Mazda3 2020 Review

Sometimes, negatives can be counterbalanced by positives. Like, for example, the opportunity during Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown to spend 10 weeks living with a 2020 Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch.

The lockdown had its positive sides. The roads were quieter, fewer pollutants were pumped into the air and, generally, a simpler lifestyle prevailed.

In my case, lockdown also provided a new slant on vehicle reviews. Having lucked-in with a longer-than-usual time spent getting to know a car, I established a degree of intimacy with a Mazda3 G25 Astina hatchback that would normally only have come with full-time ownership.

Collecting the Machine Grey Mazda3 on the day before Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions came into force meant that returning it from my home in regional Victoria on the allotted date a week later – and running the road-block gauntlet – would have been difficult, or maybe impossible.

So what followed was an unplanned two-and-a-half months living with Mazda’s second best-selling model in Australia (behind the Mazda CX-5) – and one that remains among the top four small cars on the market.

Establishing a familiarity with the flagship 2020 Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch – situated near the top of the category at $38,590 plus on-road costs (for the auto tested here) – not only confirmed the things I already knew, but also changed some of the things I thought I knew.

New perspectives brought insights that even our long-term road tests don’t necessarily reveal.

Though the extended ‘ownership’ of our long-term test cars reveals a lot – it gives us individual perspectives through the eyes of our regular road test team – it doesn’t come with the exclusive sense of knowing that comes with an extended week-on-week, one-family experience.

So, while my time with the Mazda3 G25 Astina validated our findings when we compared the Mazda3 with a Ford Focus and a Toyota Corolla, then lined it up against the Hyundai i30 around the same time, it also gave strength to the understanding that you don’t really get to know anything until you’ve experienced it to its fullest.

About the only thing I didn’t cover with the lockdown Mazda was booking it in for scheduled servicing.

So what was it about the 2020 Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch that proved so captivating? Well, aesthetics for one thing.

Speaking a design language that is being rolled out across the entire range, the Mazda3’s organic, compound-curved flanks, the aggressive but classically-simple grille, and the removal of just about all conflicting junctions and detail clutter combine with well-considered proportions to create a shape that’s distinctive, upmarket and should age well.

The curves look at their best in darker shapes – like the deep grey of my lockdown car – and are beautifully complemented by the smoke grey multi-spoke 18-inch wheels.

If there was any criticism it’s the size of the side windows – a high sill line and a too-quick termination towards the C-pillar ends up creating rear-view blind spots, along with a tendency towards an overly-blinkered feeling for those riding in the back seat. This is a car that definitely encloses its passengers.

Talking about the seats, the rich Burgundy leather trim – only available in the Astina hatch – conspired to lend an even more premium look to what is generally considered to be one of the segment’s most lavish interiors.

That said, I did see a potential long-term issue developing. After just 10,000km, the leather on the driver’s seat was already ageing, with noticeable wrinkles evident.

A positive was that while our comparison testing found the Mazda3, when compared to its peers, was lacking in rear seat space, I honestly wasn’t bothered after nearly three months of intimate acquaintance.

Aside from noting the minimal headroom and the constricted view of the world outside, it was also true that adequate room for my lanky legs was readily negotiable, even if an equally-tall passenger was sitting ahead of me.

Over time, the Mazda3 Astina hatch was never a problem, in terms of useability, with my three-adult, one-child family.

There’s no getting away from the small, 295-litre boot, though. Down 13 litres on its predecessor, the Astina hatchback is overshadowed by the Mazda3 sedan’s 444 litres – which itself is nothing special in the small sedan category.

Throwing aboard a full-size dual-suspension mountain bike, as I’m wont to do on occasion, is not something to be recommended in a Mazda3 hatch.

Big kudos for the control function and layout though. I welcomed with open arms the avoidance of touch-screen functionality and the safe, intuitive iDrive-style controller on the centre console, as well as the toggle switches (other Mazdas use less-tactile piano-key controls) in the steering wheel spokes that take care of cruise control, voice operation and audio volume.

And the memory settings on the lower right side of the instrument panel take care of not just the driver’s seat adjustments, but about every other function right through to the head-up display and external rear-view mirrors – something not always found, even higher up in the premium car stakes.

About the only thing I could criticise here is that some of the functions – the voice control switch on the steering wheel spoke, for example – can’t be easily read in daylight and take some familiarisation.

The Bose sound system is good without being anything special in terms of sound quality, and regional AM reception, though better than many, is nothing exceptional either.

The overall functionality, balanced against the restrictions in boot size and a slight tendency towards over-intimate in-cabin dimensions, was judged to be positive and certainly never a problem in my case.

Previous reservations about the ride/handling balance were similarly judged in the 2020 Mazda3 G25 Astina’s favour.

Some of its competitors, particularly the latest-generation Ford Focus, do have the edge, but that doesn’t mean the Mazda3 G25 Astina isn’t a fun thing to drive.

The ride quality is on the comfortable side of sporty, the steering is quick enough and pleasantly sharp and the 139kW/252Nm normally-aspirated SKYACTIV 2.5-litre engine’s consistent torque delivery is welcome in this age of widespread turbo assistance.

The economy, steady on 8.2L/100km (despite official claims of 6.6L/100km) over the full period, was merely acceptable, though it was helped by the fact the G25 Astina was happy to run on regular-grade unleaded – or ethanol-laced fuel.

The touring range was limited by the 51-litre tank though.

What were the things that intruded most? In truth, apart from the slightly closed-in feel of the 2020 Mazda3 G25 Astina hatchback’s otherwise luxurious cabin, and the small boot, I can really only wag my disapproving finger at the auto-dipping headlights.

Although the depth and cover of the LED beams was always welcome, the fact is I just didn’t trust ’em. After being flashed too many times by oncoming traffic I always did everything I could to dip the high beams myself.

Am I hearing you say these are the only things about the Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch I’m able to criticise?

Of course not. As I mentioned, the dynamics, though excellent, are not the absolute best of the small-car bunch and the fuel economy is nothing exceptional.

But, particularly in the case of the former, these are the sort of things that ultimately disappear into the mélange that makes up a car. You eventually become familiar with them. They tend, ultimately, to be comfortably overshadowed by seemingly lightweight factors which turn out to deliver the most long-lasting rewards.

I never tired of taking in the beautifully-crafted interior, nor admiring the classic, unadorned styling. And I loved the general cabin functionality – particularly the Mazda3’s non-touch-screen controls.

The bottom line is that most of the things that didn’t impress me, when comparing Australia’s fourth most-popular small car with its peers, tended over time to lose their edge.

The persuasion of long-term experience crept in, and stayed there.

I did spend an extended time living happily with the Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch. And I was genuinely sorry when, ultimately, the keys had to be handed back.

How much does the 2020 Mazda3 G25 Astina hatch cost?
Price: $38,590 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 139kW/252Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 154g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

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