On show: new Mazda 3
The all-new replacement for the popular Mazda 3 gets its public unveiling at Frankfurt but we’ve been behind the wheel already for a sneak preview.
It’s available as either a hatchback or a saloon variant called the ‘Fastback’, which is slightly smaller in size than a BMW 3 Series. Mazda expects the hatch version to be the most popular of the two in the UK.
We’ve tested several pre-production hatchback cars that bode very well for the finished article. There are three engines available, two petrol and one diesel, and all three feel smooth and very flexible on the road. They’re efficient too, with the diesel emitting only 107g/km of CO2 and the lower-powered petrol 119g/km.
There’s plenty of equipment available, including a head-up display on top models and a slim dash-mounted multimedia screen across the range. This is available with internet-connected funtionality, although we’ll have to wait until we drive the production car to let you know what it’s like to use.
Mazda announced prices and trim specifications for the new hatchback at the show with the entry level SE model with the 1.5-litre engine starting at £16,695. The SE features 16-inch alloys, air con, Bluetooth connection, USB and aux connection and a 7-inch colour touch screen. If Sat Nav is what you are after then the SE Nav is the one to go for.
The mid-range SE-L adds bigger alloys (17-inch), dual zone air con, front fog lights, Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, automatic wipers and headlights and heated front seats as standard.The SE-L trim starts at £18,495 with sat nav available on the SE-L Nav.
Topping the range is the Sport Nav with even bigger alloys (18-inch), BOSE speaker system, headlights that turn to help illuminate a corner, head-up display, sat nav and adds front parking sensors in addition to the rear ones fitted as standard to the SE-L. The Sport Nav costs from £19,895.
The all-new Mazda 3 goes on sale in the UK in January 2014. You can read our thoughts on the car in our first drive here and even more information in our full preview here.
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