2020 Mazda 3 - All you need to know

We are huge fans of Mazda cars for various reasons. One is that Mazda has a very unique taste in styling and designing. Chances of someone confusing a Mazda for some other car are very rare. Take the Mazda 3 for example.

Both of Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback versions look drop-dead gorgeous. You can admire the beauty of the car for hours. And this is when you neither have stepped inside nor driven it. Its looks are more than enough to make you fall for it. And now, there's an updated model of the Mazda 3 which has just been launched in the Philippines.

Here's all you need to know about that.

Exterior changes

The new Mazda 3 has very minimal changes to the exterior. It was already a flawless design and poking around with that would not have been a great move. We appreciate Mazda sticking to the original design and adding a few minor cosmetic changes to freshen up things a bit.

So, the front bumper on the new model is slightly changed. You might not notice it until you compare it with that of the previous model. It is a subtle touch.

The rest of the front continues to look as dashing, sporty, handsome, aggressive, and mean as before. We still get the angry-looking LED headlamps, the large front grille, and the angular lines on the bonnet.

Moving to the side, the new Mazda 3 has received a new set of alloy wheels that tend to enhance the sporty look of the car. Do let us know what do you think about them. The remaining portion on the side is familiar.

Reaching to the rear end, we get a pair of new LED tail lamps which don't really alter the overall look of the car that much but, of course, are a welcome addition.

Interior changes

If you have seen the cabin of the previous Mazda 3, then you would feel very familiar in the cabin of the new model. Most of the things are unchanged. The overall design and quality of materials are as solid as before.

However, there are certain features that we would like to mention include an 8.8-inch MZD infotainment system that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and comes with navigation and voice command as well, all-digital instrument panel, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, leather seats, powered driver seat, and twelve-speaker sound system by Bose.

Engine

The 2020 Mazda 3 specs have two engine options. The first one is a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G 4-cylinder engine that churns out 111 PS of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 146 Nm at 3500 rpm. The other one is a more powerful 2.0-litre engine that produces 154 PS of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 200 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 revs.

Both the engines come mated to Mazda's SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with no option for a manual. However, you can engage the manual select and use the paddle shifters if you fancy.

Safety features

Mazda always scores good points in the safety department and the new Mazda 3 is no different. It comes with a long list of safety features which include multiple SRS airbags, ABS with EBD & brake assist, traction control, dynamic electronic stability control, driver attention alert, high beam headlight control, engine immobilizer, tyre pressure monitoring system, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, smart brake support, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a reverse camera with parking sensors, heads-up display, and adaptive cruise control. All these safety features are valid for both the hatchback and sedan models.

The new 2020 Mazda 3 is the fourth-generation of the car and it brings some decent changes. The previous model didn't disappoint us in any way whatsoever and we are pretty sure that the new one would neither. The 2020 Mazda 3 price starts at Php 1,295,000 for the base model and goes as high as Php 1,590,000 for the range-topping variant.

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