Mazda 3 Neo 2013

• Safety Rating:            
• Green Rating:            
• Fuel Consumption:     6L/100km
• Price Range:              $20,330 - $39,490

 

New for 2013

The 2013 Mazda 3 gains some new electronic features, including a larger screen for the navigation system and a USB audio input for most trim levels. Standard and optional feature content has also changed slightly.
How good is the Mazda3? Good enough to be Australia’s number one best-selling passenger car outright in 2012. And good enough to boast an overflowing trophy cabinet bursting with ‘Car Of The Year’ awards from every continent.



Those strong Australian sales must be particularly galling for Mazda’s European rivals who have introduced newer, competitively-priced models. Seems local buyers value Mazda 3’s looks, performance, price and reputation ahead of flashier newcomers.

Mazda 3 Neo Overview

Car Showroom has just tested the entry-level Mazda3 Neo hatchback, it's also available in a sedan . You get a lot of car for $22,330 (five-speed automatic) – that’s $1,000 less than 12 months ago.
 

As part of the most recent running changes for the Mazda3, engineers focused on detail changes to improve the driving dynamics and enhance refinement. For example the secondary chassis floor has been thickened, the bodyshell stiffened and both suspension and steering systems have been recalibrated.

Mazda 3 Powertrains and Performance

The 2013 Mazda 3i SV is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual is standard, while a five-speed automatic is optional.
In Edmunds performance testing, an automatic-equipped 3i with this engine accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds -- slightly slow among similarly powerful sedans. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined with the manual and 24/33/27 with the automatic.
The 3i Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trims get a more advanced 2.0-liter four-cylinder (Skyactiv-G) that produces 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed automatic is optional. In Edmunds performance testing of an automatic-equipped sedan, a Skyactiv Mazda 3 reached 60 mph in 8.5 seconds, which is quick for the class.
EPA fuel economy estimates for this engine put it among the class leaders: 28 city/40 highway/33 combined for a sedan with automatic transmission and 27/39/31 with the manual. The hatchback is estimated to return 28/39/32 and 27/38/31, respectively. In extensive fuel economy testing, we confirmed that this engine does achieve these impressive figures.
The 3s Grand Touring gets a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are downgraded slightly in California-emissions states. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic is optional.
In Edmunds testing, the 3s accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds with either transmission. That's a strong performance, but not much of an improvement over the Skyactiv engine and with far less fuel efficiency. EPA estimates for the 2.5-liter are 20/28/23 with the manual and 22/29/25 with the automatic -- quite low returns for the small car segment.

Mazda3 steals a significant edge over many small car rivals in the form of its 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine. Maximum power is 108kW at 6500rpm and peak torque of 182Nm arrives at 4500rpm.


Like all Mazda engines, the ‘3’s’ naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre delivers power smoothly across the range with a pleasing exhaust note and good mid-range acceleration for hills and freeway merging.

Fuel economy is good too – 8.2l/100 kms for the Neo automatics tested.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2013 Mazda 3 is available in four-door sedan and hatchback body styles. Both are available in 3i and 3s trims that are broken into sub-trims. The high-performance Mazdaspeed 3 is reviewed separately.
The 3i SV and Sport trims are available only on the sedan. The SV comes sparsely equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, power mirrors, power windows, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, auxiliary audio jack and steering wheel controls. The Sport adds the Skyactiv-G engine, automatic power locks, keyless entry, cruise control, a trip computer and a USB audio input.
The rest of the Mazda 3 trims are available on both the sedan and hatchback. The 3i Touring adds to the Sport equipment 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a rear seat center armrest, Bluetooth (phone and audio streaming) and a six-speaker sound system.
 

An optional package for the Touring includes a sunroof, blind-spot monitoring and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.
Those items come standard on the 3i Grand Touring, along with heated mirrors, an eight-way power driver seat, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a sliding front center armrest, HD radio, Pandora audio streaming, audio text messaging receive/reply and a navigation system with 5.8-inch color touchscreen and voice controls.
The 3s Grand Touring adds a more powerful four-cylinder engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded brakes, adaptive automatic bi-xenon headlights, foglamps, LED taillights, rain-sensing wipers, a deck lid spoiler (sedan), sport seats and satellite radio. Most of these features are also available for the 3i Grand Touring as part of the Technology package.

