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2019 Mazda3 review
The comprehensive Mazda3 review
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How did we calculate this? We analysed and aggregated the scores of Car Advice, Motoring, WhichCar, Drive and Finder to bring you the finder.com.au score. This is a comprehensive score that brings together the four different expert ratings you see below.
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Critic reviews
Website
Rating
Notable quotes
Car Advice
82%
"If a premium-feeling, sharp-handling, eye-catching small car is what you're after, though, then it mounts a stronger case than ever – just be prepared to pay for the privilege."
"While the Mazda 3 price has jumped, a heck of a lot is new, some is modified and some is pretty much unchanged. It adds up to a significant overhaul for one of the biggest sellers on Australian roads. But how does it drive on them?"
"The new Mazda 3 manages to be a vast improvement over the popular, outgoing third-gen model, and presents as a deeply impressive, ultra-well-rounded small car."
"The decision to push the new model more upmarket will no doubt have a negative impact on overall sales, but the Japanese brand values quality over quantity and is prepared for a slight drop."
"Mazda's latest generation hatch is a well-built, elegantly styled car. Everything feels sturdy and of quality material. It boasts plenty of safety technology, and it wears an upscale-feeling cabin. If you look at the standard features, the increased prices seem justified."
The Mazda3 is available in six different grades as well as two body styles: a hatchback or a sedan.
G20 Pure
The base grade G20 Pure comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine. Highlights include 16-inch alloys, all-round disc brakes, daytime running lights, LED headlights with auto on/off and taillights, air conditioning, active driving display, radar cruise control, 7-inch multi-information display, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, carpet floor covers, a urethane gear shift knob and steering wheel, cloth seats, electronic parking brake plus a stop-start engine. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, the audio system has 8 speakers, Bluetooth phone connectivity, 8.8-inch infotainment screen, DAB radio, satellite navigation and steering wheel-mounted controls.
Standard safety equipment is impressive, comprising of ABS, blind spot monitoring, driver attention alert, dynamic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, emergency braking assist, emergency stop signals, forward obstruction warning, high beam control, hill launch assist, intelligent speed assistance, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, a reverse camera, smart braking support, smart braking rear crossing, smart braking support (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), traffic sign recognition, traction control system and tyre pressure monitoring system.
All in all, it’s a very impressive spec list, especially when considering this is the entry-level Mazda3. Drive-away prices start at $28,629.
G20 Evolve
Spending an extra $1,751 will net you a G20 Evolve Mazda3, which starts at $30,380. Notable upgrades include 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a leather steering wheel and gear shifter and push-button ignition. Automatic-equipped models have paddle shifters.
G20 Touring
Why would you plump for the $33,259 G20 Touring model? You get leather seats for a start as well as a power-adjustable driver’s seat and advanced keyless entry. Mazda also attaches an automatically dimming driver side wing mirror to prevent drivers behind you dazzling you with their lights.
G25 Evolve
Spending $33,774 puts you in G25 Evolve territory. This model has a large capacity 2.5-litre power plant. The engine can stall cylinders to improve efficiency. This model has cloth upholstered seats and automatic models have a drive selector and a kick-down switch that unlocks full acceleration.
G25 GT
The semi-hot Mazda3 G25 GT costs $37,284. Model highlights include an auto-folding exterior mirror with heating elements, a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system with an amplifier plus heated seats and a heated steering wheel.
G25 Astina
Buyers who splurge $41,499 get a fully-comped G25 Astina Mazda3. This hatch has attractive black alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, a power-sliding and tilting sunroof plus the normally $1,500 Vision Technology as standard.
The Vision Technology system is made up of a 360° around-view monitor, cruising and traffic support, driver monitoring, front cross traffic alert and front parking sensors. The daytime running lights are also upgraded from halogen to more energy-efficient LED units.
