Quick compact vastly improved
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — For Mazda Canada, no other vehicle in its stable is as important as the Mazda3 — it accounts for more than half of all sales. So reworking the crown jewel has to be done very carefully.
In redesigning the third-generation Mazda3, the stylists got it about as right as it gets — edgy without being over the top. As such, it’s a much sharper-looking car than the outgoing model.
The 2014 Mazda3 has a much stronger, more expressive and planted appearance. While the sedan looks like a mini-Mazda6, the Sport (hatchback) has a much tidier look from the side and back.
Regardless of trim level selected (both versions come in GX, GS and top-line GT) all inherit a full slate of Mazda’s Skyactiv technologies, aimed at improving handling and overall efficiency.
The Mazda3 grows significantly. Not only does the body’s stiffness jump, the wheelbase stretch by 60 millimetres to a long 2,700 mm and the car is 40 mm wider. These changes improve the handling and bring more interior space — the hatchback’s cargo capacity increases by 3.2 cubic feet. The Skyactiv technology allowed the upsizing while reducing its overall mass — on average, by 45 kilograms from its predecessor.
The Mazda3 arrives with 2.0-litre and 2.5L Skyactiv-G engines, both available with six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions. The entry-level 2.0L engine delivers 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque — enough to deliver an enthusiastic drive.
With 184 h.p. and 185 lb.-ft. of torque, the larger engine is stronger over its entire operating range. It pulls nicely in the low and mid-ranges without strain.
When the 2.5L engine is paired with the automatic transmission, it hauls the Mazda3 from rest to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and accomplishes the more important 80-to-120-km/h passing move in 5.3 seconds. Both are strong times that do not come at the expense fuel economy; the 2.5L engine with the automatic transmission is rated at 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, a considerable 2.0 L/100 km better than the outgoing engine.
Where the Mazda3 really impressed me was how it tackled the twists and turns running through the canyons northeast of Hollywood. There was very little body roll yet the ride was entirely comfortable. Likewise, the steering was sharp to the feel and perfectly weighted, which made corner carving a precise affair.
In the cabin, there’s a raft of new technology. One neat feature in the GT is a clear screen that rises up from of the top of the instrument binnacle — giving heads-up display capability.
The latest Mazda3 also adopts a broad array of safety technology — all part of the Technology package on the top-line GT.
The new car has been improved in every area — better looks, greater comfort, superior handling and decidedly perky performance. Throw in the vastly improved fuel efficiency, and Mazda has a recipe for success