2019 Mazda3: Aiming for the upper class

First Drive Impression

By Martin Pretorius

 

 

As far as Japanese car manufacturers go, Mazda is definitely one of the most unconventional. It’s almost impossible to imagine any of their compatriots taking a chance on the rotary engine, for instance – and then sticking with it for decades in spite of all its drawbacks. In similar vein, the MX-5 became a major success story, in spite of being launched in an era when conventional wisdom said that the affordable roadster was practically dead.

This rebellious streak still runs deep in the company’s DNA. Their approach to car design has a habit of running against the stream, and it shows in their mass-market products. We live in the era of downsizing, yet Mazda still perseveres with large-ish, non-turbo engines. Dual-clutch gearboxes and CVTs have become commonplace, yet Mazda sticks to conventional automatic transmissions. 

All of this brings us neatly to the new Mazda3, which appears to be as conventional as can be, swanky styling aside. It is still a front-wheel drive compact car, available as a saloon or as a hatchback, and derives its motion from naturally-aspirated petrol engines. Pretty ordinary, yes? Well, no...

 

Mazda3 design

The first distinction comes from the styling department, where the new model is clothed in the latest Mazda-style fashion. This means an evolution of the company’s “Kodo” design language, which uses flowing shapes and delicate creases to lend substance and distinction to the car’s appearance.

Hatchback- and sedan variants have rather different executions of this theme, however, with the sedan being the more dignified design. With its (relatively) long bonnet and short boot, it has classical proportions – in stark contrast to the hatchback’s rather bulbous appearance. While distinctive (and attractive in the right colours), the hatchback's massive rear roof pillars and tapering greenhouse create serious blind spots, and turns the rear seating area into a bit of a cave.

The two body styles do share similarly attractive front ends, though, with a wide grille flanked by slit-like headlamp clusters – the only variation here is the grille surround, which comes in either gloss black or with a chromed finish. Alloy wheels of either 16- or 18-inch diameter round off the picture. 

 

All-new underneath

The new Mazda3 is derived from the outgoing car’s platform, but has been substantially re-engineered to be much stronger than before. This pays dividends by providing a more stable platform for the suspension, improves refinement, and has a positive impact on crash safety. 

It’s also slightly larger than before, and rides on a longer wheelbase, which translates into improved cabin space and a larger boot. Cargo capacity is further boosted by the adoption of a torsion beam rear axle (instead of a fully-independent rear suspension), which enabled the designers to reshape the luggage compartment for improved practicality.

 

Inside the cabin

The Mazda3 may just have the most Audi-like cabin you’ll find outside of an actual Audi. There’s a strong horizontal emphasis to the dashboard’s design, which creates an impression of space, and the ergonomics are first-rate. The cabin is lined in soft-touch materials, and build- and trim quality seems impeccable.

All controls and switches fall easily to hand, although the markings on the climate control panel are almost invisible in harsh sunlight. In compensation, the new MZD infotainment interface is neatly integrated into the dash top, and its menu system is logical and easy to understand.

The only real complaint anybody could level at the interior is the limited room available for rear-seat passengers. That sloping roofline eats into the headroom, and legroom is rather compromised when the front seats are set back far enough to accommodate tall occupants. 

 

Unique drivetrains

While the top-trim 2.0-litre engine is familiar from the outgoing model, the entry-level 1.5-litre engine is a new addition to the local range. It comes from the same “SkyActiv-G” engine family as the larger unit, and replaces the outdated 1.6-litre used in the old car. 

SkyActiv-G engines are distinguished by their extremely high compression ratios, which combines with sophisticated direct fuel injection and variable cam timing to boost efficiency. Neither of them is blessed with turbo boost, however, which means that they need plenty of revs to do their best work. 

Fortunately, the two 6-speed gearboxes on offer make it easy to keep the pot on the boil. In manual guise, the gearshift has an extremely short throw and a very precise action, while the automatic is eager enough to drop a few cogs when faced with a need for more power. Sure, it’s not dual-clutch-responsive, but it’s also much smoother and easier to drive in traffic.

 

Mazda3 performance

With peak outputs of 88 kW and 153 Nm, it’s only logical that the mainstay 1.5-litre engine won’t exactly produce fiery performance. It’s available in manual- or automatic forms, both of which need to be stirred quite vigorously to extract meaningful acceleration. At least the engine is happy to sing at the top of its voice, although its gruff sound can be a bit too audible in an otherwise quiet cabin.

