Mazda3 lifts its game

Marking a significant step in the march of technology, one of Australia's most popular new cars is no longer available with a CD player but can automatically brake itself to avoid low-speed collisions.

Now on sale priced from an unchanged $20,490 plus on-road costs, the facelifted Mazda3 sedan and hatch range comes standard with Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), making it the only mainstream small car line-up to offer autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in all models.

However, the entry-level Mazda3 Neo still lacks the reversing camera that's standard in its most direct rivals – the base Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 – with a rear-view camera remaining a $650 mirror-mounted option because the base 3 lacks the 7.0-inch colour touch-screen infotainment system fitted to all other variants.

And with the exception of the premium SP25 GT (up $200) and top-shelf SP25 Astina (down $1550), all models are now $500 more expensive than before, while the diesel-powered Mazda3 XD Astina has been discontinued.

Mazda contends that with the addition of standard AEB, which was previously part of an optional safety pack, most models are now about $1000 cheaper than before, without factoring in a range of other new standard features.

For Maxx grades and above, they include SCBS Reverse, Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, in addition to Forward Obstruction Warning.

Filtering down from last year's upgraded Mazda6 and CX-5, Driver Attention Alert and Lane-Keep Assist System are now standard from SP25 GT level and the SP25 Astina respectively.

Those two top-spec models also get adaptive LED headlights with daytime running lights, while all other models get revised halogen headlights with signature wing extending through the indicators on the outer edge.

The only other exterior cosmetic changes are a deeper new grille, revised rear bumper for hatch models and more aggressive LED fog lights from Maxx level.

While the Neo continues to ride on 16-inch steel wheels and the Maxx and Touring remain on 16-inch alloys, there are new (still 18-inch) alloy wheels for the SP25, GT and Astina, a darker gloss finish for the Astina's wheels and electric folding mirrors (automatic on Touring and above) as standard across the range.

Inside, all models score USB inputs relocated to the front of the centre console, larger front door pockets, a classier new multifunction steering wheel from the new CX-9 (with leather trim and shift paddles for all but Neo models), a revised colour display and DAB+ digital radio for the MZD-Connect infotainment screen (not in Neo) and an electric parking brake from Touring level.

GT and Astina models get a simpler large central tacho dial, a higher-resolution colour head-up Active Driving Display, Traffic Sign Recognition and the option of Pure White leather instead of Off White.

Also making its Mazda debut in Australia is the company's new proprietory G-Vectoring Control (GVC), which links engine torque to steering angle in an attempt to improve cornering traction, straight-line stability and passenger comfort by increasing weight transfer and therefore grip on the outside front tyre.

In the case of the 2016 Mazda3, which was tested in Australia last year, GVC is accompanied by a chassis upgrade including revised electric steering tune, tweaked front and rear suspension dampers, new front stabiliser bar mount bushings and the addition of dynamic dampers for the rear cross member and trailing link.

Rounding out the mechanical changes is extra sound deadening in the floor, ceiling and doors, which Mazda says reduces wind and road noise.

There are no changes to the outputs or consumption of the Mazda3's idle-stop equipped four-cylinder petrol engines, although both the 114kW/200Nm 2.0-litre (Neo/Maxx/Touring) and 138kW/250Nm 2.5-litre (SP25/GT/Astina) are claimed to be smoother and more responsive.

There are three new paint colours -- Machine Grey Metallic, Sonic Silver Metallic and Eternal Blue Mica – within a total of eight, with white expected to again be the most popular followed by Soul Red.

A six-speed automatic remains a $2000 option, the popular black-themed Kuroi Pack continues to be a $2900 option (fitted) and standard safety features still include six airbags, traction/stability control, anti-lock brakes, emergency stop signal and rear parking sensors.

Notching up five million sales in April, the Mazda3 is the Japanese brand's top-selling model both worldwide and in Australia, accounting for more than a third of its global sales last year, when 468,000 examples were sold.

The previous Mazda3 was Australia's top-selling new vehicle in 2011 and 2012, before it was usurped by the Corolla over the past three years, and Mazda Australia says the latest (third) generation is the most successful ever in terms of both market share and model mix.

It says the MkIII accounts for 19.2 per cent of the market's dominant small car segment – up from 18.8 for the MkII and 17.7 for the original – and that the Maxx variant will account for the lion's share (40 per cent) of sales this year, although the base Neo is expected to outsell it over the model's life cycle.

"Mazda3 is a vitally important model not just for us but globally," said Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak. "The third generation is the most successful ever, achieving the biggest market share and the richest model mix, which reflects our focus on private buyers not fleet sales."

However, Mazda has already conceded defeat to the Corolla in the race for outright sales honours this year, and does not expect the current 3's first major upgrade since its release in February 2014 to increase sales.

In its two and a half years on sale it has averaged 3350 sales a month, but that figure is forecast to fall to 3200 over the next 12 months – 80 per cent of which should again be automatic and 70 per cent of which should be 2.0-litre.

"The small [car] segment for everyone continues to shrink," said Doak. It's still the biggest [segment] but we're always conservative."

Asked if Mazda's reduced sales expectation was in part due to upcoming model releases like next year's replacement for the i30, which outsold both the Corolla and Mazda3 last month when a $19,990 with free auto deal saw the base i30 Active sales split soar to 52 per cent, Doak said:

"There will always be new rivals. We keep improving our product. We're realistic. We won't be number one in this segment. It's not our goal."

2016 Mazda3 sedan/hatch pricing (plus ORCs):
Neo manual -- $20,490 (unchanged)
Neo auto -- $22,490 (unchanged)
Maxx manual -- $22,890 (up $500)
Maxx auto -- $24,890 (up $500)
Touring manual -- $25,290 (up $500)
Touring auto -- $27,290 (up $500)
SP25 manual -- $25,690 (up $500)
SP25 auto -- $27,690 (up $500)
SP25 GT manual -- $29,990 (up $200)
SP25 GT auto -- $31,990 (up $200)
SP25 Astina manual -- $33,490 (down $1550)
SP25 Astina auto -- $35,490 (down $1550)