2014 Mazda 3 | new car sales price

Six months after its world-first unveiling in Australia, Mazda’s new third-generation 3 small car range arrives in showrooms this week, with the aim to reclaim its status as Australia’s best-selling car from the Toyota Corolla.

Joining the CX-5 SUV and mid-size 6 sedan and wagon, the new 3 hatch and sedan boast contemporary-Mazda 'Kodo' styling, and Skyactiv efficiency technology is now applied across the range. 

Making their debut on a Mazda is a new heads-up display and the new MZD smartphone integration system on most models. MZD includes embedded apps such as Stitcher, Aha and Pandora to rival Holden’s MyLink and Ford’s Sync systems, and can read aloud text messages, emails, plus Facebook and Twitter updates. 

Mazda has had a taste of being number one in sales in Australia, and likes it -- which is hardly a surprise.

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Knowing an all-new Mazda3 was due in 2014 Mazda Australia retaliated by persuading its head office that the global unveiling of the Mazda3 should rightly be held in Australia.

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New 3 ushers in what Mazda calls i-Active Sense -- code for driver assist features like smart city brake support, auto brake function, blind spot monitoring, pedestrian safety system and a host of other technology designed to either avoid a crash or minim

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A five star crash rating is assured.

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The Mazda 3 arrives with a choice of two naturally aspirated four cylinder petrol engines and two transmissions.

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The 2.0-litre is capable of an impressive 5.7-litres/100km fuel economy (a 25 per cent improvement) while the 2.5 consumes 6.0.

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There's MZD-Connect, with a driver info-zone featuring the latest generation connectivity system for entertainment and information. The audio has digital radio as well as internet streaming, Aha and Stitcher internet radio, Facebook and Twitter.

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Power outputs are 114kW/200Nm for the smaller capacity engine and 138/250Nm for the larger.

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Fuel saving i-Stop is fitted as is push button start on some models. Both transmissions are six speed, both optimised for efficiency and compact size.

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The suspension geometry is calibrated for local driving - the "rest of the world" setting from the factory which translates into sporty, linear, controlled and responsive. Other dynamics are similarly selected for local consumption.

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All models share the same calibration and both engines run on 91 octane fuel.

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The 2.5 has excellent performance and feels more planted than the smaller engined car for some reason.

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It's smoother and quieter and looks striking in the metal, inside and out.

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Noise and vibration is minimal even at high engine revs thanks in part to aerodynamics rated as low as 0.26Cd.

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The small car segment had better look out because there's a new Mazda3 just around the corner that will likely show them all up.

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Looking similar to a slightly scaled-down Mazda6 in sedan form and a bit Alfa-ish around the tail on the hatch, the new Mazda3 brings with it a rash of advanced technology including one of the better multi-media systems in a car in this price bracket.

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This is a ground up new model from Mazda with the full gamut of efficiency optimised SkyActiv technology.

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Not one part is shared with the current model. The car is the same length as the current model but has a longer wheelbase, is lower and wider.

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PRICING AND RANGE

Pricing before on-roads increases by just $160 for the base $20,490 Neo model, and the hatch and sedan continue with equal pricing for either body style. The previous Maxx Sport, diesel MZR-CD, SP20, and the hot MPS models have made way for Maxx and Touring, and the bigger-engined SP25 adds GT and Astina trim levels to top off the range. Fans of the Mazda brand may recall the Astina name from previous Mazda 323 models, where it was last used to signify five-door versions before the first 3 arrived in 2003. 

The 2014 Mazda 3 lineup will be petrol-only for now, with the previous SP20 model’s 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G now sporting 114kW/200Nm and exclusive to Neo, Maxx and Touring grades, and the 138kW/250Nm 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G from the CX-5 and 6 limited to the SP25 models. Both petrol engines are available in six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions across all variants, with automatic models commanding a $2000 premium.

ECONOMY

The move to new-gen Skyactiv engines and transmissions, plus the standard 'i-stop' stop/start system has seen official fuel consumption figures drop by as much as 30 per cent over equivalent outgoing models. Automatic 2.0-litre sedan models are rated at 5.7L/100km combined, and just 6.0L/100km for the 2.5-litre auto sedans. Manual sedan models use 5.8L/100km with the 2.0-litre engine, and 6.5-litres with the 2.5. The slightly less aerodynamic hatch uses 0.1L/100km more across all models aside from 2.5-litre manuals, and all figures are achieved using Regular 91RON unleaded.

FEATURES

Mazda expects the base 2.0-litre Neo to account for around half of Mazda 3's overall sales, and will come equipped with power windows, air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth phone and audio and keyless ignition. Owners of the previous 3 Neo may however be disappointed to hear that the new model reverts to 16-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers compared with the previous Neo’s 15-inch alloys.

Maxx models add a leather steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake, paddle shifters for automatics, the 7-inch MZD system with satnav, six-speaker audio, a reversing camera, and 16 inch alloys. Touring models gain leather trim, dual-zone climate control, an overhead console, and auto headlamps and wipers.

The SP25 steps up to its namesake 2.5-litre engine, plus proximity keys, a rear spoiler for sedan versions, front fog lamps, 18-inch alloys, but lacks the Touring’s leather trim and overhead console. The SP25 GT regains leather trim and an overhead console, and can be identified by its LED daytime running lamps and taillights, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, plus the heads up display, heated external mirrors, auto-dimming interior mirror, power driver’s seat, and nine-speaker Bose audio.

The top SP25 Astina models gain a sunroof, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision, lane departure and rear cross-traffic warnings, Smart Brake Support and Smart City Brake Support. All models benefit from a marginal reduction in weight thanks to greater use of high-strength steel, and torsional strength has increased by 30 per cent for hatch models, and 28 per cent for sedans.

Overall length is unchanged from the previous 3 at 4460mm for the hatch and 4580mm for sedan, while both models are 15mm lower at 1455mm, 40mm wider at 1795mm, and their shared wheelbase has grown by 60mm to 2700mm. Cargo capacity has reduced marginally for both body styles, with the hatch dropping from 340-308L VDA, and the sedan from 430-408L VDA, and continue to use a spacesaver spare. All 2014 3 models carry a braked tow rating of 1200kg.

The new 3 also introduces Mazda’s Service Select variable schedule and capped pricing plan, and comes with six airbags, ABS, stability and traction control and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating – but is yet to be rated locally by ANCAP. Added safety features under Mazda’s i-Activsense banner are available as a package on all bar the top Astinas (which already come so-equipped), which includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Smart City Brake Support.

2014 Mazda 3 hatch and sedan pricing
Mazda3 Neo 2.0 litre petrol manual - $20,490 (up $160)
Mazda3 Neo 2.0 litre petrol auto - $22,490 (up $160)
Mazda3 Maxx 2.0 litre petrol manual - $22,990
Mazda3 Maxx 2.0 litre petrol auto - $24,990
Mazda3 Touring 2.0 litre petrol manual - $25,490
Mazda3 Touring 2.0 litre petrol auto - $27,490
Mazda3 SP25 2.5 litre petrol manual - $25,890
Mazda3 SP25 2.5 litre petrol auto - $27,890
Mazda3 SP25 GT 2.5 litre petrol manual - $30,590
Mazda3 SP25 GT 2.5 litre petrol auto - $32,590
Mazda3 SP25 Astina 2.5 litre petrol manual - $36,190
Mazda3 SP25 Astina 2.5 litre petrol auto - $38,190