2019 Mazda 3 for Europe – specifications and gallery

Mazda Europe has released full specifications of the all-new Mazda 3 for the region, including available engines and equipment. For those who are more interested in how the fourth-generation model looks, there’s also a gallery with 205 photos of both the sedan and hatchback body styles for you to obsess over.

In terms of engine options, the Mazda 3 can be had (in Europe) with a 1.8 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that serves up 116 PS at 4,000 rpm and 270 Nm of torque from 1,600-2,600 rpm. The new SkyActiv-D mill replaces the 1.5 litre and 2.2 litre units previously used, and comes equipped with a single, variable geometry turbocharger and NOx Storage Catalyst (NSC) system.

On the petrol side of things, there’s a SkyActiv-G 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with 122 PS at 6,000 rpm and 213 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Improvements made to the powerplant include an upgraded piston skirt and optimised oil ring profile, along with the optimisation of the piston top profile and multi-stage injection.

Cylinder deactivation technology (also found on the larger 2.5 litre unit), also makes its way into the smaller-displacement engine. As a note, the SkyActiv-G 2.0 for Europe makes less power compared to markets in Asia and the United States, which get higher-output tunes. Additionally, selected markets in the region (like Turkey), get the option of a SkyActiv-G 1.5 litre four-pot (120 PS at 6,000 rpm and 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm) as well.

The next engine option is Mazda’s much-hyped SkyActiv-X compression ignition engine, although we’ll have to continue waiting for official specifications to be released, as there’s none in the release. However, based on previous documents from Mazda Slovakia, the Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI)-equipped engine is said to make 181 PS and 222 Nm.

Both the SkyActiv-G 2.0 and SkyActiv-X engines work in accordance with Mazda’s M Hybrid system, which operates on a 24-volt mild hybrid system. Integral components are a belt-driven integrated starter generator (ISG) and a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 600 kJ (0.17 kWh).

The battery is recharged via regenerative braking, which is then used to supply the car’s electrical equipment, support extended engine off of the start-stop system, and provide assistance when setting off. The belt-driven ISG also enables the system’s motor to move the pistons to a position where they will start again smoothly.

All engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic, with the SkyActiv-X option also available with the i-Activ AWD system (hatchback only). Regardless of model, Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) comes as standard.

For now, both the SkyActiv-G and SkyActiv-D engines meet the Euro 6d-TEMP emissions rating. Looking at the performance figures of the sedan, the petrol version will hit a top speed of 202 and take as little as 10.4 seconds to complete the zero to 100 km/h sprint with a manual ‘box (10.8 seconds with the auto). Meanwhile, the diesel tops out at 199 km/h, with a 0-100 km/h time of 10.3 (manual) and 12.1 seconds (automatic). Unsurprisingly, the diesel has the better fuel economy of as low as 4.8 l/100 km on the combined WLTP cycle – 6.0 l/100 km for the petrol.

It’s a little different for the hatchback, as the petrol-powered variant will hit 197 km/h, while with a diesel engine, the top speeds are either 194 km/h (manual) or 192 km/h (auto) – zero to 100 km/h times are identical to the sedan, respectively. The hatchback with a diesel engine has a fuel consumption as low as 5 l/100 km, or 6.2 l/100 km with the petrol mill.

Meanwhile, available equipment for the Mazda 3 include 16- and 18-inch alloy wheels with a selection of metallic finishes, a 7-inch instrument cluster display, windscreen-projected Active Driving Display, eight-speaker sound system (Bose 12-speaker system optional), 8.8-inch widescreen centre display and MZD Connect infotainment system.

The last item has been updated with new graphics, improved voice recognition and interface structure, the latter now with a split-screen view. Cycling through the menu on the left side of the screen is accompanied by available option on the right side, plus navigation and audio information can be display together.

On the safety front, the airbag count has been bumped to seven with the addition of a driver’s knee airbag to the front, curtain and front side ones – this is standard worldwide. Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of active safety and driver assist systems has also been given a boost, with a new Driver Monitoring system, Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) and Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) – a form of low-speed adaptive cruise control.

Also available is Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) that works with Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) to prevent the driver from exceeding the speed limit by proposing a speed limiter be active. There’s also a 360-degree view monitor and the Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH) now has an LED array divided more finely into 20 blocks that can be turned on or off independently.

Other improvements involve the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) that gains a stop and go function for automatic transmission models, while the Smart Brake Support (SBS) has an extended range of operation (range, bicycle and night-time pedestrian direction and auto braking added to Rear Cross Traffic Alert).

Mazda also notes that the Advanced Smart City Brake Support (Advanced SCBS) function has integrated into Smart Brake Support (SBS), whereby the detection method uses a forward sensing camera from the previous infrared detector.

The new Mazda 3 is built on the company’s SkyActiv-Vehicle Architecture, and features a body that uses a straight framework and continuous ring structures. This, along with an increased use ultra-hightensile steel rated at up to 1,310 MPa (30% from 3%), allows for a lightweight, high-rigidity body design. The suspension uses MacPherson struts in the front and a newly developed torsion beam setup in the rear.

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