Not content just to release a new Mazda3, Mazda is adding an AWD version
New AWD for Mazda3 LAKE TAHOE, Nevada—Mazda is not content just to release an all-new Mazda 3 sedan and Mazda3 Sport hatchback this year – it’s also releasing an all-wheel drive version, using technology that’s specially designed to work with the new chassis and integrated into the car’s central computer. What follows are 18 reasons to consider the new Mazda3 iteration. ▲
Same face, different pace There’s no difference in the appearance of the AWD version over its FWD sibling, which we drove in January, except for the badge at the back. The AWD unit is sold in the mid-range and top-end trim levels of the compact Mazda, and only with the automatic transmission and more-powerful 2.5-litre engine. This is a marketing decision – it’s possible to couple the AWD with the base-level 2.0-litre engine, or with the 6-speed manual transmission, but the demand is probably not there. ▲
Premium feature Mazda sees the AWD as a more premium feature for buyers. It adds $1,700 to the cost of the car, but even so, you have to buy some more costly features of the mid-level GS trim to get it. The most basic Mazda3 costs $18,000, but the least expensive Mazda3 AWD costs $26,000. The least expensive Mazda3 Sport AWD costs $27,000. ▲
Spring in its step We drove the Mazda3 AWD sedan north and east out of Sacramento, California, to see how it felt on the highway. The weather was warm and dry, and spring was definitely in the air. The car seemed no different from the FWD version, though it has some clever features for steady driving on dry pavement. ▲
All wheels always driving In normal, straight driving, most of the torque is sent to the front wheels but a small fraction – about 2% – is still sent to the rear wheels, so the system is primed for any sudden changes. If you brake heavily, more torque goes to the front, where the grip will be strongest, and when you accelerate, more torque goes to the back wheels, to dig in better. ▲
Sporty looking hatch Once we started climbing into the gold rush hills of the High Sierra, the roads started to twist and curve, and they became wet from runoff of the spring snow. We swapped the sedan for the sportier hatchback, but this is not a sports car. Both sedan and hatch share the same 186 hp, 2.5-litre engine and 6-speed automatic. It’s powerful enough for comfortable driving, but it’s not quick enough to be considered a performance car. ▲
One state of tune We shifted the drive mode into Sport, but that only changes the transmission shift points. Some other makers will change other characteristics of their cars when you choose difference drive modes, like the steering feel, or throttle response, or even the stiffness of the suspension, but Mazda believes there should only be one state of tune for the vehicle, to make the drive responses more consistent and predictable. ▲
Constant monitor Around corners, both dry and slippery, the AWD system works with Mazda’s next-generation G-Vectoring Control Plus system to monitor and prepare the suspension for each wheel, hundreds of times every second. The car’s computer monitors the acceleration and yaw and even the vehicle’s incline to adjust the torque to each wheel, to make sure each tire is given as much traction as possible. ▲
Relaxing drive This is a very complicated AWD system and is only possible with recent advances in software technology that allow constant monitoring and instant adjustment. The ride stayed smooth and the vehicle stayed flat, creating a relaxing drive even on swift, sharp curves, and even when other vehicles appeared unexpectedly. ▲
End of the road The higher we climbed, the deeper the snow became. Near the infamous Donner Pass, where early wagon-train pioneers were stranded through the winter, the snow was much taller than the Mazda. Nothing was getting through on the unploughed roads off the main highway. ▲
On the snow Even so, Mazda created a special track at a ski resort, where the snow base was four metres deep. It was a chance to try out the AWD on a hard pack of snow and ice, similar to an unploughed road, to see how it handles when the surface is truly slippery and uneven. ▲
G-Vectoring Control plus Mazda engineer Yasumasa Imamura came over from Japan to monitor the vehicles, and also to program them so the G-Vectoring Control could be shut off, for comparison. There’s no other way to turn it off – it’s integrated deeply throughout the car and uses power from the engine itself to make instant adjustments to the suspension. ▲
Smooth ride On the snow course, we took curves and hills at speed, and the car behaved itself admirably, staying completely predictable. When Imamura turned off the GVC system, the ride was a little shakier, though the difference was slight. It’s designed to help keep occupants stable and comfortable in daily driving, with less movement of the head and torso from the G-forces of the road. ▲
Double down We told you in January about the many changes made to the car for this new generation. It’s completely revised, and while other makers are focussing on more popular crossovers and SUVs, Mazda is doubling down with its commitment to regular cars. ▲
Premium sound Mazda is a comparatively small car company and does not have a separate brand for premium vehicles, so it’s adding more refinement to its regular lineup to take on premium makers. The cabin is quieter, with better materials, and the optional Bose sound system is very capable indeed. Using Augmented Reality, Bose engineers demonstrated how they moved the car’s 12 speakers to better locations for optimum sound, such as taking the bass speakers out of the doors and putting them into the area behind the front wheel wells. ▲
End result Small changes like this helped create more storage space in the doors. It’s all these little things that add up to create a more satisfying vehicle. ▲
Subaru-esque value If you’re looking for the least expensive AWD car in Canada, that title is still comfortably held by the Subaru Impreza, seen here. It’s only available as AWD and retails for $19,995. Toyota now offers an AWD Prius, but no other mainstream makers provide AWD with their compact sedans, coupes and hatches – those drivers who want power to all their wheels must buy larger cars, or SUVs and crossovers. ▲
Mazda premium Buyers of compact premium cars do have the choice of AWD, however, and it’s a very popular option with vehicles like the BMW 2 Series, Mercedes-Benz B-Class and Audi A3. It’s much more expensive, though – even the FWD versions of those vehicles cost more than the most expensive Mazda3 Sport AWD. ▲
New market for Mazda Mazda hopes to win over some of those premium buyers with its AWD option for the Mazda3, and maybe even attract some Subaru buyers too. SUVs may be popular, but a lot of people still prefer the driving experience of a car. The new Mazda3 now just gives them more choice. ▲
Keyword: 18 reasons to consider a new Mazda3 with AWD