2014 Mazda 3 Reviews

There's no more important model to Mazda than its biggest selling model, the small-medium Mazda3. And there's no more important country to Mazda than Australia. Of the 3.8 million Mazda3s sold worldwide since its 2004 launch almost 10 per cent have come downunder. Along the way, the '3 shot to the top of the

Mazda is a brand that can do little wrong at the moment.

It's been a fave, and the third-generation Mazda 3 has the goods to regain top spot.

The new version of Australia's favourite car among private buyers has arrived. The third-generation Mazda 3 is being unloaded at dealerships, and not a moment too soon.

Luke Madden reviews the Mazda3.

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

With more than 3.5 million vehicles sold in the last 10 years the Mazda 3 is extremely important to the Japanese carmaker, no more so than in Australia where the ‘3 has been number one for the past tw

Picture this. A deserted canyon road on the edges of the desert in California. A lone eagle wheels high overhead, a squirrel bounds crazily across the road as the sound of a car approaches.It comes roaring around the corner, engine revving, tyres squealing, the driver struggling to maintain contact with the road, travelling much too fast for comfort. No. It's not a Corvette, nor a Porsche nor for that matter any of the likely European candidates - just a humble Japanese hatch.But humble is perhaps not the right word because this the latest Mazda3 has what it takes to mix it with the best, certainly better than anything else from the Japanese and at least the equal of the ubiquitous Golf. Impressive. That's the word that springs to mind.New from the ground up, the third generation Mazda3 lobs here late January at the earliest and for Mazda it probably won't come a moment too soon as it struggles to hang on to the 3's crown as Australia's best-selling car.It's too early to hit the panic button yet but the figures show Toyota's evergreen Corolla outsold Mazda3 for the first time in many months in June, with the excellent Hyundai i30 so close behind it must feel the Korean's breath on the back of its neck.VALUENo word on the price of the new Mazda3 yet, apart from the fact it will not be $19,990, the run-out price for the current model. Mazda reckons it's better than that, a “game changer” and new benchmark for the small car segment, it says.But take a look at the opposition and you can bet your bottom dollar the figure won't to be too far from any of them, with Pulsar priced from $18,990, Corolla and Lancer from $19,990, Civic from $20,490 and the i30 from $20,990 - with the base model Golf kicking off from $21,490.We're tipping Mazda3 will be priced from $20,990, with at least three grades from which to choose - although prices, grades and equipment levels are all still to be finalised. Set the price too high in this segment, no matter how good the car might be, and it would be tantamount to shooting yourself in the foot.TECHNOLOGYMazda has resisted the trend to smaller, force-fed engines. It believes it can achieve the same if not better results using existing engines, which avoids the weight and complexity issues added by turbos. The car will be offered with a choice of two engine at launch, the Skyactiv G 2.0-litre petrol engine and the new Skyactiv G 2.5-litre petrol engine. The chassis, body and indeed every part of the car have been engineered to work in harmony, with the overall weight reduced by 70kg.The 2.0-litre option produces 114kW of power and 200Nm of torque while the larger 2.5-litre power plant has an output of 138kW and 250Nm. They are the same engines that can be found in the CX-5 and larger Mazda6 models and will be paired with either a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission.A diesel model will follow later, but there's no word on when and the jury is still out on the MPS performance model - we're told it's way down the list of priorities. Fuel consumption for the 2.0-litre engine is estimated at 5.7 litres/100km and for the larger 2.5 engine, 6.1 litres/100km. These figures have been achieved without the i-ELOOP system fitted