Mazda 3 2.0 DISI 151 CV i-Stop, road test (Part III)

We reach the end of the road test of the Mazda 3 equipped with the two-litre petrol engine and 151 CV, an engine that stands out for incorporating the Start&Stop system along with other improvements that manage to reduce this model’s consumption. In the first part we saw how this petrol engine performs, which does not stand out for performance but for behaviour, making it a good alternative if you are looking for a petrol Mazda 3.

As usual, we also looked at the design of the Japanese car with that sporty style that is a true hallmark of the Asian brand, as well as its interior, where we find a driving position with a youthful feel and correct adjustments, with plastics that are acceptable. And now we reach the end of the analysis of the Mazda 3, where we review the standard equipment, the price and finally our overall assessment of the car.

Equipment

When we analyse the equipment we always start with the safety equipment fitted as standard on the Mazda 3, where we can find items such as front, side and front and rear curtain airbags as standard, stability control, or ABS with emergency braking warning among the standard features of the Mazda 3. It is therefore a complete safety package, and this can also be seen in the Euro NCAP tests, where it earned the coveted five stars.

The Mazda 3 is structured in four trim levels: Active, Style, Luxury and Sportive. Our test unit was a Sportive, but even from the base trim we get as standard – in addition to the safety equipment – air conditioning, electric front windows, CD-MP3 radio, electric mirrors and central locking with remote control.

The Style trim adds, among other items, 16-inch alloy wheels, a climate control system and fog lights. The Luxury trim adds rain, light and rear parking sensors, as well as 17-inch wheels or push-button start, and finally the Sportive trim adds blind-spot warning, navigation, adaptive lighting, among other items.

Among the standout features of the equipment we have the lane change assist that warns us if there is a vehicle in the blind spot of the mirror, a feature that Mazda fits across almost its entire range but is hard to find on compact models on the market, and it is a very necessary and practical system.

Nor can we overlook a feature that is another hallmark of the brand at the top trim level: the sound system with BOSE speakers, which delivers unbeatable sound quality. The downside is that it does not offer greater connectivity solutions such as a USB port instead of AUX, something that is already starting to appear on city or compact models.

The navigation system comes as standard on this trim, but as we already mentioned in the previous part, it can only be operated from the steering wheel, and that is something that could be improved. The passenger could operate it if necessary, and this way it is impossible; moreover, the screen is quite small, although it is very easy to use and configure.

Finally, our unit had push-button start, a convenience that means we do not even have to take the key out of our pocket, and which few compacts currently offer, such as the Renault Megane, which also has it. Nor can we forget the adaptive bi-xenon headlights, which provide good night-time illumination and which I was able to test on my usual test route, because I always pass through an area with no street lighting and plenty of bends; it is a country road very suitable for testing this type of system, and the truth is that the bi-xenon headlights rose to the occasion.

Prices

Five-door version (data from the mazda.es website)

• 1.6 VVT Active 105 CV 17,700 €
• 1.6 VVT Style 105 CV 18,600 €
• 1.6 VVT Style+ 105 CV 19,900 €
• 2.0 Luxury Automatic 150 CV 24,050 €
• 2.0 DISI Luxury 151 CV 22,100 €
• 2.0 DISI Sportive 151 CV 23,650 €
• 1.6 CRTD Active 109 CV 19,200 €
• 1.6 CRTD Style 109 CV 20,100 €
• 1.6 CRTD Style+ 109 CV 21,400 €
• 2.2 CRTD Luxury 150 CV 23,950 €
• 2.2 CRTD Sportive 150 CV 25,450 €
• 2.2 CRTD Sportive 185 CV 26,950 €

Sportsedan 4-door version (data from the mazda.es website)

• 1.6 VVT Active 105 CV 18,200 €
• 1.6 VVT Style 105 CV 19,100 €
• 1.6 VVT Style+ 105 CV 20,400 €
• 2.0 Luxury Automatic 150 CV 24,550 €
• 2.0 DISI Luxury 151 CV 22,600 €
• 2.0 DISI Sportive 151 CV 24,150 €
• 1.6 CRTD Active 109 CV 19,700 €
• 1.6 CRTD Style 109 CV 20,600 €
• 1.6 CRTD Style+ 109 CV 21,900 €
• 2.2 CRTD Luxury 150 CV 24,450 €
• 2.2 CRTD Sportive 150 CV 25,950 €
• 2.2 CRTD Sportive 185 CV 27,100 €

Overall Assessment

We conclude the Mazda 3 test by recalling how we began it: I am not a big fan of petrol vehicles, there are cases where, for personal taste or because of our travel needs, a petrol vehicle is more advisable, but in general they do not usually convince me for everyday use. And it only takes one sceptic for you to come across a vehicle like this one, which we have liked for its smoothness and the good performance of this engine, which is now a bit more economical thanks to Stop&Start.

So, who do I recommend this petrol Mazda 3 for? Well, for someone who does not drive many kilometres a year or who mostly makes urban journeys, or even for petrol engine lovers. Because at first you may notice the engine delivers less than the technical sheet suggests, but once we rev it up we have a fairly flexible engine that pulls strongly. And when we cruise calmly with it, we will enjoy its smoothness, and of course it moves our Japanese compact with total agility.

As for the exterior design, it is perhaps a more personal element to judge, but we can delve a bit further into the interior. There we find at first glance a black interior with quite a lot of plastics, but there are no poor adjustments or unpleasant-feeling materials, and its equipment is quite complete, especially if we opt for this Sportive version, which with this engine has a price within the normal range, 23,650 euros, similar to other compacts in the segment with the same equipment. Because for that price we get our Mazda 3 with everything: navigation, xenon, Bose sound system, lane change assist, among other items.

For those who need a diesel, there are also two engines of 150 and 185 CV, both derived from the 2.2 CRTD block shared with the rest of the range Mazda, as well as the new 109 CV diesel.

Photos | David Taboada