally), going from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds.

Mazda 3 Review

WHAT ARE MY TRANSMISSION OPTIONS?
Both models are available with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission - a traditional automatic, not a dual-clutch. It's an extra £1,500, but it helps reduce carbon emissions and improve economy. So you really have to want the convenience of an automatic transmission to justify it. Both engines have a lightweight hybrid system that uses electricity to regenerate the brakes.

Mazda says it redesigned this fourth-generation car (to be introduced in 2019) from the ground up, paying attention to everything from reducing "visual noise" in the cabin to reducing engine friction.

Special attention was paid to noise, vibration and harshness, clutch operation, infotainment processing speed and harmonization of white light quality in the cabin. Things that don't make the headlines, but are very respectable. The approach is very Japanese, and the result is a comfortable, relaxed hatch with few weaknesses.

MY EYES DON'T DECEIVE ME, IT'S GORGEOUS, ISN'T IT?
It's really beautiful, with proportions, roofline and rounded markings on the taillights that remind me of an Alfa Giulietta. Not like the oversized Ford Focus. It's a beautiful car without fuss: a long nose, neat proportions. Apart from the overly thick C-pillar, it's a real beauty.

The 3 appeared in 2003 and since then, over six million units have been sold worldwide. It also surprised us, with over a million units in Europe. The big years were 2005-2008, although there has been some decline since then.

SO THIS MK4 3 HAS A BIG JOB AHEAD OF IT?
Yes. Not only does it have to restore sales, but it has to do so in a market that is undergoing a revolutionary change. Where is the full hybrid, let alone a plug-in or electric version? Not at the moment and not on the horizon.

Prices range from £23,000 to £31,000, with the four-door sedan version, which isn't as nice, costing a bit more.

Since this is the hatchback segment, competition is... fierce. The Mazda 3's competitors are the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308, Hyundai i30 and many others.

Mazda 3 Review

WHAT IS THE VERDICT?
"Mazda's family sedan is low-stress, but very happy with its silence.
The Mazda 3 is not a radical car. And it's disappointing on some level. We would have liked to see Mazda push into hybrid and electric technology already. This is an engineering and design-oriented company, and it would be nice to see it take the lead.

Instead, we have a very ordinary hatchback with two gasoline engines, one of which is pretty lame and the other devilishly smart. And it's getting harder and harder to sell, as the world is going electric car crazy.

Still, it seems Mazda cares. There's no cynicism here; details are being worked out bit by bit to improve the driving and ownership experience. Interior design and comfort, low noise pollution, smooth ride and handling. And underneath that, the little things are done right - cabin lighting, clutch operation and so on. Much better than the new Golf, anyway. Not a single touch button in sight, hooray!

Things are done for the right reasons - not to make headlines, but to improve quality of life. It's a human-centric approach. The result is a simple, benign, unassuming car that's easy to live with.

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