A sophisticated powertrain earns the stylish new Mazda3 another nomination for Car of the Year
- Why is the Mazda3 a carsales COTY contender?
- Who will the Mazda3 appeal to?
- How much does the Mazda3 cost?
- What have we already said about the Mazda3?
Why is the Mazda3 a carsales COTY contender?
Yes, you’re not imagining it, the Mazda3 small car is back for a crack at the carsales Car of the Year for the second year in a row. That’s because of the arrival of an exciting new variant, the Mazda3 X20 Astina.
What’s grabbed our attention is the 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-X engine under the bonnet that promises to combine the efficiency and torque of diesel compression ignition with the cleaner emissions and responsiveness of a petrol-fed powertrain.
It’s technology Mazda’s beaten the likes of Mercedes-Benz and General Motors to market with and is intended to ensure the relevance of internal combustion engines out to 2035.
Well worth a slot at carsales COTY then, proudly presented this year by Bingle.
Who will the Mazda3 appeal to?
Australians have accounted for 10 per cent of the more than six million Mazda3s sold globally since the first generation launched in 2003. The second generation was even the national number one seller in 2011 and 2012.
But as local tastes have veered toward SUVs, so Mazda has reframed the 3 as a premium small car, dropping the bargain-basement models out of the range when generation four launched in 2019.
The Astina X20 sits atop a range that is substantially more expensive than its predecessor, looks and feels it inside and out, and is much better equipped. To go with the premium push there’s been plenty of emphasis on improving sound deadening and ride comfort.
All that means the Mazda3 is more about being a sensible downsizing choice for mature adults than a car for young families on a budget.
How much does the Mazda3 cost?
The Mazda3 X20 Astina sits at the top of the Mazda3 range. There are manual and automatic transmission versions across both sedan and hatchback body styles with pricing starting at $40,590 (plus on-road costs) and stopping at $41,590. That’s a $3000 premium over any other model in the range.
The cheapest models in the entire 31-variant line-up are the G20 (G is for gasoline, 20 denotes 2.0-litre) Pure sedan and hatches, which start at $25,590 for the manuals – a far cry from the $20K pricing offered for the third generation.
Mazda isn’t alone in bumping prices up in recent times. The 3’s traditional competitor the Toyota Corolla has also gone through a startling price transformation in recent years.
What have we already said about the Mazda3?
The carsales team has had several steers of the SKYACTIV-X engine both here and overseas. Most recently technical editor Ken Gratton pondered the appeal of high-tech and the challenge of a high price and found it justifiable.
“If you place a value of $2000 on the high-tech powertrain wizardry and another $1000 for the driving dynamics and ‘zoom-zoom’ factor, you’ll justify the spend,” he wrote.
Sounds plausible, but we’ll only find out if he’s right when the judges apply the blowtorch at carsales Car of the Year for 2020, proudly presented by Bingle.
Mazda3 X20 Astina automatic at a glance: Price: From $41,590 Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder supercharged-petrol Output: 132kW/224Nm Transmission: Six-speed automatic Fuel: 5.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 121g/km (ADR Combined)
Keyword: Mazda3: carsales car of the Year 2020 contender