Mazda 3 Hatchback

Overview

Known for its cars which are equal balance of style, performance and technology, Mazda has been recently very active in making SUVs, considering the fact that the segment of SUVs is at an all-time high in terms of popularity. However, the manufacturer has not forgotten its basics altogether, which is why it still has the other category of cars in their updated forms, with the Mazda 3 being one of them. The Mazda 3 is currently available in both hatchback as well as sedan form, with the former being the flagship hatchback in Mazda’s lineup in the Philippines. The Mazda 3 is available in two engine options – a 1.5-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre petrol, both of which come mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard. The Mazda 3 is being offered in a total of three different variants – Skyactiv V, Skyactiv R and Sport, and with six color options – Soul Red Crystal, Sonic Silver, White Pearl, Jet Black, Eternal Blue and Titanium Flash.

Interior & Features

On the inside too, the Mazda 3 takes its contemporary appeal in a forward direction, thanks to the cabin layout and fit and finish levels, which ooze quality and modernity at the same time. The overall cabin sees no difference from its sedan counterpart, thus making it feel much more premium than that of the competitors.

The three-spoke steering wheel with round theme and silver elements at the lower portion and chunky buttons make you feel that you are holding the steering wheel of a much more expensive car, a feeling which only gets stronger when you see the instrument console past the steering wheel, which is a three-pod TFT panel with amazing backlit patterns and centrally placed tachometer.

The generous use of silver on the door panels and the thick strip of silver flowing at the center console dividing the trapezoidal shaped central AC vents and panel for automatic climate control, make the cabin look subtle and not overdone. The pop-up style 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system too look nice and comes integrated with all the modern supports for audio system, reverse camera and navigation, which only gets better with the top-end Sport trim getting a total of 9-speakers from Bose. Other features which make the Mazda 3 feel premium include LED fog lamps, sunroof, leather upholstery, 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, electronic parking brake, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering, cruise control and push-button start with keyless entry.

In terms of space, the Mazda 3 has got a generous amount of legroom considering the fact that the wheelbase has been shared with its sedan version. However, given the coupe-like roofline which this hatch version gets results in a small amount of headroom.

Exterior

In recent years, Mazda has been making some really beautiful looking cars, and the Mazda 3 falls in line with this latest philosophy from the company. The low slung and stretched long profile of the car, along with beautiful curves on all the sides, make the Mazda 3 look contemporary from every angle. The overall design has been shared with the Mazda 3 sedan version till the C pillar, post which it takes its hatchback form.

At the front, the Mazda 3 has got a wing shaped front fascia, which consists of a large low-positioned diamond shaped front grille, with eyebrow-shaped headlamps adjoining the upper corners of the front grille with the help of small but thick chrome elements. The subtle use of chrome on the grille, along with the LED elements for main headlamps and daytime running lamps make the front look very eye-catching and modern.

The side profile of the Mazda 3 is full of sharp curves flowing all the way from the front bonnet to the rear tail lamps, making the side of the Mazda 3 look far from boring and makes the car look exciting and athletic. The door mounted rear view mirrors add to the sportiness of the side profile of the Mazda 3.

At the rear, the Mazda 3 looks very different from its sedan counterpart, as post the C-pillar, the car takes a different form. The aerodynamically styled rear spoiler, along with sleek looking tail lamps and high positioned opening for the boot lid makes the car look sporty yet elegant.

All in all, the Mazda 3 is meant to make heads turn, with its low slung and curvaceous profile making it one of the most gorgeous looking hatchbacks all over the world.

Ride & Handling

The Mazda 3 gets the regular MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link beam at the rear, which along with Mazda’s very famous G-Vectoring control technology, make the overall ride quality supple and precise. The overall driving dynamics is excellent, with precise steering and large 18-inch alloy wheels coming into the play, with the base variant’s 16-inch alloy wheel too not bad in this ability of the car.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Mazda 3, in its hatchback version, gets two engine options. The base Skyactiv V variant sources its power from a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol motor which produces 110 PS of power and 144 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the other two more premium variants get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol motor under their hoods, which are capable of belting out 153 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque.

Both the engines feel rev-happy and refined. Both the engine options are coupled to a standard 6-speed automatic gearbox, which does get sport mode for the additional boost in performance in higher gears. The higher two variants also get Mazda’s renowned i-stop idling system and i-eloop regenerative braking system in order to make it as fuel efficient as possible.

Braking & Safety

The Mazda 3 comes loaded with some really nice safety features, which usually were present only in some more premium positioned cars erstwhile. The car does come equipped with front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS, Dynamic Stability Control, front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera and blind spot detection.

Verdict

When it comes to design and premium appeal, there is absolutely no fault one can find in the Mazda 3, which along with the number of comfort and convenience features it gets, make the car look very desirable. The engine performance too is subtle and the car comes packed with some very appreciable technologies.