Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Mazda3 e-Skyactiv G 140PS Takumi
Price: Mazda3 from £25,030; Takumi from £30,230 (£31,080 as tested)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power: 140hp
Torque: 238Nm
Emissions: 135g/km
Economy: 47.9mpg
0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
Top speed: 128mph
Boot space: 330-1,022 litres
Styling
The Mazda3 has to be one of the best-looking family hatchbacks, and the arrival of the new engine does nothing to harm that image. The Mazda's smooth lines really make it stand out from the crowd, and though we reckon it looks best in saloon form, the hatchback still has a very nicely rounded backside. It's a look that's as classy as it is attractive, and there is a slight air of the executive car to the Mazda3, particularly in its four-door saloon body style.
Interior
Mazda's interiors have long been among their best features, and the current Mazda3 is no different. The materials are generally very smart, and the build quality is largely excellent. Given the 3's relatively modest price tag, it's a much more premium interior than you might expect, and it's ergonomically excellent.
Admittedly, the infotainment system doesn't look all that spectacular, and the digital instrument cluster isn't especially exciting, but don't let any of that put you off. This is the kind of car that doesn't have any circus tricks, but just does exactly what you want it to do in every situation. The screen is easy to navigate, and the rotary control on the centre console means it's less distracting than a conventional touchscreen. Similarly, the digital instrument display doesn't have many fripperies, but it's easy to read and that's all you need on the road.
Then there are the ergonomic wins, such as the button (remember those?) to mute the speed limit warning system and the switchgear for the climate control system. And while other manufacturers tell us the buttons are being eschewed in favour of minimalist design, the Mazda's cabin still manages to look great and work well at the same time. Funny, that.
Practicality
The slight catch with the Mazda3 is a slight lack of rear cabin space, which leaves the rear seats feeling a little bit cramped compared with some of its rivals. Legroom should be fine for all but the longest-legged passengers, though, and headroom isn't too bad either. Boot space isn't spectacular on paper, either, with 330 litres in the back of our test car. Admittedly, that's partly because the upmarket sound system robs a few litres, but it's mainly because the boot just isn't especially large. There's more space in a VW Golf, for example, and there's even more in a Honda Civic. However, it doesn't feel as cramped as the figures suggest when you're loading it up, and we suspect most customers won't notice the size deficit.
Performance
Strangely, the 2.5-litre engine tested here is the new base option in the Mazda3 range. That's because Mazda has chosen not to turbocharge its engines, seeking better real-world economy, so the big four-cylinder e-Skyactiv G engine only produces 140hp, which goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic, if you prefer.
Thanks to the lack of turbocharging, the e-Skyactiv G delivers its power in quite a linear way, so you have to work it hard to get the best performance from it, but it's still capable of getting you from 0-62mph in an adequate 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 128mph. But though those figures don't sound all that remarkable, the 2.5-litre engine feels as though it has more grunt than the numbers suggest. It doesn't feel like a base option.
But it is efficient. Officially, Mazda reckons it'll manage around 48mpg, and we managed that kind of economy on a long run without really trying. And though the automatic won't be quite as frugal, Mazda still reckons it'll do about 45mpg.
Ride & Handling
Happily, the improvements in the Mazda3's power delivery have made no difference to what has historically been the best thing about the hatchback: the way it drives. The steering is very precise, even if it isn't all that feelsome, and the response from the front wheels is spectacular. The Mazda3 handles beautifully, and the suspension does a cracking job of keeping the car level in the corners, which means you can have plenty of fun on a good country road.
Normally, the catch with such handling prowess would be a stiff ride, but the Mazda doesn't really make that compromise. Perhaps it isn't as comfortable as its most supple rivals, but it's easily a match for a Ford Focus or a Volkswagen Golf. Yes, the bumps will make their presence felt around town, but the Mazda settles nicely on the motorway to become a refined and relaxing cruiser, especially with that new, meatier engine.
Value
With prices starting at just over £25,000, the Mazda3 is competitively priced, but the basic Prime-Line models feel quite Spartan. Yes, it gets 16-inch alloy wheels and satellite navigation, as well as a head-up display, but it only gets manual air conditioning and it feels a bit mean. But upgrading to the Centre-Line only costs an extra £1,100 and it pays for heated front seats, parking sensors at the front and rear, and keyless entry, as well as wireless phone charging and a reversing camera. All for less than a completely basic Golf.
Even the range-topping Takumi model tested here, with its 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery and heated steering wheel, still costs a smidge over £30,000, and that's only about £1,000 more than the aforementioned basic Golf. In terms of value, that still makes the nicely made Mazda remarkable despite the stinginess of its base specification.
Verdict
We aren't sure the word 'underrated' applies to the Mazda3, but we do know it's one of our favourite family hatchbacks, and the new engine does nothing to harm that reputation. In fact, in the case of the Mazda3, it would actually be our preferred option, with a meatier feel than the old 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G. Yes, the clever Skyactiv-X will get all the headlines, but the Skyactiv-G feels like all the engine most will ever need, in all the car most will ever need. It's a great combination.
