First test drive of the AWD 2019 Mazda3: darling sure

In January, Steven Ewing from Roadshow spent a day driving the all-new 2017 Mazda3 sunny southern California, and left feeling impressed. Driving is still enjoyable, but the new Mazda3 has significant improvements in onboard technology, not to mention comfort. All in all, it's a more complete car, but has not lost anything of Mazda's verve on the road.

But while the Ewing test has been relegated to the rank of the front-wheel drive car, much of the history of the 2019 Mazda3 lies in its new all-wheel drive. That's what brings me to Lake Tahoe, California, for this second take, to determine if the AWD system actually enhances the Mazda3's appeal.

All wheel drive, Mazda style

Most AWD systems are responsive, which means they do not send power to the wheels without traction until skidding is detected. The Mazda i-Activ system is a little different.

According to Dave Coleman, Vehicle Dynamics Manager at Mazda, i-Activ AWD monitors items such as steering inputs, G forces and vehicle speed to get a better idea of ​​the load applied to each tire. "It's a matter of determining where to send the torque based on which tire has the most grip available to use that torque," he said.

In other words, rather than waiting for a tire to slip before sending the pair, the Mazda system is a little more predictive. It automatically routes power to the most adherent wheels, can predict oversteer or understeer situations and mitigates these situations before the front or rear axles are overtaken. This methodology makes the Mazda3 safer in all situations.

It's easy to discover the virtues of the i-Activ AWD system on a snow-covered Mazda track near Lake Tahoe. Starting from a front-wheel drive car of a Mazda3 all-wheel-drive car, the difference is noticeable, even on all-season tires. Thanks to the increased power of the four wheels, I can move faster and with more confidence in the snow: the AWD car is much more willing to take turns, even in these slippery conditions.

A final race in an all-wheel-drive Mazda3 equipped with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires offers the best experience. Remember to always equip your car with rubber adapted to the season, whatever the driving configuration. With its all-wheel drive and its proper racquets, the Mazda3 s' attack to a snow-covered slalom course with full aplomb. If I lived in a place where I regularly saw snow, I would love to have this combination of fun driving ability.

All-wheel drive gives the Mazda3 2019 an extra layer of dynamic depth on dry roads. With 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque coming from a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4 engine, there's not a huge performance envelope to explore. But the AWD system allows you to better use this power when cornering. The Mazda3 is not a sports car, but it does not bother to be driven as such.

As Ewing explained during his first drive, the Mazda3 offers an excellent feeling of high-speed steering, with a well-tuned chassis that allows natural reflexes on the road. The all-wheel drive allows you to simply gain a little more speed in every corner, knowing that you benefit from the application of power at all four corners.

The addition of all-wheel drive comes with a small weight penalty – 200 kg on the sedan – but it's not something you'll really feel behind the wheel. However, it should be noted that the addition of AWD slightly reduces fuel economy. A Mazda3 front-drive sedan has an EPA rating of 27 miles per gallon city, a 36-mpg highway and a combined speed of 30 mpg. The addition of the AWD reduces these numbers to 35, 33 and 28, respectively. If you want the AWD sedan, you are considering an additional discount, which goes to 24 mpg in the city, 32 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined. Certainly not extremely detrimental, and remember, your mileage may vary.

Four doors or five

In addition to the all-wheel drive, my second test with the 2019 Mazda3 involved a chance to jump behind the wheel of the hatchback; Ewing could only test the sedan. As you would expect, cars drive in much the same way. The hatch weighs only 7 pounds more than the sedan.

I still can not understand the profile of the sedan, which looks like a squatting dog, but I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Of course, the hatchback offers a little more convenience. With its rear seats up, the Mazda3 offers 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which is better than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, but is lower than the Honda Civic Hatchback and the Volkswagen Golf. Mazda has not yet released a folded load number.

Otherwise, the Mazda3 is a well-appointed sedan, but narrow enough for rear passengers. At 5 feet, 10 inches tall and just 125 pounds, even I'm getting closer to the size limit of the rear seats of the Mazda3.

More to like

The cheapest way to get a Mazda3 AWD is to opt for the Select-trim sedan. At $ 24,000, not including $ 895 for the destination, it costs $ 1,400 more than a front-wheel drive sedan equipped the same way. The same goes for the Mazda3 hatchback, which starts at $ 25,000 with all-wheel drive, compared to $ 23,600 with front-wheel drive.

The addition of all wheel drive improves only the Mazda3 experience. If you live in the snow, all-wheel drive will help you cope with the worst winter conditions. And if you only buy a Mazda3 because you are attracted to its other assets, the all-wheel drive offers more confidence in cornering. In addition, apart from the Subaru Impreza, you can not use AWD on any other compact car. Let's be honest, the Mazda is much more aesthetic than the Subie, with more beautiful interior fittings.

This is not an option that all buyers will choose, but for those who do, the all-wheel drive only enhances the appeal of the new Mazda3.

Editor's note: Travel costs related to this feature have been paid for by the manufacturer. This is common in the automotive industry because it is much cheaper to send journalists to cars than to send them to reporters. While Roadshow accepts multi-day vehicle loans from manufacturers to provide rated editorial reviews, all rated vehicle reviews are completed on our territory and in accordance with our terms.

The opinions and opinions of the editorial team of Roadshow are ours and we do not accept paid editorial content.