2021 Mazda 3 vs 2018

What's the difference?

Granted. The Mazda3 X20 Astina is an expensive mainstream-branded hatchback from Japan. This is not your aunt’s BJ 323 Protégé Shades.

Still, as with all the current-series BP 3s, the fundamentals are spot on – evocative design inside and out, obsessive detailing, superb quality, progressive engineering and delightful dynamics – in a safe, practical, reliable and brilliantly efficient package to boot.

We understand that, for some people, the X20 Astina strong but silent-type personality may be too understated. But the fact remains that it is a graceful yet forceful and fast grand touring hatchback when called upon, with all the athleticism and sophistication that implies.

Mazda’s hype around the Skyactiv-X powertrain promised Wonder Woman but the Diana Prince we have instead still makes it a marvel. Maybe you should hold on a little longer and wait for the more powerful model expected imminently. Either way, you’re in for something special. The 3’s controversy rages on.

The 3 is a terrific car and continues to improve with every yearly update, however minor. The uplift in the Neo Sport may not look like $1000 worth, but having that proper screen and reversing camera - along with standard AEB - starts to make sense over time.

In 2017, I said the pick of the range was the Maxx and I still reckon the Maxx Sport is the one to go for - it has a good package of safety equipment and a sensible spec list, without the frippery of the increasingly oddly priced Touring. The not-that-much-more SP25 is similarly specified, but only worth it if you want the extra power. Not everyone does.

The new i30 and forthcoming new Corolla are giving the Mazda3 more of a hurry-up these days, especially in price and spec but the i30 now has the driving dynamics to go with it. And with the Kia Cerato rapidly closing in, every little bit of competition is making the 3 a better car than before.

And it's still by far the best-looking car in the segment. For many, that's what will tip them over the edge.

Here’s where the Mazda3 really starts making up ground.

Love it or hate it, the BP-series’ design is a statement of huge ambition, melding a svelte coupe-like silhouette with a broad stance, sinewy surfacing and startlingly pared-back detailing.

This is the brand’s boldest-looking small car since the 1993-1998 BA Astina (Lantis/323F/Allegro/Artis elsewhere) – a five-door coupe styled by an ex-Porsche designer involved with the 924, 944 and 928. Disclosure time: your author bought a ’96 1.8 manual recently and is in love with its styling.

Anyway… with hints of those as well as the epochal Alfa Romeo Alfasud, the latest Mazda3 looks like a million dollars – handy for a company wanting to move up in society – and so deserves to go down in history as one of Mazda’s bravest moves.

From a functionality point of view however…

The 3's exterior design is still a winner to my eyes. Based on Mazda's Kodo design language, it looks great in just about any colour and the company's commitment to beautiful paint some years ago is still paying dividends.

It's a lovely, flowing design that looks best in the sedan and few cars in the segment are as genuinely pretty. About the closest you'll get for commitment to design is the Alfa Giulietta.

As you climb the range, the detailing in items like the lights and brightwork mark out the spec level, with additions like chrome exhaust tips and LED daytime running lights.

The range is available in seven colours - 'Sonic Silver', 'Jet Black', 'Deep Crystal Blue', 'Titanium Flash' (a sort of bronzey brown), 'Snowflake White' and 'Eternal Blue'. Mazda continues to be absurdly generous and offer those colours as no-cost options. 'Machine Grey' and 'Soul Red Crystal' (this one is a ripper) are a still-reasonable $300.

Unlike previous versions, there's no yellow or purple paint available.

Inside is well-executed but is a bit grey and drab, especially in the lower-spec versions. I recently drove a Touring with contrasting colour panels in the doors, but it was a deep rich red that barely stood out from the grey. 

Some touches, such as satin silver dash parts, do lift the colour a little but it's fairly nondescript. Mazda also persists with the frustrating single-dial-with-wings dashboard that I really don't like very much. Still, few others complain, so it's probably just me.

Here’s the deal. Mazda3 sales have been steadily declining globally, as with most small cars – because people no longer want low-riding hatchbacks when high-riding crossovers like the Nissan Qashqai cost barely anymore yet allow their drivers to lord it over others.

