All-new 2009 Mazda3 sedan details
November 20, 2008 by George Skentzos
After a rather sneaky on-paper debut at the Australian International Motor Show, Mazda has unveiled the four-door sedan version of its all-new Mazda3.
The second generation of the brand’s best selling vehicle worldwide has been fully re-engineered and completely redesigned to deliver a more dynamic drive and distinctive appearance.
Adopting the more unified Mazda global ‘family face’, the new Mazda3’s major exterior design elements focus on the vehicle’s central axis, integrating the lower air intake with a more emphatic and instantly recognizable five-point grille.
Inside, the new Mazda3 offers a sporty yet highly refined cabin – the large gauge instrument cluster and centre stack are positioned to tightly link the driver’s limbs and senses to the car’s instruments and controls.
Optional creature comforts include dual-zone air conditioning, a BOSE 10-speaker premium surround sound system, phone connectivity, iPod interface, advanced keyless entry system with push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, heated door mirrors, leather upholstery, and heated seats.
Excluding the turbocharged MPS, the new Mazda3 range boasts two engine options across the variants.
Both engines employ advanced electronic throttle actuation and are mated to either a five or six-speed manual transmission, or a five-speed electronically controlled Sport-AT automatic transmission – depending on the model
The first is a MZR 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine which produces 110kW and 182Nm at 4500rpm, and returns fuel consumption of 9.4 litres per 100kms in city driving and 7.1 litres per 100kms on the highway with the manual transmission.
The new MZR 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine has been borrowed from the larger Mazda6 variant and develops 124kW of peak power and 227Nm at 4000rpm.
Fuel consumption for this engine in the city is 11.2 litres per 100kms and 8.1 litres per 100km on the highway with the manual transmission.
Active safety equipment includes ABS, Dynamic Stability Control, and traction control which are offered as standard or optional equipment – depending on the grade.
In the event of a crash, the new Mazda3 is equipped with six airbags and active head restraints as standard equipment.
These details are specific to the North American specification Mazda3 sedan – Australian specific details will be available closer to the local launch.
Print it: 
if this thing has at LEAST a 5 speed auto, 6 speed manual, improved fuel efficiency and improved noise intrusion levels it will be almost best in class!
the mouth is very peugeot like, but somehow i think it works. interior improvements would be more than welcome to!
Well Done Mazda!
Another benchmark car :)
it looks like its good a huge smile on it’s face
Looks much better than the Peugeot whale mouth.
This looks more like Ripjaw from Ben 10. It does look better.
Yes, I’ve seen too much Ben 10 with my son… :(
Thats one good lookin car, inside and out. Very well appointed for a small affordable car though i doubt we’ll see heated seats and maybe mirrors in oz.
Salivating at the thought of the MPS version.
I like it, although the 2.0 could do with more torque and direct injection for that matter…
Even still, it will be a winner.
Liked them before they went all round and bubbly. Uninspiring engine and efficiency.
Personally, I don’t like the styling, especially the front end (doesn’t suit the car). The aggressive front end of the soon to be discontinued 3 looks much better. Even the new 6 has a much better front end (just look from the side mirror with a 6 parked behind).
However, the rest of the package looks good and it looks like (from the pictures at least) tht interior quality has improved.
A good upgrade overall but it seems to be missing something. A little dissapointing.
Suppose I will have to wait till the 3rd Generation.
Awe yuck that smiley face ruins it!
No fuel consumption figures for the automatic suggests that they are not proud enough to disclose them. Where is the dual-clutch automated manual that was being touted for Mazda/Volvo/Ford 6 or 12 months ago?
Might be worthwhile if they created a 4wd MPS version of it
Awww, why didnt they release this 6 months ago? Now im stuck with a Mondeo.
Mazda3. Happiest car in the world!
Nice… if only they’d do a Mazda3 MPS Sedan!
Looks like a new face grafted onto the old body, doesn’t seem to gel very well. Much prefer the old 3’s styling, more coherent. Interior wise, looks good except for the spray on metal look for the bottom of the centre console.
