Mazda 3 review and buyer's guide
Mazda3 should make you reconsider that heavy, impractical SUV or the overpriced prestige German. If you’re money smart, you’ll take this small car for a test drive. Here’s why…
The Mazda 3 is back and looking more drop-dead gorgeous than ever. But, like all long-to-medium-term relationships, getting it wrong can be an expensive mistake.
The updated range now has the newer generation of SkyActiv engines, denoting fuel efficiency and good power outputs.
There’s two choices for powertrain: the G20, meaning the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, or the G25, meaning the hotter 2.5-litre engine - both of which will happily run on 91 RON all day. None of that rip-off premium stuff here.
The model grades are now called: Pure, Evolve, Touring, GT and Astina. Two carry-over powertrains initially - the 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G engines - the precursor to Mazda’s pioneering engine technology using ‘stratified charge compression ignition’, which basically means it behaves like a diesel with excellent combustion efficiency characteristics, only in a petrol engine. Here’s how that works >>
This is why i suggest you test drive the Mazda3 before any others on your shortlist. Because once you get a first-hand understanding how good this SkyActiv-G engine is, you may not go back. Or at least, you might be less inclined to mistakenly buy a Volkswagen or something.
Anywho, they’re calling the new Mazda3 line-up G20 and G25. Pure, Evolve and Touring are available with the G20 (2.0-litre) and Evolve, GT and Astina are available with the G25 engine. In other words - there’s a choice of G20 and G25 with Evolve. Pure and Touring are G20-only and GT and Astina are G25-only.
The price went up about $2000 at the entry level, and about $2500 at the top - and that’s probably held back sales somewhat since it launched last year. Especially at the entry level, which is very price-sensitive indeed, and with Kia in particular very aggressive with pricing across the Cerato range right now. At least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are finally standard in a new Mazda3. That’s only about five years overdue >>.
If you’re after the SKYACTIV-X HCCI engine (the new, super-tricky Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition engine >>) - which promises to be super-efficient, and a real step forward, you’ll be waiting even longer for that, sadly, thanks to the zombie apocalypse. My strong advice there: wait six months after the release just in case that HCCI engine has a few bugs. God knows, the SKYACTIV-D diesel engine did (hence it’s dead). So let the early adopters be Mazda’s lab rats on that. I hope it goes off without a hitch, but that’s a risk you can mitigate just by giving it a few more months.
There’s lots of high-strength steel, especially the tricky new 1310 MPa cold-stamped stuff that’s frankly a pretty sexy Mazda engineering development in its own right. So that’s nice. Click here for the full metallurgy orgy >>
It’s obviously a minimalist design that Mazda is over-hyping to buggery, frankly (more on that in a sec) and Mazda says they’ve worked on reducing NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), which has long been the company’s Achilles heel.
So we’ll have to see how well they managed that. Radar cruise with stop/go functionality, auto emergency braking, lane departure and forward obstruction warning: all standard now.
So, all up the new Mazda3 is an incrementally better, more expensive version of an already decent small car.
I’ve long been a fan of this car because performance-wise it’s the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. It clocks more expensive German ‘prestige’ rivals on the chin.
We’ll pit the G25 Astina against the equivalent Mercedes-Benz and Audi shortly. We’re talking between $10,000-$30,000 more affordable, with minimal compromise. (Well, the compromise most rational human beings can forgo).
Not only will you appreciate the much better customer support Mazda is probably, I presume, enforcing on its dealers awaiting for the ACCC’s reaming to conclude, but the company’s engines and overall mechanical reliability takes a steaming dump on the so-called superior German engineering. And the SkyActiv 2.5 is particularly peppy to maneuver up a twisty road.
The Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class and VW Golf GTI might all have superior power and torque figures, and similar power-to-weight ratios, but they have to do it by commanding premium unleaded for their Euro 6 engines and a wad of extra cash. Mazda3 does not.
The Audi and Mercedes still rest on a three-year warranty. Mazda3 does five.
The Germans are 10-30kg heavier. Mazda 3 is lighter.
