With RM115K, Malaysians can get themselves a decent continental car, or they can settle for the brand new Mazda 3. The four door compact sedan has been selling well globally but many felt that it is a bit too pricey for its class.
Mazda claims that the high price tag is necessary as it is for the SkyActive technology, which the Mazda 3 runs on. The feature basically enhances handling and ensuring that the vehicle is as efficient as it gets.
In detail, the Mazda 3 is developed with strong, lightweight materials which make it more responsive to the steering. The car is powered by a 2L 4-Cylinder mill that has an average fuel consumption of 7.5l to 9.0l/100km on average.
However, it seems that Mazda’s obsession for fuel efficiency has led to the compact sedan being underpowered. To be more precise, one needs to achieve the high-revs before they can experience the horsepower and torque the Mazda 3.
The design of the car is well-done in our books. The Mazda 3 looks rigid and mean, much like the BMW from Germany. Inside the cabin, everything is kept neat and straightforward. There are cup holders, power sockets and also a central infotainment hub. However, comfort went absent when driving the Mazda 3 as the loud tyre and wind noise managed to get inside the cabin.
For a C-segment vehicle, the Mazda 3 is really costly to own. Adding RM1K to its price tag can bless the buyer with a mid-size sedan like the Honda Accord. Then again, the Mazda 3 is really ahead of its rivals like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Altis.
The compact sedan has the dynamics and simplicity which makes us forget of its slow acceleration. Then again, we still feel that there is nothing special on the Mazda 3 which makes it not worth the purchase.
