Owner Review: The Subtle Premium Artpiece from Hiroshima, My story of 2019 Mazda 3 BP liftback

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Basic information of my car:

(2019) 1.5 Mazda 3 (BP) Liftback

Reasons why I bought this car

I bought the Mazda3 to replace my 2016 Honda Accord VTi-L because I want a car that would better suit my lifestyle. I do mostly city driving and the Accord can sometimes be very cumbersome especially when navigating through cramped alleyways and squeezing through tight spaces where cars are double parked on both sides of the road. I needed something that can facilitate my life rather than agitate it.

Car Selection Process

I had a budget of 150,000.00

Models that I’ve considered included to Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 3008, 2018 BMW 1-series (F20), 2018 Lexus IS 250T.

Reasons why I chose this car

My main issue with the Accord is of its sheer size and while that is excellent for doing what it does best, I just needed to downgrade and so I shopped around the C-segment market but the problem is, that will inevitably resulted in a downgrade in terms of interior quality which is something I cannot compromise. Save for the Peugeot and the Lexus, none of my other options tickled my fancy but I wasn't looking for a SUV/Crossover or a used car.

Naturally, I diverted my attention to the prodigal Japanese manufacturer, Mazda. I have always like the CX-3 but never seriously considered it because it is relatively expensive for its kind and I held from a family that has only ever bought Hondas and Toyotas.

I never knew then that Mazda already had a new Mazda3 and that it looked so sensual. I was immediately hooked on its alluring looks the first time I saw it behind the display window and at that very moment I opened the door and sat into the driver’s seat, I was sold. It had everything that I was looking for and checked all the criteria boxes in my list. It was in the right segment, the interior quality is comparable (upgrade even) to my Accord and it has Apple CarPlay!

My only problem now is getting the specifications that I want because stocks are extremely limited.

I was torn between rationality and passion, divided between the Sedan or the Liftback but eventually, my desires prevailed. As though fate dictates, there was only one Liftback in Polymetal Gray left in the inventory and my sales assistant instantly snatched it up for me. Placed the booking, got my loan approved within a week and accepted delivery of the car the following week.

User experience

• I have already done 12500km.
• My average fuel consumption is 0.083L/km

Initially, I had some issues settling into the Mazda3 – constantly battling to find that sweet spot driving position and after a few weeks of adjusting everything in the car, I fitted right into it and everything was perfect since. I like all the little details that the Mazda engineers put into the car, how the digital meter cluster mimics almost exactly how the way the analogue gauges behave. They even projected the inner silver rings that are on the analogue dials and then making it disappear when the surrounding gets dark. I also like the seats they used in the Mazda3, it is sufficiently bolstered and cushioned and I love the texture of the fabric that they used for the seats. Every single thing about the Mazda3 seems to be all well thought out. The cabin is relatively well insulated with the right amount of outside noise isolated and only letting in the low revolving grunt note the engine makes when revved, coupled with the eagerness of the gearbox that shifts down intuitively makes the car very engaging to drive and it constantly incites me to drive it in a spirited manner. The car is not fast by any means but the combination of all these sensations makes the car very exciting to drive. Most of the cars that I have driven can drive very fast in a straight line but very few can do what the Mazda3 can in corners. It is so composed that you feel like you can go even faster and not worrying about crashing into something. It is so tidy that it inspires confidence. Driving for me no longer becomes a chore and I actually am looking forward to every drive with my Mazda3. I like music and while Malaysians do not get the premium BOSE sound system on any specifications of the Mazda3, the standard eight (8) system speakers set up is no less, formidable – delivering clean and crisp mid tones and no audible breaking on the treble and no drown out bass. It is an exceptional treat to the ear especially when driving through a quiet road when night falls.

Pros of my car:

• I basically have a worry free ownership for at least six (6) years because my Mazda3 comes with free schedule maintenance and warranty for that duration and because it only has a 1.5 litre engine, my yearly roadtax renewal fee is only RM90.00 as opposed to the RM400.00 plus previously for my 2.0 litre Accord.
• Now onto the intangibles, having owned the car for almost two (2) years already but I still find myself looking back at my car after I have parked it and grinned, virtually patting myself on the back. This is when I know that I have made the right choice.

Cons of my car:

• My Mazda3 isn't perfect though. For starters, its stiff suspension set up with its rear torsion beam suspension means you feel almost all the imperfections and undulations of the road as they all gets transferred into my spine but it only becomes unbearable if the road is really in a dilapidated condition. Thankfully, the variant I have has 16" factory fitted tires so the thicker side wall tires help cushioned off some of those unpleasantries.
• Mazda Malaysia only offers two (2) trims for the Mazda 3 Liftback; Mid-spec and High Plus-spec. Only the High Plus-spec gets all the bells and whistles including its active driver's assistance and unfortunately, Mazda Malaysia neither offer its clients an option of fabric seats on the High Plus-spec nor entitle them an option to customize. I have always preferred fabric seats over leather ones but the whole Mazda Malaysia situation does not give me a choice but to settle for the Mid-spec.

• With the Mid-spec, I am also forced to forgo having Mazda's signature illumination headlights and rear lights so I am stuck with a pair of old school halogen bulbs as DRLs on the front and to only have the plebian rendition of the Ferrari GTB inspired rear lights that has been the icon of the Mazda3.
• My biggest contention until today remains why Mazda Malaysia cannot (or do not want) to equip the Mid-spec (or even the High-spec for the Sedan) with both front and/or rear parking sensors. There is a very useful high definition reverse camera as standard equipment but at its price point, parking sensors should also already be a standard equipment. Even a Perodua Axia has it!
• While the paintwork is a joy to reveled in but I do find it ever so slightly thinner than what the other Japanese car manufacturers have, the smallest of stones/debris that got kicked up from the car in front will immediately chip off some of the paintwork. I already noticed several sizeable stone chips on my front hood of my Mazda3 and it is indeed a sad sight to behold.

Ratings: 

Total Score: 4

Performance: 3

Quality & Features: 4

Space: 3

Ride Comfort: 3

Fuel Economy: 5

Price & Cost: 3

Summary :

Conclusion is this; yes the car is expensive to buy and yes the car has drawbacks but I will without a doubt buy it again if I was given a second choice to reconsider. Also, don't assume that CBU cars have better quality control compared to CKD cars, my Mazda3 still has some of the usual quality control problems some other CKD car has.

Lastly :

All Mazda cars are equipped with an automatic idling engine start/stop function called i-Stop. My car encountered an error on the third (3rd) day after collection but was fixed within a day at the service centre by replacing the faulty battery free of charge under warranty. The next issue that crept up was the faulty digital meter cluster, seemingly having a line of dead pixels across it and that too was replaced free of charge under warranty.

The latest issue I had was the faulty side mirror motors that folds the side mirror in/out and while that was also replaced free of charge under warranty but other owners have shared and reported their experience that this is a recurring fault so I will have to check back on this.

I have had my relatives complimenting me on the Mazda3 and took an interest on the enticing Polymetal Gray paintwork and all seemed surprised when I told them "It's a Mazda". The picture of them looking at my car with curiosity and asking permission to open the door to look at its interior is truly the proudest moment any car owners can have.

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