Interior

Standard across the Mazda range and prominent in the ‘3’ is a noticeable quality feel for the interior soft materials (seats, headliners etc). In fact at the most recent update, Mazda introduced some new seat materials for the Mazda3.

Same for instruments – Mazda sticks with simplicity for the twin-meter design with nice back-lit graphics (grey coloured in the Neos we tested). To the left of the driver is the compact multi-information display screen.

Again we liked the sporty three-spoke steering wheel which adjusts for rake/reach for an optimized driving position.

Audio is a single CD six-speaker system with the usual compatibility features.



Rear seat accommodation is on-par with others in this segment and for luggage capacity in the Mazda3 you can chalk-up 430-litres for the sedan and 340-litres for the hatchback.

We did deduct points for some of the trim plastics which were hard and don’t exude quality to the same degree as the rest of the interior.

Exterior

Minor changes were included in the latest running changes for the Mazda 3 and highlight the attention to detail of Mazda’s stylists and engineers. For example there’s a new front bumper with a revised shape for the lower section, new fins under the bumper and the front tyre deflectors protrude further forwards – all to reduce the turbulence of air entering the radiator and to channel air down the side of the car for better stability.

Other changes saw the introduction of a more athletic look for the front-end with a revised fascia, updated five-point grille and round fog lights.
 

Mazda also gave both sedan and hatchback models a new rear bumper design and introduced new-design alloy wheels (15-inch on the Neo models tested).

Overall the Mazda3 with its prominent ‘Mazda-style’ grille, complex fender design and nicely curved roof remains one of the best-lookers to emerge from the Mazda design studios and still looks sharp when parked against newer-design small sedans and hatchbacks.

Driving Impressions

The 2013 Mazda 3 will surprise most compact car shoppers with its refined road manners, responsive steering and performance-oriented suspension tuning. It's simply one of the most enjoyable small cars to drive, especially when the road opens up and starts to curve. This holds just as true for the daily commute, although those more accustomed to the softer ride of a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla may find the 3's ride quality a bit too firm.
Unless your heart is set on the 3s Grand Touring, we think the Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter is the engine to get. Its 155-hp output slots in between the other two engines, but blows them both away in fuel economy and accelerates nearly as quickly as the 2.5-liter -- only about a half-second separates the two. The engine's accompanying automatic transmission is also a bright spot, offering shifts that are remarkably quick, responsive and smooth.

With a focus on enhanced refinement, as part of the most recent updates, Mazda engineers took to the Mazda3’s McPherson strut/multi-link rear suspension and wrought some changes as well as beefing-up the bodyshell for extra refinement. Not too much though as the current generation ‘3’ is a multi-award winner from hundreds of automotive journalists in every corner of the globe.

As a result, Mazda says the latest Mazda3 rides flatter and is quieter inside.

Changes to the EHPAS power steering system delivered easier low-speed maneuvering and enhanced feel at speed.

For us, the bottom line remains unchanged and the Mazda3 is still the best non-European small car for enthusiast drivers. In fact it gives the likes of Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus a run for their money.
 

There’s a solid feel about the Mazda3 when you tackle the twisty stuff – cohesiveness in its response to steering input which you only get in cars with well-sorted suspension (front and rear). And there’s immediate feedback when you turn in.

Of course part of that story is the response of Mazda3’s 108kW/182Nm 2.0-litre. While the sporty Mazda3 SP20 models score a six-speed automatic transmission, the Neo models tested use a five-speeder which to be frank is one of the best combinations amongst the small car fraternity.

Inner city maneuverability is a Mazda3 strong point with good visibility and a compact 10.9-mherre turning circle.

Yep, for driving dynamics the Mazda3 is one of the best.

Safety

Every Mazda 3 comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, brake assist, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. A blind spot warning system is standard on the Grand Touring trims and available on the Touring. In Edmunds brake testing, a 3i Sport stopped from 60 mph in a rather long 135 feet. The 3i Touring was no better, but the sportier 3s stopped in a solid 123 feet.

In government crash testing, the 2013 Mazda 3 received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, five stars for overall frontal protection and three stars for overall side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 3 the highest rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength tests.

Mazda 3 Neo Challenges

That extra suspension refinement is good, but in direct comparison to say the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus Mazda3’s front end is still a tad harsh on poor roads and when traversing tram and train track crossings.

