The all-new Mazda 3 has yet to be officially
launched in Malaysia, but the fourth-generation model is already on display at
the Bermaz showroom in Glenmarie. This C-segment
car comes fully imported (CBU) from Japan, and will be offered in three
variants.
The base variant is available as a hatchback or
sedan, and the latter is what’s being shown here. Under the bonnet, there’s a
SkyActiv-G 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that
develops 118 hp at 6,000 rpm and 153 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, with power
going to the front wheels via a SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic
transmission. Pricing for this variant starts from RM 139,770 on-the-road
without insurance.
Equipment-wise, the base variant comes with automatic
LED projector headlamps with bulb-type daytime running lights, LED taillights,
16-inch alloy wheels, single-zone manual air-conditioning, a seven-inch TFT-LCD
digital instrument cluster display, an 8.8-inch central display linked to a
Mazda Connect infotainment system with eight speakers, fabric upholstery,
windscreen-projected head-up display, a soft-touch dash and door cards, plus
manually operated front seats. As for driving-related features, passive cruise control is also
included, along with an automatic brake hold function tied to the electronic
parking brake. There’s also a Sport mode switch that increases the throttle
response while adjusting the shift points of the transmission.
Unfortunately, the middle 2.0 High variant –
available only as a sedan – was not seen on location, but we know it retails
from RM150,059. As the variant name suggests, this one gets a 2.0 litre version
of the SkyActiv-G, which serves up 163 hp at 6,000 rpm and 213 Nm of torque at
4,000 rpm, also with an auto gearbox. The 2.0 High improves upon the base
variant by adding on keyless entry, leather upholstery, a sunroof, frameless
rearview mirror and dual-zone climate control. Unlike the base variant, there’s
rear air-con vents present here as well.
We also got to see the range-topping 2.0 High Plus,
which is priced from RM160,059, in hatchback guise, but the variant is also
available as a sedan. This particular unit is finished in Polymetal Grey, which
is a colour that is unique to the hatchback, and rides on larger 18-inch wheels
compared to the 16-inch units on the base and 2.0 High. The kit list for the 2.0 High
Plus further adds to what the 2.0 High already comes with by including LED
projector headlamps with a ring-shaped LED DRL signature (also on the
taillights) for greater visual presence. Other improvements include a 10-way powered
driver seat with two-setting memory function.
You’ll also get four front parking sensors, along
with a full complement of Mazda i-Activsense safety and driver assistance
systems. These include Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control
(HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane
Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver
Attention Alert (DAA), Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) and Mazda Radar Cruise
Control (MRCC), the last item being the first time Bermaz has offered the
driver assistance feature on a Mazda model.
In terms of safety kit, all variants come with
traction control, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force
distribution (EBA), emergency brake assist (EBA), hill launch assist (HLA),
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and seven airbags (front, side, curtain and a
new addition being for the driver’s knee).
