The rumors are true!
If you have heard that the new Mazda 3 is fantastic, well, it is.
The Mazda 3 is now in its 3rd generation and was introduced in North America late in 2013 as a 2014 model. Is has grown up quite a bit and its new looks are fantastic. This is Mazda's go-to car as over the generations it has provided customers with enough choice in styles and trim levels that basically cater to everyone. Its recent update now adds the word "luxurious" to the growing list that people can use to describe how it looks.
Take a look for yourself:
Different Styles:
The new Mazda 3 comes in 2 different styles. A 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. It is available with either a 2.0L, 4-cylinder or a 2.5L, 4-cylinder engine. They are Mazda's new "SKYACTIV" technology engines with along with the frame and body, use light-weight but stronger materials. You can get either a 6-speed manual, a 6 speed automatic, or a 6 speed auto with paddle shifters.
Styling and comfort Impressions:
I'm not going to hide it, these new Mazda 3's are glorious. The long front and the short back of the sedan brings images of the luxury cars of the 1920's and 30's to mind. Its probably the one time where I think the sedan looks better than the hatchback and that's saying a lot as the hatch looks fantastic as well. The curving lines, swept back lights and different styles of rims give these cars a very upscale look. The windows don't look too small and everything really seems to be in good proportion with everything else. Not much else to say. It's simple: the new Mazda 3 looks great on the outside.
However, once you go inside its a bit more of a mixed bag.
While the inside still looks sporty and uses high quality materials, the layout of the dashboard is a bit odd. First, if you only get the base model, there is no touch screen, and all the radio controls are stuck on top of the dash. It is a bit of a reach from the wheel, especially if you like to drive with the seat pushed back and arms stretched out already. The optional 7-inch touch screen looks a bit better, but it still sits too far, and having no buttons doesn't help either.
Besides the odd placement of the radio and media controls, the air and heat controls are in a better spot and when you upgrade to the multimedia unit on top, the climate controls look much better.
On to the comfort aspect: Mazda has done a very good job all around. The seats are large and comfortable with good side support and enough firmness to make long trips comfy. They use a pretty nice sporty material and leather seats are optional.
Take a look:
There is plenty of head and leg room up front but the rear seats are not as roomy as one would expect in a car this large. Head room is fine but legroom is just ok. Mazda also did a good job at making the rear seat head rests somewhat low profile when not in use meaning visibility is good in every direction but the rear diagonals due to wide support pillars. The rear window is somewhat small and if you have the hatchback the cargo cover rises up an unnecessary amount above the rear seats, cutting visibility. The sedan has ok rear visibility as well.
The sound system is easy to describe; it's quite good. It's what one should expect with Mazda's sporty cars.
Finally, the trunk space. Even though the trunk on the sedan looks tiny, it is surprisingly large and has a nice large, square, pass through the the rear seats when they are folded down. It is not as deep as others in the class due to the design of the car ( long front, short back). The hatchback obviously has more space but due to the extreme slope of the rear hatch it is not as big as it could be behind the rear seats.
Driving Impressions:
The moment everyone has been waiting for, how do the new Mazda 3's drive? In short, very nicely. It is no wonder why they have been winning awards in just about every category. It has plenty of power, in the city and on the highway. It has great acceleration. It makes some sound when pushing it hard, but it actually sounds great and makes you want to push it harder, like it was a larger engine. The engine is smooth, shifts are nice and quick, and overall it is a very fun drive. The handling and suspension are tuned to be sporty and stable but it is in no way rough. However, if you are looking for a very quiet ride this may not be the best choice for you as both in the city and on the highway it lets a good amount of sound in. It is not enough to be annoying, but its definitely more than other cars in the class.
Overall:
The new Mazda 3 certainly is a big improvement over the previous generation, and that car wasn't bad at all. It has great looks, powerful engines and even though its not super quite, you want to hear these engines work. With its two different body styles and 2 different engine choices, there is most likely a Mazda 3 that will fit your lifestyle. It is large enough, but at the same time small enough to be a good first car for anyone ( single - couple - new family). The interior dash may not be up to par with some competitors but when you buy a Mazda, you buy mostly for the fun of driving, which the 3 can certainly give you.
(ed. note: the Mazda 3 seems to have a significant price difference between Canada and the US).
Facts/ Figures:
Price (for mid trim level): was about $21,000+ US. $26,000+ Canada.
FWD
Max HP: 155, 184
Max Torque lb/ft: 150, 185
MPG (approx*): 29, 27 city. 40, 38 highway.
Cargo room (approx*): (12), 20 / 47 CuFt
Length: 180", 176"
Width: 71", 71"
Tank Size (gal): 13.2
Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 448, 422
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $18,000+
* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic.
**No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken either from Google images or the manufacturer's website and their rightful owners should get any credit for them. This review featured all pictures from the manufacturer's websites ( some through Edmunds.com).Links:
Mazda Canada
Enjoy!
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J.K.
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