Mazda 3 (2019 on)
2.0 Skyactiv-X 180 GT Sport Auto 5dr
Expected more
The car cuts an attractive figure, combining sleek styling with a spacious, well-appointed cabin. The specification is generous too, with highlights including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Heated Seats and a Heated Steering Wheel. However, the driving experience is where things begin to unravel. The ride is on the firm side, feeling unsettled and lacking confidence over bumps and road imperfections rather than absorbing them with any composure.
Several niggling issues compounded the frustration. An intermittent vibration from the rear was difficult to ignore, and the DAB radio signal dropped every time the rear window demister was activated — a peculiar and irritating fault. The Traffic Sign Recognition system also proved unreliable, struggling to correctly identify National Speed Limit signs after speed changes on the motorway, and occasionally abandoning the task altogether without warning.
Refinement is another area that falls short of expectations. The engine behaves itself at lower speeds but becomes noticeably coa***r as the revs rise, and wind noise intrudes into the cabin with increasing insistence at motorway speeds — hardly the hushed cruiser one might hope for. The six-speed automatic gearbox doesn't help matters either, feeling one ratio short of where it should be and leaving the engine spinning harder than necessary on longer journeys.
Fuel economy wise okay at 40mph but lot less than the official figures suggest.
Overall, while the car presents well on paper, the real-world experience reveals a number of shortcomings that are difficult to overlook.


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