New Mazda3 to gain ESP as standard
February 23, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Mazda has today announced the new-generation Mazda3 will feature ESP (Electronic Stability Control) as standard equipment on all model grades when the car makes its long awaiting debut following the Melbourne International Motor Show this Friday.
Mazda3 Maxx Sport and SP25 models will also gain Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and satellite navigation as standard features.
The in-dash Satellite Navigation unit will feature a 4.1-inch full colour screen and will be controlled via steering wheel mounted switches.
“ESP standard across the range, and satellite navigation on Maxx Sport and SP25; it’ wasn’t that long ago features like these were the sole domain of high-priced luxury cars,” commented Mazda Managing Director Doug Dickson. “The new-generation Mazda3 will take Mazda’s value-for-money commitment to the next level. We’re proud to bring these safety and luxury features to Australian new car buyers, and we’re proud to offer them at the affordable end of the market in the successor to Australia’s best-selling new car.”
Mazda is the only one of Australia’s top three car brands to offer ESP on every passenger vehicle in its range.
Print it: 
The inclusion of Bluetooth and Sat Nav as standard on those models is not overly surprising to me.
Mazda are pretty good when it comes to getting on the front foot and taking the game to their competitors.
Should be a great all round car. Interested to see how the pricing will change with this new model.
Mazda are doing a really fantastic job right now. There are many other cars that I would have before a Mazda 3 in that sector, but Mazda are really stepping out in front. (Looks aside) does anybody still want a Lancer or Corolla?
Good on Mazda, this new 3 will be a winner, can’t wait to see it at MIMS.
Bluetooth and sat. navi. are not standard on any Mazda 6 models, even with the so-called “Luxury” at RRP $42,990. Considering that the SP25 shares the same engine as the Mazda 6, it looks like the Mazda 6 is looking uncompetitive at the higher priced models.
I’m a little worried about the starting price considering on what’s going on around us.
Price increases from Honda and Toyota due to the low AUD right now probably means that the Mazda 3 will be priced higher than the outgoing model.
Anyone have any idea or would like to take a guess at the starting price?
Cheers
There has been mention of a $1,000 price rise on another forum.
look at the smile on the car! all it needs is some teeth painted on. reminds me of the old bug eyed sprite. very kawaii
This car would be brilliant with their next generation hi-po diesels. Can’t say I’m the biggest fan of it’s “grinning” front.
That front design turns me off. Just as well there are so many other cars to choose from.
Yeah Mazda need to include the GPS and add braces to the smile for sportiness for the sp25.
Still this car is too noisy. Even this car is noisier than Kia Rio. Unacceptable…
Get one in black and you won’t even notice the front grill.
Sillyhonda, how do you know its noisy when you haven’t driven one yet?
Good to see Mazda stick it to the competition once again
Myke: Of course I have not driven it yet,, I have read the new Mazda 3 review and it states that so…But I cannot remember the name of site. It was one of US web auto sites…
That is the most stupid looking front end on a car since Peugeot went with the Ugly Betty design concept.
As much as i like Mazda, the front end on the new 3 is simple UGLY
sillyhonda
come on mate, that is a pretty silly statement. Like saying you don’t like the taste of coke because someone told you they didn’t like it. Tell you what, how about when they get released, take one for a drive and then form your own opinion – if you’re capable of course?
Having ESP as standared can only be a positive.
I quite like the overall shape of the car however,the odd styling of the front,would present a stumbling block for me as a potential purchase.
I personally think the current mazda3 is highly overrated. So many reviewers rave about it being best in class but when I test drove a mazda 3 and sp23 they were far too rigid and tinny. On standard roads I felt like I was being knocked around the place with the usual road imperfections. Reviewers often mentioned this but for me this is a deal-breaker. I’d be interested to see if the new 3 will improve on this but I’m not holding my breath.
New 3 is hot i love it.The reason 6 has no sat-nav is because at launch it was not available for oz expect in its mid life face lift.Also why cant the 3 be happy its the best selling car in oz
Andrew, I have a friend who drives a top European car. He on many occasions have mentioned how good the Mazda3 I drive is. He never said this about previous car I owned.
However, I think the plastics in the current 3 are the big letdown- compared to the 6. This is one area I hope the new 3 improves on.
Otherwise, the rest of the package on the current one is OK. In my opinion, it is quite solid riding.
I will definately be taking a look at the new 3. Sounds like a ripper. A new corolla is not in the same league now as the Mazda 3. My old Corolla broke its own 11 year unblemished reliability record TODAY by not starting and being towed by the RACQ truck. The time is probably upon me to look for a replacement car, but not a new Corolla.
Good job Mazda. Silly Honda.
Mazda stop teasing us and get this thing over here.ASAP
But be very very careful about the pricing???? Spam word”holden” what the hell is a holden thought the faded away into nothing????
Their not teasing us Garry;Garry is an old school name Garry.
This car looks dated already, the profile while evolutionary looks far too much like the current 3 and that grill is horrible. I read a study that stated people prefer angry or tough looking cars more than happy looking cars and this takes the happy look to a whole new level. Like the new 6, this doesn’t move the game on any further unfortunately.
is it me or does the new 3 look like 2 cars photoshoped together int hat top picture.
Arrgh, dumb whiteys, angry all the time, never happy, just like the cars they like.
