2016 Mazda Mazda3 I Sport 5-door Automatic Reviews
- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
ii.0i, iv cyl.
- Engine Power
114kW, 200Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 5.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
6 Spd Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2016 Mazda 3 Review
The updated, 2016 Mazda 3 range brings some quality improvements to the tabular array.
- Actress condom equipment
- a number of small but worthy cabin improvements
- G-Vectoring system seems to work
- remains one of the about fun small cars to drive
- Neo withal lacks a reversing camera and touchscreen
- NVH levels lowered, but could be improve
- minor price increases understandable, but they're still increases
The current-generation Mazda 3 hatch and sedan range has received its most substantial update since launching in January 2014. The revised version of Commonwealth of australia'southward quaternary-about pop new vehicle is safer, more than dynamic and better value than before.
Despite a challenging modest car market, battling to stay even in the face of the medium SUV sales nail, the Mazda 3 remains the company's well-nigh popular and important car in Commonwealth of australia, given the fact it owns close to 20 per cent marketplace share in the small automobile course, though it now trails both the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 in sales.
We attended the Australian launch this calendar week in Brisbane, for a quick bulldoze.
The update to the tertiary-generation Mazda 3 could hardly exist called a facelift. Cosmetic changes are limited to a new nose design, led by a bolder new grille, and some dissimilar wheels. Higher-grade versions also become LED headlights (30 per cent brighter than halogens) with daytime running lights, and there are new grey and blue metal color choices.
Changes inside the motel are moderately more than substantial. At that place'southward a new steering wheel that looks the bee's knees, simplified instruments (depression-class versions still miss out on a digital speedo), and USB points moved to an easier-to-situate location in the centre stack instead of the console, cheers to the removal of the CD player.
All versions bar the base Neo get a revised tablet screen with Mazda's benchmark (in this course) MZD Connect rotary dial system and sat-nav, plus the welcome addition of digital radio. Top-spec GT and Astina versions get a better, colour heads-upward brandish too.
Unfortunately, the base Neo — which remains a meridian-selling offering in the range despite the proliferation of individual, rather than fleet, buyers — retains an former hat non-touchscreen interface with no reversing camera. It'southward outgunned at the bottom end, and though you can trounce out $650 to get a photographic camera in the rear-view mirror as an option, nosotros suggest stepping upward to the Maxx.
If we were cynical, we'd advise Mazda Australia doesn't really desire to sell Neos…
As you tin can read in our pricing and specifications story, prices on all bar the $20,490 (plus on-road costs) Neo variant have climbed slightly, but the value has improved by up to $1550, if you believe Mazda Australia'due south merits.
Pricing for both torso-styles climbs to $22,890 for the Maxx, $25,290 for the Touring, $25,690 for the more powerful but less well-equipped SP25, $29,990 for the SP25 GT and $33,490 for the SP25 Astina. All versions come with an car transmission for $2000 more.
The walk between variants is pretty reasonable. Mazda expects the Maxx to account for 40 per cent of sales, the Neo 30 per cent, the SP25 to make upward xv per cent, the Touring and SP25 both 10 per cent, and the Astina five per cent.
Every unmarried Mazda three at present gets democratic emergency braking (AEB) at low speeds, while the second-from-base of operations Maxx upward get AEB in reverse, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. In a higher place the range you can get traffic sign recognition and radar cruise command, putting the Mazda at the pointy terminate for active safety.
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Essentially, features that were once function of options packs are now standard. Only the Skoda Octavia could rightly merits to offering a competitive active safe package at the Mazda's price point, something for which the Japanese company must be commended.
Other motel changes are limited to smaller details such every bit a new electrical park restriction on college-terminate versions that allows the fitment of a nifty new set of cupholders with sliding cover, and the option of white leather on the GT and Astina. Good luck keeping that make clean.
Mazda makes a skillful cabin, and the 3 remains one of the more cohesive and classy offerings out in that location, with the exception of the sparse Neo. Everything is well-fabricated and appealing in a tactile sense, and offers an feel on a par with pricier cars.
Where the Mazda three has never been a leader is in practicality and infinite, the new one has more storage options (including superior door pockets). It remains one of the smaller cars in its class, and the back seats remains relatively tight next to the new Honda Borough, simply two adults can sit in comfort. Cargo space remains a relatively tight 308L on the hatch and 408L on the sedan, both with temporary spare wheels.
Things are quite different under the peel, though. Mazda'due south One thousand-Vectoring system makes its premiere here. This sensor-based organisation adjusts torque delivery to the front wheels in response to steering inputs, increasing load on the front tyre. In other words, it's like lifting off the throttle to transfer the car'due south weight.
The response can be greater straight-line stability on slippery surfaces, with fewer minute cycle adjustments necessary, plus greater mid-corner stability. We did back-to-dorsum slalom tests and found the new system fabricated the car much neater. Additionally, a high-speed sharp right-hander downhill in the new auto yielded less tyre squeal than the erstwhile car.
Is the difference marked? No, it isn't. Just it's a small and worthy alter that complements the Mazda's already balanced chassis, precipitous and accurate steering, and by and large good compromise betwixt dynamism and comfort. Firm, merely non uncomfortable.
Mazda has also inverse the forepart and rear dampers and bushings, besides every bit the rear cross-member and trailing link, and added sound-deadening materials to better a glaring weak signal — noise, vibration and harshness levels (NVH).
That said, over coarse-chip surfaces, the Mazda three is nevertheless not the final discussion in refinement, with tyre roar entering the motel to a greater caste than some rivals. When we go one for a longer time than our quick launch drive this calendar week allowed, we will practise decibel tests.
There are no changes to the engines. The Neo, Maxx and Touring get the 114kW at 6000rpm and 200Nm at 4000rpm ii.0-litre iv, and the SP25, SP25GT and SP25GT Astina get the 138kW at 5700rpm and 250Nm at 3250rpm ii.5-litre four. The 2.2-litre diesel engine selection has been axed on account of tedious sales.
Both engines, from Mazda's loftier-compression SkyActiv family, perform strongest at college engine speeds, with expert response higher up 3000rpm. Neither engine is overly refined or strong at the bottom end, though. The 2.0-litre is perfectly fine for urban commuting, but you lot can stretch the car'south outstanding dynamics better with the bigger unit of measurement.
Hopefully the CX-9's two.v turbo wth 170kW-plus joins at some indicate… The car could handle it easily, especially with a tricky unequal allocating torque betwixt the forepart wheels.
Most buyers opt for the six-speed automatic, but all come up with a six-speed manual too. The automated with paddles on sporty versions now comes with the sport button from the Mazda 2 and others, which program the gearbox to hold low ratios longer and kick downward more aggressively alee of corners. It works brilliantly.
All told, the revised Mazda 3 isn't any sort of quantum leap, but the outgoing iteration was pretty expert already. With the new-generation Hyundai i30 and Holden Astra on the horizon, the competition won't get any easier, but the Mazda's identify among the best is assured.
Information technology'southward still a fantastic little auto to drive, be it in city commuting or on a twisting forest road, and the extra safety equipment across the range is well worth the small toll hike. There's a reason why the stylish and fun Mazda remains the private-heir-apparent's choice in a fleet-heavy segment. There's now even more than reason to purchase 1.
Our choice? The SP25. You get MZD Connect, most of the fundamental active safety tech, and the superior 2.five-litre engine. Can't go incorrect.
Click the Photos tab for bigger images, predominately supplied by Mazda Commonwealth of australia.
Source: https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/2016-mazda-3-review/
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