The all-new Mazda 3 has finally arrived here in Malaysia and unlike most other compact sedans; the vehicle comes with a higher price tag that ranges from RM115k to RM140k. Today, we have found ourselves sitting behind the wheel of the Mazda 3 and we shall see if the price is worth the catch.
At a glance, the Mazda 3 is truly something exquisite. The design has a nice blend of sportiness and ‘executiveness’ which ticks the box for most Malaysians. The hallmark smiling front grille is present and it makes the Mazda 3 an elegant sedan overall.
Under the hood, the compact sedan is powered by a SkyActiv engine. This exclusive new technology from Mazda is added to enhance the car’s handling while also returning fuel mileage that is off the records.
True enough, the Mazda 3 did just that. The handling is done with precision and the car simply showed eagerness when approaching every turn. Furthermore, the SkyActiv technology ensures that the compact sedan can achieve an average of 7.5l to 9.0l/100km during our drive.
On the downside of things, the Mazda 3 is severely lacking in the comfort front. Don’t get us wrong, the interior is well done with the leather seats and new touchscreen consoles but the noise which the Mazda 3 produces when moving is poorly insulated that it is intolerable. Even when driving at 60km/h, the tyre and wind noise can be heard. We don’t like the idea of screaming for the sake of conversing with the passengers at the back.
Another disappointing thing is that the Mazda 3 feels underpowered. As brilliant as the SkyActiv technology is, it is too focused on fuel efficiency that we had to result to high-revs to pull out the shy ponies.
In conclusion, we feel that the Mazda 3 is not worth the price tag. It is a great car but not a perfectionist. If we were to price the vehicle, it will be just under the RM100k mark.
