Mazda3: Hard to Combine Beauty and Great Performance?

It would have been quite undoubtedly interesting if there ever was a car version of a Ms. Universe pageant.

Imagine all those flaunting specks of white thighs in place of er, slim, and singularly-chiseled quad pipes. (hah! You wish) 

But of course, such a thing would never happen. It's just one of those run-away goosebumps of fertile-wild imaginings of sorts, we guess.

However, the closest thing that ever was to resemble a kind of "car pageant" (we could think of) would be that so-called annual event, the World Car Awards, a car contest that was launched in January of 2004 wherein the very first known car exhibition ever held was showcased in New York's Madison Square Garden as far back as the early 1900s.

The World Car Awards, by the way, was a highly-anticipated event in which a panel of 82 prestigious automotive journalists from 24 countries gets to decide whose car gets the best of both worlds across categories namely: World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car, World Car Design of the Year, World Luxury Car, and World Urban Car.

And as luck would have it, the Mazda3 had bagged the award for the 2020 World Car Design of the Year, much to the delight of its parent company, Mazda. (with prideful flapping wing-ears no doubt hah-hah)

And the well-kept secret to Mazda3's beautifully sculpted lines hinges on a Kodo design philosophy that predates back thousand of years.

Now, do we even need to tell you more about why this beautiful car won that prestigious award in four consecutive seasons?

But of course, it would take another article to write about what significant events had truly transpired during the awarding of the previous winners in the 2020 car awards ceremony.

However, much as we'd love to, we are not going to discuss that yet instead, we jump right into discussing the other good qualities of this “master class” car whose “soulful motions” reflect the classic essence of nature itself.

EXTERIOR

Strictly adhering to the Kodo-design philosophy, Mazda3 shimmers with a blinding symmetry of grace and power as an element of “Utsuroi”(reflection) may be glimpsed, per se, in the well-polished body surfaces of the car but most particularly beneath the shoulder line creases, which reflect the surrounding-shadowy-scapes in a distinctive ‘S' shape that changes into somewhat ethereal patterns as the car drifts along a pavement. Kind of like a well-forged Samurai blade taken out to the light, truly spell-binding. (indeed)

INTERIOR 

The Mazda3 sedan does not only possess sophisticated looks but the car also glowers inside with a fanfare of amenities fit for a king like well-cushioned seats, which by the way, sits five people in true comfort and style.

Ample headroom and legroom compliment the black-tinged atmosphere of the cabin. (more like a bat-mobile and that's saying a lot hah-hah) but the gloomy pleasure eases down a bit when you consider that top-specced trims feature a head-up display, heated front seats, and finely-upholstered leather but lest we forget that spacious trunk that can accommodate 5 to 6 luggage. (savvy

SAFETY FEATURES

This compact sedan never misses out on keeping you safe as it features seven airbags while great traction and stability controls provide for a smoother ride.

And that 360-degree camera does keep an eye on would-be intruders too (just in case) while front and back parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, and cruise control contributes to safer and flawless maneuverability of the car.

However, to date, Mazda3 was not been officially rated yet by the ASEAN NCAP committee but its European cousins (hatchback) do ply scot-free along international borders because of a 5-star rating approved by the board of commission at EURO NCAP.

INFOTAINMENT SPECS

Though a mite drab because of a standard non-touchscreen 8.8-inch infotainment display navigable only with an audio console-mounted rotary knob conveniently placed at the steering wheel while G-Vectoring Control (GVC), puts a smile on one's face as it's a nifty breakthrough in driving dynamics that helps improve the steering performance of every Mazda3 cars by automatically reducing engine output to balance the shifting G-forces during in either deceleration or acceleration. The result is a much safer and hassle-free comfortable ride. 

However, both the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can only be found in high-tiered trims while the available fancy 12-speaker Bose audio system and SiriusXM satellite radio would require you to shell out a few er, measly bucks. (swell, didn't see that one comin')

ENGINE/CHASSIS CONFIGURATION

The Mazda3 would never remain cooped up at the hen-garage for so long as it's ready to itch and scratch with either a Skyactiv-G 1.5 F-P5 or one Skyactiv G 2.0 PE-VPS mill.

The 1.5-liter kind kicks in 109 hp and 146 Nm of torque while the 2.0-liter spurts power at 152 hp and 200 Nm as both mill options are chained to a 6-speed automatic gearbox however, a manual version for this compact sedan is a no-show in the Philippine market scene while the Mazda3's chassis is virtually welded on the principle of Mazda's Sky Activ Vehicle Architecture, an intriguing car protocol wherein the car's chassis allegedly conforms to the human body's naturally fluid movements/motions, hence, for optimal control and better driving dynamics while a McPherson strut suspension governs the front wheels and a torsion beam axle dominates the rear as both wheels are capped with the standard disc brakes. 

PRICE

The Mazda3 is offered in six variants on the local car market, however, for a more detailed listing of each of the variant's price tag you can check out the Philippine Mazda3's current price lists down below. (also shown with corresponding models)

Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv Sport AT

₱1,495,000

Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv Sport AT Machine Gray

₱1,511,800 

Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv Sport AT Soul Red Crystal

₱1,517,400

Mazda 3 2.0 e-SkyActiv M Hybrid AT

₱1,695,00

Mazda 3 2.0 e-SkyActiv M Hybrid AT Machine Gray

₱1,711,800

Mazda 3 2.0 e-SkyActiv M Hybrid AT Soul Red Crystal

₱1,717,400 

CONCLUSION

Naturally, a car as beautiful as the Mazda3 also comes with a great price which further reminds us of that great Spider-Man movie line, .. with great power comes great, er, money? (hah-hah, you get the picture) 

But seriously though, beauty as they say, only ever gets to be so skin deep for a while we guess, but did you know that there's a brand of car today that must have been duly awarded a distinctive title, as in the “most beautiful car of 2022?” you betcha.

According to Media.Stellantis.com, the DS 4, a European sub-compact executive car, (brainchild of the design team, DS Design Studio Paris) was crowned as the “Most Beautiful Car of 2022” at the 37th Festival Automobile International car show held in France. 

And judging by the looks of it, heck, this car (DS4) does pretty much wrap things up as it looks like one mean-gorgeous piece of machinery no doubt but we do have a question for it though, does it sway like a soothing caress from a gentle wind as exemplified by the Kodo-inspired umn, Mazda3?