2014 Mazda 3

  • Mazda 3 CKD – locally-assembled range to include hatchback, sedan; Apr/May launch, from RM105k est

    mazda3-glenmarie-7

    Here are some updates on the Mazda 3 CKD. We were previously told by a Bermaz source that the locally-assembled C-segment offering will be debuting in March, but that has been delayed slightly to April/May this year. It’s not just the sedan that will roll off the line at Kulim, Kedah, but the hatchback version too.

    Here’s how the range will look like. The sedan, launched in March 2014 as a CBU offering, will be offered in both “mid-spec” and “high-spec”, with estimated pricing of RM105k and RM120k, respectively. The five-door hatch will come in a single spec with equipment levels that are in between the sedan’s mid and high specs, and is expected to sell for RM120k.

    Equipment wise, the mid-spec sedan will have 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlamps and fabric seats. If that’s not what you have in mind, the high-spec sedan should satisfy – it’s specced like the CBU Japan car (18-inch rims, bi-xenon projectors), but with added leather seats, powered seat, auto lights and wipers, i-Activsense, head up display and reverse camera, among other things.

    Mazda-3-Hatchback

    The hatch will share the high-spec sedan’s 18-inch wheels, xenons, shift paddles and reverse camera, but the seats are fabric and there’s no powered seat and i-Activsense. Keyless entry with push start button should be standard on all CKD 3s.

    In the safety department, expect six airbags (front, side, curtain) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) across the board. The Mazda 3 is powered by a 2.0 SkyActiv-G engine with 162 hp and 210 Nm, paired to an in-house six-speed automatic gearbox.

    The RM105k entry price is attention grabbing, and the RM120k high-spec sedan appears to be very good value next to the RM139k CBU car, and with added kit, too. The hatchback is a welcome addition for the more sporty-minded; and as we saw from the Mazda 3 MPS renderings and dressed-up Bangkok 2014 showcar, it doesn’t take much to make it look like a hot hatch.

    Mazda 3 Sedan (CBU)

    Mazda 3 Hatchback

     
     
  • Mazda 3 CKD expected in March, including hatchback!

    Mazda3_Leather_Malaysia_003

    Last month we cited a CIMB research report which revealed a slew of details on upcoming Mazda models for Malaysia. Now a source from Bermaz has told us that the locally-assembled (CKD) Mazda 3 is indeed heading towards a March launch, and guess what – we can expect the curvaceous hatchback too!

    According to the earlier report, Bermaz has already test-assembled eight units of the Mazda 3 at the Kulim, Kedah plant, and as a result of local assembly, the C-segmenter is expected to cost under RM100k for the mid-spec variant and under RM120k for the high-spec, considerably undercutting the RM139k asked for the current CBU sedan, which is in Mid Spec trim.

    The 2.0 litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine and six-speed auto are expected to carry over (rumoured plans for the sub-RM90k 1.5 litre model are said to be shelved so as not to eat into Mazda 2 sales), but what about specs and equipment?

    mazda3-driven-australia 098

    Will toys like the central rev counter-digital speedo instrument layout, head-up display, dual-zone air-con and cruise control feature on the high-spec variant, and will the mid-spec lose anything in CKD translation?

    The hatchback should be interesting – differentiating it from the sedan, apart from the obvious, is a black rear diffuser-like element, out of which poke twin tailpipes. The hatch is 120 mm shorter than the sedan, but shares the same cabin dimensions. The boot holds 308 litres compared to the sedan’s 408.

    In Japan and Australia, the hatch and sedan are priced the same, pretty much spec-for-spec – like how it is with our Mazda 2 hatch and sedan. Could the same happen with our CKD Mazda 3?

    Malaysian-spec Mazda 3 Sedan (CBU)

     
     
  • 2014 Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan launched – CBU, RM139k

    mazda 3

    After months of ads, spyshots, an international press drive, a public preview, plus estimated pricing and spec reveals (as well as our walk-around video and showroom gallery), you’d think that was it, right?

    Well, not quite yet, for this morning’s launch at 1 Utama makes it official at long last. The third-gen Mazda 3 enters the Malaysian scene, initially in fully-imported (CBU Japan) 2.0 Sedan form.