Not very fuel efficient is it? Those figures should be from US testing, as they generally quote seperate figure for city and highway driving.
I think it’s laughing at me.
Front reminds me of a VW Beetle – don’t know if that’s good or bad. Need to see it in the flesh or some real photos by an impartial.
Looking at the 2.5L fuel economy figures, it’s lucky petrol’s got cheaper. The current 4L Ford Falcon/G6 must go pretty close to those figures!
Interior looks rather nice!!
Why is it that Toyota and Mazda can make a good looking interior for their small-medium cars; whereas Mitsubishi and Subaru continue to make cheap looking and bland ones….
I still think the exterior styling is nothing original.
Front looks good, the body looks the same as the old model, rear looks horrid. Interior, looking good.
Hopefully the hatch/wagon will look better, because this just doesnt blend.
Peter, Subaru hardly makes high quality interiors at least not in the Impreza and Forester. I don’t like it but then I don’t usually like sedans of this size. I think I will like the hatch though. I like the front end but the back is too bland and I’d much rather a 308 or Focus or something. The interior looks good but the exterior shape is too similar to the old one for me. Another car that eclipses Toyota’s competition. You don’t buy a Yaris, you buy a 2. Now it appears you don’t buy a Corolla, you buy a 3. Maybe a touch too much botox there Mazda?
Hmmm, not sure about this new 3 now. My wife needs a new car and we like the 3 but thought we’d wait for the new model. Now I think the current one looks better on the outside, although the new 3’s interior looks better IMO. When are these going on sale here?
I think the biggest risk they are going to run is that it’s not really revolutionary enough. Handsome yes, smart yes, but already looks barely newer than the current model, at least not really enough to future proof the design.
Interesting that at the same time VW Golf has also gone evolutionary and not pushing any boundaries. Certainly seems to be a trend towards smarter higher class interiors and not messing with exterior design.
I think there’s an opportunity or the Astra and Focus to perhaps really push some boundaries here and get both quality interiors AND very modern stylish exteriors to really become the darlings of the market like the Mazda 3 has been.
Hmmm,
Are the engines direct injected? Mazda claimed they were moving all engines to this technology. The 2.3 turbo is already injected in this way.
I like the current one but this one may take a while to grow on me. They have gotten rid of the 2 grilles (above and below bumper) for one big one in Pugeuot style.
I guess this big grille is why the next MPS will need to have a WRX style scoop, no room for underbonnet plumbing with the grille so low.
I’ve got high hopes for the next MPS. I wonder if they will keep the existing 2.3 turbo or go to a 2.5 turbo?
Mazda designers…..hooked on E
I don’t like the way the front quarter panel is resolved around the head light/ front wheel arch. There is something not quite right with all those lines. I think the mouth is too big as well.. if it was a bit smaller, it may have made the front end a lot more purposeful and less like a grinning idiot.
Should be a good drive though!
Mazda realy are becoming an entire new benchmark for design, i want one.
Mazda are without doubt the best designers at the moment of the Asian car builders. Mitsubishi, Subaru, Hyundai, Toyota etc don’t even come close. OK, there are bits and pieces of this new 3 that will take a little getting used to, but on the whole the designs of mazda are so far ahead of the rest it’s not funny.
Don’t like the front styling much – mouth is too big. Interior looks pretty good. I believe Mazda are the Asian benchmark at the moment, but hate to think what the price will be with all that is mentioned – leather, Bose sound, auto wipers, dual air, heated seats/mirrors, keyless, etc, etc.
not quite as nice or aggressive as the peugeot styling but its not bad, at least its a long way from the completely bland and boring styling from toyota, holden, nissan and subaru.
now if only they did something better with their motors. engines getting bigger but power output and fuel effecieny only have marginal improvs, all the euro motors are streaking ahead.
Bob – At least the Golf isn’t going to date quickly. If this car is out for the next what? 6 years or something? I think this car is at very big risk of dating in that time. The Golf is clean and modern and this is a little bit, well, Asian. Lots of creases and points.