And at night, the reflection of illuminated multi-function display on the windscreen was annoying.

Mazda 3 Neo Verdict

For us, the Mazda3 is still the one for non-European small cars. And even though the ‘3’ isn’t the freshest design in this league, we reckon Mazda’s style remains a standout…in fact, for us (and styling is a personal thing), the sedan still sees-off all-comers in the looks department.

Combine those good looks, smooth 2.0-litre engine, great driving dynamics and Mazda’s hallmark quality and it’s hard to pin any weak points on the Mazda3.
 

And of course these days, you can add value-for-money as an attribute right across the Mazda range. Seems the sales success being enjoyed by Mazda Australia has given some strength to the locals when it comes to negotiating buying prices from Head Office in Japan and new car buyers ‘Downunder’ are the beneficiaries.

Mazda 3 Neo The Competition

The Car Showroom benchmarks in the small car segment are both German – the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf (the latter only a hatchback).

In the Focus lineup, Mazda3 competes in dollars with the Ambiente grade and the ‘3’ has an edge with the Focus Ambiente (hatchback and sedan automatics) priced at $24,290. On the plus side, we love the German manufacturing quality and driving dynamics of the Focus and while the Ambiente is powered by a 92kW/159Nm 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine, the automatic transmission is a six-speed.
 

Volkswagen Golf’s Mazda3 Neo equivalent is the 77TSI – a turbocharged 1.2-litre, four-cylinder with 77kW/175Nm. You’ll need a bit more coin with the automatic version (a seven-speed) stickered at $24,490. Volkswagen wrote the book for small car dynamics and the Golf and is still the one others aspire to.

Definitely worth a look is the Hyundai i30. While driving dynamics are smidge behind Mazda3 and the Germans, the all-new i30 ($22,990 for the Active automatic) delivers head-turning looks and a nice 110kW/178Nm 1.8-litre engine driving through a six-speed automatic transmission.

Thumbs-up: Front suspension a tad harsh over the rough stuff; some trim plastics don’t match the class/quality of the rest on the interior

Mazda 6 2013

What's New for 2013

For 2013, the Mazda 6 sees no significant changes other than gaining 18-inch wheels for the i Touring Plus and i Grand Touring. The s Touring Plus trim level has been discontinued.
Well there’s confirmation for you. Three weeks back-to-back in Mazda6 models - petrol and diesel, wagon and sedan – confirmed Mazda has a winner on its hands with the all-new mid-sizer.

Question is: which one to buy? Erm…that a tough one – style, performance, quality, value-for-money…the Mazda6 ticks all the boxes.



Where there is no question is the competence and ‘right-for-today’, smarts of Mazda’s ‘Skyactiv’ technology – engines, transmission chassis and body. More than a marketing ‘catchphrase’, making the Mazda6 lighter, better to drive and delivering breakthrough technology for performance and optimized fuel consumption is what Skyactiv is all about and why Mazda is currently at the top of its game and selling cars in Australia in record numbers.

Mazda6 What Overview

The Mazda6 Atenza boasts an impressive array of extra features even over the comprehensively-equipped GT model – items like radar cruise control, blind spot monitoring, forward obstruction warning, high-beam control, cross traffic alert for the rear-view camera and smart brake support system. If you’re thinking they all sound like high-tech safety/convenience items normally found on upscale European vehicles you’d be right and Mazda is to be applauded for introducing them to its under $50,000 mid-sizer.


Over the ‘Sport’ and ‘Touring’ models, the GT (an Atenza) score LED DRLs, Bi-Xenon headlights, a glass sunroof, keyless entry, heated seats and auto-dimming rear-view mirror. GT, Atenza and Touring models get leather seats, the six-speaker Bose premium audio system and front/rear parking sensors.