    Its 2.0 SkyActiv-G four-cylinder produces 162 hp at 6,000 rpm and 210 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm – it’s the ‘high-tune’ 2.0 litre offered in Japan and Europe. The motor features a 14:1 compression ratio, dual variable valves and direct injection, and is connected to a six-speed auto.

    Our car comes in Mid Spec trim. The striking exterior features self-levelling bi-xenon headlamps with LED DRLs and adaptive front lighting, front fog lamps and 18-inch ten-spoke alloys wrapped in 215/45 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres.

    mazda 3

    Round the back, you won’t see a boot spoiler, nor will you see its twin tailpipes, which are hidden behind the bumper and its four-cell reverse sensors. You will, however, see LED tail lamps with cool wing-shaped signatures that matches those of the LED headlamps.

    Inside, you’ll find piano black trim, single-zone auto air-con, fabric seats, keyless entry and start, a sunroof and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with buttons and shift paddles. Electric power steering, by the way.

    In the instrument panel, the speedometer sits in the middle, flanked by a digital bar-type rev counter on the left and a multi-info display on the right (see an alternative layout here). No head-up display, cruise control or auto lamps, though.

    There are also six speakers and MZD Connect – this new infotainment system can be navigated via the seven-inch touch-screen or the commander control knob on the centre console. CD, Bluetooth, AUX, USB, SD and navigation are offered.

    Click to enlarge spec sheet
    The boot holds 408 litres of luggage; you can fold the 60:40-split back seats for more. There’s the i-Stop start-stop system and i-Eloop regenerative braking. Safety is taken care of by six airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, DSC, TCS and Isofix – no lane departure, blind spot nor city brake systems.

    RM138,935 is asked for the initial CBU batch, OTR with insurance. This includes a three-year/100,000 km warranty and three years/60,000 km of free service. Soul Red Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Titanium Flash Mica and Meteor Grey Mica body colours are available.

    A recent research report indicated that the locally-assembled (CKD) Mazda 3 would surface in the third quarter of 2014 – that would obviously be cheaper, but by how much is anyone’s guess at present.

    The model to be CKD’d would be the 2.0 Sedan, once CX-5 output at the new assembly line is stable. The 2.5 is being considered for CKD; the probability of the 1.5 and Hybrid arriving here is low at the moment.

    See the Malaysian-spec car inside and out in our showroom gallery, or learn more about the third-gen Mazda 3 in our Australian drive report.

    Mazda 3 showroom pictures

     
     
  • VIDEO: Malaysian-spec Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan examined

    The new Mazda 3 has earned itself a lot of fans since its international debut in June last year. The third-generation model has now arrived in Malaysia, and we have since covered its full pricing and spec details plus a comprehensive gallery of the local-spec CBU car.

    If pictures aren’t enough for you, here’s a walk-around video of the new Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan you can now buy for RM138,935. Here, yours truly takes a look at the car’s looks and specs, both inside and out. Want to know how it appears in the flesh, what’s it like inside and what it has got and lost? Press play and find out in under five minutes.

    For a more subjective take on the car’s driving qualities, read our Australian test drive report on the new Mazda 3. Also, check out and subscribe to our official YouTube channel for more walk-around videos of Malaysian-spec vehicles. Thanks for watching.

     
     
  • GALLERY: 2014 Mazda 3 CBU in Glenmarie showroom

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    Yesterday, we saw it on a north-bound transporter, opening the question as to whether it would be also in the showrooms. Turns out it is – the 2014 Mazda 3 you see here is on display in Glenmarie, and offers the first comprehensive take of the Malaysian-spec CBU unit.

    Nothing different than what was previously reported, when pricing and details emerged earlier in the month on the spec-level we’d be getting. Kit on the RM138,935 sedan includes auto air-conditioning, fabric seats, bi-xenons, a leather-wrapped steering, sunroof, reverse sensors and 18-inch alloys wrapped with 215/45 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx rubbers.

    mazda3-glenmarie-20

    There’s also keyless entry/push-start ignition, a MZD Connect infotainment TFT colour display with GPS, a six-speaker audio system, i-Stop auto start/stop, i-Eloop regenerative braking and an adaptive front-lighting system.

    It’ll be a while longer before the car is officially launched, but the thing is, you can now get up and close with it if you’re keen on one. If you’re heading to Glenmarie to check it out, a point to note – the particular 3 in the showroom has GPS, but the map hasn’t been installed yet, we’re told.

