Pricier new Mazda3 to lift sales

Mazda Australia is banking on a significant sales lift for its all-new Mazda3, which will be priced from $20,490 plus on-road costs – $160 more than its previous base price ($20,330).

Mazda points out the sub-$20,500 entry price is lower than the launch price of the previous model despite the addition of more standard equipment.

However, base Mazda3 prices start $500 higher than the run-out drive-away price for the outgoing model and key small-car competitors like the Kia Cerato, Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota Corolla hatch (all of which start at $19,990). Toyota is yet to announce pricing for next month’s new Corolla sedan (currently $20,990).

The cheapest Mazda3 is also $1000 pricier than that of Holden’s Australian-made Cruze ($19,490), $200 more than the Ford Focus ($20,290), but $500 less than the Hyundai i30 ($20,990) and $1000 lower than the Volkswagen Golf ($21,490).

Officially on sale from February 1, the expanded third-generation Mazda3 hatch and sedan line-up comprises six models, two engines, two transmissions and three specification grades, with replacements for the current Mazda3 Diesel and MPS models yet to appear.

The model ‘walk’ opens with three 2.0-litre petrol-powered models, including the entry-level Mazda3 Neo ($20,490), the mid-range Maxx for an extra $2500 ($22,990 – down from $24,490 for the old Maxx Sport) and the flagship Touring, which takes its name from the Mazda6 and costs a further $2500 at $25,490.

Mazda has expanded the 2.5-litre SP25 line-up from one to three models, priced from $25,890 – $5600 less than before ($31,490) but still $5400 more than the base 2.0-litre.

Also taking its name from the Mazda6 is the Mazda3 SP25 GT ($30,590), while the Astina nameplate has been reinstated for the top-shelf model, the SP25 Astina (from $36,190).

All models again come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and Mazda’s latest six-speed automatic transmission from the Mazda6 and outgoing Mazda3 SP20 is a $2000 option across the range.

The previous Mazda3, Australia’s top-selling car in 2011 and 2012, generated an average of 3400 sales per month since its Australian launch in April 2009.

That figure increased to 3500 a month last year, but was not enough to stop the Corolla becoming the nation’s favourite new car for the first time, when Toyota averaged 3625 Corolla sales a month.

Mazda says it expects even more sales of its new 3, thanks to “competitive pricing, a strong marketing campaign and increased interest thanks to superior styling, safety and technology”, and has targeted 3800 monthly sales.

That equates to 45,600 sales annually and, based on 2013 figures, would be enough for the Mazda3 to reclaim its top-selling status from the Corolla.

Riding on a 60mm-longer (2700mm) wheelbase, the new Mazda3 hatch and sedan remain the same length as before (4460mm and 4580mm respectively) but grow 40mm wider to 1795mm and are 15mm lower at 1455mm.

Combined with lower hip points, the new 3 retains the previous model’s head room, but the extra width liberates more front and rear shoulder room, while better packaging and sculpted (and 50mm-taller) front seat backs deliver 909mm of rear legroom, which Mazda says is near class-leading.

The lighter new SKYACTIV chassis, body, engines, steering and seats contribute to a 38 per cent reduction in kerb weight, which now ranges between 1262kg (Maxx manual sedan) and 1373kg (SP25 Astina auto hatch).

Repositioning the base of the A-pillars 100mm rearward and mounting the wing mirrors on the doors instead of the base of the A-pillar are said to improve visibility, while the body’s use of high-tensile steel increases to 60 per cent (up from 50 per cent in the previous hatch and 51 per cent in the old sedan).

All Mazda3 models run on standard 91 RON unleaded petrol, with 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G automatic variants offering 114kW of power at 6000rpm, 200Nm of torque at 4000rpm and combined average fuel consumption of 5.9L/100km (manual hatch), 5.8L/100km (auto hatch, manual sedan) and 5.7L/100km (auto sedan), making it 30 per cent more efficient than the outgoing MZR 2.0-litre petrol engine.

The 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-G engine delivers 138kW at 5700rpm and 250Nm at 3250rpm, and is also 30 per cent more efficient in auto guise, consuming 6.5L/100km (manual), 6.1L/100km (auto hatch) and 6.0L/100km (auto sedan.

The entry-level Mazda3 Neo is forecast to account for 40 per cent of sales in 2014, increasing to 55 per cent over its model cycle.

Carryover standard features include 16-inch steel wheels with 205/60 R16 tyres, halogen headlights, air-conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, body-coloured power mirrors, power windows, a rear spoiler (hatch only), cloth seat trim, a tilting/telescoping steering wheel, driver’s seat height adjustment, four-speaker CD/MP3/FM/AM audio, Bluetooth phone and audio capability, USB input and a 60/40-split rear seat.

Standard safety items across the range include twin front, front-side and side curtain airbags, stability/traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic brake assist, emergency stop signal and hill launch assist.

A range-wide Safety Pack ($1500 for the Neo, Maxx and Touring, $1300 for the SP25 and SP25 GT, and standard on the SP25 Astina) includes Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Maxx models are expected to comprise 10 per cent of sales and add 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/60 R16 tyres, satellite-navigation, reversing camera, MZD Connect infotainment with seven-inch colour touch-screen, Commander control and Stitcher, Aha and Pandora apps, six-speaker audio, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear shifter and handbrake handle, rear armrest, and gear shift paddles (auto only).

Touring models (representing seven to 10 per cent of sales) add leather seat trim, dual-zone climate-control, automatic headlights and wipers, driver’s lumbar adjustment, overhead sunglass storage and illuminated front vanity mirrors.

The SP25 (which is forecast to account for 20 per cent of sales this year, reducing to 15 per cent over its model life) comes with 18-inch alloys with 215/45 R18 tyres, front foglights, rear spoiler (sedan) and advanced keyless entry.

In addition, the SP25 GT (15 per cent of sales this year, 10 per cent over its lifecycle) adds LED daytime running lamps, LED tail-lights, bi-xenon headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Active Driving Display (ADD) head-up display, a nine-speaker 231-Watt Premium Bose sound system, leather seat trim, six-way power adjustment and heating for the front seats, driver’s lumbar adjustment, heated power mirrors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, overhead sunglass storage, illuminated vanity mirrors and the option of a sunroof ($2900).

The top-shelf Mazda3 SP25 Astina, expected to account for between three and five per cent of the model mix) adds the SP25 GT’s optional sunroof and a host of standard driver aids, including radar cruise control, Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), High Beam Control (HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Smart Brake Support (SBS) and Smart City Brake Support (SCBS).

Eight exterior paint colours will be available: Soul Red Metallic from the Mazda6, plus Titanium Flash Mica, Blue Reflex Mica, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Aluminium Metallic, Meteor Gray Mica, Jet Black Mica, Blue Reflex Mica, Aluminium Metallic and two new colours – Titanium Flash Mica and Deep Crystal Blue Mica.

2014 Mazda3 pricing (plus on-road costs):

Neo – $20,490
Neo (a) – $22,490
Maxx – $22,990
Maxx (a) – $24,990
Touring – $25,490
Touring (a) – $27,490
SP25 – $25,890
SP25 (a) – $27,890
SP25 GT – $30,590
SP25 GT (a) – $32,590
SP25 Astina – $36,190
SP25 Astina (a) – $38,190