The Germans charge thousands extra for electric, heated seats with memory settings (VW), and front + side parking cameras and automated parking assistance (Audi), and collision avoidance features (Mercedes). The Mazda 3 doesn’t.
Still want that premium prestige experience? Or do you just want a German badge?
Mazda 3: test drive its rivals
Subaru Impreza review & buyer’s guide >> Brilliantly equipped and practical especially for rural buyers. Closest on power, emissions, claimed fuel economy and driving dynamics compared with the South Koreans. CVT not as smooth as Mazda auto.
Hyundai i30 review & buyer’s guide >> Exceptional performance from the turbo 1.6 petrol version; i30 sedan to replace Elantra in 2020. If you’re specifically after a sedan, you’ll get a good deal on any runout Elantra Sport or Sport Premium stock so remember to be a bastard and beat the dealer >>
Kia Cerato review & buyer’s guide >> Awesome value with GT but not as premium as Mazda 3. GT is an attainable performance package with slightly dialled back prestige.
The similarly-priced Mazda CX-3 small SUV looks great but isn't as good value as a Mazda3, or indeed its Subaru Impreza, Hyundai i30 or Kia Cerato rivals in the context of overall practicality, for most buyers, dollar for dollar. Keeping in mind also, that 99% of your driving, I’m presuming, will be on tarmac - making 40mm of additional ground clearance largely redundant.
Having a punt
But there will be many of you keen to buy the Mazda 3 with little regard for practicality, however misguided this is. You should always buy on objective facts and how a vehicle will work for you.
Obviously, the hatch won’t offer as much boot space as the sedan. But it will be pretty similar in overall driving performance. Your inbuilt accelerometer (arse) won’t notice the difference between the additional weight overhanging at the rear on the sedan. Unless you’re The Stig or something.
If you like driving, but you want a sports car with an actual boot, without paying through the rectum, you’ll enjoy the Mazda3. And don’t worry, you’ll never, ever look like one of those boy-racer douchebags in his AMG Gay-Class, Audi aRSe3 and the Playing Golf GTI. You’ll blend in to the crowd in most cases, but every now and then someone might notice and think, ‘That clever person bought the right car and won’t wake children at 5am with their crackling exhaust like those German-driving gynaecological hygiene product-type people.’ I’m paraphrasing.
One of the neat things about the range is you can have a proper six-speed manual gearbox, with a bona fide clutch pedal ‘n’ everything. If you’re not sure what that means, catch up >>. Much like its sportier stablemate, the MX-5, the bite-point of the clutch is short and the shifter throw is nice and short for slick ratio changes. The footwell is a little craped with three foot levers - down there - but that’s only going to be a problem for the most well-endowed NBA players. Most people’s hooves will be fine.
If you’re not up for the whole double-clutch way of life - something of a rarity these days - you can opt for a six-speed cyclical auto with the PlayStation-stule paddleshift going on behind the steering wheel. Which means you can either use it or the sport-selection, both of which are usually slower than leaving the computer to do its thing. I’d suggest Mazda’s propellerheads are much better at designing the transmission to read your throttle inputs and measure road speed much better than you. So leave it alone, steer it plumb and true, and pay attention to the road. Those paddleshifts are pretty slick, all things considered though.
Mazda’s current generation of steering wheel is particularly nice to point at an apex and feed in its 139kW uninhibited by over-inflated attempts to be luxurious. Because obviously the more stuff you add, the more weight the engine has to move about and that ruins dynamic handling. It’s very simple. Even in G25 Astina, which has the same power as the G25 Evolve but more toys like sunroof (heavy, up high) an extra four speakers, heated leather seats, it’s only a difference of 12kg in kerb weight (hatch and sedan). So you’ll enjoy driving the cheaper model just as much as the plusher top-spec one.
So, from there, it’s just a matter of seeing if Mazda 3, in either hatch or sedan, works for you.
It’s pretty simple in terms of hatch or sedan pricing. So let’s do that first.
