Mention Mazda and most folk will likely think of the ubiquitous MX5. No surprise there, the original mk1 practically reinvented the modern day sports car and has been a stalwart of the affordable enthusiasts market ever since. However, its more mainstream hatchback and saloon models are somewhat less prolific, something Mazda is hoping the new 2017 generation of the 3 will help to rectify.
No easy task mind, up against the segment sales leaders, Ford Focus, VW Golf & Vauxhall Astra, it needs to be good. And it is. First impressions are positive, it’s a smart (if not exciting) looking thing and definitely sharper than the previous model. Cars in this sector usually play it safe from a design perspective but the fact that the 3 is a rarer sight also helps it to stand out from the crowd a wee bit.
The interior is well screwed together, with a decent mix of materials and a refreshingly uncluttered design – a rare thing nowadays. With the ever increasing amount of tech fitted to cars, the button count (and their subsequent placement) often seems to be an afterthought. Here all the controls are well placed and intuitive to use, easily passing the ‘I can’t be bothered to read the manual’ test. However, it is all a bit dark and sombre inside, thanks to everything being various shades of black. Some lighter colours or a panoramic roof would help with that.
The infotainment system is excellent. Easy to get to grips with and simple in operation, either via the touchscreen or the rotary control dial in front of the central arm rest. Navigating your way around the various functions – phone, navigation, audio etc. quickly becomes second nature, and the all-important iPhone connectivity works well. A significant improvement over the equivalent Ford system, although the display does look a bit ‘aftermarket’ not being fully integrated into the dash. The Bose hi-fi is also commendable and certainly a lot better than those fitted to many rivals. The Sat Nav has a couple of issues though. Firstly the voice guidance has a touch of 80’s voice synthesiser sound to it, the movie War Games springs to mind. I was half expecting it to ask ‘Shall we play a game?’. More annoyingly, when giving directions it doesn’t decrease the stereo volume. Instead the music is muted from the right hand side speakers and replaced with the navigation instructions, while the music continues at the same volume through the left hand side. Which is fine unless you’ve cranked up the volume to enjoy your tunes of choice, at which point any directions are inaudible.
As well as the in car entertainment system and Sat Nav, it comes with dual zone climate, heated seats, DAB, cruise control, parking sensors, reversing camera and a head up display. While it’s great to have a car that is fun to drive and engaging, for a daily driver like this, a few toys are good to have to make the commute a nicer place to be.
The revised range includes four trim levels (SE, SE Nav, SE-L Nav and Sport Nav), and four engine options. Two 2.0 petrols with 119 and 164 bhp, and 1.5 and 2.0 litre diesels producing 104 and 148 bhp respectively. With diesels seemingly falling out of favour nowadays, the 119 bhp petrol Sport Nav spec of the test car is probably going to be a popular choice.
When it comes to the driving, it’s generally all good news as well. Ride quality is a decent balance between comfort and enjoyment. Handling is neutral and predictable, but it is also up for being driven enthusiastically. What was a nice surprise is that the pedals are well spaced for heel & toeing, (well for me at least). Although I doubt it’s the first thing the target audience will be considering, this along with a precise gear change and large, central rev counter give the impression that driving enjoyment was a consideration.
The 119 bhp petrol engine of the test car is a little lacking though, especially if you’re used to torquey diesels. It’s fine for day to day driving duties but should you want to have a bit more fun, its modest power is apparent. It needs a decent amount of revs to get going and then starts to sound a bit strained once over 5K. Probably not something which would trouble the average buyer though and the upside is some respectable fuel economy. I averaged mid-high forties without really trying too hard, and not too far from the official combined figure of 55.4 mpg. At motorway speeds, road and wind noise are more intrusive than ideal.
Overall, the Mazda 3 is up there with its main rivals in many areas and definitely worthy of consideration. Additionally, the foundations are there for a potentially great performance version with a hotter engine and a touch more involvement. A new MPS model anyone?
Mazda 3
PRICE: £21,045
ENGINE: 1998cc 4-cylinder
POWER: 120 PS
TORQUE: 210 Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 121 mph, 0-62 mph 8.9 secs
CONSUMPTION: 55.4 mpg (combined)
CO2: 119 g/km
TT Rating:
