There aren’t many automakers who essentially live and die by the success or failure of one particular model in their line up. But counted among those very few automakers is Mazda, and counted among those models that make or break their designers is the Mazda 3.
It’s no understatement to say that the overall success of Mazda is tied directly to it’s signature compact car. In fact the Mazda 3 represents about 35% of their entire global sales. In the United States that number is about 40% and in Canada almost 1 out of every 2 Mazda’s sold is a Mazda 3. While very few would agree that this is a successful formula, it is nonetheless what Mazda contends with, and so when it became time to redesign its major money-maker one can only imagine how seriously they took the task.
Since 2003, when the Mazda 323 was retired and replaced by the 3, this compact sedan has been setting new benchmarks in the immensely competitive compact car category. With 3.5 million units sold in Canada since it’s inception, it’s success is all in the numbers as well as a few awards it’s collected along the way.
For the 2014 model year, Mazda has put out an all-new, 3rd generation design and with so much riding on the new launch, pretty much everyone at Mazda knew that there was little room for mistakes, and lots of energy to get the word out to as many journalists and consumers as possible.
To that end, Mazda Canada invited almost 60 auto journalists, quite large by Canadian standards, to Vancouver in late September to get a chance to have a first look and drive at their newest interpretation of the model that means so much to them. I was one of those journalists and the following video report contains my first impressions on whether or not they got the new design right as part of another Enviro Dad Test Drive:
The 2014 Mazda is a big risk that is bound to produce even bigger payoffs. This is a well crafted, well engineered vehicle that for the moment stands out ahead of the competitors in its class. My early instincts tell me that the Mazda 3 will be a strong contender for both Canadian and North American Car of the Year, an instinct which I know is not shared by myself alone.
While no car is ever perfect, and there are some relatively minor annoyances that I did find such as the absence of suitable door pockets plus some cumbersome adjustment settings related to the Active Driving Display, they by no means take away from the overall positive feeling I have.
While there are certainly no assurances in life, and the commercial success of the 2014 Mazda 3 is ultimately something that will be decided by the buying public, I feel pretty confident in suggesting that not only will the new design hold on to the foothold it has already established for Mazda, but it seems quite likely to grow.
I guess for some, there’s nothing like a little pressure to bring out the best in them.
BY THE NUMBERS (Out of 10):
LOOK/DESIGN: 9.5
DRIVE: 8.5
GREEN FACTOR: 8.5
FAMILY FACTOR: 8.0
TECHIE STUFF: 9.0
VALUE: 9.0
(MSRP $15,995 – $29,855)
OVERALL: 9.0
I’m not sold on the “iPod” style infotainment system… It just looks out of place, even more so on the lower trim lines…
Plus 30$K for a compact…. There are too many just as good cars out there for significantly lower cost … I think Mazda has over priced this car… You can get a Mazda 6 for less, & better equipped
I like the new design as well. I hope Mazda will be aggressive in finance offerings, as some manufacturers offer 0 to 2.9% rates. Further, the warranty has to be comparable to the competition.