We need to get this out of the way right-off the bat; this car costs RM138,935.50 on the road with insurance. Think of it this way, for a grand more, you could get yourself a Honda Accord 2.0VTi. But this folks, is the new CBU Mazda 3 Skyactiv, and we recently got a chance to drive it up north and back during the launch of the new Mazda Trim & Final Facility in Kulim, Kedah. What better a way to experience a new car – and a new bridge too for that matter – than a long drive to Penang, and then onwards to Kulim the next day for the factory visit at the Inokom Plant.
Utilising the much-touted ‘Kodo – Soul of Motion’ design theme, there’s no denying that the new Mazda 3 is an absolute stunner in the looks department. It bears more than a passing resemblance to its larger sibling the Mazda 6, with curvaceous swooping body-lines and contours in all the right places, culminating to a very aggressive front end. While the previous Mazda 3 looked like it was ‘smiling’, this one is pure scowl, and then some.
Over in the inside, it’s equally good. Mazda designers created the interior with something known as ‘jinba-ittai’, which translates to a feeling of ‘unity with the vehicle’, and it seems to work. You don’t so much as sit in the car, but rather you’re ‘enveloped’ by it. Full-leather complements the interior, as does a very upmarket MZD Connect in-car infotainment system controlled by a very familiar looking raised dial on the centre console; familiar in higher-end cars that is.
Information is displayed on a 7-inch centre display, and just like the ones found in newer Mercs, it is unfortunately fixed and non-retractable. The icing on the cake however, is the instrument cluster. It’s probably one of the most pleasing to look at that I’ve come across in recent memory, because not only does it look sporty – the speedometer takes centre stage, surrounded by an ominous red ring – it’s housed beneath a carbon-fibre dome. So the Mazda 3 exudes a distinct sportiness, but does it have what it takes to back-up the boast?
As good as the car looks from the inside and the outside, it’s actually what’s below the bonnet up front that’s cause for celebration, and maybe that sticker price. It’s the new 2.0-litre Skyactiv which puts out 162bhp and 210Nm of torque, and while those may not be earth-shattering figures, the engine also manages to be 15% more fuel-efficient over its predecessor, thanks in part to an extremely high 14.0:1 compression ratio.
Power goes to the front wheels via a 6-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic gearbox – with manual shift capability – that adapts to the driving style being engaged in. Putter or pound, the shifts are always smooth. There’s even a ‘kickdown switch’ that offers just a hint of resistance at a certain degree of the accelerator pedal, which allows the driver to know that the gearbox is about to snatch a higher cog to aid acceleration, especially when overtaking.
The Mazda 3 also comes with switchable i-Stop that kills the engine when it’s stopped at traffic lights, only to kick in again when it’s time to move off. The a/c does however, get a tad warm when the i-Stop is engaged, so thankfully there is an override system. More impressive though is the i-ELOOP regenerative braking system. It ‘captures’ kinetic energy that’s otherwise lost when the car decelerates or when the brakes are used, and stores this power in a high-capacity Electric Double-Layer Capacitor, which takes just 7-10 seconds to fully charge. What’s cool is that the fully-charged capacitor will then power all the electrical systems in the car, and this alone is responsible for up to 10% fuel savings.
In terms of safety features, as expected the Mazda 3 Skyactiv is fully-equipped with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control / Traction Control, 6 airbags (dual front, side & curtain), as well as ISOFIX anchors and Adaptive Front Headlights, that angle the headlight beam according to steering angle and input.
The two day drive would see us cover quite a distance in the new Mazda 3, which never put a wheel wrong throughout the entire trip; but at a price nipping at the heels of a bigger segment, is this car worth buying? Well it all depends really. This car appeals on two levels; it’s for those who love the looks and appeal of the delectable new Mazda 6 but can’t stretch their budget that far, and it’s for those who want something different in this segment.
The Mazda 3 Skyactiv – currently in sedan only guise, with the hatchback version possibly on the way soon – is a car that can sell on looks alone; it looks cool from any angle. It’s one of those rare cars that delivers everything it promises, but then goes one step further by encompassing everything into an absolutely stunning package. There’s no denying that the price is going to throw some people off, but seriously, if you can stretch your budget just a bit, you’d be wise to go have a look at this car. It may cost a bit more than the rest, but you’re going to feel great driving it; how does one put a sticker price on that?
Specifications:
Engine: Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre petrol, in-line 4 cyl, DOHC 16v
Transmission: 6-speed Skyactiv-D automatic with manual shift capability
Max power: 162bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max torque: 210Nm @ 4,000rpm
Wheels & Tyres: 215/45 R18, 7J
Brakes F/R: Vented discs / Solid discs
Suspension: F/R: MacPherson Struts / Multi-link
