The 2018 Mazda3 Sedan is a stylish compact car, especially in Soul Red Metallic paint ($300 option), that won’t break the bank.
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- What’s Best: A well-laid out interior that puts all controls within easy reach.
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- What’s Worst: Not the biggest trunk but it will handle all your groceries.
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- What’s Interesting: The exterior of the Mazda3 sedan is still one of the most stylish compact cars on the market.
It’s never a bad thing to get a second opinion.
That’s true with a health diagnosis and cars.
A few months ago my colleague Rob Beintema compared the Mazda3 Sedan to the Mazda Sport Hatchback.
He liked the feel of the Sedan but got a bit more excited when he got behind the wheel of the Mazda Sport which offered extra horsepower due to the 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine.
The Sedan offers a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 155 hp with 150 lb/ft of torque. And while it won’t help you win any races, I found it more than adequate for every day driving.
The Mazda3 is a staple in the compact car category winning numerous awards for its style and drive.
A week behind the wheel and it is easy to see why. The Mazda3 is a car that you feel comfortable in almost right away, like finding that perfect mattress.
That feeling of comfort may have something to do with what Mazda calls its Jinba-Ittai philosophy, a feeling of unity between driver and vehicle.
One of the ways Mazda makes the driver feel more comfortable is with a system called G-Vectoring control.
Through the technology in its Skyactiv engine/transmission, the car handles G forces, torque and tire grip when you start to enter a corner, keeping the car more stable as it traverses and leaves the turn.
This allows the driver to make fewer steering corrections allowing a more comfortable ride. I found the Mazda3 Sedan to be comfortable while in a corner or on the highway.
The Mazda3 comes in three trims, the GX, GS and GT. My tester for the week was the GS in a Soul Red Metallic colour ($300 option) that numerous people told me they really liked.
Both the GX and GS feature the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, while the GT offers a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine giving an extra 30 hp and 30 lb/ft of torque.
All three trims offer the choice of a manual or automatic transmission.
A manual shift mode is offered with the automatic transmission (paddle shifters on the GT) but if you want to manually shift gears, get the manual transmission and you’ll have more fun.
The six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode is a $1,300 option. I’m not sure why, but I would get the automatic option on the sedan but prefer the manual tranny on the hatchback.
Somehow a hatchback lends itself to that feeling of handling the gears yourself while the sedan feels more of a family car that requires an automatic transmission.
There is no denying the Mazda3 is a fun car to drive.
Some compacts feel sluggish as if you have to stand behind them and give them a push to get going.
Not the Mazda3.
Put your foot on the accelerator and the car leaps forward, excited to hit the road. My week in the car included a number of cold, snowy days which did not take away from the sense of comfort in the car. It handled the snow like a champ and heated up very quickly.
The GS comes with a long list of standard features including the G-Vectoring control, wide-angle rearview camera, smart city brake support, heated front seats and steering wheel (a very welcome addition on those cold mornings), advanced blind spot monitoring, push-button start and a seven-inch touchscreen display.
I was very surprised at that list of standard equipment in a car that starts at $20,300.
Added features on my GS besides the automatic transmission included a power glass moonroof and the i-Activsense package which provides a numerous list of additional safety features such as one of my new favourites, radar cruise control. Also included was forward obstruction warning, lane-keep assist and lane departure warning.
That brought the cost of the GS to $24,300; a price that is not outrageous when you consider all the Mazda3 has to offer.
Inside, the Mazda3 is a picture of style and simplicity. The controls are easy to reach and the HVAC controls are not small buttons with digital readouts that are tough to read. The large dials are easy to turn.
It has taken me a while to get use to Mazda’s design for controlling the radio and touchscreen but I have come to see the simplicity in it.
One large HMI (Human Mechanical Interface) control knob just behind the gear selector handles everything and just to the right, is a smaller button that allows you to control the volume of the radio and quickly mute it if you need to. I have even got used to Mazda’s touchscreen sitting above the car vents.
It’s not hard to understand why the Mazda3 is such a popular car. Comfortable, stylish and a price that won’t make you go bankrupt.
What more could you ask for in a car?
2018 Mazda3 GS Sedan
BODY STYLE: Four-door sedan
DRIVE METHOD: Front-wheel-drive, six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic
ENGINE: 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G four-cylinder, 155 hp, 150 lb/ft of torque
FUEL ECONOMY: 8.4/6.4L/100km (city/hwy)
CARGO CAPACITY: 350 litres in trunk
PRICE: Mazda3 GS sedan $20,300. As tested $24,300 includes Skyactiv-Drive 6AT ($1,300), i-Activesense Pkg ($1,500), Moonroof ($900), Soul Red Metallic paint ($300).
WEBSITE: Mazda.ca
Keyword: Mazda3 is a Car with Comfort and Performance