Mazda 3 sedan, a wallflower

Over the last couple of years, Mazda has been introducing a few new models to their line-up and while some has garnered much attention, the Mazda 3, however, is sadly not one of those models.

February 10, 2020

Ryno Fourie 2 minutes read

This is not, however, for a lack of trying instead it is, in my opinion, a lack of brand recognition in this segment.

Recently Autodealer received the keys to the Mazda 3 sedan in Individual guise and I took the opportunity to sample it. One of the aspects of Mazda vehicles I particularly enjoy is the fact that they are usually very close to the concept vehicles they reveal ahead of the launch. This was indeed the case with the Mazda 3 and again the design was well received by the media the world over. While the latest iteration retains the signature grille up-front, sleek side-profile and long taillights at the rear, it does resemble some a bit more Italian, a good thing in my books.

The interior also sees a new design language used and provided for a clean, comfortable and modern environment. Similar to the exterior the interior incorporates long swooping lines only to be broken up by the 8.8-inch infotainment screen atop the dashboard. This screen gains you access to the all-new Mazda Connect system which features two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The facia which continues with horizontal lines features the air-conditioning controls.

Grabbing onto the leather-clad multifunction steering wheel which allows for audio and cruise control adjustments I found driving the Japanese car to return a very compliant ride quality with cabin noises also minimal. The six-speed manual was soft and proved adequate for the 1.5-litre, petrol motor. Producing 88 kW and 153 N.m of torque and returning a 5.9-L/100km combined fuel consumption figure, it seems as though the 1.0-litre turbocharged motor in the Audi A3 30TFSI, might be a better option achieving slightly better torque and better fuel consumption.

Verdict
After my time with the new Mazda 3 sedan, I could not help but wonder why I am not seeing more of these cars on the road. When compared to the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra it does set itself apart with its higher-quality interior and standard features but then again it does have an almost R30 000 premium to those vehicles. While it remains around R30 000 less than its German competitors it seems to fade into the background like a wallflower considering how many make it onto our roads despite its value proposition.