Comments on: All-new Mazda3 five-door hatch unveiled

By: Ozmazdaclub ZB

Ozmazdaclub ZB — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:39:51 +0000

Nice work Mazda the new 3 hatch looks great and still has the edge of sportiness over the sedan…

By: JML

JML — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:03:27 +0000

I don’t know why all you blokes are umm-ing and ahh-ing about the design. You’re not supposed to like it. The new 3 is designed even further towards pleasing 90% of Mazda 3 buyers, who are 18-35 y.o girls/women.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 01:27:51 +0000

I kind of like the Bubba from Forrest Gump bumper.

I think the new 3 MPS will be a scorcher – I’ll be ready to put an order in. Good to see the Japanese taking it to Europe in the hot hatch stakes.

By: ABC

ABC — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:12:45 +0000

Adam, Jimbo, I’m saying Mazda *seems* unsure whether the public really likes the new front.

By: aubz

aubz — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:26:13 +0000

I think the front end looks pretty nice! Can’t wait to see this in the flesh.

Also, “first vehicle catalyst to be constructed using single nanotechnology – as opposed to other scarce materials such as platinum and palladium.”

This paragraph needs to be corrected, doesn’t read right. They still use platinum and palladium, just a lot less thanks to the single nanotechnology process.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:39:41 +0000

^ABC^

I’m with Adam (aka Mada) in saying WHAT??

By: Adam (aka Mada)

Adam (aka Mada) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:39:36 +0000

ABC…

What??

By: sexythang

sexythang — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:52:20 +0000

sedan looks better. i also think the lancer sportsback looks better as well. though it should coz its more expensive.

for me the new 3 is dissapointing. civic looks better.

By: ABC

ABC — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:23:59 +0000

One (as far as i can see) design element of Hyundai’s i30 has been copied, badly. I think if Mazda is really proud of the smiling face front, they would have shown a photo of it. The absence of such an angle in the first batch of photos suggests Mazda is unsure.

By: o

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:14:36 +0000

We will probably get a smaller bumper than the US market but it looks good.I really like as I like the the 308.It is great that a Japanese company is actually making desirable cars with a design them unlike the fridge company Toyota.The grill looks great especially when the car is a bright color.I would love to see than smiley face made angry and aggressive though.it is a 100% improvement On he current 3 as i never really liked it.My only concern is that it is not conservative enough for our small car market where the fridge rules.

By: Simon T

Simon T — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:03:29 +0000

Mazda did this with the first gen of the 3’s.. Two years later the back bumpers all got a nip/tuck job

By: Supercujo

Supercujo — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:36:03 +0000

The rear bumper protusion could be due to the requirement in the US that the rear bumper be able to withstand a 5 mph impact without damage to the safety subsystems.

An older example of this is the difference between Euro model Volvo 240s and US spec ones. The rear bumper on the US spec 240 was huge.

Maybe Mazda has decided to use a common bumper across all markets to save some money?

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:28:53 +0000

I think the rear of the hatch looks better than the sedan, which is opposite of what i think of the current model.
Anyway IMO Mazda have the best designs of any mainstream car company in the world today, much better than Toyota, Mitsu, Honda and co.

By: Ben Larden

Ben Larden — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:10:33 +0000

A little bit too girly. The rear bumber is a throw back to the first gen 3’s. In the C and D series, it’s no where near like that.

Jap designers have lost the plot

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:29:21 +0000

^Foggy^
LOL sorry mate, I am just use to people bagging Peugeot’s designs that’s all. There seems to be a lot of people on CarAdvice who don’t appreciated the French flair, and that’s ok. It does however tick me off that they just seem to harp on and on about is ignoring the cars merits like the drivability and overall awesomeness of the French ride.

I am a card carrying lover of the Pug. I could not be more happy with my 207 its a brilliant little car, I cannot Fault it. So therefore I suppose my love of the Pug would also make my taste questionable. A Meganés, backside on the other hand……I will pass thanks.
The 3’s new back looks pretty good, I’ll admit it is a little odd but its still ok.

By: Foggy

Foggy — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:50:46 +0000

Quote: “Jimbo”
It does have an air of 308 to the design to it. So I therefore assume you mean that as a complement. The 308s design may not be to everyone’s taste. This is mostly because it is fresh, unconformist and heaven forbid interesting!
I think the new 3 looks 100% better, unlike the old Mazda 3 that had distinctly white goods look about it!

I couldn’t agree more Jimbo, I did mean it as a complement.

As a card-carrying Citroën lover (and owner), it’s good to see some of the other more conservative brands try to emulate a little bit of the French flair… but then again, I’m one of the minority who loves the look of the current Renault Megané, so what would I know! ;-D

By: milobob

milobob — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:19:18 +0000

my only gripe with the 3s… is the NVH and the lack of space at the back. Space at the back remains the same unfortunately but he reports on NVH are

By: Gift-Ed

Gift-Ed — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:18:33 +0000

The rear window is very much like the current Astra. I suspect it’s one of those cars that will look better in the flesh.

By: don

don — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:09:59 +0000

looks ok, not too sure about the side door panel “BMW 1 series” style crease line, also the rear lip of the bumper looks rather long, but still the car looks good

the sp25 should look really nice, and the MPS even better. the standard range looks pritty sporty from the pics, although i’m assuming this is the top of the range “standard” 3, and not the SP model

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:04:42 +0000

You have to applaud the Mazda engineers and design teams. This car looks like it should be an expensive European, cruising the streets of Rome, or parked out the front of coffee shops in Paris, acting all snobby. I am so glad Mazda found their MoJo again, after going off the rails with bland and uninspiring 323’s and 121’s they defiantly have their Groove back.