Mazda 3 facelift goes on sale in Australia – six variants

Just a few weeks the Mazda 3 facelift was revealed to the world, the C-segment model (available in sedan and hatchback body styles) has gone on sale in Australia, with prices starting from as low as AUD$23,601 (RM72,009) up to AUD$39,829 (RM121,522), depending on location.

Australians will have a choice of either a 2.0 litre or 2.5 litre SkyActiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine. The former provides 153 hp at 6,000 rpm and 200 Nm at 4,000 rpm, while the latter has 185 hp at 5,700 rpm and 250 Nm at 3,250 rpm. The engines are mated to either a six-speed SkyActiv-MT manual or SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission. The SkyActiv-D 2.2 litre diesel engine has been dropped here.

In terms of variants, there are three offered for the 2.0 litre version of the refreshed 3 – Neo, Maxx and Touring (in ascending order). Likewise, three variants are also offered for the 2.5 litre model – SP25, SP25 GT and SP25 Astina.

Visually, all variants benefit from the nip and tuck job, including the reshaped front grille and chrome surrounds, repositioned Mazda logo, larger lower intakes, new fog lamp enclosures, as well as LED turn indicator strips incorporated into the side mirrors.

Only the top two variants (SP25 GT and SP25 Astina) will receive the new LED headlamps (with LED DRLs) and LED tail lamps, while the rest will have to make do with halogen units. On the SP25 GT, the headlamps come with Mazda’s Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS), and the SP25 Astina gets the more advanced adaptive LED headlamp technology instead.

Heated, power side mirrors are also reserved for the aforementioned variants, although only the SP25 Astina comes from a power sunroof. Automatic wipers are also fitted to every variant, except for the base Neo and Maxx. All 2.0 litre models ride on 16-inch wheels, whereas the 18-inch option is only fitted to the 2.5 litre models.

Inside, the Neo, Maxx and SP25 will get black fabric seats, whereas the Touring, SP25 GT and SP25 Astina comes with black leather seats, with the option of “pure white” leather as well. Power seats are once again reserved for the SP25 GT and SP25 Astina, but only the latter comes with a two-position memory function.

Other equipment found inside the cabin include Mazda 3’s new colour heads-up display, which will only be available on the top two variants. Dual-zone automatic climate control is available on all variants, with the exception of the Neo and Maxx, as well as an electronic parking brake.

The MZD 7-inch colour touchscreen infotainment unit will be featured in all variants, minus the Neo, and is hooked up to a nine-speaker Bose 231-watt sound system in the SP25 GT and Astina. Other variants will have to make do with a six-speed setup, although they still come with the commander control, internet radio and steering wheel-mounted controls.

As for safety, all Mazda 3s come as standard with the company’s i-Activsense safety suite, but only includes Smart City Brake Support-Forward (SCBS-F). Moving up the range, the Maxx and all variants above it get SCBS-Reverse (SCBS-R), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

However, only the SP25 Astina receives the full set of safety systems, tagging on Smart Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS) and Forward Obstruction Warning. Other standard features on all Mazda 3 variants include Hill Launch Assist, i-Stop idling stop system and Mazda’s new SkyActiv-Vehicle Dynamics, which includes the company’s G-Vectoring Control system. To find out how it works, check out our detailed deep dive, here.

With the availability of the new Mazda 3 in Australia, what features would you like to be offered for our local-spec model when it makes its launch debut here? Sound off in our comments section below.

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