Mazda 3 Sedan

The Mazda 3 Sedan competes against C-segment sedans, mainly the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Altis. What makes the Mazda 3 stand out is the quality of materials and attention to detail, giving the car a more upmarket feel than its rivals. There are 3 variants for the 2019 Mazda 3 sedan – 1.5, 2.0 High, and 2.0 High Plus. Prices start from RM 139,620 to RM 160,059.

All-New Mazda 3 Now In Malaysia, Yours From RM 139,770

In Brief: All-new Mazda 3 2019, the price you pay for beauty

Design

The Mazda 3 is the first model to embody the second generation Kodo design philosophy of ‘less is more’. And the result is a cleaner, more sculptured look compared to the previous generation.

Lighting

LED headlights and taillights are standard across the range. Daytime Running Lights are LED on the range topping High Plus variant, while the rest are bulb type.

Wheels

The High Plus variant wears 18-inch wheels wrapped with 215/45 tyres, lower rung variants wear 16-inch wheels with 205/60 tyres.

Dashboard

The upper dashboard is not as squidgy as typical soft touch materials, but feels high quality nonetheless. The middle section is wrapped with soft leather that goes around the cabin through the doors.

Space and Practicality

Like other Mazda models, the space inside is adequate rather than spacious. Two 6-footers sitting behind one another would struggle for knee room. Though storage spaces are well thought out with a large centre storage space that can be partitioned, two cupholders in front of the gear lever and decently sized door pockets.

Boot

Despite having a rear torsion beam suspension, boot space is not as large the Honda Civic’s, which has a 519-litre boot space compared to the Mazda 3

Sedan’s 444-litre. However, the shape of the boot is rather square, making it easier to arrange items.

Comfort features

High and High Plus variants get dual-zone automatic climate control and 10-way power adjustment with memory function for the driver seat. Standard features include auto dimming rearview mirror, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment and head-up display.

Safety features

7 airbags, stability and traction control are standard on all variants. On High Plus variant, it features i-Activsense which includes:
Adaptive Front-Lighting System
Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Lane Departure Warning System with Lane Keep Assist and Driver Attention Alert
Smart Brake Support – Front and rear
Mazda Radar Cruise Control

Infotainment

All variants get an 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There are 8 speakers in total; audio is crisp and clear, while there is no boominess in the bass region, it lacks weight and depth.

Engine

Mazda offers 2 engine options for the Mazda 3 – 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre. Both are naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engines, the 1.5-litre makes 118 PS/152 Nm while the 2.0-litre makes 162 PS/213 Nm.

Transmission

All engines are paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Drivetrain

Power is sent to the front wheels.

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Acceleration

The Mazda 3 completed the century sprint in 9.9 seconds as tested.

Engine performance

Torque delivery is linear and strong even at lower rpm, which makes daily driving an ease. And the linear delivery continues throughout the rev range; it doesn’t push you back in the seat, but the speed climbs effortlessly.

Transmission performance

Arguably the highlight of the powertrain. It downshifts when going up an incline even when the throttle position is maintained, holds the gear through corners and when driving enthusiastically.

Steering and Handling

Steering ideally weighted for all situations, striking a fine balance between sportiness and ease of driving. And the most impressive part is, there is feedback from the steering wheel when going over rough surfaces, giving drivers the feeling of connection with the road.

The GVC+ feature helps with smooth driving, managing weight transfer through corners and body roll is relatively minimal. 

Sound proofing

Sound insulation is much improved over the previous generation Mazda 3, and is now the among the quietest in the segment. At 110 km/h, the sound level meter recorded an average of 68 dB.

Passenger comfort

The suspension is on the firmer side but still able to maintain composure when going through broken surfaces. Front seats are sculptured in a way that maintains the natural body posture and it is evident, back and thigh is well supported. Rear seats can be a little upright to some, but they are supportive like the front.

Fuel consumption

As tested, the Mazda 3 returned 7.6-litre/100 km over mixed driving conditions. 

The Mazda 3 Sedan speaks to your emotions rather than the rational mind. Because the rational mind would point out the steep price and tight cabin, and direct your attention to the Honda Civic.

But if you love driving, love the feeling of being connected to the car and the road, appreciate an upmarket interior, willing to sacrifice a bit of space and pay the premium, then the Mazda 3 Sedan is the perfect car for you.