Of course all Mazda6 models score the outstanding styling inside and out (Mazda’s best work we reckon), abundant interior space (appreciated by family buyers) and Skyactiv technology.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2013 Mazda 6 i versions are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the i Sport. A five-speed automatic with manual shift control is offered on the i Sport and is the only choice available on i Touring, i Touring Plus and i Grand Touring models.
Mazda 6 s Grand Touring is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 272 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque and is available only with a six-speed automatic. In Edmunds testing, this model reached 60 mph from a standstill in 6.5 seconds -- quick for its class. The four-cylinder automatic required 9.1 seconds, an average time for a four-cylinder family sedan.
The EPA estimates fuel economy at 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg in combined driving for the four-cylinder i Sport with the six-speed manual. The Mazda 6 i models with the automatic are rated at 21/30/25 mpg, while the V6 stands at 18/27/21 mpg, both of which are at the low end for this segment Mazda doesn’t have a lot of diesel-engined passenger cars (the Mazda3 is the only other offering in Australia) but the Mazda6’s Skyactiv-D 2.2 was worth the wait – it’s a cracker.

 

The turbo-diesel delivers 129kW at 4500rpm and 420Nm at 2000rpm. That actually beats Ford Mondeo turbo-diesel (120kW/340Nm).

Mazda6 petrol is the Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre with 138kW at 5700rpm and 250Nm at 3250rpm.

Both drive through a six-speed automatic transmission.

With combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.4l/100kms (diesel) and 6.6l/100kms (petrol), both Mazda6 powertrains are at the front of the field.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options 

The 2013 Mazda 6 is available in five trim levels: i Sport, i Touring, i Touring Plus, i Grand Touring and s Grand Touring. Those with the "i" prefix come with the four-cylinder engine, while models with the "s" prefix come with the V6.
The i Sport comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlamps, a manually height-adjustable driver seat, full power accessories, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker CD sound system with an auxiliary audio jack.
The i Touring model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a trip computer, a power driver seat (with manual lumbar support), an in-dash six-CD changer, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, upgraded interior trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
Opting for the i Touring Plus will get you 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, a blind-spot monitoring system, electroluminescent instrument gauges and outside mirrors with integrated turn signals. The i Grand Touring model further adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a multi-information display and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system. The s Grand Touring is similar to the i Grand Touring except for the powertrain.
We expect one of the more popular options will be the Technology package, which is available for Grand Touring models. It includes automatic xenon headlights, automatic wipers, heated outside mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, auto-dimming rearview and driver-side mirrors, satellite radio, driver memory settings and a power passenger seat. A voice-activated navigation system is available only for Grand Touring models and comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display and a rearview camera. Stand-alone options vary among trim levels and include many of the above-listed features as well as a rear spoiler, a chrome fuel-filler door and remote engine start.

Safety

Standard safety features for all 2013 Mazda 6 models include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, both the i and s Grand Touring models came to a stop from 60 mph in 125 feet, an average distance for a midsize sedan.
In government crash tests, the Mazda 6 received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with three stars for frontal-impact protection (four stars driver, three stars front passenger) and four stars for side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Mazda 6 its highest score of "Good" for frontal-offset and side impacts, while roof strength tests yielded a second-best "Acceptable" rating.

 

Mazda6 Interior Design and Special Features

The aesthetic within the 2013 Mazda 6's cabin is thoroughly modern, with lots of curves and sweeping lines, and the car's red electroluminescent gauges are a handsome addition. The center stack forms a graceful arch; it looks great, but some of its controls are less intuitive than those seen in competing models. There's ample headroom and legroom all around, and the backseats are especially spacious, comfortably accommodating even the most long-limbed passengers. If you've got a narrow build, though, you might find the wide front seats lacking in lateral support.
Though the cabin design is attractive, the 6's interior is marred by the presence of some low-grade plastics, and more expensive trim levels come with odd black-and-silver accents that may be a turn-off for some. It's also worth noting that the sound system's performance trails that of others in this class; even the upgraded Bose system could disappoint some listeners. On the plus side, the Mazda 6's 16.6-cubic-foot trunk is one of the biggest in its class, while the trunk's unobtrusive hinge mechanisms and the 60/40-split-folding rear seats further enhance cargo-hauling capabilities.

Inside, the Mazda6 delivers a classy look and upmarket materials which really drive-home the value-for-money package – this feels like a much more expensive car. 

 

There’s some complex shaping going on in the dashboard with multiple tiers, curves and straight lines. Even the audio/satellite navigation screen is housed in a nicely-recessed binnacle atop the centre console.

Conventional gauges sit in a stylish curved binnacle and the three-spoke steering wheel (rake/reach adjustable) is sized just-right and sportily shaped.

