Mazda is on a roll these days. The new Mazda6 and CX-5 are both in contention for class supremacy. Even the aging Mazda3, despite its lack of dynamic ability compared to more contemporary European rivals, is much loved among the online community, though less so the buying crowd. A brand new 3 is imminent however, and we have an early scoop!
These photos, supplied by our European spyshots regular CarPix, reveal the car in its entirety months before it’s expected to debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September. There’s camouflage abounds but there’s more than enough detail in these pictures to work out the new Mazda3’s final shape.
As expected, it takes heavy cues from the Mazda6, as it’s penned around same Kodo design language. Mazda was even kind enough to have the larger car follow the test mule around for easy comparison.
Don’t be fooled by the white tapes; the grille is shapely and upright, much like the Mazda6’s. The far edges of the opening, likely to be chromed in production trim, elegantly connect to the bulging headlights. The side profile has a more modern hatchback shape, with tapered down window lines neatly matched by a sloping rear hatch.
One shot also shows the next Mazda3’s dashboard with minimal disguise. Again, much is shared with the Mazda6 and CX-5 but as it’s bound to carry a lighter pricetag, that’s hardly a complaint. The instrument cluster is entirely new though, as is the freestanding LCD screen on the dash top.
The Mazda3 will be launched in European-friendly hatchback form first, with a sedan variant to follow at a later date. No technical details as of yet, but you’ll know more when we do. Like what you see so far?
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Woah look so like Preve mature brother. So nice even in disguise. If price similar with current Civic + 30% Gov promised price reduction then I can buy la..
*Preve hatchback
Preve? hello this is Mazda not P1 ok?! plus Mazda is better looking and better name!
If it only comes with n/a 2.0l, better put money for turbocharged CFE, it’s more powerful. This is normal mazda3, the turbo version is mazda3 MPS, should be much pricier and thus lesser value for money.
Proton Preve (1.6CFE):
103 kW @ 5000rpm
205 Nm @ 2000 ~ 4000
Skyactive 2.0G:
114 kW @ 6,000 rpm
200 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
In how exactly is turbocharged CFE “more” powerful than the Skyactive engine.
If you tell me it’s more fuel saving than maybe it makes sense. Engine to engine, is equivalent. Transmission wise, skyactive tranny will beat the mush out of the cvt.
It’s underpowered from standstill position. Have to push the pedal harder than preve everytime to milk the torque out.
Pity skyactive
That SkyActive is still NOT for sale in Malaysia version of mazda3, haiz~. What we have here’s chapalang MZR engine, only 145hp at 6,500rpm and 182nm at 4,500rpm. No powerful low end torque.
@beach, yes you’re right, leongJ said it is more powerful. Which when you put both at peak power, it’s not much difference anyway. Any you’ll be surprise that the skyactiv engine doesn’t lose out that much at lower band (170Nm @ 2k rpm). But let’s just wait until the car is out and let Mr. Paul mythbust this? Please Mr. Paul, do a mythbuster!
@kentan, the new car will have the skyactiv, the old car on old platform of course have the chapalang engine. *facepalm
Don’t be too sure, skyactive has been around for some times in USA. It should arrive since previous version of mazda3. Malaysians always chopped specs ones.
@Name
“skyactiv engine doesn’t lose out that much at lower band (170Nm @ 2k rpm)”
Source ????
170nm vs 205nm. SkyActiv low torque is way left behind CFE. They should just plonk in turbocharged engines instead or N?A
From the comparison above Skyactive 2.0G not far better than Proton Preve (1.6CFE)… I think 2.0CFE far better than Skyactive 2.0G… But still not developed yet…
Please la, I know some of you Preve owners are proud of your car but really, please don’t compare your car with every car including this Mazda 3. It’s way ahead for Preve to even smell..Just because this put in this tiny ‘turbo’ with CVT some more ….you guys start comparing with every single car.
It’s not being put in, it’s a real turbocharged engine. This is only normal engine, noob. Sigh.
Hello, a car is not only about turbo. The quality of every single part of this Mazda 3 are way way higher quality than this Preve crony quality.
How do you know? you already have one. Belum launch sudah tau, hebat hebat LOL
Oh, you only see the badge right? Kudos to blind badge supporters
Storm, forget about that ugly car and that badge P1. they thing that can be against Japanese and continental cars but cant even compared with Korean.
Japs and korean normal cars are never known by their superb ride and handling.
eddy, you asked “how do you know”? My dear friend, we may not know for sure (because new Mazda 3 is not out yet), but there is this thing called “track record”. Based on the track records of Mazda and P1, i will put my money on Mazda’s quality on any given day, hour and minute.
sorry i meant “effy”
Ya lah, Preve better la. No car, not even the Conti can come near them in term of quality la. The Malaysian cronies done a fantastic job la.
Rear look so like Preve hatchback meh..even related stories below the articles also most about Preve Hatchback what..
The only thing I found that looks like the Preve hatchback is the checkered stickers…
Please la.. This is way out of league for Preve to touch.
