We first laid eyes on the new Mazda 3Â in October. Then at the end of November we saw more pictures. One day later, the Mazda 3Â was moving. Ah, but that was the sedan, inevitably the less desirable model.
Pictures of the 5-door Mazda 3Â arrived ten days ago. The styling ethos is evolutionary; nothing radical. It must be said, however, that the hatchback was better-looking in the first-generation 3’s model range while also being better equipped and more powerful as standard. Oh, and more expensive, too.
Now we see the Mazda 3Â 5-door in motion. Much of this 9-minute+ video is actually spent waiting for the Mazda hatchback to come into view. Then when it does, the 3Â is hardly moving. In other words, this is dull but worthwhile. Vehicles move. We might as well know what they look like when doing so.
As an aside, Car & Driver’s reporting on the Hyundai Elantra Touring – a very direct competitor for the Mazda 3Â 5-door – revealed strong opinions in favour of the Elantra. More than just a terrific value (very heavily contented under $20,000), the Elantra hatch/wagon shocked with its impressive interior. Read The Good Car Guy’s review of the Elantra sedan in this Driven post.