When does this thing actually come out?
Really like the styling of the new Mazda’s. The plasticky interiors let them down though.
Careful choosing your colour on this with that big gaping gob on it. Reckon the mid life facelift will include a coloured grill.
I bought my Mazda 3 just over 18 months ago and even power mirrors and windows were an optional extra. How things change.
Its’ look is very feminine,but I just don’t know how they could make the MPS look more agressive.However, ESP is standart for all models and Sat Nav for Max Sport model is great though.
Sinalot I was reading about these in the paper last Saturday and it said the new 3 will be for sale early April.
I took an sp23 out for a test drive when I was looking for a new car for my missus about 4 1/2 years ago. The mazda gearbox was sweet, as always, but it didnt handle as well as I expected (I used to own one of the sleek shaped astinas from around 2000 I think, which handle\d much better – this one felt heavy in the front end), it was underpowered, the interior was cramped and there was pretty much zero rear legroom. I have to say it was a very underwhelming experience, although that was the first of the new shape, and they might have improved. I ended up spending twice as much on a Euro car, which I think was easily twice as good. Not knocking the mazda, they are a reasonably priced car for what they are, but for me the euro was better value, because I would never have been happy with the mazda long term.
They certainly have milked every last drop out of the current model – awesome and trend setting when it first came out (in terms of design style I mean), but getting tired now.
Pious, not sure I agree with you re quality and ride of the mazdas. I have an 06 Luxury Sports 6 and it really is a beautiful car, drives brilliantly (although underpowered) and the build quality is top shelf. But yes, it is underpowered and it is a source of constant frustration for me that they design such nice looking cars (ok, the new 3 is going to be a personal taste thing from reading above), yet they don’t mix up the range with some different engine choices. No turbo or 6 for the mazda 6 is simply confusing the marketplace with the availability of the SP25 – what’s the point of difference? Slightly larger? maybe, but the same engine equates to even less power. Then they release the new diesel engine in the 6, and make the wise decision to offer it in the Luxury Sports grade as well, then they take away the sunroof and don’t even offer it as an option? What the? Some things they do simply don’t make any sense at all.
Thats it, I’m buying an SP25.
According to a media release by Mazda, 60% of people who buy a Mazda 3; are women.
HAL, dont get me wrong, I still think mazda is right up there, but the car was far short of what I hoped it would be, given the part sharing with the focus and the volvo s40 (here he goes again about volvo…). I think I was hoping it would be an alternative to the s40, and save some bucks, but it fell short of my hopes. That said, I love mazdas, especially the gearbox, as I had the astina for a few years and would have kept it far longer except I couldnt fit the kids stuff in. Build quality in the sp23 I think was ace, ride was good, but handling was pretty ordinary, actually, a real put off. I’d have another mazda any day, and I reckon the look of the new(er) 6 is excellent.
Pious, fair enough. For me it was virtually a done deal that my next car was going to be the new 6 – thought they really looked the business. Depending on what you’re after they really are a beautiful car – but the more I looked at them and tried to convince myself that it was the one I was gonna go for, the more I found myself uninspired. I was excellent without being exciting – I find the rear end just too large and out of proportion with the rest of the car. Maybe my tastes have changed (or I’m going through an early mid-life crisis), but I am yearning for something akin to a 6 MPS. Am now considering the Focus XR5, Mondeo XR5 and am keen to check out the new 3 MPS at the MIMS this week. Can’t do the C30 due to the 2 door thing and the price when optioned up, and the S40 has just been around too long.
Yeah, I dont think the s40 shape will last past the introduction of the new s60 next year – they are too close in size. Still a pretty car, though. Out of those, I’d go the mondeo. They are a verrry sweet looking car. I am holding out for the new shape s60 to replace the s40, but they are talking small engines at this stage, and my missus wouldnt drive anything that didnt do 100kph in over 7.5, so I might end up with the mondeo too.
yeah, I do like the Mondeo, but I’m not 100% sure about it – it test drove quite nicely, but I didn’t entirely fall in love with the interior and centre console materials. Took the Focus Xr5 for a test drive too and loved it – the T5 engine sounds better in this than the Mondeo, but another annoying thing – no cruise control, which is crap when you live in melbourne with the speed cameras everywhere. Also when you option the leather the Focus turns from a 5 seater to a 4 – tell me, who is making those decisions, it’s madness!
anyway, the search continues.
hahaha – every thing you say leads me back to the s40T5, though it was far better, IMO when it was FWD rather than AWD (AWD slowed it down a little and made it feel front heavy). Same engine as the focus. Second hand low klicks probably $30Kish. They look sweet too, kitted up, but then you’d have to become a bloody volvo driver. That or a second hand s60R – great performance, luxury etc, but horrible turning circle (it does really become a PITA). Sooner or later, I’ll convince someone to go volvo…
you’re probably right, but it probably won’t be me who you convince to go Volvo. My family is Norwegian and we have a sort of rivalry with the Swedes akin to Aussies and kiwis. My family would never let me live it down – a norwegian worth his salt couldn’t stand to be seen in a volvo or saab!
understood, though saying that aussies and kiwis have rivalry is like saying that a dog has rivalry with its fleas. I prefer to look at it on the basis that the kiwis have to be reminded of their place, from time to time.
Tim I know how you feel same with me,Tony what is your point????