So, it makes sense that Mazda decided to make the newly-created CX-30 as the practical, jacked-up version of the 3, while the hatch became the sleek and interesting coupe-like alternative that said something about its driver. Mazda hasn’t said actually said as such, but it’s patently clear that this is a painstaking, design-led exercise.

Coupe-like. That means a comparatively low roofline, making entry/egress a stoop-forward affair. Actually, though, the 3’s not too bad, and is still quite painless to move in/out of. 

But not as painless as the smooth, soothing and stylish shapes of the dashboard. Flowing, integrated and minimalist in appearance, it’s as strong a design statement as the exterior. It’s also proudly Japanese in flavour, texture and intricate quality. As we’ve observed in the recent past, luxury European brands cannot achieve this level of aesthetics and craftspersonship at the Mazda’s price point. Just look at a base A3, A200 or 118i and their Les Mis levels of austerity. The Astina continues to close the gap.

Just drilling into some of the 3’s interior details, the driving position is first class.

Thoughtful ergonomics, plenty of adjustability from the steering column and seat, arguably the greatest steering wheel in the business today due to its large, thin rim and classical three-spoke visage that’s just a delight to behold, and perhaps the most beautiful analogue-like digital instrument dials at any price point. Crisp, clear and pared back, you might imagine if Saab was still around this is what you might find in.

As we’ve mentioned in other reviews, the dials and surrounding air vents are reminiscent of the latter 944/968-era Porsche equivalents in their presentation. Gorgeous. So are the head-up’s colour data display, nifty little paddle shifters, stubby little auto gear lever (with the ‘+’ a pull-back action and the ‘–’ downshift a light push forward) and oiled tilt/telescopic column adjustment.

We’re talking about a range that starts from $26K here, folks!

Our $41K Astina’s red faux-stitched vinyl dash covering further provides a classy contrast to the smooth plastics and metal finishes peppering the cabin.

Keeping in mind this is a traditionally proportioned two-box C-segment hatchback, there’s sufficient space for four people, and a fifth at a squeeze. The front seats are well padded in the cushion, supportive in the backrest and fine even after hours behind the wheel. We must mention, too, that having a passenger seat-height adjuster is great. There’s ample space to stretch too. Storage is excellent, as is ventilation and the way everything is put together, and the overall sense and ambience is of premiumnness.

Much the same applies in the back, with a split/fold rear backrest that offers a comfy angle, while the cushion is also well padded. Knee room is fair, but headroom isn’t great if you’re tall, as the falling ceiling line reveals. Most amenities you’d expect are present back there, such as face-level air vents, access to USB charge points (located in the big bin between the front passengers), a folding centre armrest, cupholders and useful door pockets.

However, a few design-related flaws may irritate some people. Like the ultra-thick door pillar that limits the size of the back-door windows, creating elephantine blind spots for some passengers. It’s a bit gloomy back there as a result, and that’s not helped by some of the lower-lying plastic trim that are fine in a $30K hatch but seem a little cheap compared to an A3’s.

And then there’s the multimedia technology, which hasn’t been keeping pace with the latest offerings from other brands. Where is the wireless phone charger, WIFI hotspot and rear-seat USB ports? Passengers must lean forward and fumble with one of the two outlets sited up front, with ungainly cords getting in everybody’s way. And the sunken 8.8-inch widescreen is not big enough nowadays and already looks and feels dated in its operation.

Finally, there is the meagre cargo capacity. At just 295 litres, it might embarrass the Corolla hatchback’s 217L item, but it is roundly beaten by almost every other competitor. The aperture to put stuff in is large enough, with a long and wide flat floor that of course is extended when the 60/40 backrests are dropped, but the rake of the hatch and height of the load area eat away at those precious litres. The spare is a space-saver item underneath.

Overall, then, the interior is an aesthetic success and the limitations are there for everybody to see the moment they first climb inside – poor rear-seat vision, multimedia-related shortcomings, low roof line when exiting the back and that smallish boot.

