The latest-generation Mazda 3 is sacrificing volume sales to take the Japanese brand into a more premium area of the mainstream market. We find out whether the flagship G25 Astina is a suitable spearhead.
Full of sophistication and class, we take the top-of-the-range Mazda 3 sedan for a spin.
Even in its cheapest form, the Mazda 3 offers an upmarket package for mainstream pricing, with all the thrills of shifting gears yourself.
The Mazda 3 G20 Evolve hatch is expected to be the most popular grade out of the six versions offered, and in most ways its newness translates to excellence.
Only one in 10 Mazda 3s are fitted with a conventional manual as an alternative to the popular automatic. We test the G25 Evolve sedan manual to see whether the 90-percenters are missing out.
A revolutionary update to keep the internal combustion engine clean and ever more efficient, but is it too late to save the petrol engine?
It's the entry-level with auto, and it could just be the sweet spot in the new Mazda 3 line-up.
Mazda's all-new small sedan is a compelling proposition, and the mid-spec G25 Evolve could be the sweet spot.
The new Mazda 3 hatch prioritises sporty looks and luxury features over cut-price positioning and interior space, even more than its predecessor did. It's a step forward that ironically enough will probably have a smaller audience.
The Mazda 3 is a firm favourite with Aussie buyers, and now with added equipment and a lower drive-away price for the Maxx Sport version, its value is better than ever.
The new Mazda 3 hatch is a bold, well-equipped small car that in flagship Atenza grade aims very high indeed. It certainly ticks the right boxes when it comes to desirability, though people after a cheap entry point will need to look elsewhere.
