2015 Mazda3: Nice Thing in a Small Package
The Mazda3 can do everything you’d expect from a topnotch compact car, but it has another role in the Mazda family—one usually assumed in other manufacturers’ lines by a pickup truck, SUV, or larger sedan. The Mazda3, you see, is the cornerstone vehicle of Mazda’s lineup.
Mazda3 is now in its third generation and has sold nearly $4 million vehicles globally. In the United States, it represents 54 percent of the company’s sales.
It was while driving this week’s test car, a 2015 Mazda3 Grand Touring, that I realized I wasn’t alone: There are lots of Mazda3s sharing our roads.
The Mazda3 received a total redesign for the 2014 model year. For 2015, the major change is that the larger (2.5-liter) engine now is available with a six-speed manual transmission.
That was the configuration we drove, and it was an enjoyable ride. Strong points included the drivetrain’s performance, well-thought-out suspension, quick steering, and fuel economy. It’s very much a driver’s car.
The Grand Touring is the top of six trim levels, starting with the Sport at $19,765 (including destination). Our Grand Touring came in at $26,365 equipped with everything but a cutting-edge technology package that would have added regenerative engine braking, active high beam control, active grille shutters, lane departure warning, Smart City Brake Support, radar cruise control, and forward obstruction warning.
Add those and you have all the accoutrements of the entry-level luxury segment.
“Compact cars are roomy without being bulky. They offer impressive fuel economy, have starting prices consumers can afford, and also can be seen as a sort of testing ground for new technologies,’’ says Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American operations.
Remember “Zoom-Zoom,’’ Mazda’s famous buzzwords? The Mazda3 still has that in its DNA. It also has its new Skyactiv efficient powertrains and the KODO “Soul of Motion’’ styling cues that run through the Mazda line.
Perhaps it’s because Mazda has poured so much of its soul into the Mazda3 that the car lives up to the industry’s predictions from five or six years ago that small cars would be well-equipped smaller versions of their larger brethren.
Our test vehicle had blind spot monitoring, a rearview camera, keyless entry and push button starting, leather seats with contrasting stitching, dual climate controls, LED running lights, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive front headlights, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Two features on the Mazda3 stand out—literally.
One is the Active Driving Display that reflects vehicle speed and navigation turns on the windshield.
The goofy part is that a plastic shield pops up when the ignition turns on, causing a newcomer to the vehicle to ask, “What’s that?’’ It’s the reflector that puts the display on the windshield.
While the display is height-adjustable, accomplishing that adjustment means searching through the settings menu on the second item that stands out on the Mazda3’s grille, the seven-inch, full-color touch screen for Mazda Connect.
The display pokes above the center of the dashboard, and looks as though the designers built the final prototype and someone noticed, “Hey, we forgot to put the screen in the dashboard,’’ and just plunked it into place.
Actually, Mazda placed it high in the heads-up concept of helping drivers keep their eyes on the road. In discussing the placement with some passengers, we wondered why it didn’t flip down or retract into the dashboard.
“Well, just leaving it in place means there’s one thing that won’t break,’’ says Mrs. G.
That Mazda Connect system works well and is capable of many more tasks that this driver uses. I’m comfortable pairing phones, using Pandora, entering destinations into the navigation, and (sometimes) getting voice recognition to work.
Sorry, but I’m not addicted to Facebook or Twitter, at least not to the extent that I have to use the Mazda’s Shout function to read and respond to updates while driving.
I did find the system—and its controller knob located on the center console—tedious to use, often requiring several steps to accomplish a simple task like installing radio presets—something an old-fashioned tuning knob or push button could do in an instant.
The contoured seats were comfortable on long drives, and the compact Mazda3 felt plenty roomy for front-seat passengers. Rear seat legroom was adequate but not quite in the roomy category.
We found the six-speed manual smooth to operate, though the driver display on the instrument panel kept telling us to upshift quickly, apparently to maximize fuel economy.
Speaking of that, the Mazda3 with the larger engine and manual transmission are EPA-rated at 25 miles per gallon in city driving, 37 on the highway, and 29 combined. Our week of driving returned a 32.4 mpg average on regular unleaded fuel.
The advanced tech package that we didn’t have has Mazda’s i-Eloop (intelligent energy loop) that saves energy in a capacitor to be used later to power the vehicle’s electrical components such as audio, headlights, and climate control. Mazda says the system reduces engine loads and adds a mile or two to the fuel economy numbers.
For the holiday season, we can describe this Mazda as something nice coming in a small package.
2015 Mazda3 4-door sedan
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $19,765/$26,365. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 25 city/37 highway/29 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 32.4 mpg. Drivetrain: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 6-speed manual transmission, front-wheel-drive. Body: 5-passenger compact sedan.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 184. Torque: 185 lb.-ft. Overall length: 180.3 in. Wheelbase: 106.3 in. Height: 57.3 in. Width: 70.7 in. Curb weight: 2,947 lbs.
THE GOOD
Spunky engine, sport-tuned suspension, fuel economy, reliability.
THE BAD
Infotainment layout, snug rear seat.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A must-consider compact sedan or hatchback.
ALSO CONSIDER
Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Kia Forte, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf.
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