Last week's editorial car was a modernized Mazda 3 sedan with a two-liter gasoline engine and a six-speed manual transmission.
The troika underwent its current light model modernization in the autumn of last year.
As part of this modernization, Mazda has new LED headlights, a slightly modified front grille, a new shape of the rear-view mirrors and front bumper, a new blue body color and new eighteen-inch wheels.
Its interior has undergone changes in the form of a new steering wheel, a new design of the instrument panel in front of the driver, and the handbrake is no longer controlled by a classic lever.
This was already the third representative of the Mazda brand that has recently passed our editorial test.
EXTERIOR
As already mentioned, as part of the modernization, Mazda comes with a new Eternal Blue color, which was also available on the model we tested. The color is unusual and it really suits the Mazda.
Overall, the shape of the car is quite simple and compact, yet dynamic.
I personally find the sedan body more elegant and balanced compared to the hatchback.
The revised front grille has a predatory look and bears the typical signature of Mazda cars. The chrome trim of its lower part and the front LED headlights connected to it are a combination that simply works.
The three-wheeler has an interesting side profile, the long front part is followed by fairly large folded A-pillars, and the entire crew cockpit is moved a lot back.
An elegant and dynamic element of the side part is the lower chrome line of the side windows, which rises towards the rear of the car and thus allows the molding, which stretches from the front fender, to stand out more. In this way, the three-wheel drive gains power in the area of the rear wheels and gives the car optical stability.
The aforementioned molding passes into the rear taillights, the overall rear of the Mazda has a calm, decent impression.
The tested version had 18-inch wheels, which are quite simple in design, but they only underline the overall pleasing concept of Mazda's exterior appearance.
INTERIOR
The interior of the modernized Mazda 3, as well as the recently tested Mazda CX5 or Mazda 6, is mainly focused on the driver.
The position behind the wheel, including the overall ergonomics of the interior layout, is excellent and, above all, functional.
There is no denying the sporty tendencies of the three, the chapel in front of the driver is dominated by a classic circular speed indicator, which is supplemented only by a digital speed indicator. On the sides of the tachometer are two digital displays of the on-board computer, which have the necessary information for the driver.
The central part of the dashboard is dedicated to the on-board infotainment touchscreen. It can only be operated by touch when the vehicle is stationary, while driving it is controlled via the HMI interface on the center panel.
In the central part of the dashboard, you will find the controls for heating the front seats and the steering wheel, as well as the dual-zone climate control, which is followed by the center panel itself, which is equipped with a classic manual transmission selector.
Furthermore, the parking brake controls and on-board infotainment controls are located within the center panel.
The armrest is foldable and has storage space and a pair of USB ports.
The steering wheel of the tested version of the Mazda was heated and multifunctional with the ability to control the phone, audio system and cruise control.
The interior of the Mazda 3 is spacious by the standards of the lower middle class.
The luggage compartment offers 418 liters of volume. It goes without saying that access to the luggage compartment is slightly impaired, thanks to the sedan body.
ENGINE AND RIDE
The drive unit of the tested version does not undergo any modifications as part of the modernization.
From our previous tests, we know that Mazda does not belong to the car companies that follow the path of downsizing, i.e. reducing the volume of the engine and then catching up with the power using a turbocharger.
It is therefore a drive unit that achieves its performance with adequate volume and modern technology.
The tested version was equipped with a proven two-liter gasoline engine with an output of 88 kW in conjunction with a manual six-speed gearbox.
Mazda offers you a bit of a sense of nostalgia, a feeling from the past of well-known two-liter engines, but currently meeting the current standards of emission limits.
So this is not a small-displacement turbocharged engine where you wait for the turbocharger to pull, this is an honest two-liter engine that revs easily and can be revved all the way to the red zone.
Yes, but the absence of a turbocharger also means that you have to shift much more when driving more vigorously. This suits the Mazda and its sporty character perfectly, and it is also confirmed by its raucous sound coming from the exhaust.
The engine and its expression is very quiet and refined, for example you hardly know about the operation of the start x stop system.
The Mazda 3 is also equipped with the G-Vectoring Control system, which plays with the torque during cornering and thus tries to prevent the car from understeer.
As part of the editorial test, we drove with the trio with a consumption of around 7.5 l.
CONCLUSION
The price of Mazda 3 in basic equipment is CZK 432,900.
In the basic equipment, the Mazda has quite a lot of equipment, from the G-Vectoring control system, through the electric parking brake, keyless control, on-board computer, retractable head-up display, cruise control, hill start assistant, road sign recognition system, rear parking camera to LED headlights or 18-inch alloy wheels.
The tested version, which was additionally equipped with navigation and the new Eternal Blue paint, will then cost you CZK 559,300.
We had a lot of fun with the Mazda 3 during the editorial test. And not only with its driving characteristics, but also with the interior space and its arrangement.
This was the third representative of the Mazda brand to pass our editorial test in recent times.
Mazda offers you a slightly different way of driving, not only thanks to the selected cubic capacities of its power units, but also through a very personal approach to the driver himself.
When you go to test drive a Mazda, you know what to expect from the car and that the result will be excellent.
