Sameway 667

cab Audited
14,475
as at 31 Mar 2014
667
DRIVEWAY.SAMEWAY.COM.AU
Distributed in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbrane & Adelaide
Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch
By William Leong
Those who demand more from their
daily driver now have an answer. The
Astina represents the top-of-the-range
Mazda 3 available with a sunroof and
adaptive LED headlights, while inside it
is the only model to feature attractive
burgundy leather seats and trim.
Standard features on the Astina also
active cruise control, dual-zone climate
control, leather upholstery, a head-up
display, keyless entry and ignition, a
power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated
front seats, a heated steering wheel, 12-
speaker Bose audio, glass sunroof.
Our test car, the G25 Astina, is a
quality-looking hatch packed with
equipment and refinement for any style
of urban driving. For the hatch range it
starts at $39,190 (manual) plus on-road
cost and $40,190 (auto) plus on-road
cost.
What should I be excited about?
Only a few words are needed to
describe the new Mazda3 G25 Astina
hatch: Exceptional quality, premium
feel, and pleasing on the eyes.
Let's start with how it looks. The hatch
is elegantly styled, with flowing lines and
sculptural shapes. Overall Mazda rarely
gets its designs wrong and the Mazda3
is no different with its ability to be
pleasant to the eyes. The front end has
been sharpened thanks to sleek
adaptive LED headlights and a grille
grille that’s familiar from the facelifted
Mazda6.
Moving inside the car and you’re
immediately struck by a high sense of
overall premium fit and finish. The
cabin is well appointed, packing ample
equipment such as a digital 7.0-inch
TFT display that takes care of trip
computer functionality, a new 8.0-inch
infotainment display controlled via a
rotary knob-style commander control,
and a head-up display which Mazda
calls an ‘Active Driving Display.
This particular top-spec Astina trim
also gets extra goodies such as a 12-
speaker Bose sound system, gear shift
pedals on the steering wheel, and the
aforementioned factory-fitted full
leather burgundy upholstery.
Build quality is also top-notch. The
stitching and seams are crisp, and the
overall design of the cabin certainly
has an air of elevated quality for a
Japanese car. It feels much more
premium than its price point would
suggest.
How does it feel on the road?
On the road, there is an overall sense
of maturity and premium road
composure to the new Mazda3. The
well-sorted suspension plays a big role
in this.
SAMEWAY ISSUE 667 P. 20 23.09.2022