Standard, no cost, paint finishes include the following:
Sonic Silver Metallic
Titanium Flash Mica
Deep Crystal Blue Mica
Jet Black Mica
Snowflake White Pearl Mica
Premium paint finishes cost $495 and come in the following colours:
Polymetal Grey Metallic
Soul Red Crystal Metallic
Machine Gray Metallic
The above prices are the recommended delivered price (RDP) for a private buyer living in Sydney postcode 2000. They include 12-months rego, a year's compulsory third party insurance, stamp duty, statutory charges, dealer delivery and admin fees.
Overview
The Mazda3 is a crisply styled, fully stocked hatch or sedan with an exhaustive arsenal of safety gadgets. The rear seats are snug and boot space was commonly criticized, but overall, this is a very well built and recommended small car that'll appeal to many drivers.
Website
Pros
Cons
Notable quote
Car Advice
Modern design
Sophisticated interior
Safety equipment
Interior noise
Boot is small
Heightened prices
Rear visibility
"Its positive attributes are manifold. It won't appeal to everyone, but the company knows this, so we'll defer to the market to decide the wisdom of this tactic."
Motoring
Cabin improvements
Noise levels reduced
Fun to drive
Poky boot
Overeager radar cruise control
Confined in the rear
"It's a quality small-car contender that will justifiably appeal to a substantial number of Aussie new car buyers."
WhichCar
Standard levels of equipment
Ride and handling
Safety equipment
Boot space on hatch
Interior space
"The smart money seems to be on the GP20 Evolve auto (hatch or sedan)."
Drive
Textbook interior cabin design
Infotainment system
Steering is on point
Design flair over rear passenger/boot space
Elevated pricing
Older engine designs
"Hiroshima has crafted a fine family hatch and the SkyActiv-X engine is the cherry on top.
Engine and performance
The Mazda3 sells with either a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre petrol engine.
Mazda 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G
For G20 Mazda3 models like the Pure, Evolve and Touring, Mazda deploys a 2.0-litre in-line four petrol engine. The engine makes 114kW @ 6,000rpm and 200Nm @ 4,000rpm, across all models. This engine has no turbocharger.
Mazda 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G
Higher-end Mazda3 grades use the more powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine. For the Aussie market, this engine develops a standard 139kW @ 6,000rpm and 252Nm at the same 4,000rpm as the smaller 2.0-litre. Like the 2.0-litre, it's a naturally aspirated power plant.
Mazda3 gearboxes
For the Mazda3, the carmaker gives buyers the choice of a Skyactiv-MT manual or a Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission. Both of these gearboxes have six-speeds.
Car reviewers' impressions of the Mazda3 engine and transmission combo
Some reviewers observed that with no forced-induction ramping up the lower-end torque and power outputs, you really have to spool the engines to get up to speed. Another tester commented that it felt like it was a tad underpowered. The smaller 2.0-litre doesn't inspire confidence when you need some get-up and go, like overtaking or for tackling hills. Others said it was a bit of a noisy power plant. One journo went as far as to say the chosen engine was the Achilles' heel of the Mazda3.
Other evaluators suggested that for town driving, the engine is more than capable and it'll easily handle relaxed highway cruising.
Both transmissions attracted positive comments. The automatic apparently changes gears very neatly.
Mazda supplies fuel economy figures for both engine variants in the vehicle's brochure.
2.0-litre I4 Petrol The smaller of the two petrol power plants uses the following claimed figures when paired with a manual gearbox:
Combined: 6.4L/100km
Urban: 8.2L/100km
Extra-urban: 5.4L/100km
With an automatic transmission, the 2.0-litre uses less fuel:
Combined: 6.2L/100km
Urban: 7.8L/100km
Extra-urban: 5.3L/100km
2.5-litre I4 petrol
The larger engine surprisingly appears to be quite a frugal fuel-drinker. With a manual, it claims the following:
Combined: 6.3L/100km
Urban: 8.3L/100km
Extra-urban: 5.1L/100km
When the larger engine is paired with an automatic, the 2.5-litre motor claims to use the following:
Combined: 6.6L/100km
Urban: 8.6L/100km
Extra-urban: 5.4L/100km
A word on factory fuel figures In order to determine the fuel usage data of an engine, carmakers have to put their vehicles through a heavily-controlled testing procedure. This evaluation is designed specifically to reduce any variations that may affect the results. However, on public roads, there are a number of factors that impact on fuel economy. Consequently, there can be a margin of difference between the brochure figures and real-world achievable numbers. Only use the brochure data as a way to compare different models.
