2019 Mazda 3

By Alex Forrest

Straddling the divide between premium cars and mainstream cars has become an artform in the Mazda camp, and the new Mazda3 continues the trend.

Mazda has continued to target private buyers (as opposed to the hire car market) with the Mazda3, meaning even the cheapest one is better equipped and more refined. But also a lot more expensive.

The new entry level Mazda3 G20 Pure is $4500 more than the previous base model Mazda3 Neo Sport, but that’s only telling half the story.

In exchange, you get extras like a heads-up display, radar cruise control and LED headlights plus a far smoother and quieter car overall, which makes it feel more like a premium European small car.   

Another area of major improvement has been the start/stop system, which stops the engine when the car is stationary, such as at traffic lights. Refinement fixes have made this system far less intrusive.

Sweetening the deal further is Mazda’s cheaper servicing costs and more appealing five-year warranty, which compares to the three-year coverage offered by most Euro brands.

In a bid to reduce driver distraction, Mazda has removed the touchscreen functionality from the infotainment screen, meaning the menus are now controlled solely via the toggle on the centre console.

However, the Mazda3 does have a huge C-pillar (the piece of bodywork running vertically between the roof and the lower window line at the rear corners of the car) and drivers will have to work around that.

As a driver, you will notice the changes made to the new Mazda3. The infotainment system is quick and intuitive to operate, the important gauges are clear and all the switch gear has a firm and consistent feel to its movement.

The Mazda3’s designers have maintained an obsessive focus on helping the driver interact with the car easily while minimising distraction and fatigue, and that’s very evident.

Meanwhile, the interior quality is a big step up compared to the previous model. 

The new Mazda3 isn’t the cheapest small car. But it’s comparable to some premium European small cars while still costing less than them to buy and maintain, and that’ll be enough to give them a scare.