Butch Ranger

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Two body styles are offered from the start,
again in four-door sedan and five-door hatch
guises, which are 90mm and 45mm longer
than the respective previous models.
Apart from the nose, which loses the grille
but gains an oversized air intake shaped
like those found on other recent Mazdas,
the stylistic form virtually mirrors the old
car. Words like “evolve” and “faithful to the
previous Mazda3” abound in the press blurb.
Mazda says better aerodynamics help
quell noise, vibration and harshness issues,
while increased suspension rigidity, better
placement of vibration-dampening material
and beefed-up body and panel rigidity also
make the small car quieter.
Improved interior quality was another
Mazda goal and this manifests itself in the use
of soft-grained materials on high-visibility
areas such as the top of the dashboard, while
the cabin’s join lines are also slimmer.
A much more efficient air-conditioner is
now fitted, which is good news for Australian
buyers. The heat exchanger is 20 per cent
larger while the air compressor expands by
50 per cent.
Driver comfort levels also rise thanks to
a relocated gearshift, redesigned switches,
buttons and other controls, a larger (4.1-inch)
information display and new technology like
hands-free Bluetooth and MP3 capability.
Mazda has also standardised newly
available satellite navigation in the up-spec
Maxx Sport and SP25, meaning that more
than 50 per cent of cars sold will feature
GPS.
A revised 2.0-litre twin-cam four-cylinder
engine with 108kW of power and 182Nm of
torque powers all petrol Mazda3s, bar the
sports models.
A six-speed manual replaces the old fivespeed,
while four gives way to five speeds
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