Khulekani On Wheels
    • Car Reviews
    • Car News
    • Electric
    • Videos
    • Travel
    • About
    • Contact

    Mazda ups the game with new Mazda3 1.5L Individual Automatic

    By khulekani / on March 24th, 2020 / in Car Reviews, featured

    Mazda ups the game with new Mazda3 1.5L Individual Automatic

    By khulekani / on March 24th, 2020 / in Car Reviews, featured

    By Amanda Mfuphi

    Recently we had the opportunity of spending time with the Mazda3 1.5L Individual Automatic. This presented us with the opportunity to take it to the KwaZulu-Natal for a road trip. The Mazda3 is in its seventh generation and although Mazda has generally kept its Mazda3 formula, the new Mazda3 distinguishes itself as a classier and more premium package.

    Exterior looks

    The new Mazda3 is quite a looker and attracts a lot of attention. Mazda has infused the new Mazda3 with its Kodo Soul Motion design language which offers a combination of graceful and energetic lines. On approach, the new Mazda3 looks like a cheetah that is ready to pounce on its prey. This look is created by the large front black gloss grille with the large silver Mazda insignia. Our Mazda3 Individual derivative came standard with LED headlamps incorporating a daytime running function and 18-inch grey metallic alloy wheels. At the rear, the Mazda3 comes with a wide rear bumper, double exhaust and rear spoiler. Overall, the exterior of the new Mazda3 makes a bold statement about how premium the Mazda3 has become and certainly makes the car easy to look at.

    Interior

    Stepping inside, the Mazda3 looks and feels premium and is quite spacious. Our test Mazda3 came with the optional burgundy red leather seats and dash trims, which added to the upscale feel of the Mazda3. The seats were also comfortable and provided sufficient padding and comfort throughout our journey to Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal. The Mazda3 comes standard with smart advanced keyless entry, cruise control and auto-rain sensors. For space, the load bay of the Mazda3 is 295 litres with the rear seats up but increases to approximately 1333 litres when the rear seats are folded.

    On the infotainment front, our test Mazda3 Individual had the MZD Connect System, which comes with the 8.8-inch Display Screen, Commander Dial, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 2 USB connectivity ports and Bluetooth connectivity. To round up the entertainment offering, the Mazda3 Individual range is fitted with the (optional) 12 speaker BOSE sound system with a subwoofer with made our trip to Vryheid extra enjoyable.

    In terms of safety, the Mazda3 comes standard with 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, dynamic stability control and hill launch assist. The Astina derivative adds features such as adaptive LED headlights, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

    Power and drive

    The Mazda3 Individual Automatic is powered by a 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine which pushes out 88 kW of power and 153 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission gearbox. We found the acceleration to be not punchy at take-off but rather gradual or progressive as the engine works up the momentum. The 1.5L engine requires patience and does not need you to rush it. However, the sport mode function does aid the response, but this is not a long-term solution as the fuel consumption goes up. We found the drive of the Mazda3 to offer great levels of comfort, but the overall experience was let down by the naturally aspirated 1.5 litre engine which felt to be quite not up to task as it ran out of steam and sounded noisy as it laboured away. Lacking in power and having to overcompensate for this by shifting to lower gears often, we found the car to be a bit thirsty averaging 9.8L/100km on the national highway for our trip to KwaZulu-Natal. We think it may be time for Mazda to consider introducing a smaller turbo engine to improve the driving experience and fuel efficiency.

    Taken as a whole, aside from the engine, we were impressed with the new Mazda3 with our standout features being the exterior design and cabin space, and quality. We definitely think the new Mazda3 should be counted amongst the premium offerings in its segment.   

    Pricing

    The Mazda3 retails from R359,900.00 and comes with a 3-year/unlimited km warranty, 3-year/unlimited km service plan, 5-year corrosion warranty and 3 years’ roadside assistance.

    Categories: Car Reviews, featured  /  Tags: Mazda, Mazda3 1.5L Individual Automatic, New Mazda3 Mazda3 Review
  • Comment

  • 2 Comments

    1. Lehlohonolo · 4th July 2020 at 8:09 am · Reply

      How will this compare to Polo 1.0 TSI
      I noticed that you weren’t quite happy with engine. You recommend that they introduce a smaller engine with turbo to compensate power. So would you say I keep my polo as I wanted to trade it in for a new Mazda 3.

      1. khulekani · 29th July 2020 at 5:20 pm · Reply

        It would keep up okay with the Polo but the big body would make you feel like you have less power on it than the Polo. If you are not looking for power, this would be a nice upgrade but if you want similar feel of power, better off considering the Golf or the Corolla Hatch. If it has to be the Mazda, then the 2.0 litre is the one to have.


    Leave a comment Cancel

    Show 2 comments
  • Comment

  • Next articleBold, sexy and efficient Mercedes Benz CLS 400d 4Matic driven

    By Amanda Mfuphi The Mercedes Benz CLS is currently in its third generation and there a...

  • Previous articleDriven: Quirky Citroen C3 1.2T Shine

    By Sala Masindane Having returned to our shores recently, Citroen has attempted to chan...

  • More & Related Articles

    4 734 Suzuki models found new homes in July

    By Otsile Kadiege In recent months, Suzuki Auto South Africa has been on a sales record-breaking streak as the automaker aims to achieve 5 000 unit sales in a...

    Ford confirms next generation Focus ST

    By Staff Reporter After a long wait, Ford has finally revealed its new Focus ST aimed to dethrone the Volkswagen Golf GTI and other hatches in the same...

    Alfa Romeo unleashes special edition Stelvio and Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport

    By Otsile Kadiege Alfa Romeo unveiled a special edition called “Super Sport” for the Stelvio and Giulia Quadrifoglio models. The special series will be available in limited numbers...

    Audi South Africa unleashes updated Q8 range

    By Otsile Kadiege Back in September 2023, Audi took the veils off their updated Q8 range which received subtle yet noticeable design tweaks, new exterior colours, new wheel designs,...

    New Porsche Macan Touring revealed

    By Otsile Kadiege Porsche revealed a new derivative to their Macan range – the all-new Macan T. It bears the ‘Touring’ nameplate of the legendary Porsche 911 T...

    Hotly anticipated Toyota GR Corolla breaks cover

    By Otsile Kadiege Most of us asked for it and now it’s officially unveiled. After a lengthy online teaser campaign, Toyota has added yet another full-blown Gazoo Racing...

    Second-gen Isuzu D-Max Arctic AT35 unveiled at 2023 NAMPO

    By Otsile Kadiege Isuzu’s second-generation D-Max Arctic AT35 is on display at this year’s  NAMPO event. Like its predecessor, the newcomer was designed in collaboration with Arctic Trucks...

    Mitsubishi updates Pajero Sport with design, tech and safety enhancements

    By Malusi Msomi Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has introduced an updated version of the Pajero Sport, incorporating a refreshed design, improved interior technology, and new safety features. These...

    COVID-19

    STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE CURRENT CORONAVIRUS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND VISIT THE OFFICIAL COVID-19 WEBSITE: WWW.SACORONAVIRUS.CO.ZA


    © 2025 Khulekani On Wheels - Managed by Tech Matters