by Rebaneilwe Semakane
Hatchbacks are always a marvel to drive. They encompass a sporty stance, fun looks and offer practicality in a compact body. The Mazda 3 is nothing short of that, and with this being my second stint in it, I have some thoughts to share.
Just by looking at it, you can tell that the Mazda 3 is trying to compete in the premium segment, aiming to rival vehicles such as the Mercedes Benz A-Class and the Audi A3. It certainly offers a premium interior, but on a pricing level in line with the Toyota Corolla hatch. The Mazda 3 is a well-rounded package, with the 12-speaker BOSE sound system, plush leather covering the cabin and seats, an 8.8inch infotainment system with Android and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a CD player. Yes. A CD player. in 2022. I found it quite peculiar, especially as we are in a smartphone and streaming era. Ergonomically, it is perfect. The swivel knob to operate the infotainment system is within reach and it has a conventional volume knob – not these insipid buttons that have seemingly become a thing. Nonetheless, I think across the range, Mazda has given us some of the most amazing interiors, I really cannot fault them there. The boot space is 358l, which is sufficient to pack groceries, luggage and the like. For a single woman like myself, this car works insanely well with my lifestyle – to some extent.
The exterior is nothing short of stunning, its sleek, sporty and the low stance of this vehicle makes it insanely easy to fall in love with. It has some appealing road presence – it’s one of those cars that, when it zooms past you, you notice it and want to know more. Compared to the Corolla Hatch, I am quite torn when it comes to exterior looks, but the Mazda is quite sexier in my opinion. The LEDs are such an amazing touch to the car, and the fact that it locks itself when you walk away from it is a lovely feature. I can confidently say that Mazda has gone to extreme lengths to provide us with a well-built and beautiful product.
Moving onto what is underneath the bonnet, the Mazda 3 Astina is powered by a 2.0l naturally aspirated engine that produces 121kW/213Nm mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The drive is quite, bland. Overtaking is a bit of a cumbersome task, and when you put your foot down, the engine sounds strained and laden, giving off a whiny noise. However, it provides a genuinely enjoyable and comfortable drive, the suspension smoothes out bumps and dips very well. Also, it handles great and does not feel flimsy on the road. Mazda claims a fuel consumption of 6.3l/100km – well, I averaged 7.9l/100km. Mazda and I do not have the best of relationships when it comes to fuel economy, hence I say to some extent, it would work for my lifestyle. I would love a better engine and consumption, though.
Pricing for the Mazda 3 range starts at a competitive R379,000, while the 2.0l Astina goes for R538,200. Now, that may sound like a lot, but you are getting significantly more spec than you would in the German rivals, so it offers excellent value for money. As a package, I think the Mazda 3 is a spectacular offering, which I can wholly vouch for.