As per our previous drives of the Mazda6 we reckon the front seats could do with more shaping/support but there’s plenty of room even for tall folk.

Rear seat accommodation must be close to best-in class for legroom.

Sedan luggage space is rated at 438-litres while the wagon affords 451-litres. Fold the rear seat flat and both balloon to a very handy 1,593-litres.

 

Mazda6 Exterior & Styling

Without doubt the Mazda6 is Mazda’s best styling work to-date. It’s large (for a mid-sizer) at 4,865mm/4800mm in length and 1,840mm in width and the proportions make for a low-wide looking which is certainly sporty and contemporary.

But it’s the blend of curves and straight lines, the stunningly-shaped front fenders and dynamic front-end with the large Mazda ‘winged’ grille and piercing headlights which has everyone talking. Even when parked, the combination of light and shade caused by the Mazda6’s abundant curves makes for a standout on-road presence.

And good as the sedan is, the Mazda6 wagon goes even further with the extended rising glasshouse and sloping roofline exuding glamour like no other Mazda.

‘Sport’ and ‘Touring’ models ride on 17-inch alloys while ‘GT’ and ‘Atenza’ models step-up to 19-inchers.

Mazda6 On The Road

Mazda6’s Skyactiv chassis has a lot in common with the CX-5 medium SUV – altered for a longer wheelbase, lighter weight and lower centre of gravity. Combined with the lightweight and rigid Skyactiv body shell, the package for the Mazda6 was all about slick driving dynamics.

Also remember the sophisticated multi-link rear suspension and handy 14.2 gear ratio for the electric power steering…there’s a lot going on underneath the Mazda6 and it’s all good.

Both the petrol and diesel engines deliver handy response and impressive refinement across the range (the petrol a tad noisy when working at the limit).


Over our high-speed mountain roads test loop, the Mazda6 got the job done with point-in precision, great balance and a flat stance. The newcomer certainly gives the previously all-conquering Ford Mondeo a genuine rival for best-in-class dynamics in the twisty stuff.

Around town, the Mazda6 was nimble, light and similarly refined. When parking you are conscious the ‘6’ – like the Ford Mondeo – is one of the larger mid-sizers so best to miss those Mazda3-size parking spots (even with the reversing camera to help).

 

Mazda6 Challenges

Regular Car Showroom readers will know we rate the Mazda6 very highly. Our main criticism is the front seats which – having regard to its excellent driving dynamics could be a bit more sporty/supportive  

Mazda6 Verdict

In a market segment populated with some great cars, the Mazda6 goes toe-to-toe with any of them and on that basis alone you must include it on your shopping list. In fact when considering this segment, no matter whether your preference is cars from Europe or cars from Asia, if the Mazda6 isn’t in your ‘Top 3’…well you’re on the wrong page.

Wagon or sedan will be dictated by your personal requirements. Both look great and are comprehensively-equipped inside.




Diesel of petrol? Now that’s a tough one.

The Skyactiv-D 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is a gem and its 5.4l/100kms fuel consumption must be factored in. And the 138kW/250Nm of Mazda’s 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engine leaves many rivals lagging.

Best to test-drive both before deciding but here’s a tip which might surprise – for refinement and quiet operation it’s hard to pick between either.

Mazda6 The Competition

Toyota Camry is of course the only Aussie-made car in the mid-size segment and on the back of strong fleet business dominates sales by almost three-to-one over the Mazda6 (second-best seller). While the Camry doesn’t have a diesel option, there’s no doubting its value (starting from $30,490) and the current model’s looks are a vast improvement over previous generations. However there’s no denying the Camry isn’t in the ‘glamour’ league of the Mazda6.

Ford’s German-sourced Mondeo is a Car Showroom favourite, priced from $31,490. Diesel or petrol, the Mondeo excels at everything and comes armed with precision German quality and driving dynamics. An all-new Mondeo is due this year.

Honda Accord Euro bristles with Honda quality in every department and, priced from $30,340 is certainly good value. No diesel for the Accord and maybe just a tad short of the Mazda6 for interior space.

You should also look at the Hyundai i40 and Kia Optima although the latter doesn’t come with a diesel engine option.

Pros

Roomy cabin; big trunk; sporty handling.

Cons

Mediocre fuel economy; some cheap interior materials.