Feeling at home in Mazda’s lux interior

Attention to detail is evident inside and out, says Carmel Stewart

Amid the plethora of allelectric, plug-in/self-charging hybrids silently making their way into the showrooms, it should not be forgotten that there a still a few very efficient, economical and stylish combustion powered vehicles out there.

One such is the latest Mazda 3 with an upgraded 2.0 litre e-Skyactiv X engine with increasedtorqueandps–that’s bhp in old money. Torque is up by 16Nm to 240Nm and ps by 6 – making it 186ps kicking in at 4000rpm.

The e-Skyactiv X bit is Mazda shorthand for its updated Skyactiv engine which now burns petrol even more efficiently – producing more power but with fewer emissions thanks to its Spark Controlled Compression Ignition(SPCCI).Tuckedaway out of sight is mild hybrid software which speeds up the engine management system for ultra-smooth acceleration.

So that’s the techie aspect dealt with but, truth to tell, most buyers won’t ask about the technology behind the engine. Most will want to know about economy – max 61.4mpg (average 54.3mpg); emissions – 118g/km; top speed – 134mph; and price £24,805 – although the range starts at £21,805 for the 122ps engine.

On the road the good news continues – the new Mazda3 being an absolute joy behind the wheel with excellent road holding, finely tuned suspension and responsive steering.

But what really makes this car a driver’s delight is Mazda’s terrific six-speed, short throw manual gearing – flattering the average, encouraging the expert and pleasing the inbetweener.

In terms of body style, the Mazda3 is available as a sporty hatchback or a sleek saloon (tested) and offers nine trims ranging from the entry-level SE-L to the GT Sport Tech. An auto transmission is available on all bar the SE-L.

As with all Mazdas, the 3 is well put together, with a spacious quality, five-seat interior, a 60:40 rear seat split and a decent sized boot – up to 1,026 litres in the hatchback with the seats down.

The cabin has been given special attention in line with Mazda’s Jinba-Ittai philosophy – all to do with creating a connection between car and driver which boils down to making sure every time you get behind the wheel you feel at home. And that is certainlythecase.Everythingis exactly where you’d expect it to be with nothing hidden in awkward, hard to reach places. The driver’s seat and steering wheel are readily adjustable so that the balance between the two is just right.

Mazda has also ensured the seat design, cabin lighting, arm rest, central console set-up and position of the cup holders will improve driver comfort. It has even tweaked the location of the gear stick, flattening the top and sides of the manual shift to make gear changing more intuitive.

Cruise control, rear parking sensors and heated/power fold mirrors are all standard,

as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, eight-speaker entertainment system and Bluetooth.

A small step up to SE-L Lux addsfrontparkingsensorsand an excellent reversing camera.