Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 Mazda3 e-Skyactiv X 186 Exclusive-Line Saloon
Price: £30,055 (as tested)
Engine: 2.0-litre mild-hybrid four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power: 186hp
Torque: 240Nm
Emissions: 118g/km
Economy: 54.3mpg
0-62mph: 8.1 seconds
Top speed: 134mph
Boot space: 450 litres
Styling
The latest-generation Mazda3 is a very attractive design – rumour has it Alfa Romeo had a hand in the styling – and the four-door version is even easier on the eye. There’s something about the squared-off rear end that fits even more perfectly with the sweep of the nose and the grille, and the whole impression is that of a well-sorted and cohesive design. It’s like a baby Mazda6, and that’s high praise indeed. In Mazda’s fabulous Soul Red, it’s particularly eye-catching, but the more traditional tones suit it well, too.
Interior
As with the rest of the car’s front end, the Mazda3 Saloon dashboard is more or less identical to that of the hatchback. Not that we’re complaining in any way, shape or form. Mazda is building some really smart interiors at present, and the Mazda3’s materials and design feel timeless, clean and classy.
We have plenty of time for the technology, too, although it isn’t what you’d call cutting edge. Everything you need – Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a reversing camera and satellite navigation – are all present and correct, but that’s basically your lot. There’s no hyper-clever digital instrument cluster and the central screen isn’t even touch-sensitive when you’re on the move. Admittedly, that’s a safety feature, but even so…
Combine all that with clean but largely uninspiring graphics and some monotone dashboard displays, and the tech geeks will probably lose interest quite quickly, but they’re missing the point. The Mazda3 isn’t supposed to be flashy, but competent, and it manages that perfectly. The screens are all easy to read, and the rotary controller on the centre console allows you to use the centre screen with less need to take your eyes off the road. It’s driver-centric, and it gives you everything you need, but nothing more. Even the climate control switchgear is real. We rather like it.
Practicality
On paper, the Mazda3 Saloon's 450-litre boot looks pretty capacious compared with the standard hatchback, but outright volume doesn't tell the whole story. The hatchback, you see, has a more useful boot shape, allowing you to carry more than just flat items such as suitcases, and though the Saloon's seats fold, the hatch will still be more helpful for trips to the recycling centre. That said, the Saloon gets a slightly longer body and a different roofline, which makes it more spacious for rear passengers, although tall adults still won't be in a hurry to call the rear cabin generous.
Performance
There was a time when the engine of choice in a Mazda3 was the 2.2-litre diesel, which was a brilliant option, but these days the family hatchback is petrol-only. In fact, in the case of the Saloon, there’s only one petrol engine on offer – the 2.0-litre e-Skyactiv X. Using clever ignition technology and a mild-hybrid system, the engine is offered with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, and it drives the front wheels alone.
With 186hp, it’s more than powerful enough, but some customers might miss the rapid uptake that would be there if the car were offered with a turbocharger. Instead, you get more linear power delivery, and more realistic real-world efficiency, but the 8.1-second sprint from 0-62mph isn’t all that impressive. Nevertheless, it’s quick enough, as is the 134mph top speed.
Perhaps more importantly, the manual version is capable of returning well over 50mpg on the official economy test, and it’ll do much the same on a long run in the real world. Obviously, if you push it hard, you probably won’t get that, but you should be able to average well over 40mpg without too much trouble.
Ride & Handling
The real appeal of any Mazda3 is the way it drives, and the Saloon is no exception. From the steering to the balance, it’s the best family hatch in the business in terms of handling, and it’s great fun on the right road. There’s plenty of feel, the six-speed manual gearbox is brilliant and the body roll is well controlled, all of which leaves you feeling immensely confident in the car’s capabilities.
Obviously, such prowess comes with drawbacks, and one of these is the ride. The Mazda3 isn’t disastrously uncomfortable – it’s fine – but it’s no better than that. There’s a touch of stiffness to the way it deals with bumps, and while that’s great for control, it isn’t ideal for your backside. Still, the seats are well cushioned and it’s hardly sending shockwaves through the whole car. On motorways in particular, it’s perfectly acceptable.
More irritating is the driver assistance technology. Sure, it’s mandated by law and its inclusion isn’t really Mazda’s fault, but the constant beeping every time you exceed whatever the car ‘thinks’ the speed limit might be gets wearing very quickly. Not least when the car is in the wrong.
Value
The cheapest Mazda3 Saloon comes in at just over £29,000, which is a mere £2,500 more than the equivalent hatchback. And because the cheapest trim level available for the Saloon is the normally mid-range Exclusive-Line, you get plenty of standard equipment. 18-inch alloy wheels, a Bose sound system and satellite navigation are all thrown in, along with two-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, heated seats and a reversing camera. However, if you have another £2,400 to spend, you can upgrade to the Takumi, which adds leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel, as well as a 360-degree manoeuvring camera.
Verdict
Like the Mazda3 hatchback, the saloon is one of the best handling family cars on the market right now. And though it doesn't quite have the flexibility of its sibling, it's a sleek-looking thing with a slightly premium air, even in relatively lowly trim levels. It's a great saloon for those who don't want something quite as big as a 3 Series or the now-defunct Mazda6, and while it will always be a niche player in the market, it's a very likeable thing.