Yet the Astina’s richness inside is obvious. Nobody will sit here and think they’re in a mid-ranking Corolla competitor. Not until they see the Mazda badge anyway. 

The 3 comes in two body styles - four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. The most popular is the shorter hatch, despite the loss of luggage capacity. The different boot space dimensions deliver 308 litres in the hatch while the sedan has 408 litres. For load capacity, the sedan is the clear winner.

The hatch's boot size isn't exactly a world-beater but it does feature a cargo cover to hide your valuables.

The interior dimensions are unchanged, meaning good if not outstanding rear leg room. The cabins are basically the same, so if you refer to our interior images, you'll note only minor differences.

The cup-holder count differs depending on which specification you choose. The Neo Sport has just two, for the front passengers. In the rest of the range there are two up front and two in the rear, with bottle holders in each door as backups. Some models feature extra storage space for books or devices but there's no sunglass holder until you reach the Touring.

The turning circle is a fairly standard 10.6 metres, so most suburban streets need a three-point-turn manoeuvre. Park assist is limited to beepers and the reversing camera.

Ground clearance when unladen is 160mm, so all but the steepest driveways won't present a challenge, but going off road is not on the menu. Kerb weights range from 1258kg for a Mazda3 manual Neo to 1336kg for an auto Astina.

Gross vehicle weight ranges from 1800kg to 1875kg.

How much does a Mazda3 cost? The price list spans $21,490 through to $35,490 and encompasses five models in the range, two engines and two transmissions. These prices are RRP, you'll have to attack your dealer for a drive-away price or wait for a promotion. To compare models in detail, see our snapshot guide. As always, pricing is identical whether you choose the sedan or hatch variant.

All Mazda3s are now front-wheel drive - it's been a long time since Mazda sold an AWD car at this level. Of course, if you do want a 4WD Mazda, you're spoilt for choice with the small CX-3 and mid-size CX-5. If you must have a turbodiesel Mazda, your best bet is the forthcoming CX-8. 

Even sadder than the lack of a 4x4 version is the absence of rear-wheel drive, for which you have to stretch back into the 1980s to find a 323 that was rear driven.

With the Neo Sport upgrade, Mazda's full infotainment system is on all 3s. It used to be one of the better entertainment systems but is starting to lag a little. 

You can't fault its usability, with touchscreen when you're stopped and a rotary dial with shortcut buttons for when you're on the move. 'MZD Connect' also powers the GPS navigation system (where fitted). The USB port will handle your iPhone or Android phone and will look after MP3-compatible devices too. Remember them?

The entry-level machine is now called the Neo Sport to reflect the bump in specification over the 2017 model.

Up to the SP25, the sound system features six speakers. The GT and Astina each feature nine Bose-branded speakers, including a subwoofer.

There is no 'radio CD player', DVD player, or CD changer available any more and, frustratingly, you still can't get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

There are five trim levels, two of them newly renamed. The entry-level machine is now called the Neo Sport to reflect the bump in specification over the 2017 model. Starting at $21,490 for the six-speed manual transmission (vs $23,490 for the automatic transmission), the MY18 price is up by $1000. 

That buys you standard features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, trip computer, air conditioning, push-button start, electric power steering, central locking, projector-style halogen headlights, rear parking sensors, reverse camera (new to the entry level), 7.0-inch MZD Connect touch screen, cruise control, lightly tinted windows, automatic door lock, a power window in each door and mirrors and a space-saver spare tyre.

The Maxx Sport builds on the Neo Sport's spec and is also a new badge to the range. Priced from $23,490 for the manual and $25,490 for the auto (both up $600), you get the same size rims, but you pick up dual zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, leather steering wheel, auto headlights, electronic park brake (replacing the manual park brake), gear-shift paddles, the first appearance of sat nav and additional safety features in the form of reverse AEB, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

The last of the cars with 2.0-litre power is the Touring. With just a modest $200 price rise, the Touring starts at $25,490 for the manual and $27,490 for the auto, the Touring picks up leather seats and keyless entry and start (smart key).

