Revealed at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan manages to reinvigorate the market of compact sedans by providing it with a simplistic three-box shape with an added spice of the Mazda second generation Kodo design.

The Mazda 3 hatch basically what the five-door hatchbacks were to its three-door coupe knockoffs back in the day when people actually wanted to drive them. The Mazda 3 Sedan is a sensible, rational, and family-centric vehicle. The Hatch is a bit more on the wild side. See, just like in the day of the three-door and five-door hatches.

2019 Mazda 3 Sedan

Specifications
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  • Model: 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan
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Pros
Cons

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2019 Mazda 3 Sedan Exterior

- It is 3.2 inches longer - Second generation Kodo design language - Toned Down Compared to Mazda 3 hatch - Sedan-only styling touches

Trying to seriously separate the five-door hatch from the sedan, Mazda employed some striking visual discrepancies between the two. Sure, your eye will always know that the Mazda 3 Sedan is a Mazda 3 hatch knockoff, but even looking at it from the front side (where the two differ the least), it's easy to notice a wider front opening just above the lower lip. It is a clear differentiation. Ok, this added some heft to the front end as well. It looks wider and sporty. Obviously, with such a wide grille, lean lights, and long bonnet, Mazda did not have a lot of choice in making the front end of the 3 Sedan softer. So, while it isn’t soft, it is slightly different compared with what we can see on the 3 Hatchback.

As one can imagine, the silhouette is different. It did lose that fat third pillar that makes the Mazda3 hatch so alluring, but Mazda managed to make the 3 Sedan 3.2 inches longer compared with its predecessor. That’s huge. Especially considering it gained an inch longer wheelbase and just a tad in width. No, it is not a large car, but with some more inches in length and 0.4 lower roof, I am sure the new Mazda 3 Sedan will look far more grown up and serious compared with its predecessor. Noted, it was a fine piece of design too.

Finally, the rear end, which differs the most compared with the hatch and with the Mazda 3 Sedan predecessor takes some striking styling cues such as the small lip spoiler, seems to have a larger rear windshield compared with the hatch, and sports basically the same taillights. No wonder there really. Plus, the rear bumper has been completely painted. At least before one starts comparing it with the premium.

2019 Mazda 3 Sedan exterior dimensions

Wheelbase

2,725 mm (107.28 inches)

Length

4,662 mm (183.54 inches)

Width

1,797 mm (70.74 inches)

Height

1,445 mm (56.88 inches)


2019 Mazda 3 Sedan Interior

- Driver-centric cockpit with a new steering wheel - Better NVH values than on the Mazda 3 Sedan or the Audi A3 Sedan - Full suite of safety tech comes as standard - Dramatically increased structural rigidity adds to comfort and ambiance inside

Mazda seems to have found a narrow market niche just between the conventionality of basic models and exclusiveness of the premium ones. It has been there for years, and the interior of its cars shows this philosophy the best. The inside of the Mazda 3 Sedan features a nicely laid out hardware with a simplistic design, fine materials, subtle color theme, and the latest in terms of infotainment and technology.

However, as many times before, Mazda focused on improving the NVH levels by employing some impressive measures. This, in return, massively reduced the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) levels. It is harder for vibrations to travel through the structure and actually be noticeable in the cabin if one increases rigidity. This was achieved with even more structural enhancements front-to-back, in addition to those Mazda developed for the previous model. Another novel approach is the integration of the so-called “two-wall” structure under the carpets and floor insulation. In essence, the metal structure of the Mazda 3 Sedan is separated from the carpets and flooring in the cabin with a small cavity. It’s quite impressive and additionally lowers the NVH levels inside the cabin. More soundproofing material is, it seems, mandatory. The Mazda3 Sedan got that too.

In fact, at the presentation in LA, Mazda officials said that the Mazda3 hatch and sedan NVH values are better even compared to premium models like the Audi A3 or the Mercedes-Benz A-class.

The new sporty steering wheel with vents for the drivers positioned just at the sides of the instrument cluster and focused on the driver do show the true nature inherited from the 3 hatch. The rest of the interior is rather simplistic in its design. This fits the Kodo design language, the futurism, and the whole brand recognition thing Mazda wants to build. I like it. Though some may say the central armrest is too “squarey,” so are the vents in front of the passengers. The screen on top, although not exactly a trend among the premium side of the automotive industry, is 8.8 inches in size and presents all from the latest MZD Connect infotainment system.

All in all, the Mazda 3 Sedan seems to be as high-end as it gets. Especially considering all the safety tech onboard, including a Driver Monitoring system, Smart Brake Support (SBS), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) system.