Mazda rnh cannot beat proton/lotus one. If you watch mazda international review, it’s rnh is wayyyyy out of league from conti. Proton? Of course not, because its from Lotus. Oh it’s not Lotus Curry yeah LOL
Yep, you’re totally correct! If a car is only judge from R&H, Proton would be one of the best car in the world. Even better than Mercedes and alike.
* smell the sarcasm?
Why so butthurt? Your kaput mazda selalu kena take over by preve? Haha!
You can get better ride and handling with jap cars, but not as good as ford/proton/conti. Turn on your VSC/VSA and alike but you don’t have the fun as it controls your driving.
Ya…why do people still buy Mazda at almost double the price of Preve arr? They must be stupid and you must be the smartest man..Go and enjoy your meal at Lotus curry house, smart fellow.
Wah you sure believe if many people go for a thing it must be very good. If you are smart enough, you will say it’s not necessary good. Oh, Top Gear is for laughing, it’s a joke!
Yes P1 is the best and i can watch the Top Gear international review i mean bash lolx
Give me link please…
Meh, I see the rear look so similar la
Preve Hatchback or Peugeot 208 definitely better than New Mazda 3
How you know? You drove it before?
Even ford fiesta better than Mazda 3…
The knob dial is new?
looking good even with those camouflage stickers..
the dashboard looks like that of the f30, which is a good thing. kudos on mazda for including an idrive like system in the new 3;
The front looks like a copy and paste from the Mazda 6 but looks good nonetheless and the interior looks much better than the 6. Why? Coz the LCD was designed along with the dashboard and it looks like a tablet design first seen in the Merc B Class.
The Mazda 6 LCD looks like an after thought…design the dash first then include a 2 DIN system into it.
gonna love it..would like the mazda 6 but the 2.0 is not worth. no features. seems this one looks comprehensive.
i assume the sedan version will look something like elantra. if yes, then its a win for mazda. no more altis and civic
Personally the biggest downside of the ‘Kodo’ Mazdas is the dashboard, they look to plain to compliment the attractive exterior design. This one does look better inside, but still not ‘great’, but since its not launch I won’t give a final comment. But that looks like the dials, or at least inspired, from a 12C or a 458, hopefully with twin LCD flanking a analog dials.
With sky active technology?
Wow the interior is like a BMW ripoff
Exactly, at half the price. What a good “ripoff”.
Waiting for New Mazda 3 MPS! It would be great if it comes with Auto transmission!
Mazda 33 MPS with Auto Transmission?
*Mazda 3 MPS
new mazda 3??? that means new MPS… :D
dear gomen, kata nak turunkan harga kreta by 30%… hehe~
got.But wait till GE-14
This looks promising. A new 2 way fight between this and the focus replacing the once all-conquering altis vs civic.
That tablet like screen, looks terrible. Even in Mercedes. Like simply take any car and put a Nexus 7 on it. Integrated into dash looks better, this is so afterthought.
Nice skin…
heh hhehheh
nice car
i don’t get why are people comparing the car to the preve, i get it PREVE adalah flagship proton, but have you drove one before? i tekan 1/3 pedal engine dah gila gila bising, with 200km on it(grandfathers) other than that, handling isn’t bad. but again, you pay 70K for a car that’s annoying to accelerate in, that’s not value for me to me. it gets ANNOYING WHEN PULLING OFF A TRAFFIC LIGHT.
Learn how to drive modern cars. It’s absolutely not like outdated overrated Japs cars
Modern cars don’t have to press pedal is it?
Preve exterior design is square-ish. It doesn’t has any similarity compared to the new Mazda 3. I understand that some Preve owner just wanted to blindly associate their car with car that looks great in order to get the glamour from it. For example, you sure feel happy when ppl said: “wah, your Preve looks like the Mazda 3 man”
Hehehe, good one.
Nah, not mazda3. It already looks like audi. Hehehe
Audi far better… ;p
apa preve owner mau lagi?
Preve VS Vios = Preve is still a better car
Preve VS City = Preve is still a better car
Preve VS Polo Sedan = Preve is still a better car
i m being sarcastic here btw
Nice car but smiley grill is a major turn off…
haha.. rear looks like our proton preve hehe. recently i test drive preve, handling is good, power is good. for me, better than vios :)
Good for you then Abg Long. Preve is a good car, for Ah Long….
Ala, cantik sikit je dari preve, tapi bab RnH, sprinting memang tak boleh lawan preve la
aww…dont look to nice
They said preve is better than mazda 3 cause they cannot afford to buy mazda3. If you only can afford to buy malaysian car keep your shut up, work harder earn extra money for foreign car
Handling cap jepun tak best
Handling cap malaysia best sangat kah???
P1 is on the track with Preve but way a lot more to workout, seriously. P1 suffers from C segmen (and above) capability. Entry level no doubt.
Mazda, if only you could reduce your road noise and your plastic-y dashboard.
Ed, if you say Mazda have plastic-y dashboard; how would you describe Toyota and Honda?
its in german!HG is the car plate from Bad Homburg near Hessen. is it produced over there? or for testing purpose by ADAC?