By Nauman Farooq
According to some car companies, the sedan and hatchback are dead! They say, that everyone wants an SUV or a CUV, and are hence putting all their eggs in that basket!
Thankfully, Japanese and Korean car companies have not given up on sedans and hatchbacks, and are still offering plenty of choices in this segment for consumers.
One such car company is Mazda. While most of their line-up is made up of CUVs, they still offer the Mazda3 and the Mazda6 in sedan body styles, and the former is even offered as a hatchback.
I recently got to spend a lot of time with a 2020 Mazda3 sedan, which arrived in GT trim with the optional all-wheel drive system. So, that means, this is the most loaded example of the Mazda3 – which also means that the “as tested” price is north of $30,000. Is it worth it?
Let’s find out!
Styling: There are currently two body styles available for the Mazda3, a five-door hatchback, and a four-door sedan. I tested the hatchback last year, so it was now due to try out the sedan. I personally think the sedan is actually the better looking model of the two! The humongous C-pillar of the hatchback is somewhat slimmed down in the sedan, and the overall look is more ‘grown-up.’
Those who tune and mod their vehicles, will surely gravitate towards the hatchback; I’d rather have the more mature looks of the sedan. It looks smart, but at no point will it ever cause a passer-by to give it a double take – and that is an attractive quality to have for a daily driver.
Interior: Open the door, and you’re in for a pleasant shock! The Mazda3 is a compact segment vehicle, but there is nothing bargain basement regarding its interior.
Not only does its interior look great, the quality of its fit and finish is superb – equal to or better than some luxury cars on sale today.
Mazda must have realized, that owners spend more time inside their car, than outside it; hence the interior is simply spectacular! The seats are comfortable and supportive (and they look like they’ve been taken from a very expensive luxury car), the configurable dashboard is easy to read (my tester even had a head-up display unit), the dashboard not only looks good, but also gently angles a few things towards the driver.
It also has a good infotainment system, and yes, this system is compatible with both the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 8.8-inch wide screen for the infotainment system is clear and easy to read, and while it doesn’t fold away when not in use, it does sit a little recessed so it doesn’t distract you much either.
There is also ample room for back seat passengers, and the trunk is huge!
If you buy cars based purely on interior quality, comfort, and space; then the 2020 Mazda3 will surely win you over – it truly is the nicest compact vehicle on sale today!
Powertrain: Two engines are currently offered with the Mazda3, a base Skyactiv-G 2.0L 16-valve, inline-four cylinder unit that produces 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque.
My ‘GT’ spec tester had the upgrade motor, a Skyactiv-G 2.5L, 16-valve, inline-four cylinder motor that produces 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque.
Power in all Mazda3 models goes to the front wheels, but all-wheel drive is available as an option on the GS and GT trim – and only with the 2.5L engine.
Two choices of transmission, a proper manual and an automatic, both featuring six forward gears. However, if you opt for the all-wheel drive system, you can only have that with the automatic gearbox. My tester had the all-wheel drive system (hence, it was an automatic) and I was perfectly fine with that. Not only is the transmission very smooth and quick, the added all-wheel drive system ensured I got to where I was going without any fuss.
Performance & Driving Dynamics: The ride and handling is really quite good. It not only handles bumps and potholes fairly well, but in typical Mazda fashion, the handling is quite excellent. Mazda has ditched the independent rear suspension in favour of a torsion beam layout – which might seem like a step in the wrong direction – but given the kind of role this vehicle plays, the new set up gives the car a more stable, sure footed feel on the highway.
Couple that with independent MacPherson Strut type front suspension, and an electronic power steering system that seems to be weighed to perfection – this unassuming compact family sedan can handle far better than you might expect!
The get up and go is still somewhat lacking! Put it in its sportiest setting, and launch hard, and you’ll see the 0 to 100 km/h sprint done in about 8.6 seconds. That’s not bad, however, in ‘normal’ driving, with everything in ‘comfort’ mode, this Mazda3 never felt eager to romp up the street!
In short, this is not an aggressive car. It will never tempt you to tear up the tarmac, nor that it can even if you’re in the mood. So, this vehicle is not for ‘speed demons’ – but if you’re looking for a very good daily driver, it does that job exceptionally well.
Fuel Economy: In my fuel economy test (where I drive a car 170 km on the highway + 130 km in the city), I averaged 8.1 L/100 km with this Mazda3 GT AWD. That is exactly the same number I achieved a few months ago with the Mazda CX-5 diesel, and slightly better than the new Subaru Legacy sedan – which is also all-wheel drive. In short, this Mazda3 is quite economical, and if you pick a model that is just front wheel drive and has the smaller engine, it’ll be more economical still!
Pricing: The Mazda3 range starts from $18,000 – and for that you get a base GX trim vehicle with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. My fully loaded GT with all-wheel drive came to $30,500 (plus freight, PDI, dealer fees, and HST). That might seem like a lot for a compact car, but given the quality and equipment it offers, it is worth every penny!
Verdict: If you’ve read the entire article, you’d have guessed that I like this car… in fact, I like it a lot. The Mazda3 has long been a good choice in its segment, but it is now –in my opinion- the best in its category, by a big margin. I’m sure my friends who own Toyota Corolla’s and Honda Civics will likely disagree, but trust me, if you’re looking for a compact segment family car, you won’t find anything better than the current Mazda3.