KUALA LUMPUR: The all-new 2019 Mazda 3 – perhaps the most-anticipated car in the segment in 2019 - has made its official debut here in Malaysia.
Offered in three variants, the fourth-generation Mazda 3 is priced starting at RM139,770 all the way up to RM160,059 (on-the-road without insurance).
The base and the range-topping 2.0 High Plus variants are available in sedan and hatchback forms while the mid 2.0 High variant will only be available as sedan.
The base variant gets a 1.5-litre four-cylinder SkyActiv-G petrol engine under its hood, producing 118hp and 153Nm of torque.
The 2.0 High and 2.0 High Plus – as the names suggest – come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder SkyActiv-G petrol unit with 162hp and 213Nm of torque.
The engines now feature revised intake ports, split fuel injection and a coolant control valve for better performance and fuel efficiency.
The SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission is the sole transmission offered, regardless of the engine capacity, with drive sent to the front wheels.
As the other recent Mazda models, this all-new Mazda 3 receives the company’s latest Kodo design philosophy, which gives it a sharper and more dramatic styling than the previous Mazda 3.
With more prominent front grille and slimmer headlights, the exterior of the car is equipped with full LED headlights and tail lights as well as 18-inch alloy wheels (2.0 High Plus only).
Seven exterior colours available for the new Mazda 3, namely Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver, Snowflake White Pearl and Polymetal Gray (hatchback only).
Moving into the cabin, there’s leather upholstery and leather seats (2.0 High and 2.0 High Plus only), 8.8-inch infotainment system with Mazda Connect and a head-up display.
Unique to the 2.0 High Plus are 10-way powered driver’s seats, eight speakers and a comprehensive suite of Mazda i-Activsense safety and driver assistance system.
This includes Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control (HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC).
However, the usual safety features are standard across the range, which includes seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, emergency braking assist, hill launch assist, and dynamic stability control.