At the beginning of 2018, I got a sneak peek at the fourth-generation Mazda3. Seeing the Mazda Kai Concept for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show blew my mind. It looked so beautiful.
When McLaren asked me to have dinner with the media a few days later, I met with business leaders and people in my field. When someone asked me which of the million-dollar hypercars or cars on McLaren’s stand was my favorite part of the Geneva show, I couldn’t think of one. What I did instead was respond to the Kai Concept. Following the first coronavirus outbreak, I persuaded my mother to sell her VW Golf and buy a new Mazda3 hatchback, which was the production version of that design. I was hooked.
I drove her car for many hours. I’ve always been interested in how the Mazda3 sedan would feel in comparison. What did I find? I drove the G25 Astina car for a week and liked it just as much as the hatchback.
There are cars and hatchbacks to pick from
There are a lot of different Mazda3 hatchback and sedan types in Australia, and they are all priced the same. The base price for the G20 Pure hatchback and car is AU$ 32,990 (~$21,700), and the price for the high-end G25 Astina is AU$ 47,147 (~$31,100). Prices for the G20 Evolve, G20 Touring, G25 Evolve SP, and G25 GT types range from AU$36,261 (about $23,900) to AU$43,084 (about $28,400). These cars are between the G20 Pure and the G25 Astina.
The engine comes in two different types. The base model has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is naturally aspirated and makes 153 horsepower (114 Nm) at 6,000 rpm and 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm. The G20 Pure, G20 Evolve, and G20 Touring all have this engine. The 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine makes 186 horsepower (139 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 186 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, which is great for people who want more power.
The Vision Technology pack costs AU$ 2,000 (~$1,300) and comes standard on the Astina. It can be added to any Mazda3 hatchback or car. This pack has a front cross-traffic warning, cruising and traffic support, front parking sensors, driver monitoring, a monitor with a 360-degree view, and a 10.25-inch infotainment display.
Decor and style for the inside
The car and hatchback look almost the same, with the only difference being their rear ends. Even though the hatchback is by far the most attractive car in its class, I’ve always thought the sedan looked less appealing because the back looked too high and wide. Overall, it looks beautiful, especially from the front, where you can see the big grille and the geometric headlights with angel-eye LED daytime running lights.
The inside of the fourth-generation Mazda3 has always been one of my favorites. The Hyundai i30 and Kia Cerato are their competitors, and their interiors don’t feel as high-end or well-made as the Mazda 3’s. It looks like something high-end. Even the most basic models often have beautiful leather controls that make the car look much more expensive than it is. The shifter, door panels, center console, and steering wheel all have soft-touch leather on the sides of the transmission tube.
The base model, the G25 Evolve GT, needs some features added, but the G25 GT and G25 Astina models are full of cool stuff. Some of these are a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen screen, heated leather front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Astina is the only car that has both a tilting glass sunroof and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
The Mazda3’s dashboard shows that the Japanese company is always paying attention to the driver and the little things. Since the front seats are low in the car, even tall drivers can find a good spot to sit. Also, the seat bolsters make the car very comfortable, and the steering wheel is very flexible.
The dark canopy and large C-pillars in the hatch may make the inside feel squished. The car, on the other hand, has much bigger back windows that let in a lot of natural light. The light-colored upholstery makes the car look nicer. It also has useful features like a wireless charger for smartphones, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The car’s entertainment system works the same way as the one in the hatch: a rotary dial on the console. The screen can now be used as a touchscreen, but this feature will only work when the car is stopped until 2024. It’s a shame that Mazda has kept covering the panel with black plastic pianos that are easy to scratch. The second row is tight, but it has more space than the hatch. Like the front seats, the back seats of the Astina are made of soft-touch black leather.
What drove them
Driving the Mazda3 G25 Astina is a great experience. The 2.0-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder Mazda entry-level car is a good choice for some, but it feels a bit weak in the Mazda3. With the 2.5-liter engine, you can’t say the same thing. On paper, the bigger engine has 25 kW (34 hp) and 52 Nm (38 lb-ft) more power, but it feels like it has a lot more. The G25 isn’t a fast hatchback, but it can keep up with the Hyundai i30 N Line and the Kia Cerato GT in terms of speed in a straight line. Both of these cars have 265 Nm (195 lb-ft) and 150 kW (201 hp).
This engine is a good fit for the eight-speed automatic gear, and power feels steady across the rev range. Two small plastic paddle shifters behind the steering wheel let you change gears by hand, but I mostly let the transmission choose the best gear. This eight-speed transmission isn’t designed for speed, so the shifts happen quickly but not quickly. Also, the engine and muffler make a nice sound, especially when the car is cold and starts up. They make a nice little burble.
The US model of the Mazda3 with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine is offered in Australia, but not there. It has 250 hp (184 kW) of power and 320 lb-ft (434 Nm) of torque. It makes the car more fun to drive by giving it more turning force than the FL5 Honda Civic Type R.
On the other hand, the Mazda3 G25 does a great job in twisties. Our test car has Bridgestone Turanza T005 tires that give a lot of feedback and good grip. This makes it easy to tell when you’re getting close to the limits of traction. Drivers will like the fact that the steering is stronger than that of other cars in the same class.
The best thing about the car is how smooth the ride is. Mazda did a great job making a soft and flexible suspension system that can quickly handle speed bumps and potholes.
In conclusion
I would buy a Mazda3 if I were in the market for a new car. Even though the Mazda3 sedan isn’t as stylish as the hatchback, it’s still the more useful and roomier choice. It shows that there are still some good options out there, even though cars are becoming less popular. It’s easy to tell which Mazda3 model is hot: get the hatchback. A car is a good choice if you want something useful.
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