    We’ve driven the 2014 Mazda 3 – read our Australian test drive report on the Mazda 3.

     
     
  • 2014 Mazda 3 sighted on transporter, heading north

    mazda3 spy 01

    Earlier in the month, details for the Malaysian-specification CBU 2014 Mazda 3 sedan were revealed, as was the estimated price for the car. The Mazda dealership that posted the pricelist mentioned then that some lucky customers who had made early bookings were set to get their cars delivered before the CNY holidays.

    It looks like the first CBU examples are in town – reader Lee Sze Shin spotted the new 3 on a trailer at the Juru rest stop, north-bound. Could it be heading up to the Inokom plant, even as other examples are making their way to some customers?

    mazda3 spy 02

    The estimated price bandied for the CBU from Japan car is RM138,935, and items on the equipment list include six airbags, keyless entry and push-start ignition, i-Stop auto start/stop, i-Eloop regenerative braking and an adaptive front-lighting system.

    The car was first shown here last November at a Mazda roadshow in PJ, but the example was a Australian-specification 2.5 litre automatic, which Bermaz brought in to tease the third-gen 3. We’ve driven the new Mazda3 – read our Australian test drive report here.

     
     
  • Mazda SkyActiv cars pre-qualified as EEV – reports

    Mazda-SkyActiv 001

    Research reports by AMMB and Maybank have revealed that Mazda cars have been pre-qualified for EEV duty exemptions under the new 2014 National Automotive Policy (NAP). The EEV duty exemptions are for its SkyActiv-powered models.

    Current SkyActiv models sold by Mazda in Malaysia include the Mazda CX-5 SUV, the Mazda 6 D-segment sedan as well as the Mazda Biante MPV. This line-up will soon be joined by the Mazda 3, which was previewed at a roadshow in 1 Utama in November 2013.

    Of the above, only the Mazda CX-5 is currently locally assembled in Malaysia, and there are plans to CKD the Mazda 6 soon. Sales agents on oto.my are already modifying their Mazda 6 listing sales pitches to state that they’re selling some of the final batches of CBU units now.

    The EEV incentive program announced in the NAP 2014 earlier this week offers ‘customised incentives‘ to carmakers who are interested to participate in the program. These customised incentives include a mix of lower taxes, grants, and other incentives.

    mazda3-sedan-australia

    The reports say that Berjaya Auto is currently enjoying the mid-to-lowest level of EEV incentives and there are a lot of room for these incentives to be enhanced. BAuto is said to be applying for a second round of EEV incentives now, and are also working to increase localisation to qualify for higher excise duty rebates via the IAF (Industrial Adjustment Fund) system.

    We also learned that the CBU Mazda 6 had a docket price reduction sometime last year, which improved margins. That’s the thing about Malaysia, although the government claims not to have any control over the price of cars, indirectly it is able to influence the price of cars by dictating ‘docket prices’, which is what price customs values the car you are bringing in and applying the appropriate excise duty onto it, instead of following the value stated on the invoice.

    Another interesting fact revealed by the research reports is that there are plans to introduce the 1.5 litre SkyActiv variant of the Mazda 3 to compete in the high end B-segment price range, which will also be locally assembled together with the 2.0 litre model by mid 2014.

    Read our review of the new Mazda 3 here: New Mazda 3 test drive report.

    Sources – AMMB, AMMB, RHB, Maybank

     
     
  • Mazda 3 Sedan Malaysian specs revealed in slides

    While part of our team is test driving the new Toyota Corolla Altis today, let’s have a look at that other C-segment sedan coming soon.

    We found a set of what appears to be a set of slides walking through the different equipment level in an actual Malaysian spec CBU Mazda 3 Skyactiv Sedan. The walkthrough is pretty detailed, and points out what we’re going to get and in some cases what we aren’t going to get.

    Our metre panel seems to be the version with a speedo in the center, flanked by two LCD displays. The RPM metre is a digital display in the left LCD. There is a different metre panel design with an analog RPM metre dial in the middle flanked by two LCD displays. In that version, the speedometre is a digital display in the bottom right quarter of the RPM metre.

    Other notable equipment included are a sunroof, a MZD Connect infotainment display, the i-Stop auto start-stop system, keyless entry for the front doors, 18 inch wheels, amongst others.

    View the slides below for the full details. You start from this slide and use your left and right arrow keys to navigate through the series of images.

