Sameway 667

The car manages to soak up bumps in
the road with no fuss at all, while still
exhibiting a level of ride neutrality and
quietness usually associated with more
expensive cars. The Mazda3 hatch also
handles itself well around corners. The
steering is accurate and the chassis is tight
and well-balanced.
Mazda has also packed the car with the
full i-Activsense suite of safety and driver
assistance systems (the most you can get in
any Mazda right now). This Astina spec
model gets everything - Front Cross Traffic
Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross
Traffic Alert, 360-degree reverse-view
Camera, Lane-keep Assist System, Lane
Departure Warning System, Driver
Monitoring, the tech, and feature list goes
on and all these features can be activated
via the push of one button.
Of note is the Mazda Radar Cruise
Control, a feature you would not find on
any other cars in this class. It allows the
driver to set a maximum cruise speed and
following distance, and the car will
automatically keep that fixed distance with
the car in front of you. This is especially
useful for extended highway driving,
though you still need to be alert because
the system cuts off when you drop below
30km/h.
The Mazda3 G25 is powered by a 2.5-
litre naturally aspirated engine producing
only 139kW of power at 6,000rpm and
252Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The
drivetrain is mated to a six-speed torque
converter automatic transmission with
paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a
selectable sport mode. The sport mode
does little for response in regular city
driving.
If you drive in a relaxed manner, the
engine is refined and usable enough with a
light throttle. However, put your foot right
on the floor, and you are greeted with very
little. The car feels rather hefty at close to
1,400kg, and the lack of power from the
engine makes this even more apparent.
The steering is on the heavy side - great
for high-speed stability, but at low speeds,
it can be a little tiring, especially when you
need to go from lock to lock when driving in
a multi-story carpark.
The brakes also lack bite in the initial
travel, so you’ll want to use the stop pedal a
little more enthusiastically. We also think
the car could do with one extra gear.
Equipped with a six-speed automatic, the
Mazda3 sits at 2,000rpm when cruising at
90km/h.
Does it succeed as an overall package?
The new Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch feels
premium and with a high-quality build. In
our opinion, this makes it interchangeable
with some of the entry German models
without too much difference. For a car that
starts from $39,190 plus on-road costs, that
is one hell of a deal.
Yes, the car has some issues in its lack of
pace, but the entirety of the package still
delivers plenty to delight customers.
With its combination of stylish design,
ample equipment, cabin quality, ride
comfort, and on-road refinement, the
Mazda3 G25 Astina delivers plenty of bang
for your buck. For many customers, the
new model is at the very least worth a test
drive at the Mazda dealership.
A bonus is that all Mazda vehicles now
offer a five-year, unlimited kilometre
warranty with service intervals occurring
every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever
comes first.
For the Mazda3 G25 Astina over five
years, it will cost $1,762. That is five
services, at an average of $352 per service
every 12 months or 10,000km. For peace of
mind, the Mazda3 maintains its five-star
occupant safety rating from ANCAP.
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $39,190 (manual) /$40,190
(auto) (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder Front
Wheel Drive
Power: 139kW at 6,000rpm
Torque: 252Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
/6-speed man
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (Combined)
Fuel tank: 51 litres
Kerb Weight: 1,380kg
CO2: 146 g/km (Combined)
SAMEWAY ISSUE 667 P. 21 23.09.2022