Details of refreshed Mazda3 firm

MAZDA Australia has announced upgrades to its popular small car, the Mazda3 five-door hatch and four-door sedan that will be ushered in from July this year.

The number-two player in Australia’s new car market hasn’t released any pricing information about the revised model small car suffice to say it is tipped to rise at least a touch.

The model currently starts at $27,160 for the 2.0 G20 Pure hatch rising to $43,310 for the 2.0 X20 Astina hatch. The sedan range essentially mirrors this pricing schedule, and all prices are plus on-road costs.

Though the small car segment is declining in the face of growing small SUV sales, the Mazda3 still accounts for a sizeable 19 per cent of sales in the sub $40,000 small car segment behind the Toyota Corolla (26.9 per cent) and the Hyundai I30 (36.3 per cent).

Mazda would be keen to redress this situation with these recently announced upgrades to its small car offering.

The company pitches changes made to Mazda3 as improvements to frugality, tech’ and convenience, so no hard engineering upgrades.

Underlining Mazda Australia’s aspirations for the 3 is its desire to take the ‘iconic’ hatchback and sedan nameplate to the forefront of the small car segment facilitated by a raft of updates.

Mazda Australia says the upgrades were implemented in line with consumer trends and customer demand which has resulted in the Mazda3 powertrain line-up being streamlined to comprise of the Skyactiv G 2.0 and 2.5-litre engines, which are both mated to the six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission.

From the entry level, G20 models receive an upgrade to the Skyactiv G 2.0-litre petrol engine fitted with cylinder deactivation and other improvements to the combustion process resulting in lower CO2 emissions without compromising on performance or driveability.

Mazda says the changes elicit fuel consumption improvements of five per cent taking the model to 5.9L/100km for the hatch and 5.8L/100km for the sedan.

On the aesthetic side, the refreshed Mazda3 adds a new colour to the mix with Ceramic Metallic replacing Sonic Silver in the model’s eight-strong colour palette.

On the inside and drilling down into the model range, the G20 Touring grades and above receive new convenience features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging and USB Type-C ports.

G25 GT grades and above score a 10.25-inch Mazda Connect infotainment display, as featured on other Mazda nameplates, such as the CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9.

By ticking the options box for the Vision Technology package on entry level grades such as the G20 Pure and G20 Evolve buyers will access the 10.25-in Mazda Connect infotainment display.

The managing director of Mazda Australia, Vinesh Bhindi, welcomed the new specifications of the updated Mazda3, commenting: “Mazda3 consistently represents a large portion of its segment’s market share, as buyers from all walks of life resonate with its elegant styling, sharp driving dynamics and eminent usability”.

“These new changes only add to the desirability of the nameplate, which now features more tech’ and visual appeal than ever before,” added Mr Bhindi.

The updated Mazda3 hatch and sedan will go on sale in July 2023.