The 2.5-litre range starts with the SP25, with the manual starting at $25,990 and the auto $27,990. The SP25's spec is somewhere between the 2.0-litre Maxx Sport and Touring, but you get LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels (Mazda jumps straight over 17-inch alloys), twin exhausts, and the leather disappears and is replaced by perfectly reasonable cloth trim. Prices are up by $300 for 2018.

For the GT ($29,990/$31,990, manual vs automatic), you pick up leather seats, heated folding mirrors, adaptive front lighting system, traffic-sign recognition and driver-attention detection. The sound system jumps to nine speakers and the dash gets a swanky colour screen between the dials.

The top of the range is the SP25 Astina, starting at $33,490 for the manual and $35,490 for the auto. The Astina ships with everything the GT has but ups the ante with plenty of safety gadgets. 

In addition to the sunroof, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, active cruise control and rear light LED. The bright finish 18-inch alloys and LED daytime running lights complete the picture.

There is also a the 'Kuroi Sport Pack' body kit, which adds side skirts, a front spoiler, and a very modest rear diffuser, while keeping the rear wing spoiler.

Neither the SP25 GT nor Astina have copped a price rise for MY18.

The extensive accessories list includes alloy pedals, cargo liner, floor mats, cargo trayroof rack kit, tow bar and welcome lighting.

There is also a the 'Kuroi Sport Pack' body kit, which adds side skirts, a front spoiler, and a very modest rear diffuser, while keeping the rear wing spoiler.

No Australian 3 comes with a full-size spare, heated steering wheel, homelink, autopilot, HID or bi xenon headlights, panoramic sunroof, carbon-fibre roof, carbon-fibre engine cover, driving lights, roof rails, bull bar, nudge bar, seat belt extender, sport exhaust system, red brake calipers, performance brakes, chrome wheels, limited-slip differential or a luxury pack option.

The X20 Astina is powered by a 1998cc 2.0-litre supercharged twin-cam four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 132kW of power at 6000rpm and 224Nm of torque at 3000rpm.

It drives the front wheels via a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, with an 8.6 second time to 100km/h, on the way to a 216km/h top speed (in European-spec models). There is also a six-speed manual available, though not the all-wheel drive offered elsewhere.

The combustion process is what’s different to the regular 2.0-litre engine on which the Skyactiv-X is based upon.

Dubbed Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI), it means the engine switches between normal spark ignition to diesel-like compression ignition combustion, by using a spark to trigger both types of combustion at different times during the fuel injection process – lean during the intake stroke and atomised fuel around the spark plug during the compression stroke. The Rootes-style supercharger, meanwhile, is there to boost low-speed response, not to reel in Honda Civic Type Rs.

There’s also the integrated starter generator and 24V lithium-ion battery – the latter stores regenerative brake energy to power the former – to help save fuel.

There are two engine specs in the 3 range. Both are equipped with Mazda's 'i-Stop' stop-start technology but goes without the 6's 'i-Eloop' regenerative braking battery charging tech. Every model comes with a choice of gearbox, either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The automatic is a traditional auto rather than the dual-clutch you might find in a Golf.

Both engines run on standard unleaded, use a standard oil type. Oil capacity is model dependent, and can be found in the owners manual. An oft-asked question is whether the 'SkyActiv' engine uses a timing belt or chain - we can report the engines are both chain-driven.

The Neo Sport, Maxx Sport and Touring all come with the 2.0-litre SkyActiv with 114kW and 200Nm of torque.

The SP25, SP25 GT and SP25 Astina are, as the name suggests, equipped with the larger 2.5-litre motor which churns out 138kW (almost exactly 200 brake horsepower in the old money) and 250Nm.

Towing capacity is rated at 1200kg braked and 600kg unbraked regardless of engine size.

The diesel vs petrol argument has long since been settled with the demise of the punchy but not particularly popular XD. So you won't have to worry about a diesel particulate filter replacement any more. There is no LPG or turbo sport edition, like the unruly old MPS3 performance car.

