Mazda 3

Official distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, Bermaz Motor, has introduced the upgraded Mazda 3 for the 2023 model year. 

Fully-imported (CBU - Japan), the C-segment model comes in two body styles (sedan, liftback/hatchback) and four variants. 

Sedan (2.0L High Sedan - MYR 156,059, 2.0L High Plus Sedan - MYR 166,059). Liftback (2.0L High Plus Liftback - MYR 166,059, 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback - MYR 175,059).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a five-year/100,000 KM manufacturer warranty, and a five-year/100,000 KM free scheduled maintenance.

Seven exterior colours are available. Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, Deep Crystal Blue, Platinum Quartz, Jet Black, and Polymetal Gray. 

Cabin space is comfortable. Plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms, providing front and rear occupants ample mobility.

Overall space is sufficient and borderline generous, considering it to have a sedan and hatchback body styles.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door and back seat pockets, glove box, partitioned centre console spaces, and armrest pockets.

Weighing in at 1,405 KG (Sedan) and 1,403 KG (Liftback), the new Mazda 3 stands at 4,660 MM (Sedan) and 4,460 MM (Liftback) long, 1,795 MM wide, 1,440 MM (Sedan) and 1,435 MM (Liftback) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,725 MM.

Elegantly sleek and sporty, the exterior parades a prowling-like stance, and blends smooth surfaces with sharp creases.

The front-end sees Mazda’s spanned-out wing trim cradling the commanding grille (chrome - Sedan, black - Liftback), in a striking pointed fashion.

Sporty and curvy, the rear-end further complements the refined design with clean and seamless surfaces.

Featured is a dual-exhaust fitment, a black lower body cladding (Liftback), and a black roof-edge spoiler (Liftback).

Framed angularly sharp and slim, the headlamps project a focused and athletic look. 

Incorporated are full LED units with auto On/Off and levelling functions. Variants 2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback and 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback, add on Signature illumination. 

The 2.0L High Sedan comes with bulb type Daytime Running Lights (DRL), while the 2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback and 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback get LED units.

Wrapped-around, the tail lamps are in an angularly slim and sharp style, with the bottom section straightened (Sedan) and rounded (Liftback).

Standard are LED combination units. The 2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback and 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback variants, add on Signature illumination.

The body-coloured (2.0L High Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback) and black-capped (2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback) side mirrors are electronically-powered (adjust, auto-fold) with turn indicators. 

Variants 2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback and 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback, add on blind spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitoring - BSM).

Mounted is a setup of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) brake discs, aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Fitted are sets of 16-Inch alloys (2.0L High Sedan) and 18-Inch alloys (Silver - 2.0L High Plus Sedan, Grey - 2.0L High Plus Liftback, Black - 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback), wrapped in 205/60 R16 and 215/45 R18 tyres, respectively.

The new Mazda 3 comes with the Mazda i-ACTIVSENSE suite (2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback, 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback) of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

Grouped are Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control (HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) (2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS), Smart Brake Support (SBS) with Front and Rear, Driver Attention Alert (DAA) with Driver Monitoring, Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop/Go, and Cruising and Traffic Support (CTS).

Standard systems include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold function.

Passive safety comprises seven airbags (driver-passenger, driver knee, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (anchors, top tethers), frameless rear-view mirror (interior - auto-dimming), parking sensors (four-front (2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback, 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback), four-rear), reverse parking camera with guidelines (2.0L High Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Liftback), 360-degree view monitor (2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback), engine-immobiliser with anti-theft system, auto-door-lock, and walk-away-lock.

Fitted is a SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic with manual shift mode transmission.

Power is sent to the front wheels (2WD). 

Top speed is 216 KM/H (2.0L High Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Sedan) and 210 KM/H (2.0L High Plus Liftback, 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback).

Fuel tank capacity is 51-Litres, and fuel consumption figure is 6.2 L/100 KM/H (2.0L High Sedan, 2.0L High Plus Sedan) and 6.3 L/100KM/H (2.0L High Plus Liftback, 2.0L Ignite Edition Liftback).

The new Mazda 3 features the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry with engine Start/Stop button, walk-away auto lock function, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, powered-sunroof (tilt, slide), powered-tailgate (remote-operated, key-fob), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents), steering wheel (column adjustments, paddle shifters, multi-function, EPS), wireless charger, wireless Apple CarPlay, electronically-powered seats (driver with memory), frameless auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, parking sensors (front, rear), parking cameras (reverse with guidelines, 360-degree), Blind-Spot Monitor (BSM), auto headlamps (On/Off, high-beam, levelling), and wipers (intermittent, rain sensing).

Rear air-vents are provided.

Spacious and comfortable, and the overall ride quality is good with a handling that is refined and sturdy. Installed suspension setup is MacPherson struts (front) and torsion beam (rear).

Sound insulation is adequate with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress unwanted wind, road and tyre noises well, and make them barely noticeable.

The new 2023 Mazda 3 is well equipped with enhancements. Notably, to its driving dynamics, comfort and convenience.

Quality of equipment installed inside and outside, impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing. 

Ultimately, it is a pretty decent build, offering good fuel economy, advanced safety features, refined ride quality and a stylish body design altogether.