Mazda 3 2.0 e-Skyactiv X MHEV 186 Homura 5dr Auto Sun

Ten Second Review

You need real talent to succeed in the family hatchback sector these days, particularly if you want to make up ground on cars as good as Volkswagen's Golf and Vauxhall's Astra. Does the fourth generation Mazda3 have exactly that? With this lightly improved version of that design, the signs are good: eye-catching looks, cutting-edge engines and one of the best cabins in the segment number amongst the highlights.

Background

The development engineer who led up the project to create this car, Kota Beppu, says the MK4 version of this Mazda3 will appeal to 'free spirits'. The sort of person perhaps who might want something stylish and interesting in this class but doesn't want quality or engineering compromises. Think of a car of this type as good to drive as a Peugeot 308, as good inside as a Volkswagen Golf and as good to look at as a DS No4. That's what Mazda was aiming at with this BP-series design, first launched in 2019. So many other brands have started out in this sector with similar objectives but we can't help wondering whether this Mazda hasn't nailed them here. The diesel engine offered in this fourth generation design in its earlier forms was quickly replaced by an innovative 180PS SKYACTIV-X spark-controlled petrol unit. In 2024, the volume mild hybrid engine was upgraded from 2.0 to 2.5-litres in size. And in Autumn 2026, the SKYACTIV-X versions were dropped as part of a further light update (which also saw the deletion of the saloon body shape), creating the car we're going to look at here.

Driving Experience

Mazda has put a great deal of effort in developing the sharp driving dynamics that have always characterised this model line, though a relatively porky kerb weight - 1,439kgs - doesn't help here, nor does it really fit with the whole 'SKYACTIV' 'less-is-more' ethos. Overall though, we still think the Mazda3 in any form is one of the best handling family hatch sector cars you could choose. We'd take it over a Peugeot 308; it's that good. And it has the slickest manual gearbox of any car of this kind you could choose. Automatic transmission is optional, but for goodness sake try the stick shifter before you stump up for a self-shifter. Sadly, Mazda no longer offers its innovative 180PS e-SKYACTIV X Spark Controlled Compression Ignition engine in this car, a powerplant we always really liked. So Mazda3 customers are now limited to a single 140PS version of the brand's 2.5-litre e-SKYACTIV G petrol unit (a mild hybrid) which is shared with the CX30 and the CX-5 SUVs. This powerplant offers 238Nm of torque and 62mph in the manual version takes 9.5s en route to 128mph. Keen drivers will know what we're talking about when we say that some family hatchbacks seem to want to fight your inputs and are a bit of a battle to drive, whereas others just work in harmony with you. This Mazda3 is one of the latter. In a manual version like this, you'll notice the lovely 'wrist-flick' feel of the stick shift change, which is complemented by feelsome steering, positive brakes - and decent ride quality too, despite this fourth generation model's shift away from independent rear suspension to a theoretically cruder torsion beam arrangement. The stiff body also helps (contributing to exceptional cruising refinement). And in addition, there's also 'G-Vectoring Control Plus', a standard torque vectoring system that also takes steering inputs into account as it transfers traction to the wheels that can best use it at speed through the bends.

Design and Build

With this MK4 Mazda3, the Japanese brand finally realised that a car of this kind really has to visually stand out. It's been available for most of its production run in a choice of body shapes - hatch and saloon. But now, only the hatch versions survives. And it still makes an impression in a car park full of Astras and Golfs. The company's ridiculously-named 'Kodo' design language has been evolved into something really elegant here, with a low nose, elegant panel shaping and a sloping roof line that flows neatly into the rear screen. It's quite different from the angular styling of a comparable Vauxhall or Volkswagen and could be almost said to have a 'premium' feel. The interior is even better. There are smart materials crafted with interesting design and button clutter has been well and truly banished. Does any car in the class have a better cabin that this? That's a bold statement but the Mazda designers have set an impressive standard here. It certainly makes the cabin of an Astra feel pretty low-rent. One of the brand's problems in previous generations of Mazda3 has been the provision of rather small centre-dash screens but in this case, there's a clear 10.25-inch display on top of the dash nicely angled towards the driver. And there's a lower rotary controller for it so you don't have to stab away at inexact touchscreen functionality in the kind of way that's necessary with many rival set-ups. We're not quite so impressed by the level of interior space. There are much bigger rear seats in this class and the boot is smaller than the class norm, offering just 351-litres of space.

Market and Model

Pricing is pitched from just over £25,000 to around £33,000 and these days there's just the single hatchback body shape. There are five trim levels - 'Prime-Line', 'Centre-Line', 'Homura', 'Exclusive-Line' and 'Takumi'. All are generously equipped, with features like a windscreen projecting colour head-up display with Traffic Sign Recognition, Mazda Radar Cruise Control and LED headlights. The mid-level 'Homura' grade is marked out with black wheels and door mirrors. If you want the Saloon body style, you'll be limited to the 'Exclusive-Line' grade and you'll have to have the faster 186PS e-Skyactiv X engine. Every model in the line-up also features navigation and an eight speaker audio system. All Mazda3 models come with a 10.25-inch central screen to allow for clear navigation mapping. Other connectivity features include a wireless version of the brand's 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring set-up, plus QI Wireless Charging, while 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' navigation is supported in the head-up display. Additionally, all models feature USB Type-C charging ports.

Cost of Ownership

The 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol unit has cylinder deactivation which switches the car to a couple of cylinders under light-to-mid throttle loads. Plus it incorporates Mazda's 'M Hybrid 24V' system. This mild-hybrid set-up improves fuel economy by recycling recovered kinetic energy. A belt-driven integrated starter generator (ISG) converts the energy in the 600kJ lithium-ion battery, while the DC-DC converter supplies it to the car's electrical equipment. As a result, this mainstream petrol unit manages decent WLTP figures - 47.9mpg on the combined cycle and 133g/km of CO2 with a manual gearbox. It's 44.8mpg and 141g/km with the auto. The alternative 180PS Skyactiv-X unit is based on the same 2.0-litre normally aspirated mild hybrid Skyactiv-G powertrain. But it can run far leaner than any ordinary petrol powerplant ever could, improving efficiency by up to 30% over the Skyactiv-G, helped by a supercharger which ensures that there's enough air for the clever 'Spark Controlled Compression Ignition' system to function. The result is a set of WLTP fuel and CO2 readings that should better those of some conventional diesel models in this segment. Think up to 51.4mpg and 123g/km in manual form. From a powerful 180PS engine; have cake - eat it. It's as simple as that. This comes courtesy of a ground-breaking 'SPCCI' 'Spark Controlled Compression Ignition' system.

Summary

Mazda's been bold with this car and we can't help still hoping that this strategy will pay off. This is a model that's never achieved the success it really ought to have had - but deserves to. True, it may not be one of those family hatchbacks that grab you on first acquaintance, but the longer you spend with one, the more you appreciate the depth of thought that's clearly been put into the design of the things that matter; like the classy cabin, the exemplary infotainment system and the hi-tech equipment. True, it's not the car you'd choose if family practicality was a priority. Aesthetics have clearly been prioritised here; that sloping roof does affect rear seat room and boot space. But the stylised lines that come with that swept-back silhouette will probably make you feel good about switching to a Mazda3. And that couldn't matter more.