The 2.0-litre is rather more agreeable. It’s only available with the automatic transmission, but even with the slower gearbox, it’s markedly quicker on the road. Outputs peak at 121 kW and 213 Nm, which puts it roughly on par with the competition’s 1.4-litre turbo engines. The driving experience confirms this, with adequate if not blistering performance through the gears or when overtaking. The larger engine’s extra torque also allows the transmission to keep the engine speed low, which reduces noise intrusion and makes for more-restful cruising.

 

Behind the wheel

While some people might bemoan the loss of independent rear suspension, the torsion beam rear axle doesn’t present any significant downsides to either the Mazda3’s ride quality or handling. As we’ve come to expect from Mazda, the chassis is tuned to offer loads of road grip and neutral handling characteristics, making it very easy to maintain high average speeds over twisty roads. At the same time, ride comfort is generally exemplary, with only the worst surface irregularities thumping past the firmly damped suspension. 

This innate athleticism is enhanced by pin-sharp and surprisingly communicative steering (for an electrically-assisted setup), combined with benign characteristics when the tyres are pushed beyond their grip limits. In fact, the suspension is so well-sorted that it could easily absorb another 50 kW or so without any modifications – which makes it all the more of a pity that the engines can’t quite supply enough go to exploit that capable chassis. There’s a terrific sports model lurking under the Mazda3’s skin, just crying out for some motivating power...

 

Model line-up 

The range opens up with the 1.5-litre Active trim level, which is only available with the manual gearbox. Standard equipment is very comprehensive, with an 8-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 8.8-inch colour infotainment display, LED headlights, head-up display, pushbutton start, 16-inch alloy wheels, and automatic control for the headlamps and wipers. Safety is also well-sorted, with ABS, traction- and stability control, ISOFIX rear child seat anchors, and 7 airbags augmented by a 5-star Euro-NCAP crash test rating.

One step up is the Dynamic trim level, which adds cruise control, rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and leather trim for the steering wheel and gearshift knob. Like the top-spec (among the 1.5-liters) Individual derivatives, the Dynamic variants can be had with either gearbox option. 

Individual trim gets even more kit, with (amongst other things) an audio system upgrade to a 12-speaker BOSE installation, leather upholstery, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a 7-inch TFT display for the instrument cluster. 

Topping off the range is the 2.0-litre derivative, only available in Astina trim. In addition to the Individual’s standard equipment, the Astina adds Mazda’s i-Activsense (yes, that’s really what it’s called) safety pack, which comprises adaptive LED headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Further enhancements include a reverse camera, air vents for the rear seats, gearshift paddles, a glass tilt-and-slide sunroof, and integrated navigation (optional on other variants).

The best value lies at the bottom of the range, where the 1.5 Active gives you most of the nice stuff at a bit of a discount. However, the nicest one to drive is undoubtedly the 2.0 Astina, simply because its engine comes closest to exploiting the car’s excellent dynamic abilities. 

 

Verdict

The only real stumbling block in the Mazda3’s path is its rather steep pricing. That said, it comes with great safety credentials, superb build quality, striking looks, brilliant driving dynamics, and a loaded specification sheet to justify those pricetags. The only real question would be whether buyers will consider these perks as enough compensation for the 1.5-litre’s somewhat underwhelming performance and the 2.0-litre’s substantial price. Whatever the future holds, the Mazda3 certainly gives interesting clues about Mazda’s stated aim of becoming a premium brand.

 

Pricing 

Mazda3 1.5 Active Manual Sedan:                        R 357 000

Mazda3 1.5 Active Manual Hatchback:               R 359 900

Mazda3 1.5 Dynamic Manual Sedan:                    R 371 300

Mazda3 1.5 Dynamic Manual Hatchback:           R 374 200

Mazda3 1.5 Dynamic Automatic Sedan:              R 384 100

Mazda3 1.5 Dynamic Automatic Hatchback:     R 387 000

Mazda3 1.5 Individual Manual Sedan:                    R 418 800

Mazda3 1.5 Individual Manual Hatchback:          R 421 900

Mazda3 1.5 Individual Automatic Sedan:             R 431 600

Mazda3 1.5 Individual Automatic Hatchback:   R 434 700

Mazda3 2.0 Astina Automatic Sedan:                   R 470 800

Mazda3 2.0 Astina Automatic Hatchback:         R 474 000

• All Mazda3 variants have a 3-year warranty, 3-year roadside assistance, a 5-year corrosion warranty, and an unlimited mileage service plan for 3 years.
• Pricing was accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.