Mazda 3. Unique style
Mazda 3 is a compact front-wheel drive Japanese C-class car manufactured by Mazda Motor Corporation. In Japan, it is called the Mazda Axela. It is available as a sedan and a 5-door hatchback.
Mazda 3 was first presented in 2003 as a series that replaced the Mazda Familia (Mazda 323, Mazda Protege and Mazda Astina are the export names of one of the most successful and best-selling cars of the Japanese company). Initially, the Mazda 3 was supposed to become a golf-class sports car, just like the Mazda MX Sportif concept car, presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 2003. In 2020, the 2018 fourth generation Mazda 3 was present on the Israeli market.
The first generation
The first generation Mazda 3 was produced from 2003 to 2009, while its restyling took place in 2006, and was designed according to the new corporate concept of the Japanese company, MAIDAS. This is Mazda’s collision energy absorption and distribution system, based on a special body structure called the Triple-H. The front bumper structure reduced the risk of serious pedestrian injury. Six airbags and seat belts with pretensioners were included in the basic trim level of the first generation Mazda 3, with the front airbags deploying depending on the force of the impact.
In 2006, the upgraded Mazda 3 boasted improved sound insulation, a new bumper and radiator grille, a new dashboard and interior upholstery. After the restyling, the ABS and EBD systems were included in the list of basic equipment. That’s also when the MPS and Flash Edition sports versions of the Mazda 3 appeared.
The second generation
The second generation Mazda 3, released at the end of 2008, was based on the same Ford C1 platform as the first generation, but at the same time was slightly bigger and lighter. The Ford C1 platform was designed with account for all the car manufacturers involved in the project, including Ford, Mazda and Volvo. Therefore, it inherited the safety of Volvo, the rigidity of the Mazda body and the comfort of Ford. The same platform was used for the production of the first generation Ford Focus C-Max, second generation Ford Focus, Ford Kuga SUV, Volvo S40 Sedan, Volvo V50 Estate, Volvo C70 Coupe/Cabriolet, Volvo C30 Hatchback and Mazda 5.
The second generation Mazda 3, released in 2008, was based on the Ford C1 platform, which was designed with account for all the car manufacturers involved in the project, including Ford, Mazda and Volvo. Therefore, it inherited the safety of Volvo, the rigidity of the Mazda body and the comfort of Ford.
The second generation Mazda 3 got a stylish basic interior and more advanced options: leather interior with heated seats, adjustable driver’s seat with the memory function, navigation system, 2-zone climate control, and a rain sensor. The interior soundproofing became better, especially with regard to the engine compartment and wheel arches.
The restyled version of the second generation Mazda 3, released in 2011, featured an upgraded exterior, front and rear bumpers, a radiator grille, new round fog lamps, and innovative adaptive headlights. The car slightly changed in size, the sedan became 90 mm longer, and the hatchback grew in length by 55 mm. Production of the second generation ended in 2013.
The third generation
The third generation Mazda 3 equipped with the innovative and fuel efficient Skyactiv engines debuted in 2013. Mazda’s new Skyactiv platform replaced the C1 from Ford. The car boasted a completely new interior and a new body design, which was created in accordance with the new “Spirit of Movement” ideology of KODO. The third generation Mazda 3 received the highest safety rating (5 stars out of 5) from Euro NCAP. At the same time, the safety of an adult passenger of the third Mazda was 93%! Plus, the Mazda 3 ranked third in the rating of the German Association for Technical Supervision (VdTUV) in the age category “from 6 to 7 years” in terms of reliability among the used cars of 2018. The third generation was produced until 2019, with the restyling taking place in 2016.
The third generation Mazda 3 received the highest safety rating (5 stars out of 5) from Euro NCAP. Plus, the Mazda 3 ranked third in the rating of the German Association for Technical Supervision (VdTUV) in the age category ‘from 6 to 7 years’ in terms of reliability among the used cars of 2018
The fourth generation
At the end of 2018, the fourth generation Mazda 3 was released. It was introduced to the Israeli market in 2020. If you want to drive the most beautiful sedan or C-segment hatchback, choose the 4th generation Mazda 3! The 2018/2019 Mazda 3 has been designed in accordance with the new concept of Kodo corporate design. In fact, this is a pretty accurate representation of the Kai concept car. Kai is a concept that was shown at the Tokyo Auto Show. This prototype was a very important milestone in the development of modern Mazda design, because it has clearly shown the world what stylistic shifts can be expected from the Japanese automobile maker in the next decade or so.
The front face of the 2018/2019 Mazda 3 is not really much different from the concept applied in the previous generation, but all lines and body folds have become less visible, resulting in a new fresh design of the car.
The interior of the new Mazda 3 is made in compliance with the minimalism principles. The interior of the new model has become much simpler due to the transfer of many controls to the virtual cockpit. But at the same time, the interior has become more complex. Its ‘complexity’ is that the interior is finished with better materials.
If you want to drive the most beautiful sedan or C-segment hatchback, choose the 4th generation Mazda 3!
The visual changes comprise an extended ‘suspended’ 8.8-inch LCD screen of the infotainment system, a new steering wheel, a longer center armrest, new cap holders and a gear lever that ‘includes a black laser-etched layer coated with the second clear layer’, which creates the effect of a glossy black finish, called ‘deep transparency’.
The 2019/2020 Mazda 3 has a variety of driver assistance systems such as Front Cross Traffic Alert, which detects approaching vehicles at intersections, or Cruising & Traffic Support, which can automatically accelerate, brake and steer the car in various situations.
