Mazda 3 is a front- or all-wheel drive five-door hatchback of the "golf" -class (aka "C-segment" by European standards), which combines expressive design, modern technical components, a rich set of options and a driver's character ... Its target audience includes , first of all, young and ambitious people (regardless of gender), leading an active lifestyle, for whom it is important not only how the car looks, but also how it drives ...
The official premiere of the five-door Mazda 3 model of the next, fourth in a row, generation took place in mid-November 2018 at the stands of the International Los Angeles Auto Show, the conceptual forerunner of which in the person of the Kai show car debuted in October 2017 at a car show in Tokyo.
After the next "reincarnation", the hatchback was transformed on all fronts, without exception - it acquired a striking design, received a seriously modernized platform, "armed" with innovative engines and expanded its functionality with a wide range of modern systems.
The design of the fourth generation "three-ruble" was decided in the last iteration of the brand's corporate identity (the Japanese themselves claim the mature Kodo language) - the five-door looks elegant, balanced, modern and sporty, and stands out favorably against the background of many competitors.
The full-face hatchback inspires awe and respect - the evil gaze of narrow lighting technology, a large "polygonal shield" of the grille with a honeycomb pattern and a relief cut bumper. The swift and harmonious silhouette of the car is formed by a slight negative slope of the radiator grille, a long bonnet, a sloping roof line that turns into a powerful C-pillar with a heavily folded glass of the fifth door, and expressive sidewalls with "smooth" outlines. From the rear, the car boasts a lean build with sophisticated headlights, a compact trunk lid and an "inflated" bumper, from under which a pair of "trunks" of the exhaust system sticks out.
In terms of its dimensions, the fourth generation Mazda 3 corresponds to the concepts of the C-class according to European standards: the hatchback is 4460 mm long, and its width and height do not exceed 1795 mm and 1435 mm, respectively. The center-to-center distance of the car is 2725 mm, and its ground clearance is 135 mm.
The curb weight of the five-door varies from 1274 to 1299 kg (depending on the modification).
The interior of the “fourth” Mazda 3 is made in the spirit of minimalism and is able to boast of smooth lines, but at the same time it looks attractive, modern and stylish. A beautiful multi-steering wheel with a raised three-spoke rim, a laconic instrument cluster with three analogue dials and an elegant center console with asymmetrical shapes, on which a protruding 8.8-inch touchscreen of the media center and an exemplary air conditioning unit are located - inside the car is subordinated to the philosophy of “less is more "and is devoid of any special" bells and whistles ", which only benefits him.
On top of that, the hatchback "flaunts" thoughtful ergonomics, high-quality finishing materials and a solid level of performance.
The interior of the car has a five-seater configuration, and a vital supply of free space here is promised by the inhabitants of both rows of seats. Front riders rely on seats with a well-defined side profile, moderately rigid padding and wide adjustment intervals. At the rear is a well-profiled sofa with three headrests and a fold-down armrest with a pair of cup holders.
The trunk of the five-door hatchback is by no means a record - its normal capacity is only 358 liters "under the shelf". At the same time, the compartment itself has a wide opening and high-quality finish, but it distresses with an excessively high threshold. The second row of seats folds down in two parts into an almost flat area, which increases the cargo volume to 1,026 liters. An underground niche hides a small spare wheel and tools.
In the Russian market, the fourth-generation Mazda 3 is offered with two atmospheric gasoline "fours" from the Skyactiv-G family, with in-line architecture, direct fuel injection, 16-valve timing belt of the DOHC type and electrically-driven step phase shifters at the inlet and outlet:
- Under the hood of the initial versions is a 1.5-liter engine that generates 120 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 153 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.
- The more efficient options relies on a 2.0-liter unit that produces 150 hp. at 6000 rpm and 213 Nm of rotational potential at 4000 rpm.
Both engines are combined with a 6-band "automatic" and front-wheel drive transmission, while the "junior" motor is installed by default with a 6-speed "mechanics".
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes a golf hatchback 9.3-12.4 seconds, and its maximum speed is 193-213 km / h, depending on the modification.
In the combined mode, the car needs from 6 to 6.9 liters of fuel for every "hundred" of the run.
It is worth noting that in other countries the five-door is equipped with an innovative 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X gasoline engine (122 HP and 213 Nm) and a 1.8-liter Skyactiv-D turbodiesel (116 HP and 270 Nm), as well as an all-wheel drive i-Activ AWD transmission.
The fourth "release" of the Mazda 3 is built on the "front-wheel drive" Skyactiv-Vehicle architecture with a transversely oriented engine, which is a development of the previous platform. The power structure of the hatchback's body consists of high-strength steel grades to a large extent. On the front axle of the car, an independent suspension of the MacPherson type is used, and on the rear axle, a semi-independent torsion beam (in both cases, with passive shock absorbers and anti-roll bars).
By default, the five-door is equipped with a rack-and-pinion steering complex with an integrated electric power steering. All wheels of the car are equipped with disc brakes (supplemented by ventilation at the front) with ABS, EBD and other assisting electronics.
On the Russian market, the fourth generation Mazda 3 hatchback is sold in three trim levels to choose from - "Drive", "Active" and "Supreme".
- The car in the basic version is offered only with a 1.5-liter engine and "mechanics", and they ask for it at least 1,490,000 rubles. The list of its standard equipment includes: seven airbags, air conditioning, ABS, ESP, LED headlights with halogen running lights, light and rain sensors, 16-inch steel wheels, a media center with an 8.8-inch display, electronic handbrake, G- Vectoring Control, ERA-GLONASS technology, head-up display, audio system with eight speakers, power windows for all doors and some other equipment.
- For the performance of "Active" with a 120-horsepower engine and 6АКПП will have to pay from 1,590,000 rubles, and with a more productive "aspirated" - from 1,678,000 rubles. Its distinctive features are: dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knobs, 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and cruise control.
- "Top" equipment with a "junior" unit and "automatic" costs from 1,683,000 rubles, and with a "senior" - from 1,753,000 rubles. Signs of such a hatch include: paddle shifters, 18-inch wheels, electric front seats, a rear-view camera, heated steering wheel and the lower part of the windshield, keyless entry, as well as front and rear parking sensors.
