Everything you need to know about the new Mazda3

Can you guess which country is the westernmost in continental Europe? I'll give you a hint: it occupies the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, borders Spain to the north and east, and is washed by the Atlantic to the south and west. The answer is obvious — it's Portugal, whose name comes from the city of Porto (Latin: Portus Cale — "warm port").

The exterior of the new Mazda3 has freshened up. Clearly defined wheel arches are a familiar technique seen on the sporty Mazda RX-8, the CX-7 crossover, and the compact Mazda2.

It was in this very country that the driving premiere of the new generation Mazda3 took place. I was looking forward to both Portugal and meeting the updated "matryoshka." The capital, Lisbon, greeted us with unusually hot weather — thermometers showed about thirty degrees in the shade. Everything promised a successful event and a good mood. And that's exactly how it turned out…

Compared to the previous version, the new "three" has become noticeably more expressive. The front bumper is combined with the radiator grille, which has a black predatory air intake mouth, and fog lights are installed on either side of it.

The first Mazda3 debuted in 2003 and, thanks to its memorable appearance and daring character, quickly became the best-selling model of the Japanese brand. Global sales have already exceeded two million units, with 460,000 of them in Europe. It's nice that in the European sales ranking, Russia leads in Mazda3 sales, ahead of Germany and the UK, and in our country, the sedan with a 1.6-liter engine is most often bought.

The rear lights of the sedan echo the older Mazda6 model.

The second generation Mazda3 has changed its design. Without losing its individuality, the "matryoshka" has become a mini-copy of the Mazda6. Compared to the previous version, the new model looks more stylish and expressive. The front bumper transitions into the grille, where a black air intake mouth with fog lights on the edges is displayed, and the slanting headlights extending onto the fenders also reference the "six." The fenders with sculpted wheel arches are a fresh Zoom-Zoom signature, familiar from the Mazda RX-8, CX-7, and Mazda2. Plus, the car has grown: the hatchback has lengthened by 45 mm, and the sedan by twice as much, although the wheelbase remains unchanged.

The main plus of the updated "matryoshka" is the interior. And it's not so much about the design as about the quality of assembly and trim materials. Perhaps no Japanese competitor can now compare with the Mazda3.

The concave side panels, high beltline, differently styled rear pillars, flat roof, and spoiler at the rear make the hatchback look energetic. The sedan looks calmer: the massive rear, spoiler on the trunk lid, and smooth roof line emphasize compactness and coupe-like styling, adding charm and sportiness. The Mazda3 also gained five new colors, among which the luxurious Olympic Gold Metallic stands out.

The car has grown: the hatchback's length increased by 45 mm, the sedan by twice as much, while the wheelbase remains unchanged.

For driving enthusiasts, Mazda offers a new Sports Appearance Package (SAP). It includes a lowered front bumper, black metallic grille, sporty fog lights, adaptive bi-xenon headlights with a swivel mechanism and boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (optional), LED rear lights, side sills, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The SAP trim may vary across different markets, so the Russian version is still in question.

Concave side panels, raised beltline, new design of rear pillars, flat roof, and spoiler give the new hatchback an energetic look.

The most pleasant thing in the new "matryoshka" is the interior. And here, it's not the design that matters more (with the previous version, it was fine), but the quality of execution and trim materials. Perhaps no Japanese rival can now compete with the Mazda3. The plastic in the cabin is almost everywhere soft and pleasant to the touch. The steering wheel is stylish, with convenient buttons for controlling audio and navigation, and fits perfectly in your hands. The instruments with two deep wells and red backlighting are perfectly readable at any time. The only inconvenience is the armrest, which is too far from the gear lever. Otherwise, the ergonomics of the new Mazda3 are top-notch. Although Mazda officials say they've lengthened the seat cushion and backrest, the cushion seemed a bit short, especially for tall drivers. However, the front seats have a good profile and good lateral support — you won't get tired on a long journey.

Deliveries of the new generation Mazda3 to Russia will start in August this year. Prices have not yet been announced; most likely, they will be announced at the Russian premiere of the "three," which should be expected closer to summer.

The manual gearbox lever has been lengthened and slightly tilted toward the driver — it's now more convenient to use. Under the stylish S-shaped visor of the front panel, there's a small color navigation screen and a monochrome display with information about radio stations and climate settings. Below on the center console is the audio system and climate control unit. There's more space in the back, but if tall passengers sit in front, then in the back, knees will press against the front seatbacks.

For European journalists, diesel "threes" were prepared with a new 2.2-liter MZR-CD diesel engine, which, depending on the version, produces 150 or 185 hp. But cars on heavy fuel will not be supplied to Russia.

Finally, the second generation Mazda3 has gotten rid of its main drawback — weak sound insulation. The cabin of the "matryoshka" has become noticeably quieter. Mazda representatives say the figure has improved by 11%, although by feel, the difference is many times greater. The doors close with a noble "Germanic thud," and the horn now sounds European.