Hatch adds about $500 to each respective variant from the new G25 Evolve up to G25 Astina. So you’ll want to decide which body shape is your priority, and what respective spec-level you can A) afford and B) live with. If you don’t need all the trimmings (we’ll get to those) then consider if the Touring will be enough. On the balance of probability (or if budget is a bit tight), I’d suggest it would.
The whole range starts at $29,500 and stretches out to $42,500.
The sedan offers 444 litres of boot space - 149 litres more than the 295L in the hatch. So if you need family transport, I strongly urge you to get the sedan - and if you’re shopping for a CX-5 and claim you need boot space, the Mazda 3 sedan will still offer you more storage. I keep saying most people don’t need an SUV for a reason >>
Even wheelbase in the Mazda 3 sedan (and hatch) is 2725mm - and extra 25mm more than the CX-5, which means marginally more cabin space than the more expensive, supposedly more commodious SUV. How many times have you been on a plane and wished you had just 2.5cm more legroom?
LOVE
That G25 Astina engine, like its predecessor SP25, is a crackling thing to drive
Mazda 3 is a real point of difference from large SUVs; more polished than direct competitors
Both engines do a great job in this small package
Mazda's 5yr/unlimited kilometre warranty is in contention with Hyundai, Subaru, Toyota etc.
Great packaging and ergonomics: 2.7+ metre wheelbase offers more cabin space than ‘bigger’ SUVs
Boot space better than Corolla hatch (208L)
Excellent driving dynamics, even in light base model Pure
Top-spec G25 Astina ($42k) packs all the same features as top-spec CX-5 Akera at $51K
HATE
Space saver spare tyre unsuitable for Australia
Mazda 3's i-Stop auto engine shutdown/restart system detracts from overall refinement and saves little fuel
Anyone with mobility issues will find inherent low ride height a problem; it’s just the nature of small cars: check out CX-3 instead
295 litres boot space in hatch is significantly down on main rivals i30, Cerato & Impreza
Not the true alphanumerical-naming convention platform for the CX-3 like it should be
All-wheel drive is on-demand and not lockable (kinda defeats the purpose); should’ve just stuck with front-drive only
1.8 diesel gone
MZD Connect
Expensive versus competitors
I'll help you save thousands on a new Mazda 3
Just fill in this form. No more car dealership rip-offs. Greater transparency. Less stress.
MAZDA 3 SAFETY
The new Mazda 3 is comprehensively one of the safest vehicles you can buy. Here’s the Mazda3 technical report >>
In April 2019 crash testing with ANCAP it scored a sublime 98 per cent mark for adult occupant protection, a very decent 89 per cent in “child occupant protection”, and 81 per cent for “vulnerable road user protection”.
Mazda 3, like any other car is not perfect, but it does a seriously good job of trying to take that accolade in safety.
It was marked down slightly in the “safety assist” category for lane-keeping during a soft road edge test performed by EuroNCAP. This resulted in one ‘poor’ mark. EuroNCAP says “The lane support system assists in preventing the vehicle from drifting out of lane but does not intervene in more critical scenarios, as do the systems on some cars”.
It still got an very good 76% pass-mark overall for safety assistance.
The only significant markdown for Mazda 3’s ANCAP rating, is the ‘adequate’ mark for the driver’s lower legs in the frontal offset test at 64km/h. Other than that, it’s green across the board for destructive tests - oblique pole, full-width frontal, side-impact and those same tests for child occupants in both the 10-year-old and six-year-old assessments.
Pedestrian detection test sees Mazda3 miss the child dummy by a whisker. Watch the video for the full butt-clenching moment.
There was also an impact in nighttime AEB pedestrian detection testing where the dummy was hit at 32km/h from a travelling speed of 55km/h. The Mazda system also very narrowly avoided hitting the dummy emerging from behind parked cars at 40km/h. You can see it in the footage at 2:47 and you’ll hold your breath. But at least it didn’t impact at 45km/h like the Impreza/XV did in 2017. (Don’t overreact, it’s an extremely difficult test for vehicle systems to perform and it catches out plenty of cars.) It often goes unreported, but for a car to avoid a crash in the AEB Pedestrian “Running Child from behind parked vehicles” test is seriously impressive. The CX-5 hit the same dummy in the same test at exactly the same speed. That doesn’t mean it’s a shit car; that hard test is designed to catch those systems out and Subaru’s EyeSight has been one of the best systems for years.