Lots of ppl commenting on the Peugeot like looks: I must say I agree, Mazda have started to fluff their designs lately beginning w the facelift for the RX8, the MX5 and now this ‘grinning idiot’ look to the 3.correct me if I am wrong but I heard that there was a new designer in charge post designing the last generation. Perhaps this is why we are seeing this slightly incohesive design language…?
by the time it is facelifted and the other cars start getting it will be better just like when audi started with therer grill or peugeot it takes some time to perfect it
The reason why we are seeing Mazda beginning this new design language on these cars is because surely everybody has seen all those concept cars Mazda has made that they keep saying will be around by 2020 or something? Well this, sadly, is just a transition into what will one day be.
Why no diesel!
laurie
Laurie, these specs are for the US market, where there isn’t a great demand for diesel. Australia is most likely to receive the same diesel engine that will be available in the 6 next month.
Mark Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 9:02 am
“When are these going on sale here?”
Around March or April.
hmmm. dont really like the look of this mazda 3. Looks like I will wait till its released and buy the old one a bargain price.
SEDAN
It looks like they have taken inspiration for the rear of the car from the mps model, and i think it works extreamly well. Along with the twin exhaust for show, not for go, it makes it look tougher also.
The bonnet appears to be very similar to the mazda 2, they way it slopes down to the grill, which personally doesn’t work for me. However i think the saving grace is they have a wide grill underneath and have accented the fog light area’s (similar to mazda 6) which will widen and highten the front.
I myself drive a black 2008 6 which i love, and it constantly gets mistaken for an lexus is250, especially from the side on, which i think is a huge compliment for the design team at Madza cos that is also a well designed car also.
Bottom line Mazda are hitting winners these days so well done boys and girls, lets see how it goes
Went to Melbourne Motor Show on Saturday Feb. 28, new Mazda 3 was an outstanding looking car, well finnished and lots of goodies, if it goes as good as it looks it will be a winner.
Hi any one now where this new Mazda 3 is made thanks in advance for the help
Its made in Japan, at the Hofu plant i think.
Just test drove the new mazda sp25 hatch auto.
Driveaway price is $37,305 with tow bar and park sensors and auto lights on included.
Very limited on colour choice which is pretty crappy. like the silver and blue thats it.
Bigger and better than previous model, looks heaps different, more like a baby 6. comes with sat nav standard, who does that in this class, umm that would be no one. screen should be 7″ but not 4. whatever it is.
Fuel consumption figures are 8.6 litres per 100kms auto sp25 as per mazda brochure. So whats with the figures quoted here. that is a massive difference. that carnt be right what they say here.
The smiley face yes is a bit of a worry especially with all the paint work exposed to stone chips on the lower bonnet and there is no bonnet protector available. get the touch up paint ready.
The car is really eye catching because it looks different. unlike the new golf which looks 10 years old and suited to a retirement village. i much prefer the new polo that looks much hotter. what was vw thinking with the new golf its the car version of all-bran
im also looking at the new focus turbo diesel which has tremendous torque but has less features and is less flashy that the mazda. but same platform. also is 5K less. better range of colours u r spoiled for choice.
This car wont date all that much, afterall u should be upgrading every 5-6 years anyhow. i have a 03 astra now and it still looks good with 17″ rims on it.
im not paying what they are asking and horray its a recession so i will be taking a fair whack off what they want or i just wont buy it and get the focus i think. i work in sales so i wont be stooged easily.
corolla looks ridiculous with its 4 speed auto they are in big trouble this year as mazda 3 is ranked one for sales after first quarter, which is the first time in 10 years anyone has beaten the corolla. i think sales of the new 3 will be really formiddable.
servicing costs are not too bad, $250 for minor and $450 for major.
Giving some serious consideration to the Mazda3 sedan but might be swayed by Corolla Neo sedan.
October 2009 servicing is $130 each up to and including the 60K service, which isn’t too band and just might swing my decision away from the Mazda3 as the Corolla is also cheaper at entry level quoted $22,990 drive away.
I’m going to buy new Mazda 3 Neo Auto sedan.Dealer gave me $24500 price.It’s good price for mid size car