Performance figures vary between the two engines - the SP25 auto should complete the 0-100km/h acceleration test in just under eight seconds, with the 2.0-litre cracking it in around nine seconds. The manuals will likely be a tenth or so slower.

OK, so far, so good. But does the X20 Astina deliver diesel-like fuel economy?

The answer is… sort of. We drove ours in searing summer heat, air-con on, and always more than one person driving, mostly around the city and suburbs, but also out on the open road, and with some very spirited performance testing.

Mazda’s tests show the X20 averaging an official figure of 5.5 litres per 100km, for a carbon dioxide emissions average of 135g/km, while we managed a pretty good 7.9L/100km at the pump. Past tests with diesels produced similar numbers, when the regular petrol equivalents were in the high 8s and up. We’d consider this a qualified success given the demanding conditions it was subjected to, but not the panacea some of the company’s hype would have us believe.

Note, too that the X20 must drink 95RON premium unleaded, though the cheapest petrol around at the moment – 94 RON E10 ethanol – is fine too.

Fitted with a 51-litre tank, over 925km between refills is possible.

Fuel-consumption figures vary slightly between the models. While the 3 has never been a fuel-economy star, as years have gone by its mileage has improved.

Official figures suggest that the 2.0-litre burns petrol at 5.8L/100km for the auto and 5.9L/100km for the manual, while the 2.5-litre consumes 6.1L/100km for the auto and 6.5L/100km for the manual.

Our own statistics suggest these ratings are a little on the optimistic side, which is no great surprise. We regularly get about 8.0L/100km in the 2.0-litre (a neat 12.5km/l) and around 11L/100km for the 2.5 (around 9km/l).

Fuel-tank capacity is 51 litres, regardless of engine size, and there's no need for premium fuel.

As I've already said, Mazda doesn't offer an oil-burner anymore as diesel fuel economy just isn't the drawcard it used to be.

Any doubts surrounding the latest Mazda3’s ability to compete with upmarket European alternatives should by now be fading, given the Astina’s design, engineering and safety.

For the most part, the good news keeps on coming on the road as well – but a level of expectation management is required if you’re expecting a supercharged hot-hatch performer, because this simply is not that sort of car.

Mazda makes a lot of noise about how much quieter and more refined its vehicles are even compared to the last generation released in the mid-2010s. This is no more obvious than in the Mazda3, with an interior that is as quiet and as isolating as the best of them. We’re talking Golf and Lexus, if you need reminding.

However, this may cause some disappointments in other areas, because the X20 Astina is almost shy about the way it delivers its substantial performance.

The powertrain is surprisingly smooth and hushed for a Mazda engine that thrives on revolutions to perform, with an effortless flow to the way the car sets off and accelerates. In fact, the X20 launches off the mark with quite a bit of urge – and without lag or hesitation from the eager transmission – building up speed quickly.

What is missing is the turbo wallop of, say, a Golf TSI or Focus EcoBoost engine. Instead, there’s a very definite groundswell of performance. Like its non-X siblings, the 3’s 2.0-litre atmo engine relies on revs for power, but in the X20, usefully more torque seems to come on stream at the same time, so once on the move, throttle response is really willing and able. Certainly, stronger than that 0-100km/h time of 8.6s suggests. And you don’t need to visit the red line and endure the regular 2.0-litre’s metallic howl as a result. Get used to squeezing the accelerator in the mid ranges, and you’ll realise just how fast this can be.

Mazda has already released an uprated X20 specification in Japan, raising the power and torque outputs to 140kW and 240Nm. If punchier and more dramatic performance is the upshot, then we’d welcome that. The Skyactiv-X’s charms blossom with familiarity.

If the Astina’s power delivery is nuanced, its handling is delicate, with steering that’s light yet measured and involving, providing accurate and flowing roadholding that remains consistent and controllable even as speeds rise. Bumps don’t faze the suspension, which just sticks gamely to the road. The Mazda walks a fine line between being luxurious and feeling sporty, with an unruffled agility that’s very satisfying for keen drivers to explore.