If you’re still not convinced that the Mazda3 is a better car than the CX-5, then you might want to consider safety. CX-5, tested in 2017, did not perform as well as the smaller Mazda3 in all tests. CX-5 got 95 per cent in adult occupant protection, 80 per cent in child occupant tests, 78 per cent in vulnerable road user tests, and only 59 per cent in the safety assist category thanks in part to a 0/3 lane support score because those features weren’t standard back then. They are now, as is tyre pressure monitoring and adaptive cruise. It still doesn’t crash quite as well as the 3, but in no way am I suggesting it’s unsafe. CX-5 is one of the safest cars you can buy and is in no way a poor choice - I wouldn’t endorse it if it was.
Mazda3 G25 Astina
$42,000 driveaway
2.5L petrol 4-cyl N/A
Power: 139 kW @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 252 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Economy: 6.5L/100km combined
Fuel: 91 RON
Power-to-weight ratio: 100.1 kW/t
Transmission: 6sp auto
Manufactured: Japan
Length: 4460 mm
Wheelbase: 2725 mm
Height: 1435 mm
Kerb weight: 1388 kg
Fuel tank: 51L
Boot: 295L (hatch) / 444L (sedan)
Seats: Five
Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km
Servicing: 12 months or 10,000 km
(whichever comes first)
Roadside assist: 5 years
Spare: Space-saver
Features:
Adaptive cruise: Standard
Auto-emergency braking:Standard
Lane departure/keeping: Standard
Rear cross traffic alert: Standard
Blind spot monitoring: Standard
360 degree camera: Standard
Front/side camera: Standard
Power, heated driver seat: Standard
Auto high beam: Standard
12 Speaker sound system
Premium paint $495
Airbags: 7
Fog lamps: Standard
Tyre pressure monitor: Standard
Sunroof: Standard
Mercedes A250 4Matic
A250 4Matic: $64,500 driveaway
2.0L turbo petrol
Power: 165 kW @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm @ 1800 rpm
Economy: 6.6L/100km
Fuel: 95RON Premium
Power-to-weight ratio: 106.3 kW/t
Transmission: 7sp dual-clutch
Manufactured: Germany
Length: 4549 mm
Wheelbase: 2729 mm
Height: 1439 mm
Kerb weight: 1590 kg
Fuel tank: 51L
Boot: 370L (hatch) / 420L (sedan)
Seats: Five
Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km
Servicing: 12 months or 10,000 km
(whichever comes first)
Roadside assist: 3 years
Spare wheel: Run-flats
Features:
Adaptive cruise: Optional
Auto-emergency braking: Optional
Lane departure/keeping: Optional
Rear cross traffic alert: Optional
Blind spot monitoring: Optional
360 degree camera: Optional
Front/side camera: Optional $990
Power, heated driver seat: Optional
Auto high beam: standard
9 Speaker sound system
Premium paint: $1190
Airbags: 9
Fog lamps: Standard
Tyre pressure monitor: Standard
Sunroof: Optional
Audi A3 40 TFSI
S-Line Plus
A3 40 sedan: $57,000 driveaway
2.0L turbo petrol
Power: 140 kW @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 320 Nm @ 4200 rpm
Economy: 6.0L/100km
Fuel: 95RON Premium
Power-to-weight ratio: 96.6 kW/t
Transmission: 7sp dual-clutch
Manufactured: Germany
Length: 4726 mm
Wheelbase: 2820 mm
Height: 1427 mm
Kerb weight: 1487 kg
Fuel tank: 50L
Boot: 425L
Seats: Five
Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km
Servicing: 12 months or 15,000 km
(whichever comes first)
Roadside assist: 3 years
Spare wheel: Space-saver
Features:
Adaptive cruise: Optional
Auto-emergency braking: Optional
Lane departure/keeping: Optional
Rear cross traffic alert: Standard
Blind spot monitoring: Standard
360 degree camera: Optional
Front/side camera: N/A
Power, heated driver seat: Standard
Auto high beam: Optional
8 Speaker sound system
Premium paint: $1200-$1750
Airbags: 7
Fog lamps: Optional
Tyre pressure monitor: Standard
Sunroof: Optional $1990
Sorry, which car is the premium small sedan? I fail to see how any rational human being would successfully counsel alien life - which has managed to charter themselves across the cold depths of space, into dropping their intergalactic pesos (using current exchange rates) on the German offerings.
