Mazda 3 (2019): with four-wheel drive and compression ignition

27/11/2018
Gregor Hebermehl

The exterior of the new Mazda 3 is smoothed in the style of the era, on lines of concise characters giving up the Japanese. The curved surfaces are designed to reflect the environment in different ways and ensure a harmonious appearance. Thus, the Mazda 3 remained very close to the Kai Concept study, which was to be seen for the first time in October 2017 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The compact car will give it both a five-door sedan and a four-door sedan. Both body styles feature radically different designs: the five-door looks sharp, the sedan is thinner and thinner.

Inside, the buttons have disappeared and the visibility towards the front has been improved by optimizing the shape of the A-pillar. For better visibility in rainy weather, the wipers now work on a larger scale. surface, the wiper nozzles rest on the wipers and the wipers disappear when they are not used under the hood. The wheelbase of 2.71 meters provides enough space for the legs to the front and rear. Mazda notes that the steering wheel adjustment range has been extended to a depth of two to seven centimeters. Adjusting the driver's seat tilt is now part of the standard and, for the five-door, a dark red leather interior is for the first time.

More orderly and improved ergonomics

For better ergonomics, there is now an extended center armrest, a forward-shifting rotary push-button and a selector lever for speed or shift forward or upward. The fonts on the various screens, including the optional head-up display, have been standardized. The head-up display is no longer an economical version with a plastic disc tilted upwards; important information for driving is projected directly into the windshield. Moreover, this now full-fledged display is part of the norm. The central infotainment screen is not too thick by 8.8 inches. For even more safety, the first model of the Japanese Mazda 3 is a standard driver knee airbag. Another novelty, the side airbags are triggered in two stages. Pedestrian protection needs to be improved by a redesigned bumper and hood with an energy-absorbing internal structure. The infotainment system now includes an instruction manual application. If a digital warning appears on the screen, it is first indicated the importance of the warning. On the other hand, there is a link to the digital user manual, which explains the problem and proposes solutions.

To reduce the sound level, the Mazda 3 is the brand's first model on a double-walled structure that leaves space between the body and the carpet. In addition, there is a new fiber material for the mats, reduced openings in the vehicle floor and improved roof pavilion. Mazda has also redesigned the audio system: the bbad speakers are now installed in the corners, the sounds of medium and tweeter emitted by the triangles of the windows and the upper doors. The standard system includes eight loudspeakers, the Bose premium system consists of twelve loudspeakers.

For the first time in AWD

The new Mazda 3 should be stiffer than its predecessor. To this end, the share of high strength steels in the body structure has increased from three to 30% and the front and rear are connected by additional struts. McPherson's legs work at the front, while a newly developed torsion beam system supports wheel guidance. There is also for the first time a four-wheel drive vehicle. This distributes the torque as needed between the front and rear axles. The steering behavior is improved by ESP controlled braking interventions on the respective inner wheels. Compared to the four-wheel-drive systems of other Mazda models, friction losses should also have been reduced by 60%.

New magicians

Among the badistants who make driving safer and easier, the Mazda 3 now launches a warning of fatigue and attention. This radiates the driver's face via LEDs with infrared light and simultaneously observes with an infrared camera. In the background, a computer evaluates parameters such as the angle of the mouth and the face, the opening of the eyelids, the frequency of blinks, the direction of vision and the movements of the eyes. eyes. If the system detects drowsiness, it warns the driver with an acoustic signal and may cause active braking. In addition, there is now a cross-traffic warning for the front and an adaptive distance with lane keeping function. Even if the driver is distracted for too long, for example because he's looking at his smartphone, the system warns him.

For the first time with gasoline compression ignition

In the Mazda 3, the customer can choose between three engine options: a Skyactive G-gasoline engine with two liters of displacement and 120 to 130 hp, a Skyactive D-diesel engine of 1.8 liters and 115 to 120 hp and the new Skyactive-X. -Benziner with also two liters of displacement and 180 to 190 hp (the homologation is still in progress). The Skyactive G engine has been completely redesigned: a new form of intake ports and pistons, a separate injection and a new coolant control valve to increase efficiency. Spectacular but is the first used in a production vehicle gasoline engine with compression ignition. The gasoline engine works to a large extent as a diesel with compression compression. Although this does not provide monstrous performance data, but should provide significant savings in consumption, the thirst should be comparable to that of the diesel engine. Both gasoline engines are coupled as standard with increased efficiency of the mild 24-volt hybrid system.

launch

The new Mazda 3 will be available in Germany from March 2019, the version with the new Skyactive X engine will be available in June 2019 on the market. Prices that Mazda has not announced yet. Since the 1.5 liter base engine represents 100 horsepower, the starting price should be higher than before (18,190 euros).

conclusion

The new Mazda 3 is visible outside and inside a single distribution. As for the badistants, it is up to date, without being noticed. For the head-up display, now authentic and standard, Mazda however deserves praise. The new four-wheel-drive option and the gas-ignition Skyactive X engine, with which Mazda once again moves away from the crowd in terms of fuel economy, have always won over the Japanese.