An impressive duo
BERMAZ Motor has recently refreshed its Mazda CX3 and Mazda6 line-up with improvements to styling, performance, efficiency and comfort features.
Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX3 has managed to collect many accolades since its introduction in Malaysia in 2015, which includes the 2015 Red Dot Design Awards, the 2016 and 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the 2016 World Car Design of the Year Finalist, the 2016 CarSifu Best SUV (Crossover Compact), the 2016 ASEAN Crossover Car of the Year, the 2017 DSF.my/Allianz Vehicle Design of the Year, and most recently the 2018 Cars of Malaysia Top Crossovers.
Now, this freestyle crossover has been updated, retuned and refined to deliver greater elegance, better driving performance and efficiency and is priced on-the-road without insurance at RM121,134, while being available in six colour options of Soul Red Crystal, Ceramic Metallic, Machine Grey, Deep Crystal Blue, Jet Black Mica and Snowflake White Pearl.
Externally, the Mazda CX-3 has been refreshed with subtle exterior changes that heightens the senses for better quality and elegance thanks to the new front grille design with double chrome slats, redesigned sharper rear tail lights and wheel design.
Interior enhancements include an updated dashboard with new red accents on the air conditioner louvres and the inclusion of an electronic parking brake that helps free up storage space for the new centre console and armrest.
Other updates include the front seats that have been redesigned for greater comfort and support, and a new rear seat centre armrest with built-in cup holders as well as improved noice, vibrations and harshness (NVH) thanks to the thicker door panels, outer glass and headliner door seals for a more refined and quieter cabin.
In terms of vehicle dynamics enhancements, the suspension was retuned for a smoother ride, and the power steering and chassis recalibrated for a swifter and a more enjoyable Jinba-Ittai (horse and rider as one) driving experience.
The new CX-3 is equipped with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0L mated to a SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift and sport modes as well as its innovative G-Vectoring Control (GVC) technology and i-ACTIVSENSE dynamic safety features such as Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
Mazda6
The newly redesigned and fulMazda6 ly-imported incorporates premium details and technologies based on Mazda’s human-centric development philosophy and is available in three variants, starting with the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L (sedan only), SKYACTIV-G 2.5L (sedan and touring) and a diesel-powered SKYACTIV-D 2.2L (sedan only).
The 2.0L petrol sedan is priced at RM156,190, 2.5L sedan (RM189,698), 2.5L petrol touring (RM193,472) and 2.2L diesel sedan (RM197,401). Prices are zero-rated GST without insurance.
All variants are paired to a SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-
speed automatic transmission with manual-shift and sports mode, along with Mazda’s GVC technology, while being made available in seven colour choices of Snowflake White Pearl, Sonic Silver, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray and Titanium Flash.
The Mazda6 has been refined with significant exterior changes, which includes a new front grille,
LED headlamps, wheels and front bumper with air vents for better aer- odynamic performance that channels air to the front tyres.
At the rear, the new Mazda6 features new chrome accents, a sharper rear lamp design and tailpipes positioned closer to the outer edges of the vehicle.
The chassis has been further reinforced, and the suspension has been further redesigned for a smoother and more enjoyable ‘Jinba-Ittai’ driving experience, before installing thicker door panels, outer glass, headliner, and door seals to further improve its NVH levels.
Inside, the cabin receives comprehensive interior refinements that include a widened dashboard design, a higher placed and enlarged 8.0inch MAZDA CONNECT infotainment display for better visibility and a colour Active Driving Display (heads-up display - HUD) for the 2.2L (diesel) and 2.5L variants only.
The front seats have also been enhanced, becoming wider and now forms a more natural S-shape, much like the human spine, to help improve comfort and reduce fatigue and has also installed a sinrear gle USB port in the centre armrest that’s additional to the standard cup holders.
For safety, the new Mazda6 has been endowed with the company’s latest 360-degree View Monitor as well as i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technology that includes Driving Attention Alert, which ‘learns’ the drivers behaviour at speeds above 65kph and warns the driver if abnormal driving patterns are detected,
Also included is the Smart City Brake Support Rear (SCBSR) - only available in the 2.2L (diesel) and 2.5L variants, which helps to precollisions vent low-speed when the driver is reversing.
But, if the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, the driver will be alerted and the brakes will engage automatireduce cally to the severithe
ty of collision.