     
     
  • CBU Mazda 3 Sedan estimated specs & price unveiled

    mazda3-sedan-australia

    The last official word from Malaysian Mazda distributor Bermaz on the new Mazda 3 was in November last year, where the sedan bodytype was previewed at 1 Utama. Although the car on show was an Australian spec 2.5 litre car, Bermaz said the Malaysian-bound CBU car will have a 2.0 litre engine, with an estimated price of RM139k. No specs were mentioned.

    Thanks to an estimated price and specs list posted by a Mazda dealership in Sungai Besi onto their Facebook fan page yesterday, we now have an idea of what kind of specs the CBU version of our Mazda 3 will have. Notable equipment includes six airbags, smart keyless entry and push start, I-Stop (automatic start/stop when stationary) and I-Eloop (an implementation of regenerative braking).

    mazda-3-pricelist-sgbesi

    No stability control is mentioned but the car could have it and the lack of mention could just be an omission on the part of the spec sheet, since stability control seems to be standard along with a full suite of airbags in recent Mazda launches.

    Curiously, the car is listed with a seemingly low price of RM128k. But then RM6k is added in the form of ‘standard accessories’, which along with OTR costs brings the price up to RM135,159.00. Add on a RM3,776.50 insurance premium and you get an OTR price including insurance of RM138,935.50, which is pretty much the indicative RM139k price mentioned earlier.

    The dealership adds that lucky early bookings will get their cars delivered before the CNY holidays. We tried out the Mazda 3 recently – read our review here: Mazda3 third-gen 2.0 and 2.5 test drive review.

     
     
  • DRIVEN: Mazda3 third-gen 2.0 and 2.5 in Australia

    mazda3-driven-australia 090

    Mazda can be considered something of a maverick amongst Japanese carmakers – it likes to do things differently. While we’re not talking Citroen levels of avant-garde here, things like rotary power, suicide doors on a ‘coupe’, the jinba ittai, Kodo and ‘Zoom-Zoom’ philosophies, and the reincarnation of the no-frills, open-top sports car aren’t, by most standards, run-of-the-mill.

    Such unique traits undoubtedly draw enthusiasts, and shine brightest in the brand’s more niche offerings, but how do they manifest themselves in a volume product like the Mazda3? The C-segmenter accounts for 30% of the company’s global volume and 3.5 million sales worldwide. In Australia, it was the segment best-seller in 2011 and 2012, with all-time sales of around 360,000 units.

    Add to that Mazda’s strong Oz presence (nearly 80,000 units sold year-to-date for third best-selling carmaker overall), plus the fact that the new third-gen Mazda3 made its global debut in Melbourne, and you can see why it made sense for us to scoot Down Under to try it out at the Australian Automotive Research Centre in Angelsea, Victoria.

    Read the full review here.

     
     
  • GALLERY: 2014 Mazda 3 previewed in Malaysia

    Mazda 3 Preview-12

    It’ll be at least another three to four months before it makes its local market debut, but you can get up close and personal with the 2014 Mazda 3 right now – a sedan example is currently on display at the ‘Mazda Motorshow’ in 1Utama. The brand isn’t participating at KLIMS13, so this is the only place to catch the car.

    The display unit is actually an Australian specification 2.5 litre automatic model, brought in by Bermaz to tease the third-gen 3. In essence, what’s on call looks like a relatively high-spec variant.

    Kit on the Oz-spec vehicle includes an i-stop system, heads-up display, Bose audio system, blind spot monitoring (BSM) and an adaptive front-lighting system (AFS), and the interior features faux carbon fibre trim as well as red stitching for the seats, steering wheel and gearknob. There’s no reverse view monitor, tyre pressure monitor and lane departure warning, but it’s still pretty loaded.

    Mazda 3 Preview-24

    According to Bermaz, the indicative pricing for the Malaysian-bound Mazda 3 is RM139k, and we’ll of course be getting the 2.0 SkyActiv variant of the car, which will be CBU fully-imported from Japan.

    The Malaysian market will get four exterior shades to choose from, these being Meteor Grey, Crystal White Pearl, Titanium and Soul Red. Bermaz has started collecting orders for the car, so if you want a closer look at how it shapes up in the metal, you know where to head to – the Mazda display at 1U runs until Sunday. No news on whether the hatch version will debut here at the same time as the sedan.

