The article was originally produced on January 19, 2014, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Mazda3

Making a car both sporty, safe, cheap and also stylish is a combination that makes Kindereggget fade. Mazda has succeeded and here we will find out how.

In terms of size, the Mazda 3 qualifies in the same class as e.g. Volkswagen Golf, Volvo V40 and Renault Megan to name a few. We are simply talking about the middle class. A practical size for the small family living in the city. The competition in the mid-range segment is fierce, no mistakes must be made as they will be scrutinized down to the last detail. At the same time, the price tag must not be too high. A tough nut to crack without a doubt.

As Mazda's third model, the new Mazda 3 has received the new "Kodo" design language. It stands for Soul of Motion and should express power and functionality. The beautiful front and grill have clear similarities to a cheetah's face. Even the lines on the side of the car should clearly give the image of power and resilience. So the point "handsome" the new Mazda 3 does really well, it is a beautiful car with very appealing shapes that radiate sportiness with its graceful forms. The interior also follows the same theme. White, sporty leather seats with black inserts are throughout and also in the door panels. The gauges are dominated by a large tachometer in the middle, a common ingredient in real sports cars such as Ferrari and others. However, the increased tachometer is a look that comes with the higher equipment levels. In other words, this car is very well equipped. Above the gauges and directly in the field of vision in front of the steering wheel is a small transparent glass disc which is a so-called head up display where you can see the speedometer and other necessary information. An iPad-like screen stands upright in the middle on top of the dashboard, where all the information such as Navigation, infotainment and more can be found. If you have your smartphone connected via bluetooth, you can easily browse your playlists with a scroll wheel between the seats. The screen is also pressure sensitive, which can be seen as an unusual combination with both scroll wheel and touch screen.

To start the car, it is enough to press the start button to the right of the steering wheel. You keep the key in your pocket and you also do that when you have to open the door. Smooth and a system usually found in more expensive premium models. When the start button is pressed, the engine starts, which in this car is a two-liter gasoline engine with 120 horses. It may sound like little power, but thanks to its relatively low weight, the car can utilize every last horsepower. The result is a very comfortable and calm demeanor, but at the same time on the alert if the gas pedal is pushed to the bottom. This is a result of Mazda's own SkyActiv technology, a technology that is based on more efficient engines, smarter powertrains and lighter structure of engine and chassis. Everything to reduce consumption but make the car more efficient without being boring. In addition to the petrol, there will be a diesel version. It will be a 2.2-liter engine with 150 horsepower and a whopping 380 Newton meters of torque. 

Something that also comes more and more in car models of the more expensive kind are the advanced security systems. The fact that we find several of these systems in the Mazda 3 can be seen as quite unusual among the middle classes. To avoid a frontal collision, a laser-based autobrake is fitted as standard. It senses and can detect obstacles at up to 30 km/h. These systems are guaranteed to reduce unnecessary collisions and save both money and suffering. As an option, you can also get an adaptive cruise control. This manages the distance to the car in front automatically and if you miss braking, the car can panic brake to avoid a collision. Thanks to all the safety systems and high crashworthiness, the Mazda 3 will receive a high safety stamp for being a mid-ranger. 

To sum up the concepts in the new Mazda 3, you actually succeed in hitting the four points, sporty, safe, cheap and stylish. You also do it really well. The price for the petrol engine with a manual gearbox starts at SEK 164,900 and can be seen as very good as the automatic braking system is included as standard. This price also includes the industry's longest warranty in the class at ten years. The Mazda 3 has great potential to become a blockbuster and give the competition a tough match!