The new generation Mazda 3

Despite a new car market shedding almost 20 per cent of year-on-year sales — and running at a monthly rate comparable to that of 2003 — Mazda is refusing to look beyond what it sees as a silver lining for any company with product and vision.

“There is no doubt that the current situation is challenging,” Mazda Australia boss Doug Dickson says, “but we are looking on it as an opportunity to move forward. If you just pull down the shutters and hope it is all going to go away then there is a very real danger that when you do have another look it will be too late.”

In that time the Mazda3 has sold more than 2,000,000 examples world-wide, making it the company's most successful model ever, and with 164,000 sold in Australia to the end of March it has been the mainstay of the company's local success.

Changes

Mazda says the new car is slightly larger yet more fuel-efficient — ranging from 7.9L/100km to 8.6L/100km across the range — and boasts greater torsional rigidity and consequent better noise, vibration and harshness levels.

To a great extent the company has adopted an “if it isn't broke don't fix it” approach with the popular small car.

There are some noticeable design changes to the front grille to improve air-flow and engine efficiency and a sharpening of the overall styling but it all happens without taking away the car's recognisable profile.

Mazda3 Neo

The latest iteration of the Mazda3 has hit the local market with a starting price of $21,990 for the Neo 6-speed manual (add $2060 for the 5-speed automatic), a claimed $100 under the pre-runout sale price of the previous model. The Neo comes in both sedan and hatch models with a 108kW 2-litre four-cylinder engine, standard electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist. There are only two airbags fitted as standard but a further four are offered as part of a $500 safety pack.

Also standard on the base car is metallic paint, power mirrors and windows, air-conditioning, trip computer, rake and reach adjustable steering wheel, pollen filter and MP3 compatible stereo with single CD.

Mazda3 Maxx

The mid-range Maxx adds side and curtain airbags as standard for $24,990 in manual mode, $1500 below the previous model's normal recommended retail price. Replacing the 15-inch steel wheels on the Neo are 16-inch alloys while a six-stacker CD with steering wheel-mounted controls is also standard.

Mazda3 Maxx Sport

Move up to the Maxx Sport for $27,690 and satellite navigation, fog lamps, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob, and Bluetooth join the standard equipment.

At the top of the tree, at least until the arrival of the hero MPS in August, the $30,690 SP25 gains the 122kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder to go with 17-inch alloys, an aero body kit, dual-zone climate control, driver's seat lumbar adjustment and wheel-mounted shift paddles with the optional automatic ($2260).