More leaked materials have surfaced that detail the new and updated version of the third-generation Mazda3. It looks to be from the same brochure that we spied back in May, but this time the content is much more comprehensive.
The midlife refresh gives the Mazda3 a subtly altered exterior which include a reshaped and slightly shorter front grille, tweaked LED headlamps, as well as a logo that moves further up over the position of the pre-facelifted version.
Staying with the car’s front, the lower grille is now more pronounced and are flanked by a new pair of fog lamps. Aside from that, LED turn indicators are now built into strips along the door mirrors where previously they were on the mirror tips and the minor repositioning can be observed on the 3 hatch.
Overall, however, it almost seems as if Mazda went the extra mile to not allow anyone to doubt the fact that it is a 3 from a distance as we’ve come to know it.
It’s more of the familiar as we peek into the new 3’s interior, where the MZD Connect infotainment screen, single analogue tachometer grab your attention first. Look a little closer and you’ll spot a new steering wheel and the addition of an electronic parking brake. While it has its practical pros and cons, the lack of a proper lever frees up the area behind the gear shifter, which is now used for extra storage space.
We suspect that Mazda’s focus on the updated 3 was much less on visual alterations and more on a refinement of the strong combination the third-generation car started with. Improvements should be noticeable in the cabin’s solidity, feel, and the car’s refinement on the road.
Engine options detailed in the Japanese brochure reflect that of the current 3’s list of engines and transmissions and we suspect the engine’s in Mazda3’s available locally will be carried over when the facelifted version does arrive.
Of course, Mazda’s efficiency features such as idling stop-start and regenerative braking features make a return here. But the new 3 will also get Mazda’s newly-developed G-Vectoring Control to further improve handling and safety by providing quicker and more reliable vehicle response to steering input.
We’ll have to wait until Mazda to fully unveil the facelifted 3 to get a solid idea of what the newer car will have to fight against the Hyundai i30, Ford Focus, and Peugeot 308.
For more on the Mazda vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
