As of: April 6, 2024, 5:07 a.m
By: Volker Pfau
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Mazda has given the 3 a facelift. The interior in particular has been modernized. What's particularly pleasing is that there are buttons!
The Mazda 3 has been on the market for five years now. Reason enough for the manufacturer to recently revise it, especially on the inside. We drove the compact car with the 186 hp 2.0-liter e-Skyactiv engine in the Exclusive Line trim.
Modern cockpit without any fashionable frills
When it comes to improvements in the cockpit, Mazda hasn't changed anything about the practical rotary-push control on the center console, left the various buttons on the dashboard and resisted the temptation to fill the cockpit with fashionable knick-knacks. The haptic experience remains and operation is easy. It is also pleasing that the acoustic speed warning can be switched off quite easily. So that you don't drive too fast, all you need to do is look at the display on the speedometer, which draws a red line at the corresponding point in the speedometer when there is a speed limit.
The cockpit in the Mazda 3 is practical and easy to use. © Mazda
The engine seems a bit grumpy despite the fairly generous power and needs a few revs to get up to speed more quickly. The maximum torque of 240 Nm is reached at 4000 rpm. Alternatively, you can of course choose Sport mode, which works more quickly. The Mazda M Hybrid system is also used in this drive variant of the Mazda 3. It uses the energy gained during deceleration to help the combustion engine accelerate and save fuel.
Up to 216 km/h fast - but preferably not at a sustained pace
When it comes to performance, the Mazda 3 is a surprise: a whopping 216 km/h is recorded as the top speed. That's a lot for the Japanese, who weighs just 1,434 kilograms. That's why we tried it out. However, this is far too strenuous as a sustained pace. Otherwise we were generally slower and therefore more relaxed.
Up to 1026 liters of luggage can fit in the trunk. © Mazda
The Mazda 3 handles everyday transport tasks properly. There's plenty of space for two adults at the front, but you shouldn't expect much long-distance comfort at the back. 351 liters fit into the trunk with the rather small trunk lid due to the design, and 1026 liters with the rear seat folded down. When loading heavy goods, the 75 centimeter high loading sill is a problem, behind which it then goes down around 20 centimeters into the interior. However, you should not exceed the permitted load of 576 kilograms, otherwise you could face hefty fines.
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A very practical and rather unusual detail in this vehicle class are the washer nozzles, which are located on the wiper arms, so that the water sprayed onto the windshield is wiped away directly. Actually only cars of higher quality offer this service.
Navigation system with little reliable information
The navigation device in our Mazda 3, on the other hand, wasn't really up to date. It sometimes showed kilometer-long traffic jams on the chosen route, where we were able to drive at 130 km/h shortly afterwards instead. It also suggested routes to us several times that would have led straight into kilometers of traffic jams on the highway. In one case, a section of the route was completely closed.
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The Mazda 3 is not a special offer, but it is worth the money
During our journeys we measured an average consumption of 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers. That's a decent value considering the potential of the car. The price of the version we drove is 31,490 euros. The equipment details worth mentioning include a head-up display, steering wheel and seat heating, light and rain sensors as well as the matrix LED lighting system, which is included in the 1,100 euro design package. So the compact Mazda isn't exactly a special offer. But if you think you can save money by not changing from winter to summer tires, you're saving in the wrong place!
The Mazda 3 not only looks good, but is also economical. © Mazda
Conclusion: Why the Mazda 3 isn't on more street corners remains a mystery to us, because it actually has everything a compact car needs and a lot more useful equipment - and all at an acceptable price. The Mazda MX-30, on the other hand, is much more striking. The compact electric crossover with range extender and the unconventional doors that rotate in opposite directions costs from 35,990 euros.