Recently, Japanese car manufacturer Mazda has brought out a third-generation Mazda3 car. Its previous generation accounted for a third of the company’s global sales, so it has set the bar quite high for this new model.
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New Mazda 3 Hatchback
But is it going to live up to the expectations of the carmaker’s customers, or is it going to fail miserably?
Engine choice
The new Mazda3 is available with a choice of 4 engines: 3 petrol and one diesel. They are all mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and there is also the option of getting an automatic gearbox too (also six-speed). The engine range is as follows:
- 1.5-litre petrol – 99 brake horsepower, 119 g/km CO2 emissions;
- 2.0-litre petrol – 118 brake horsepower, 119 g/km CO2 emissions;
- 2.0-litre petrol – 162 brake horsepower, 135 g/km CO2 emissions;
- 2.2-litre diesel – 147 brake horsepower, 107 g/km CO2 emissions.
It’s a shame that there is only one diesel engine in this power plant lineup, but out of all the engines offered it is the best one to have, as you will be able to benefit from a healthy mix of performance and fuel economy; it only costs £20 a year to tax!
Mazda has done a good job at tuning their engines to be smooth, and you don’t tend to hear much in the way of engine noise in the cabin – although if you work the diesel and the 2.0-litre petrol engines hard, they can be heard inside.
What the Mazda3 is like to drive
Out on the road, the Mazda3 does a good job of gripping to the road despite any twists and turns that you may throw at it. The steering is pretty light and spot-on around town but out on dual carriageways and motorways it feels a little too light.
General handling is good, although you’ll still be aware of bumps on the road; it won’t ever become a painful experience, even with the optional 18-inch alloy wheels.
Road noise isn’t too bad when you are sitting inside the Mazda3, although at high speeds you can hear the wind whistling through the door seals.
Interior
The cabin is spacious throughout, and all drivers are accommodated thanks to the driver’s seat and steering wheel adjustments available. When you are sat up front, you will be able to easily navigate the various controls on the dashboard as they are all clearly labeled.
In-car entertainment is accessed via the seven-inch touch-screen color display which is located on top of the dashboard, alternatively, it can be accessed from a controller that is installed between the front seats.
There is a whole host of features and gadgets, such as two USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity, and the top-of-the-range models feature dual climate control.
Throughout the car, there is plenty of headroom and legroom wherever you sit. The boot has a 364-litre capacity, and if you need to transport a lot of cargo somewhere you can always fold the back seats down.
