Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 95

N

ow in its fourth iteration
since 2004, the Japanese-
built Mazda 3 hatch and sedan
series is nowadays a wholly
more upmarket proposition,
trespassing on the Volkswagen
Golf’s turf.
Pricing starts from $24,990
for the 114kW 2.0-litre Pure
six-speed manual. A six-speed
automatic adds $1000.
Safety is a highlight, with
blind-spot monitoring, forward
obstruction warning, lane
departure alert, lane-keep assist,
active cruise control with full
stop/go, rear cross-traffi c alert,
traffi c sign recognition and driver
attention warning. These come
on top of autonomous emergency
braking, tyre pressure monitoring
and seven airbags.
Add sophisticated infotainment
with Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto connectivity, digital radio
and navigation, plus digital
instrumentation, a head-up
display and rain-sensing wipers
to the usual spec of rear sensors,
reverse camera and 16-inch
alloys, and it’s clear that the base
model is hardly bare bones.
The Evolve, priced from
$26,690, boasts dual-zone air
(with rear face-level vents),

higher-quality trim and rear

armrest, while the G20 Touring,

from $28,990, adds leather,

keyless entry and a powered

driver’s seat with memory.

The gutsier and better-

specifi ed 139kW 2.5-litre model

range includes the $29,490

Evolve, the $33,490 GT (with

heated front seats, mirrors and

sterring wheel, Bose audio and

leather) and the fl agship $36,990

Astina, with front cross-traffi c

assist, adaptive LED headlights,

surround-view monitor, front

sensors, automatic acceleration

and braking in heavy traffi c),

driver monitoring and sunroof.

The extra kit helps justify

premium pricing, but what

elevates the latest Three is its

presentation and noise/vibration

suppression, addressing a long

time bugbear with the model.

The dash oozes minimalistic

chic, with instruments

reminiscent of Porsche’s

best, switchgear feel to bother

Audi, ergonomics on a par

with VW and materials quality

a Mercedes owner might

admire – and all within a roomy,

comfortable and practical cabin.

On the fl ipside, rear-seat entry/

exit access and poor rear vision

result from the sloping roof

and shallow glass, while cargo

capacity is less than most rivals

(but better than Corolla hatch).

While the Three’s naturally-

aspirated four-cylinder engines

are smoother and quieter than

before, both require a determined

right foot if they’re to feel as

powerful and perky as their lower-

displacement turbo rivals. Once in

the higher rev bands, the Mazdas

are indeed rapid, and are probably

travelling faster than expected

due to their far-more hushed

characteristics, but greater low-

end punch would be appreciated.

Mazda will add its new

Skyactiv-X engines to the Three

by the end of 2019. These are

the world’s fi rst production

petrol engines with compression

ignition – a la diesel – and

Mazda claims they offer the

best performance and economy

characteristics of both fuels.

The chassis can certainly handle

more power, given the steering’s

balanced, fl uid responses, allowing

for effortless, clean cornering.

Similarly, the (controversial) shift

from a multi-link independent rear

suspension system to a torsion

beam arrangement has not come

at the expense of either dynamic

control or ride comfort, retaining

the Three’s reputation as a real

driver’s car.

All up, then, the latest Three is

perhaps Mazda’s greatest small

car in generations, taking huge

strides forward as a dependable,

quiet achiever. It’s certainly worth

paying extra for, and a likeable

alternative to premium German

hatchbacks such as Audi’s A3

and the Mercedes A-Class. At the

mid-$20K pricepoint, test drive

the Three back to back with the

VW Golf and take your pick. Both

are exceptional cars.

By Byron Mathioudakis

MAZDA 3 FROM $24,990

THINGS WE LIKE

 Quiet, refi ned, stylish cabin

 Superb handling and roadholding

 Excellent build quality

 Well equipped

 Long list of standard safety

features

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Sluggish bottom end and midrange

performance compared with turbo

rivals

Hatch’s small boot

Access to rear seat restricted by

sloping roofl ine

Rear legroom not as generous as

class best

Poor reversing vision

SPEX (Pure 2.0)

Made in Japan

2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol/six-

speed auto/front-wheel drive

114kW of power at 6000rpm/200Nm

of torque at 4000rpm

0-100km in 8.5 seconds (estimated)

5.3L/100km highway; 7.8L/100km

city; 91 octane; CO2 emissions: N/A

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Seven airbags, stability

control, AEB, adaptive cruise

control with stop/go, lane keep

assist, traffi c sign recognition, auto

high beam, blind-spot monitor, rear

cross-traffi c alert, rear parking

sensors, reverse camera, tyre-

infl ation warning, dual-zone air,

navigation, digital instrumentation,

head-up display, digital radio, Apple

CarPlay/Android Auto, 18-inch

alloys and a space-saver spare

Redbook future values: 3yr: 53%;

5yr: 43%

Safety

Not yet tested

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



STARS

compare with ...

Ford Focus, Holden Astra, Honda

Civic, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato,

Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla,

Volkswagen Golf