Mazda3 gets a facelift

Yochanaan Coetzee

The next-gene­ration Mazda3 is inspired by the KUDO concept that captures the very moment energy turns to motion. The Mazda3 made a huge splash when it was first released in 2014 and Mazda has been wise not to mess with that winning formula too much.
Besides a small nip and tuck around the fog lights, the bottom lip of the “smiley-face” grille now tapers into the headlight design and around to the outside. This gives the facia a grander appeal and wider appearance
The rear-end also got a workout and looks slightly more refined, though it keeps its forerunner’s general aesthetic and happily so.
Inside you get a revamp­ed steering and, most notably, a super nifty Heads-Up Display that flips up to a really swanky “MAZDA 3” logo, that besides acting as your speedometer, will elicit “oohs and aahs” from first time passengers, each and every time.
The top of the range 2.0 Astina Plus Auto, which we took out was an absolute gem, from the “get go”, the “get go” strikes you instantaneously, which means everything when you have an autobox.
The 6-speed is sublime. Smooth and tame on the trot, but will let you stretch into the rev range when needed. Switching to Tiptronic mode lets you use either the lever or a set of flappy paddles on the steering wheel. It’s not the most visceral car, so I guess gripping about tactical feedback doesn’t apply here. However, what it does do, it does exceedingly well.
As a city slick sedan, the Mazda3 is perfectly suited to the commute and floats through traffic without much fuss. Once the road opens up you get to tap into its 121kw a bit more eagerly. There aren’t any major fireworks, partly due to the transmission that’s designed to reign it all in, but again, the model we tested was brand new and as most of us know, like shoes, cars get better once they’re limbered up after some mileage.
Being at the top of the range, you have a host of driver aids at your disposal including ABS, EBD, DCS, TCS (which can switch off with the press of a button), a Smart City Braking System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Hill Launch and Lane Keep Assist, parking sensors and a rear facing camera.
With all this it’s easy to see why the Mazda3 is such a global phenomenon. It looks like an animal ready to pounce, and yes, while that is the most overused line in motoring, there’s definitely movement going on when you’re taking in its sleek and emotive profile.
Whether it’s your soul being stirred or it just turned your head too quick, there’s something that just makes you want to stare at it as it reveals more facets.
It has a comprehensive package that delivers on performance while maintaining solid economy. Yes, for the Astina Plus’s N$415 000 price tag, you do have some other options, but if you’re looking at the mid N$200 000s, a lower spec model will still have you smiling every day.
Make sure you visit Mazda’s new and used vehicle showroom in the south­ern industrial area and make sure to ask them about their 3-year, unlimited kilometre warranty while you’re there.