Sometimes, factory fuel use claims can be a little fanciful. For the Mazda3 though, many of the reviewers found them accurate.
Handling
A model hatchback should have agile, athletic handling, and the Mazda3 fulfils these expectations. Apparently, spinning the wheel requires little effort and the steering rack transmits feedback to the driver effectively. Reviewers perceived Mazda engineers have done a good job of keeping the ride and handling nice and tidy. One tester said it offered the perfect blend of low-speed manoeuvrability and high-velocity corner-holding abilities. To sum up, it appears to be a good example of a front-wheel-drive hatch. It has a sharp, tight feel with little body roll. Crucially, the new model improves upon the previous generation too, which shows Mazda's commitment to progressing their product.
The ride hasn't compromised passenger comfort either as testers said the hatch did a good job of smoothing over road imperfections.
Interior and features
Mazda interior stylists took a modern approach to the passenger compartment design. Journalists felt its layout favoured the driver more than previous generations. The majority of reviewers also noted a marked shift towards higher-end materials and assembly.
However, the most common bugbear with the interior was a lack of space. It was felt the car was too tight in the rear and the stingy boot space was picked up on universally. Also, it seems the large scooping C-pillar caused some interference with the driver's view.
Where the car really excels though is in the spec list. Even the basic G20 Pure models have pretty much everything you'd expect on a more premium vehicle. Also, the safety spec sheet is very long with tons of advanced safety systems. The only thing to beware of is that some journalists found the car's driver assists leaned towards being a tad too sensitive.
Ergonomics wise, motoring experts thought the Mazda3 should be held as a pinnacle to aim for. It was obvious to testers that the sculpting of seats and the positioning of controls had been minutely scrutinised and finessed. One other thing to note, while many manufacturers are switching to touchscreens, Mazda is sticking to a more analogue interface built around dials and buttons.
Mazda3 G20 Pure
The base-level car has taken a step forward over the previous iteration of the 3. The standard feature list would place this model pretty high in rival line-ups. You'll get 16-inch alloys, a 7-inch driver LCD display, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, keyless push-button start, A/C, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB, 8-speakers, a robust safety system, Bluetooth connectivity, LED headlights, parking sensors at the rear, auto-folding wing mirrors, a reversing camera, sat-nav, an adjustable steering column and tyre pressure monitoring as well as rain-sensing wipers. Now that's a well-stocked hatchback!
Mazda3 G20 Evolve
The G20 Evolve does away with the 16-inch alloys in favour of 18-inch rims in metallic grey. It also receives dual-zone climate control and rear air vents as well as leather wrapping on the gear-shift knob and steering wheel. Automatics have paddle shifters.
Mazda3 G20 Touring
If you opt for a G20 Touring model, you'll get advanced keyless entry, an auto-dimming driver's side wing mirror, tilting rear mirrors for reversing, an overhead sunglass storage box, black leather seat trimming, a 10-way power adjusting driver's seat plus vanity mirrors with illumination.
Mazda3 G25 Evolve
This model has a larger, more powerful engine for a start. It also gets cylinder deactivation technology for better fuel economy.
Mazda3 G25 GT
Heated seats up front, heated mirrors, a premium Bose 12-speaker sound system and a heated steering wheel set the GT apart from the rest of the line-up.
Mazda3 G25 Astina
The G25 Astina has black alloy wheels, 360° around-view, adaptive LED headlights, cruising and traffic support, driver monitoring, front cross traffic alert, front parking sensors, a glass sunroof and the ability to optionally purchase burgundy leather seats.