Best of the Bunch
It depends on what you’re looking for in your Mazda3, as I said int he beginning - if you want the sedan for practical reasons, and if money’s something of an object here - I’d suggest the G25 Evolve is your best value option.
It’s got the more powerful 2.5-litre engine and subsequently it’ll go so much better than the 2.0-litre G20, but for no significant increase in overall weight.
And with that, you can tick the $1500 ‘Vision Pack’ which adds the very useful 360-degree camera system for ultimate parking nirvana, front cross-traffic alert so you don’t plow over any kids (frowned upon these days, I know), and front parking sensors to stop you ripping off the stone guard or peeling off that lovely front bumper on high kerbs (that’s expensive). You’ll also get the drive monitoring system which might save your life or someone else’s if you’re unfortunate enough to nod-off behind the wheel or take your eyes off the road at exactly the wrong moment.
The G35 Evolve with vision pack will keep you under $38,000, or you can let my crack team of skilled dealer bullshit negotiators do the dirty work. Dealer salespeople are apex predators and can be hard to slice and dice if you’re not match fit - because they are definitely match fit, ready to gut you if you drop your guard. But at the time they’ll seem like your best mate.
The G25 Evolve will leave you without the following in GT or Astina:
Sunroof - this is Australia, the skin cancer capital of the world - you won’t miss out on your dose of UVA and UVB to the bald patch your wife hasn’t point out to you yet
Auto-folding, heated exterior mirrors - Again, this is Australia. You can live without heated mirrors. You just can. Wipe them with a finger if the dew gets malicious.
Bose® premium audio - If the loudest, fattest beats are the single most important thing in your life right now, you’re (probably) buying the wrong car. There’s a Jeep Wrangler out there with your name on it. I can’t help you.
Heated seats + steering wheel - Geoscience Australia will tell you apart from Antarctica (where everything fucking freezes) we’re the driest continent on the planet. You’ve got climate control, get over it, and grow a pair.
Adaptive LED headlights - You have LED headlights already, they just don’t swivel with the steering wheel. You’ll live.
Just add Ming Molls.
This is a small compromise to keep a further $7000 from falling into a Mazda dealer’s pocket. It’s better in yours, right?
Think of everything you can buy with seven grand right now: a holiday, a drone, some roof racks and a bike holder, you could even buy a life-size inflatable game of Twister to use if we ever go back into zombie lockdown when there’s a second wave of enraged brain-eaters.
Or you can blow a couple of grand on an inflatable hot tub and fill it with Ming Molls. They’re proficient in all social settings.
If however, you’re not limited by kids, luggage or something called a “budget”, the G25 GT or Astina are excellent value for sporty-hatch handling without shopping in the German aisle. They really don’t offer a $30,000 improvement.
If you’re looking for ultimate driveability of the Mazda3, cutting out the sunroof will save you 12kg by sticking with the GT instead of the Astina. That’s a kerb weight of 1368kg versus 1380kg, in case you didn’t believe me. Same 18-inch charcoal alloys as the Evolve (although saving a couple of grand with the GT by also forsaking black alloys is worth it too). The GT means you still get the cylinder deactivation for low-load driving - freeways, idling etc - then you’ll also save a bit on emissions and still get a light car to tip into the corners.
And you can do your best to cause bleeding ears with your Bose speakers. Tick the Vision Pack box if you want the 360 camera, front cross traffic alert, front parking sensors driver monitoring - which of course you do because those systems might save your life or someone else’s. You don’t get many second chances in life, and these features might give you or the innocent third party one.
