The 1,483-kilogram curb weight includes almost 100kg extra for the all-wheel-drive system. Over our test week, we achieved a combined 8.9L/100km in mostly city driving. Drivers can take solace knowing that steering is typical Mazda responsive and with great feel.ĭue to the automatic transmission and extra weight, Mazda’s fuel ratings are 9.8L/100km city and 7.4L/100km highway, with cylinder deactivation. The available Sport mode helps slightly with performance but only affects throttle response steering and suspension feel remain unchanged. It also lacks a cog or two that could assist with fuel economy and keep the RPMs down when cruising on the highway. The transmission seems a bit confused at times, especially when it’s asked suddenly for a burst of speed. Mazda matches a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission to either engine, however with the all-wheel-drive system, the only choice is the automatic. No, it will not be the Mazdaspeed model that enthusiasts have been begging for. For those wanting more power, Mazda has recently announced that the 2021 Mazda3 will have the optional 2.5-litre turbocharged-four found in the CX-5 ( reviewed here). The weight of the all-wheel-drive system can definitely be felt, and drivers can expect a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.4 seconds. The additional weight of the AWD system does slow down the Mazda3 significantly. With the AWD option, you are going to need as much horsepower and torque as possible to move the car along confidently. My advice skip the base model entirely and jump to the GS or the GT we have here for a much improved 2.5-litre engine with 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft. The base 2.0-liter engine in the GX pushes 155 horsepower at 6,000RPM and 150 lb-ft. While some of the rivals have upgraded turbo engine options, Mazda has opted to stick with two naturally aspirated four-cylinder options for now. As a daily driver, most consumers will hardly feel the difference, as bumps and potholes are absorbed quite nicely with very little intrusion to passengers. The engineers at Mazda were able to alleviate the concerns fans had about this significant change. This was hard to imagine when word came out that the rear multi-link suspension that had been a staple in the Mazda3 was being replaced with a torsion beam. Mazdas have been associated with more dynamic driving experiences than their competition and this continues with the 2020 Mazda3. To make it interesting, why not add i-ACTIV all-wheel-drive to the Mazda3 to create a rival to the Subaru Impreza? Mazda decided to bring their “A” game to the compact car segment in 2019. The US Big Three have basically abandoned the market in North America and have been replaced by Hyundai and Kia who happen to be firing on all cylinders at the moment. The current Honda Civic ( reviewed here) and Toyota Corolla have both returned to form with outstanding driving dynamics and styling that is no longer forgettable. Mazda’s entry to the compact car segment is more competitive than ever. Mazda was rewarded with over 150,000 sales worldwide in the car’s first year of production and for a smaller car company, this was a huge win.įlash forward to 2020. In 2004, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla looked vanilla in comparison. The Mazda3 was economical, looked great inside and out in both sedan or hatchback forms, with driving dynamics that perfectly mirrored Mazda’s motto of “Zoom Zoom” at the time. It was nearly seventeen years ago that Mazda replaced the Protege with the Mazda3 and from day one, they had an immediate hit on their hands.
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