to cars in the States, deemed too costly for our market. This means no brake energy regeneration and no front air intakes that open and close automatically to improve air flow. We will however get automatic engine stop/start that cuts fuel consumption.DESIGNIt was penned by the same Japanese bloke who gave us the CX-7. The all-new Mazda3 is a totally new design, from the ground-up , with an emphasis on Mazda's flowing KODO `Soul of Motion' design theme and a suite of Skyactiv fuel saving technologies.With its long bonnet and upright radiator grille the hatch looks for the all the world like a lowered, scaled down version of the CX-5 or the Mazda6 in the case of the sedan which will be launched at the same time. The low nose is said to express a sense of forward motion while the headlights resemble the sharp eyes of a predator. A sense of speed is also conveyed by the roof spoiler at the rear along with the sleek, compact shape of the tail lights.The long bonnet that dominates the design was in fact necessary to accommodate the new exhaust manifold, an integral part of the Skyactiv improvements. The car's wheelbase is 60mm longer and it is 40mm wider and 15mm lower than its predecessor. But the hatch is the same length and the sedan just 10mm longer. The tradeoff is less luggage space in the boot, both in the sedan and hatch.SAFETYWe'd be surprised if it didn't get five stars, but Mazda is still to confirm how many of its new safety systems will be offered with the car. Smart city braking and blind spot awareness have been confirmed, but things like lane departure warning and radar cruise control are still up in the air. Likewise we don't know yet whether all grades will get a reversing camera or even whether the entry level model will get alloy wheels (we predict not).DRIVINGWe drove all three variants of the hatch this week in California: manual and automatic versions of the 2.0-litre petrol model as well as the larger 2.5-litre model that comes only as an automatic. Unfortunately, the cars were all pre-production models and the much hyped multimedia system with its tablet-like touchscreen interface was not enabled in any of them. Maybe they'll have a separate launch for it?The heads up display was working however and displays a digital version of the car's speed along with other information on a plastic screen that sits above the dash, much like the system pioneered by Peugeot. The car displayed an amazing amount of grip on the winding canyon roads that we encountered and remained controlled and composed at all times even when pushed very hard.The manual is light and easy to use and the auto transmission is quick, but perhaps not as quick as VW's dual clutch box, as claimed. It is however smoother and more refined, a feature that most drivers will probably value more.The electric steering system is another highlight of the car, light but communicative, with good turn into corners. The 2.0-litre model with the manual change is fun to drive, the 2.0-litre with auto less so - but the 2.5 with its extra torque stands out, with gear change paddles and a sport button offered for the first time. We got tired of chasing the change paddles around the wheel on the seemingly endless canyon roads, but the sport button with a more aggressive gear change pattern performs exceptionally well.VERDICTA worthy successor to the current Mazda3. It's styling is different but just as distinctive. This is an extremely important model for Mazda as it represents up to 50 per cent of all sales. Ride and handling is impressive, but we'll have to wait and see how it fares on Aussie roads with different tyres before passing final judgment.Mazda3On sale: Late January 2014Price: From $20,500 plus on-road costs (estimated)Engines: 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol enginesPower: 114kW and 200Nm (2.0) and 138kW ad 250Nm (2.5)Transmission: Six-speed automatic and six-speed manualConsumption: 5.7L/100km (2.0), 6.1L/100km (2.5)Service intervals: 10,000km, six monthsWarranty: Three years/unlimited kilometresFull-size spare: NoSafety: Six airbags, stability control. ANCAP safety rating TBA 

