Not being the biggest fan of sedans and preferring their hatchback sibling instead, a trip to my colleagues at Ignition TV for a guest appearance on the popular Buyer’s Guide segment had me discussing the virtues of C-segment sedans for those in the market for one.
While it no longer rates as Mazda’s internal best-seller, that unexpected honour goes to the CX-5 and CX-3, the 3 has continued to be a competitive offering within the local market. In fact, after spending the customary seven-days with it, it had convinced me to pick it above the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and the Ford Focus sedan.
While three of the four cars I’ve mentioned are due to be replaced soon, the current models are still worthy competitors and will likely be available at discounted prices in the near future.
Battle of the Uber
Without sounding like a total sedan pessimist, the C-segment is certainly something that appeals to transport service providers that work for the likes of Uber. That being said, the R427 000 Astina Plus variant is certainly not the specification for a transport service.
With features such as Smart City Support which prevents low-speed incidents, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Sport Monitoring, Driver Attention Alert and Adaptive LED headlights on top of the Bose sound system, Heads-Up Display, 18-inch alloy wheels, reverse camera, leather seats and cruise control to name a few, it is rather luxurious.
Powertrain dependability
The press vehicle was powered by the familiar 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine combined with a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. There’s 121kW/210Nm on offer and despite the respectable output, the power loss associated with driving up at altitude and when coupled with a relatively lazy ‘box means that progress in the 3 is pretty docile.
One aspect that impressed me about the updated 3 versus the pre-facelift was the fuel consumption. I recall achieving well over 8.0-litres/100km in my previous press unit whereas with this particular test car, I returned 7.3-litres/100km after 700km-or-so of driving.
Then we approach the topic of reliability, which is synonymous with Mazda. There’s really nothing complicated going on with the modern Mazda powertrains, meaning that as a long-term ownership proposition, these vehicles are a solid option.
When it comes to the bends, the 3 is rather accomplished and even features what the brand calls GVC, a form of torque vectoring aimed at making daily driving easier while improving the car in dynamic scenarios. It really was a surprising performer in this regard, although, expect the usual safe understeer when pushing on.
Practicality versus style
A massive plus for sedans is of course their capacious boots, which, in the Mazda measures 408-ltres, meaning that all of your family’s luggage can be swallowed for a holiday, but I suppose the same can be said for modern SUVs.
This brings me to the style aspect of sedan ownership. With the aforementioned Uber scenario still in mind, it’s apt to examine why sedans have fallen out of favour of late. I feel that it comes down to the advent of the stylish, road-bias SUV/crossover which offer the virtues of sedan ownership with added style and ride height.
That being said, the award for most stylish in this segment would certainly be between the Honda Civic and the 3, which makes the Mazda one of the more socially acceptable buys.
Go cheaper
I however feel that for over R30 000 less, the regular Astina provides all of the creature comforts necessary while still offering consumers a very solid option within this highly competitive segment. Just be aware that the new Corolla and the aforementioned new 3 are on the horizon. All Mazda3 models come with a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty and three-year service plan as standard.
Pricing
Mazda3 Sedan 2.0 Astina Plus AT - R427 000
