New Mazda3 price and equipment going up

Expect the new Mazda3 to follow the upward price and equipment trend for small cars when it launches in Australia around mid-year.

Driven by carsales.com.au in Los Angeles this week, the new Mazda3 is a substantive if not total overhaul of its popular predecessor, which is Mazda’s top-seller in Australia and globally.

Mazda will roll out a substantial amount of local detail about the new Mazda3’s equipment, model structure and at least some indication of pricing on February 19.

The current Mazda3 is priced in Australia from $20,490 for a Neo 2.0-litre manual hatch or sedan, up to $35,490 for 2.5-litre SP25 Astina automatic, plus on-road costs.

But you can expect a price repositioning from Mazda, reflecting similar moves by Toyota with the top-selling Corolla, the new Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf.

“This small car segment is going through a shift,” Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told carsales.com.au. “The products that have launched in the last few months in Australia are very much a step-change in the offering.

“Our product will absolutely be that; it will offer a lot more standard features, it will offer a lot more new technology, but the value proposition will remain.

“It is our belief the consumer is making a step-change when you look at that segment and not seeing it as the base car or an entry-level car.”

The upgrade in technology should include some important new safety gear that rolls out for this generation; driver monitoring via an infrared camera and LED, front cross traffic alert, semi-autonomous capability in traffic up to 60km/h, upgraded autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and a driver’s knee airbag.

There’s also going to be an all-new much-hyped ‘human-centric’ audio system including the option of a 12-speaker Bose set-up, a move upmarket for the interior to go with the Mazda Premium push and a serious attempt made at turning the 3 from one of the noisiest small cars to one of the quietest.

While SUV sales are rising and passenger cars declining, the 3 remains hugely important for Mazda Australia. It sold 31,065 examples in 2018, with the hatch claiming 60 per cent of sales. The 3 was fourth overall behind the Toyota HiLux, the Ford Ranger and the Corolla.

“The numbers show the consumer trend toward SUVs continuing,” said Bhindi. “But we are still expecting a reasonable-sized volume, but I do have to say it will not be the highs of the era when we did 40,000 in one year.

“But we are okay with that, because we have a broad (portfolio) of SUVs and passenger cars to offer.”

Manufacturing schedules at Mazda in Japan dictate the new Mazda3 hatchback will arrive in Australia first, followed almost immediately by the sedan.

As per the current generation, both versions will be available with 2.0- and 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G four-cylinder petrol engines mated to either six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

The 2.0 will make an unchanged 114kW/200Nm and the 2.5 139kW/252Nm (plus 2kW and 2Nm). Mazda says drivability has been improved, while transmissions have also been updated. So far there are no local fuel consumption claims.

Overseas the 2.0 will be available with mild hybrid assistance, but that is not scheduled to come to Australia. Nor expect to see the i-Active all-wheel drive system or a return of a diesel engine.

The much ballyhooed Skyactiv-X spark-controlled compression ignition engine is expected to make it to Australia by the end of 2019 and will only be fitted to models at the top of the range.

“It is a lot more complicated engine and it’s likely to be a premium engine,” confirmed Bhindi.

The Australian range is expected to continue with either the current comprehensive model line-up or something close to it. However, there may be some model specification differences from hatch to sedan.

Mazda has already made a clear break between the sedan and hatch in terms of exterior styling. Debuting the latest ‘Kodo’ form language, the latter is sporty and aggressive, the former more formal and restrained. The hatch is actually 10mm shorter than its predecessor, the sedan 80mm longer. The four-door is about 200mm longer than the hatch.

“It does change the dynamic because it gives the consumer a very different choice,” said Bhindi. “From our point of view we have no restriction on getting one or the other, so our ordering will be where the demand is.”