2019 Mazda 3 Sedan Drivetrain

- It debuts a new line of amazing gasoline engines called the Skyactiv-G - It is the first Mazda 3 Sedan with an AWD availability - Still available with a manual transmission - It has a torsion beam instead of the multilink rear suspension

The new Mazda 3 Sedan flourishes with advanced technology. Some of the world firsts include the Skyactiv-X engine. It is a technology that mates the virtues of diesel engines and petrol engines taking the best of both and combining them to burn gasoline, cleaner, more efficiently, under far higher compression ratio than in any other gasoline ICE. In short, it will fire the mixture using compression rather than a spark from a spark plug when possible. This is called the Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI). The engine offers 30 percent better fuel economy than a Skyactiv-G, almost diesel-like torque, diesel-like punch, but with the response of a gasoline engine.

At the very start, the Mazda3 Sedan is available with a 2.0-liter N/A engine, a 2.5-liter N/A engine, and a 1.8-liter Skyactiv-D. Interestingly enough, less powerful versions will be available with the six-speed manual, but the automatic is an obvious proposition here, isn’t it?

Another all-new thing for the Mazda3 Sedan is the availability of i-Activ AWD. No Mazda3 has even been offered with an AWD system. It's an option with this generation, and it comes in the shape of the innovative hardware that works with G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus). Not only will it distribute the power heavenly and promptly between the front and the rear wheels, but it will reduce the overall mechanical loss by 60 percent, thus considerably improving fuel economy compared with other AWD systems.

There is, however, one slight problem. I believe no one driving within the safety limits will ever feel the change, but it somewhat cripples the whole “driving enjoyment” paradigm that’s linked with Mazda cars. All in all, the Mazda 3 Sedan took all the tech Mazda recently developed and offered it to more sensible, more rational drivers who value virtues such as a bigger boot and slightly less flamboyant expression.

2019 Mazda 3 Sedan specifications

Engine

SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
SKYACTIV-G 2.5
SKYACTIV-D 1.8
SKYACTIV-X

Transmission

6-speed automatic transmission
6-speed manual transmission

Front suspension

MacPherson strut

Rear suspension

Torsion beam

Steering type

Rack-and-pinion

Brake (front/rear)

Vented discs/solid discs

Tires

205/60R16
215/45R18


2019 Mazda 3 Sedan Pricing

Right now, the least expensive 2018 Mazda3 Sedan goes for just over $18,000. I bet the new one will be considerably more expensive. First of all, it is bigger, and second of all, it is an all-new undertake. Finally, it will have a lot of gear even in its basic form. I do not think that the starting price for the entry-level 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan can be much less than $21,000. On the top end, with the i-AWD, new Skyactiv-X, and all the imaginable gear, you are looking at $30k car.

2019 Mazda 3 Sedan Competition

Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevy Cruze may be one of the most popular propositions in the segment, but its lagging sales for the past couple of months do cast a shadow on the whole compact segment market. The Cruze is less expensive compared with the Mazda 3 sedan. However, it is less striking in design, features less high-end gear and lacks a set of innovations Mazda so eagerly presented in the latest 3.

Nevertheless, it is a clear competitor. One available only with turbocharged engines.

Read our full review on the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.

Hyundai Elantra

With an entry price of less than $16,000, a lot of room inside and available modern safety and entertainment equipment, the Hyundai Elantra fits to be a cheaper alternative to the Mazda 3 Sedan. Yet, it lacks the composure, the finish, and the somewhat premium and unique character the 3 Sedan obviously has in spades.

Read our full review on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra.

Audi A3 Sedan

I intentionally set the Audi A3 Sedan as the Mazda 3 Sedan competitor. It may be a tad smaller, but the A3 Sedan is the opposite of, say, the Cruze in this world of compact sedans. It’s focused on different buyers, but it seems that the Mazda 3 Sedan shares some of its luxurious virtues with it. The Mazda 3 Sedan fits right in the middle between the conventionality and the reasonability of the Cruze and Elantra, and the luxuriousness and lavishness of the Audi A3 Sedan.

Read our full review on the 2018 Audi A3 Sedan

Final Thoughts

The Mazda 3 Sedan managed to capture the essence of compact sedans, but bring some spice and flavor to it with the cool technology on board and the looks that shatter the usual misconceptions of the class. No, it is not a boring car. It’s a rather curious attempt in making the compact sedans matter once again. Added inches in length are really important part of that attempt.