2020 Model Grades & Pricing (HATCH)
Moving left-to-right, let’s see how the range progresses in terms of basic equipment. Prices aforementioned in this report, and keep in mind this is only looking at the hatch and defaults to the automatic transmission. It does not include the $1500 Vision Pack >> which I recommend and includes, as previously discussed:
360° camera
Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS): “assists with driver fatigue by automatically operating the accelerator and brake pedals to maintain a proper trailing distance between you and the vehicle ahead” -Mazda Australia
Driver monitoring
Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA)
Front parking sensors
G20 Pure
8.8-inch infotainment screen
Radar cruise
Satnav + DAB+ digital radio
2.0L petrol 4cyl (114kW@6000rpm / 200Nm@4000rpm)
Six-speed auto/manual
16-inch alloys + 205/60 tyres (space saver spare)
LED headlights & taillights
Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
Cloth seats
295L boot space
8 speakers
6 airbags incl. knee
Drive attention alert, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning & lane keeping,
Rear parking sensors & rear cross-traffic alert
Reversing camera
Bluetooth
Electric park brake
Multi-function 'Commander Control' dial
Push-button engine start
Automatic emergency braking
G20 Touring adds (to Evolve):
18-inch alloy wheels with 215/50 tyres
Driver seats: powered + lumbar adjustment
Leather seats
Auto-dimming driver’s door mirror
Keyless entry
G20 Evolve adds (to Pure):
Paddle shift (auto only)
Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
18-inch alloys + 215/45 tyres (space saver spare)
Dual-zone climate control
Leather steering wheel
G25 Evolve adds (to Touring):
2.5l 4-cyl petrol (139kW / 252Nm)
Cloth trim (either black or white)
Cylinder deactivation
Power adjusted, auto-fold door mirrors (loses auto-dim)
G25 GT adds (to Evolve):
Heated seats & steering wheel
Auto-dimming driver’s door mirror (they’re back)
Leather seats
Bose sound system, 12 speakers
G25 Astina adds (to GT):
Power sunroof
Kerb weight 1380kg
LED running lights
Vision Pack standard:
360-degree camera
Cruising & Traffic Support
Driver monitoring
Front cross-traffic alert
Adaptive LED headlamps (turn with the steering wheel)
Front parking sensors
.
Conclusion
The Mazda 3 is not perfect, and while I take pride in pointing out a car’s foibales to the whincing of the rest of the limp-dick motoring media in Australia, I do want to make clear that this is a very impressive sedan or hatch.
Whatever other vehicles you might be considering purchasing, make sure you test drive the Mazda 3 first and see how everything else compares. Fortunately, Mazda, despite their facepalming incompetence at times and the marketing dribble keeping their egos afloat, they do build excellent cars. They really are at the top of their game - where Honda was back in the 1990s (as I’ve said before and continue to say today).
The hatch is cramped in the back and there’s no wagon to take on the Golf, but there’s always the Subaru Levorg or Mazda 6 for that if you’re one of the few buyers looking for a wagon these days.
Mazda3 is even better than its big sister CX-5 in so many ways, but people are infatuated with SUVs on subjective criteria, in which case, go for it. It’s a free country.
If you’re still on Planet Rational and want a Mazda3 on a budget, if you can scrimp enough together for the G25 Evolve you won’t be disappointed, just as long as you tick that Vision Pack because Mazda’s collision avoidance tech could save a life.
Overall it’s a prestige German hatch or sedan in all the ways an Audi or Merc make one feel comfortable and swooned over, only without the shit customer service, poor reliability and exorbitant pricetag. It’s a paradox, I know, but the Mazda 3 does everything a German car does right, but avoid the self-inflicted shotgun wounds to the wedding vegetables.
And that’s worth the price of admission alone.
More reports
Cheap utes are becoming popular in Australia. But are they everything they promise to be and can unknown brands like JAC offer real value to consumers who need a workhorse on a tight budget? The T9 is the latest attempt to make Ranger, Hilux, Triton and D-Max irrelevant.