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5 reasons why the Mazda3 is one of the best cars out there today

Substance with style, here are just some of the reasons to buy a Mazda3.

Earl Lee
Mazda3 Exterior Front Quarter

The new Mazda3 is a remarkable vehicle. It’s not just a good-looking car, but it is one of the best driving compacts out in the market. It also has one of the most refined cabins of its class to boot. It starts at P1,295,000 and tops out at P1,590,000, a price range that should be a relative bargain considering the build quality and design. 

It’s no secret that we’re fans of Mazda’s compact offering. It offers tech, safety, some reasonable grunt, and very attractive styling enough to swoon even seasoned car reviewers. There is much to love, but let’s organize our thoughts and give you 5 of the best features that can be found on the Mazda3 in no particular order. 

Exquisite exterior look and body style options

Mazda3 Sedan Front Quarter Exterior

Some people love sedans, some love hatchbacks, and what’s good about the Mazda3 in the Philippines is the fact that you can choose between either of the two. You’re not limited to choosing a sedan in this country, and more options for consumers can only be a good thing. 

Let’s face it, some of the lines of the Mazda3 Sportback may raise a few eyebrows. It’s an acquired taste and something that not everyone would fancy – but what an acquired taste it is. In the right lighting, in the right color, with the right angle, it’s a gorgeous machine, but the sedan has all of that and still retains mass appeal. It’s a safe bet if you want a car that just looks the part from any angle. 

Related: How Mazda3’s Polymetal Gray changed the way I look at this boring color
Mazda3 Interior Dashboard and Steering Wheel

Mazda is trying to brand themselves as a premium automaker, and we respond with, it’s possible. If you have ever stepped into a Mazda automobile, you would know that the fit and finish of the interior is above what its price point suggests. Sure, it should be a given that any manufacturer worth their salt should be able to make an interior that’s devoid of rattles, but Mazda does this and more via the use of premium materials, amazing build quality, and a design that oozes so much style. 

All of this refinement can be had for a price that is not as high as other offerings in the premium category of cars. You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to experience the look and feel of a high-quality cabin anymore. Mazda’s got you covered. 

Mazda3 8.8-inch infotainment system

This feature is unexpected in the compact segment. This type of camera-coverage is usually found in bigger vehicles like midsize pickups or midsize SUVs/Crossovers. Even though you can get used to the dimensions of the Mazda3 pretty quickly, it helps to have several cameras that give you a bird’s eye view whenever you find yourself in a tight spot. Even better, the cameras engage automatically whenever the sensors sense an obstacle nearby – a bit of a trip but logical, nonetheless.

Mazda3 exterior adaptive headlights

It’s not that much of a gimmick until you find yourself on a poorly lit backroad. At night, you want to be one with your car. Having your headlights turn with steering wheel inputs is an underrated feature because it helps you keep your trajectory when you’re on the road – apart from obviously illuminating what’s ahead of you. Not only that, but it’s also speed-sensitive and has a processor behind it that calculates just how much the lights should bend with the corner. 

It’s a feature that’s also borrowed from high-end cars. It’s nice to see that the technology has finally trickled down into Mazda’s territory, even if it is only available on the high-end models. 

Mazda3 SkyActiv-G 2.0 L engine

We’ve lauded Mazda’s engines in the past, and we shall do so again. There is a good powerband throughout the rev range, and the response is immediate because you don’t have to wait for a turbo to kick in, or a CVT to adjust to your throttle input. Mazda is one of the only manufacturers in the industry to holdout on the move to DCTs and CVTs, all for that traditional feel. 

Even with the engine being a “big displacement” for the class, and the traditional transmission, fuel economy figures are still stellar, even when going full throttle often. Expect about 7 kilometers per liter crawling in city traffic, about 16 km/L on faster-paced drives at 60 km/h and about 22 km/L on the highway with 1-2 occupants in the car as per our 4.4 out of 5 ratings in our full reviews of the Mazda3 Sportback and Sedan models. 

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