Mazda3 safety and driver assists
G20 Pure
G20 Evolve
G20 Touring
G25 Evolve
G25 GT
G25 Astina
360° around-view
Option
Option
Option
Option
Option
✔
Adaptive LED headlights
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
Advanced keyless entry
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
Advanced keyless push-button start
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Airbags SRS: front (driver and passenger) side (front), curtain (front and rear), and knee (driver)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Anti-lock braking system
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Blind spot monitoring (BSM)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Cruise and traffic support (CTS)
Option
Option
Option
Option
Option
✔
Driver attention alert
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Driver monitoring
Option
Option
Option
Option
Option
✔
Dynamic stability control (DSC)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Engine immobiliser
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Forward obstruction warning (FOW)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Front cross traffic alert (FCTA)
Option
Option
Option
Option
Option
✔
High beam control (HBC)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Hill launch assist
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
ISOFIX child restraint anchor points and top tethers
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Lane-keep assist system
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Left-hand-side convex wide-angle exterior mirror
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Parking sensors (front)
Option
Option
Option
Option
Option
✔
Parking sensors (rear)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Remote central locking (two fobs)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Reverse camera
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Seat-belt warning (front and rear)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Smart brake support (SBS) with pedestrian and cycle detection
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Smart brake support (rear crossing)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Smart brake support - reverse
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Traction control system (TCS)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Traffic sign recognition (TSR)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Mazda3 interior and comfort features
G20 Pure
G20 Evolve
G20 Touring
G25 Evolve
G25 GT
G25 Astina
Black cloth
✔
✔
✖️
✔
✖️
✖️
Black leather
✖️
✖️
✔
✖️
✔
✔
Burgundy leather
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
Option
Front seats with:
10-way power adjustment (driver)
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
Heating function
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
Height adjustment (driver)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Height adjustment (passenger)
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Lumbar adjustment (driver)
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
Rake and slide adjustment
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Rear seats with 60/40 split-fold backrest
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Centre fold-down armrest
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Active driving display
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Air conditioning
✔
Air conditioning (dual-zone climate control with rear vents)
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Ambient temperature display
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Cup holders
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Door bottle holders (front and rear)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Electric parking brake with auto hold
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Leather-wrapped gear shifter
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Leather-clad steering wheel
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Paddle shift gear control (automatic only)
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop & Go
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Rear-view mirror with auto-dimming function
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Trip computer
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
8.8-inch widescreen display
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
DAB radio with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth phone connectivity and satellite navigation
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
8 speakers
✔
✔
✔
✔
✖️
✖️
12 speakers
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
USB audio input port (iPod compatible)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Mazda3 exterior highlights
G20 Pure
G20 Evolve
G20 Touring
G25 Evolve
G25 GT
G25 Astina
Daytime running lights - halogen
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✖️
Daytime running lights - LED
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
Chrome exhaust extension
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Green-tinted window glass
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
LED headlamps/tail-lamps
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Headlamps auto on/off function
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Exterior mirrors (driver side) with auto-dimming function
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
Exterior mirrors with power adjustment
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Exterior mirrors with auto-folding function
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Exterior mirrors with heating function
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
✔
Power sliding and glass tilt glass sunroof
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
Wipers with two speeds and rain-sensing function
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
16-inch alloy wheels (silver)
✔
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
18-inch alloy wheels (metallic grey)
✖️
✔
✔
✔
✔
✖️
18-inch alloy wheels (black)
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✖️
✔
Verdict
No car is perfect, but the imperfections can be minimised. The Mazda3 appears to attract a few key complaints, mainly that the rear seats and boot aren't big enough. Also, the C-pillar is too chunky, prompting most reviewers to long for better rearward visibility. Also, the 2.0-litre Mazda engine was determined to be a little sluggish. But other than those foibles, the Mazda3 was very well-reviewed. It's got an impressive feature list, cutting-edge styling and superb safety features. If you're in the market for a high-end hatch, make sure to shortlist the Mazda3.
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Ben Gribbin is an automotive writer at Finder. He is a life-long car enthusiast, bringing many years of experience working with and writing about cars. During his time, Ben has been a freelance writer, editor and reviewer for a number of leading publications across the UK. He was voted the Guild of Motoring Writers Breakthrough Blogger in 2015.
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