Earlier, we said the cabin is remarkably quiet – and not just by Mazda standards. That MacPherson-style front/torsion beam rear end might seem simple on paper, but it manages to provide a civilised and sophisticated ride. Some of the bigger bumps reveal a slight firmness to the chassis tune, but the car isn’t crashy or loud around town, simply gliding along with confidence and ease.

Where the Mazda3 loses some of its edge is in its poor rear vision, which can make parking it in tight spots a little harder than it needs to be. There aren’t the clear views out of most urban SUVs, making the latter’s ascension in the sales charts understandable.  

That’s the price of that coupe-like silhouette.

These days the 3 jostles at the head of the pack for driving dynamics. The MY17 model scored Mazda's new 'G-Vectoring' technology, which subtly sharpened the steering. This, along with tweaks to the front and rear suspension, has delivered a driving experience that is hard to fault. While it would be nice to have a bit more performance (the SP25 is still no fireball), it's fun to drive if you have a bendy road ahead of you.

Most of the time, though, you're in the urban grind and it is here that the 3 excels. The steering is light, accurate and  cleverly geared. The auto is a good one and even in town the light clutch of the manual makes progress easy and unfussed. Forget about the Eco mode, though - it's doughy and slow.

Over the years, Mazdas in general, but in particular the 3, have suffered from poor insulation, resulting in road noise invading the passenger space. 

Past reviews of mine, and many others, will rail against the cabin noise. Things have gotten better and continue to do so. Where in the past occupants would suffer from tyre rumble and a cacophony of suspension noise, particularly from the front, that's no longer the case. 

The noisy suspension issues have been sorted in various ways across the whole Mazda fleet and the 3 is now a much quieter, if not class-leading, proposition. But it does come close.

One of the 3's standouts is the availability of AEB across the range, and a reversing camera has now been added as well. All cars come with a minimum suite of safety features, comprising six airbags (including side airbags), anti lock brakes (or ABS), electronic stability control (aka DSC), a clever traction-control system, emergency brake assist and hill-start assist.

As you work your way up the range, you'll see additions such as traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, rear cross traffic alert with reverse AEB, forward collision warning and lane assist.

There are three top-tether baby seat anchor points while your ISOFIX car seat can go in a choice of two points.

Curiously, there's no tyre-pressure-monitoring system.

Regardless of specification, the Mazda3 scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating, which was awarded in August 2016.

Mazda offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as well as roadside assistance on all Mazda3s, as well as capped-price servicing, scheduled at every 12-month or 10,000km intervals.

Published online, the prices for the X20 vary between $344 and $374 annually, and are listed for up to 16 years/160,000km. Note, however, that additional scheduled maintenance items that must be replaced or attended to will increase that price as the vehicle ages.

Mazda offers a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with roadside assist subject to an additional yearly charge. So if you're worried about a flat battery or running out of fuel, the extra $90-$100 per year is a good investment. You can also purchase an extended warranty from your dealer.

Those worried about service costs will be pleased to know Mazda offers capped-price servicing. Your dealer expects to see you every 10,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first, and the prices are listed on the Mazda website, varying slightly between between engine types (by about $30 per service).

The 3 enjoys good resale value, with a check of our price guide suggesting a 2014 Neo will fetch between 65 and 75 per cent on a private sale, suggesting you'll have few issues when you need to shift a second-hand machine.

From what I've seen of older 3s, durability seems pretty good, even when in the hands of people who aren't all that careful with their cars. The 3 seems to suffer from few reliability issues. A quick swing through the usual internet forums uncovered no obvious common faults or defects. A search for automatic transmission problems, injector or transmission failure or other common problems yielded few genuine results. If you keep up with the maintenance, things seem fairly trouble-free for the current 3.

Diesel-engine problems are clearly a thing of the past, with no diesel offered.

Where is the Mazda3 built? An excellent question - all 3s come from Mazda's Japanese factories.