Mazda has updated its C-segment hatchback with a fresh new look on its Mazda3. Does the Mazda3 still hold sway with consumers? We spent a week with the latest hatch to see if it could still turn heads.
Interior & Space
Design of the times
Mazda first unveiled its Soul in Motion Kodo design language in 2010 on a 4-door concept car and its revolutionary CX-5, this would set the stage for what every Mazda would go on to look like for the next decade. The Kodo design was so ahead of its time that even now, 13 years later, the design is still attractive.
The 2023 Mazda3 hatchback still employs the flowing lines that have become synonymous with the poised-to-strike design language but with very little in the way of major changes, it looks like nothing much has changed and one has to look very closely to discern if this is an older model. This is the fine line that designers walk, change the design to make it completely new and risk alienating die-hard fans, or don’t mess with it and run the risk of becoming stale. The latest version of Mazda’s C segment hatchback is walking this tightrope right now.
Styling
Here at AutoTrader, we have been fans of the modern and elegant design since its inception, the entire range of Mazda vehicles from sport cars and sedans to hatchbacks, crossovers and SUVs look absolutely stunning, however as we alluded to earlier the design is now 13 years old and very has been changed over that time.
What this means is when Mazda updates a model one really has to look for the changes and in the case of the new Mazda3 Astina these can be difficult to spot for the uninitiated. The 2023 model gets a brand-new body colour in the form of Poly Metal Metallic Grey, a new grille design and black details around the headlights.
Although these details are welcomed, the changes are sadly not enough to separate this from the outgoing model and it gets lost in the noise. Most of the changes that this model has received are under the skin.
Space & Interior
The 5-door Astina model has incredible amounts of space for driver and passenger with ample legroom, head clearance and shoulder-to-shoulder space. Things are not so good in the back seats with anyone exceeding 5 foot bumping their heads against the c pillar roof line and having to contend with the roof itself.
The boot can take 295l of luggage and is actually rather spacious for the coupe-style roof line on offer.
Comfort & Convenience
The Mazda3 Astina’s interior is something different in today’s day and age. In a world full of vehicles brimming with every conceivable bell and whistle, the Astina is plain and uncomplicated, no giant touchscreens, no haptic slide touch switchgear.
The interior is draped in a soft-touch leather with contrast brown stitching, a small infotainment screen, auto aircon, and a single rotary knob to control the limited MZD infotainment system. Everything you need and nothing extraneous included to confuse and detract from the act of driving.
Performance
The Astina derivative is equipped with a 2.0 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The combo belts out 121kW and 213Nm delivering a 0-100km time of 8 seconds. With only two drive mode options to choose from, namely Comfort or Sport, the Astina has something of a jekyllandhyde personality, either being a tuned city cruiser or flipping over into a corner munching dynamic driver that delivers an exhilarating driving experience.
It does however feel a little disconnected as most of the controls are drive-by-wire meaning that there is no direct feedback into the driver, resulting in a disconcerting feeling that you aren’t really in control and the car is doing all the driving. Engaging Sports mode and blasting through the gears with the paddle shifters, gearing down into corners, and accelerating out the other side, will paste a smile on your face. Simply put the Mazda3 Astina is still a driver’s car even if it does feel a bit disconnected.
Fuel Economy
Mazda claims best-case consumption figures of 6.3l/100km. Our real-world combined cycle testing varied wildly with city dawdling returning 7.2l while performance testing saw those numbers plummet to 19l/100km in Sport mode.
Safety
The Mazda3 takes no shortcuts on the safety front scoring a top 5 stars in the global NCAP scoring of 98% in adult occupant protection, 89% in child occupant protection, 81% for pedestrian protection, and 76% for driver safety assistance. The Mazda3 Astina receives an entirely new set of driver assistance systems for this update and is equipped with ABS, TSC, ISOFix, 7 Airbags, a Surround-view camera, Cruising and Traffic Support, Front cross-traffic alert, Front parking sensors, and Driver attention monitoring.
A host of other driver assistance features are now standard such as Autonomous emergency braking (forward, reverse), Adaptive cruise control with stop/go, Blind-spot monitoring, Lane keep assist, Rear parking sensors, Rear cross-traffic alert, Reversing camera and Traffic sign recognition.
Price
Make no mistake, the Mazda3 is a brilliant motor vehicle but in our current times where SUVs rule the roost, the price tag attached to the Astina is on the high side. It is comparable to class competitors but the price tag is going to ensure that Mazda3 appeal is being pitched towards fans of the brand and enthusiasts.
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Mazda Mazda3 hatch 1.5 Dynamic manual | R 447 500 |
| Mazda Mazda3 hatch 1.5 Dynamic auto | R 462 500 |
| Mazda Mazda3 hatch 2.0 Astina | R 565 700 |
Competitors
As the C-segment hatch market continues to shrink there are fewer and fewer competitors stacking up against the Mazda3. Currently, the Toyota Corolla hatch and Audi A1 are the only real competitors left standing in the price ballpark.
Verdict
It is sad that crossovers and SUVs are dominating sales as the Mazda3 is truly a brilliant piece of engineering with a focus on driver-oriented dynamics. Mazda has done little to overhaul its image and to do something out of the box to draw attention to the Mazda3 hatch while its SUV offerings do reasonably well. Although the Mazda3 is fantastic it will most likely fade into obscurity as many of the other C-segment hatches have done but while it’s going we should enjoy this vehicle for the incredible drive that it is.
Keyword: Mazda3 2.0 Astina (2023) Review