    Click here to view the mega galleries of the Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback.

     
     
  • 2014 Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan preview at 1U: RM139k?

    2014-mazda3-bermaz-teaser

    Mazda won’t be participating in this week’s Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013 (KLIMS13), but they’re having their own ‘Mazda Motorshow’ at 1 Utama instead, where the 2014 Mazda 3 Sedan will be on show.

    Unlike the current Mazda 3 which is locally assembled, the 2014 Mazda 3 2.0 Skyactiv Sedan is coming in as a fully-imported CBU with an indicative price of RM139k. This is a couple of thousand higher than the RM135k price we saw posted on oto.my earlier.

    No specs listed other than having a sunroof, and they also have a disclaimer that the car on show at their roadshow may not be 100% the same as the launch specs, so we can’t report much on equipment at the moment. Being a CBU, could we hope for Bose sound and full airbags together with stability control? If the car is locally-assembled later, expect the equipment list to drop as per what happened with the CX-5.

    We’ll pay the roadshow a visit tomorrow and come back with more details on the Mazda 3 on show.

     
     
  • Mazda3 third-gen on oto.my – RM135k, March launch?

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    The third-gen Mazda3 has surfaced for the second time on our sister classifieds site oto.my. This time, it’s the 2.0 SkyActiv sedan. The listing indicates a March 2014 launch, with deliveries to begin shortly after.

    An unofficial price of RM135k is stated here. The previous ad for the hatchback, which we featured in August, listed RM153k, which many of us thought was rather a lot. That ad is no longer up, but could that price have been a typo then?

    Numbers indicated in that ad include 155 hp at 6,000 rpm, 203 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, a combined fuel consumption of 6.9 litres per 100 km and a 210 km/h top speed. Transmission is a six-speed auto.

    mazda3-oto-my-1

    Auto rain-sensing wipers, DRLs, 205/60 R16 tyres and four airbags were amongst the equipment mentioned, but remember, all this isn’t official until the car is launched.

    The third-gen Mazda3 is currently on sale in the US and Japan. The US gets 155 hp/203 Nm 2.0 litre (i-Eloop optional as part of package) and 184 hp/250 Nm 2.5 litre (i-Eloop standard) SkyActiv-G engines.

    Japan’s Axela gets a 99 hp/150 Nm 1.5 litre SkyActiv-G, a 2.0 litre SkyActiv-G in 118 hp/210 Nm and 163 hp/210 Nm states of tune (the latter with i-Eloop), a 148 hp/380 Nm 2.2 litre twin-turbo SkyActiv-D and a hybrid variant. Europe will mirror Japan’s engines, minus the hybrid.

    Click to view the listing: Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv on oto.my.

     
     
  • 2014 Mazda 3 Sedan and Hatchback Mega Gallery

    Mazda3_2013_Hatchback_action_19__jpg300

    Another day, another mega gallery of the Mazda 3. But we assure you, if you like the car this post is worth a look for weekend browsing, as there’s plenty of new static and action shots of both the sedan and hatchback that have been just released by the Japanese automaker, from photo shoots that appear to have been snapped across two different continents.

    Yes, there’s both Euro and US spec cars here. Both the Euro sedan and hatchback are the ones wearing the German front number plates in the photo set, while the American spec duo is without a front number plate in the gallery. There’s also some new detail shots of the interior. Enjoy!

    Continue reading for the full hi-res gallery.

     
     
  • 2014 Mazda 3 Hatchback – mega gallery from the USA

    MY2014 Mazda 3

    Mazda seems to be following a strange release schedule for information on the 2014 Mazda 3. Things seem to be coming out in batches – first we had a look at the hatchback but with a limited photo gallery. Then the sedan was announced but not unveiled. Then the sedan was leaked.

    And now we finally have a new mega gallery of the hatchback, wearing a Californian plate on the rear. There’s no plate on the front to block that big grille, though Californian law actually calls for front license plates, although many US states don’t require front plates.

    This new gallery has a lot more detail than the previous photos released, zooming in to many parts of the interior that we haven’t really got a good look at before.

    We now know more details on how the menus and graphics on the Mazda 3’s iDrive-like infotainment screen look like, but there’s also a lower spec car interior shown in the gallery which shows a version without the colour screen.

    View the full gallery here.

     
     
 
 
 

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