Japanese cars have a reputation for being boring. European cars typically take the kudos for styling flair.That means small-car buyers are usually faced with a choice between a dull and dependable car -- or a four-wheeled fashion statement that might conk out in the middle of an intersection.Mazda, made and designed in the land of the Rising Sun, has been trying to bridge that gap with the past two generations of its Mazda3 small car. With the new, third generation model, however, it may have cemented the great divide.The new Mazda3 looks like an Alfa Romeo from the outside, a BMW from the inside and has Audi-like instruments. It is possibly the most the most Eurasian car to date -- not just in the way it looks but the way it feels and drives.That’s because it is new from the ground up. Rarely is a car deserving of the description “all-new”. Customarily at least some of the parts or engines and transmissions are carried over, sometimes for decades. But every major component in the new Mazda3 is new. It means engineers got a rare chance to start with a clean sheet of paper.It’s the main reason the new version of the Mazda3 finally has the technology and fuel economy it has sorely lacked (which, incidentally, hasn’t affected its appeal among buyers who voted it Australia’s top-selling car for the past two years in a row).Nevertheless, the new model can’t arrive soon enough. The Mazda3 has been overtaken in the new-car sales race by the Toyota Corolla in the past two months. The new model has the makings of another top-seller, but will it have the price?“This car needs to be a winner for us and we believe it will be,” says Mazda Australia boss Martin Benders. “We are yet to confirm pricing, we are still on our hands and knees negotiating with Japan.” Mazda has foreshadowed a possible price rise from the current RRP of $20,500 plus on-road costs (however you can buy a runout model today for $19,990 drive-away).“Price is not a key issue for this car,” said Benders. “Plenty of people want it. You won’t see a $19,990 price on the new model. It is a step up and it will get the price it deserves. We think this car is going to reset the benchmark in the small car segment.”Mazda will announce price and equipment details closer the car’s on-sale date in late January. Our guess? Expect touch screen navigation, a rear view camera and social media connectivity to appear on all but the most affordable models.The new version of Australia’s favourite car will be able to read out email messages, Facebook and Twitter updates and tune into 40,000 internet radio stations via a new smartphone app called Aha.To combat the potential for driver distraction the new Mazda3 will also be available with a radar system that automatically slams the brakes in slow-moving traffic if the driver does not brake in time. Such technology has typically been exclusive to luxury cars but its availability on a mass-market vehicle will likely reignite debate driver distraction technology.However Mazda’s chief product planner says the new levels of connectivity will not distract drivers. “More and more people would like to enjoy while driving, but in the worse case they are looking at their smartphone,” said Ryuichi Umeshita. “In order to minimise that distraction we are showing that information in the car.”The email and social media functions are displayed on a screen in the centre of the dashboard. Mazda says it deliberately chose not to display “non-driving” information in the heads-up display that is reflected in the driver’s line of sight. “We believe it would be more dangerous to show that information all the time,” said Umeshita.Mazda says it has taken other safety measures, too. Most of the social media functions can only be controlled by voice when the car is on the move -- or via a touch screen on the dash when the car is stopped.The new super-efficient 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre engines slash fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent (from 8.2L/100km to 5.7L/100km for the 2.0-litre). But, as we would discover, the 2.0-litre is the more impressive and perkier engine.The heads-up display is rather rudimentary. Luxury cars reflect the speed into the windscreen but the Mazda3 reflects the image into a small plastic panel, similar to that used by Peugeot. It’s still effective, and a welcome feature on Australia’s strictly enforced roads.Other gadgets such as radar cruise control, blind zone warning, cross traffic alert and headlights that illuminate corners bring the Mazda3 up to par with some European rivals.The new Mazda3 might have a European flavour but it was designed in Japan and then showcased to the world for approval. In non-technical terms, it got two thumbs up. The sleek shape is slightly lower and shorter than before -- and boot space in the sedan and hatch is slightly smaller -- but the interior roominess is unchanged.The aerodynamic lines help it slip through the air (0.255cD for the sedan and 0.275cD for the hatch, for the technically minded) at freeway speeds. The interior is particularly impressive, with good quality materials and a precise feel to the Audi-like dials.But it’s not perfect. The centre screen on the base model looks like a cheap remote control from the 1980s (according to the pictures, none were present at the media preview). And the door pockets only have enough room for one bottle of water each.Six airbags, stability control and a foreshadowed five-star safety rating. Mazda will build different strength bodies for different markets but the company says Australia will get Grade A versions. However, the variation in body strength does highlight the potential for anomalies when viewing overseas results for ANCAP crash test ratings.The new Mazda3 is predictably a big improvement on the current model, particularly in terms of refinement and presentation. But on first impressions it doesn’t challenge a Volkswagen Golf for overall feel, comfort, quietness and driving dynamics.The Mazda’s 2.0-litre petrol engine is surprisingly more impressive than the so-called sportier 2.5-litre petrol engine available in dearer models. The smaller engine feels perkier than the 2.5 from low revs. On first impressions I wouldn’t stump up the extra cash for the dearer and bigger-engined version.Unusually, the 16-inch Yokohama tyre package on the base model was more fidgety at low speeds on what appeared to be smooth roads. When we mentioned this Mazda was quick to point out that Australia will get different tyres to the ones we drove on.The sporty 18-inch Dunlop tyres on the 2.5-litre model tested felt more cushioned and compliant (typically low profile tyres are too firm). But we may not get these tyres either, so probably best to not put too much weight in handling impressions until we drive it locally.The engines might be a little underdone in order to achieve super-low fuel economy numbers, but the new Mazda3 will be a surefire sales hit regardless. It has the style, quality, technology and enough driving flair to distance itself from other Japanese and South Korean cars. Just not quite enough to topple Europe’s best.

New Mazda3 is due in Australian showrooms in late January but we've just driven it on the outskirts of Los Angeles.First impressions? It's more Euro-Asian than ever before, both in the way it looks and drives.The key things current Mazda3 owners probably want to know:-- it's quieter and more fuel efficient than before-- it is loaded with technology such as Pandora and Aha (opening up 40,000 internet radio stations on the high grade models)-- some models wil be able to read out email and social media messages-- top end models have auto emergency braking and radar cruise control-- Australia-bound Mazda3s don't get the regenerative braking technology that's on the Mazda6 and was recalled for possibly catching fire-- the suspension on the 2.5-litre models is softer than before but the base model feels firmer and less comfortable-- the so-called sporty 2.5 litre engine is disappointing, but the 2.0-litre in the base model is surprisingly perky (by small-car standards)-- the visibility isn't as bad as we were expecting, despite the tapered roofline-- the boot is slightly smaller in both the sedan and hatch-- both models are slightly smaller on the outside but inside roominess is the same