Remarkable model also remarkably good?
The new Mazda 3 brought a breath of fresh air to the C-segment at the end of 2018. The model kept people busy. Is it beautiful and daring or has Mazda overplayed its design hand? The balance seems to be positive, because since 2007 Mazda has never sold as many 3’s in a year as the new model. Are there any other notable things besides the sensational design? The floor belongs to the owners.
Several times owners quote the design of the car. “I was very impressed by the looks but also by the interior,” writes this owner. He opted for the version in Mazda’s special paint color Soul Red Crystal. A good choice, testifies to the photo in another – otherwise brief – review.
Driving Mazda 3
Mazda has a reputation to uphold when it comes to driving. That fire is fueled by advertisements emphasizing ‘jinba ittai’, a Japanese term for the interplay between rider and horse. How drivers experience this symbiosis? “When cornering, the car remains very stable and the car barely leans. It has a lot of grip and communicates well through the steering wheel what the front wheels are doing. A wonderful driver’s car in that respect.”
The chassis tuning is not convincing in every respect, as witnessed by the experience of another driver. “On bumps on the highway, I experience the rear axle as too hard. This can be tiring on long journeys.” He is not alone in this, while a caravan tractor sees the sturdy suspension as an advantage. “The car is very stable with a caravan and, with a nose weight of 70 kg, hardly hangs at the rear.”
Driver assistance systems, including the adaptive cruise control, do not get unanimous support. The cruise control is mainly reactive, which can lead to a restless driving experience with abrupt braking actions. An update seems to have calmed down the system. “This week the car received the free update at the Mazda dealer. It is indeed noticeable that the cruise control is more relaxed with, for example, a car that merges right in front of you.”
Rest on board
The rear axle may throw a spanner in the works, but owners generally speak well of the comfort of their Mazda 3. The silence on board is particularly praised: “You can even communicate in a whisper with the passenger next to you on the highway. .” It doesn’t get boring. If you choose to press the accelerator harder, as this owner of a Mazda 3 Sedan does. “The 2.0-liter engine is wonderfully quiet, but also produces a nice sporty sound at higher revs.”
In terms of space, Mazda 3 owners have little to complain about, although the space supply is not enough in an absolute sense. “We have a 2-year-old son ourselves, with the 3 of us the car is more than spacious enough. But if you want to let 2 teenagers sit in the back, it quickly becomes problematic.” Several owners of a sedan note that the height of the cargo space is a point of attention in practice. The hatchback is a better choice for transporting larger objects, although that is of course not exclusive to this Mazda. Could it be the reason that other manufacturers no longer supply this body style at all?
We also see that nothing is as personal as a car seat with the Mazda 3. “I can sit in the seats for hours, a real exception for me.” A driver with long legs would like more support: “At my height of 1.94 meters, the seat is actually a bit too short.”
The view of all those Mazda 3 drivers.
Plus for infotainment
Where Mazda once opted for an infotainment system that only offered touch functionality when stationary, the touch function was dropped with the new generation 3. None of the users regrets this choice, the infotainment system with large rotary/push button is particularly pleasing. “I’m not going to waste a lot of words on that”, this director begins, “Simple, sleek, clean, to-the-point. You immediately find what you need to find.” Also: “The buttons on the center console are in exactly the right place, making the system super easy to operate. I would have liked the screen to be a bit bigger, but that is personal.” So pay attention, car manufacturers, with physical buttons you score points!
Minus for material use
The Mazda scores less well when it comes to use of materials. Although the interior initially looks high-quality, wear and tear rears its head relatively quickly. This not only concerns the vulnerable ‘piano lacquer’ inlays of almost all brands, but also the plastic cover of the instruments, the glass of the head-up display, the steering wheel and the gear knob. The exterior also has points for attention. Owners report loose door seals and a deforming fuel filler flap. Both issues can be resolved by the dealer, as happened with this Mazda 3.
How do you like special engine technology?
A special engine, the Skyactiv-X, debuted in the Mazda 3. This 2.0 liter is known as an engine that uses self-ignition, like a diesel. Actually, the SPCCI technique used by Mazda needs a little more nuance. Users are generally satisfied with the new technology under their hood, although a few have to get used to ‘pushing through’ to wring out the 180 – and later 186 – horses. “Above 4,000 rpm, the car really wants to and there is nothing to criticize, but who still allows their engine to reach such speeds?”
Immediately after delivery, some owners report ‘jerks’ or ‘hiccups’ or ‘hiccups’ during acceleration. Most users report that these disappear after an update or after an increased mileage has passed. “After driving the car for 6,000 km, the car no longer jerks at all,” said a driver who previously had to deal with a number of engine-related inconveniences. “Runs really great now.”
In addition to the Skyactiv-X, Mazda also supplies the conventional Skyactiv G engines. Apart from a self-dissipating vibration, which is presumably related to the cylinder deactivation, these engines operate without problems according to their owners.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl