SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Vectors: 2017 Mazda3 Astina Plus

Magic happens

Posted: 22 August 2017

The numbers
Price: R415 900
Engine: 1998 cc, DOHC, 16-valves, four cylinders
Power: 121 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 210 Nm at 4000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 9.0 seconds
Maximum speed: 198 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 6.8 l/100 km
Tank: 51 litres
Warranty and service plan: 3 years / unlimited km with roadside assistance
Servicing at 15 000 km intervals       

Mazda3 has been around overseas in its present form since mid-2014 (but model year 2015 in SA) so no radical changes are due just yet. What Mazda SA did do, last August, was add some features and create new flagships. Astina sedan and hatchback remained much as they were while the crown passed to a new pair called Astina Plus.

New kit includes Bluetooth from entry-level up, cruise control on Individual models, G-Vectoring Control (GVC) with 2.0-litre engines and paddle shifters on six-speed automatics. There is a new Mazda badge in front, fog lamps and alloy wheels were redesigned and the back bumper on hatch models is ‘way sexier than before.  One-comma-six Dynamic versions retain the four-speed autobox and we’ll get back to GVC shortly.

Astina Plus stands alone with Smart City Braking, adaptive LED headlamps, daytime running lights, lane keeping, lane departure warning, driver attention alert and blind spot monitoring. You already know about these from other makes of car so let’s deal with the vectoring feature because there could be some misunderstanding.

G-vectoring is not the same as Torque vectoring used on other vehicles. Technically, torque vectoring is an "active yaw control" system that helps a car to turn by increasing the torque delivery to a single wheel. In a left-hand bend, for example, it sends more power to the right front wheel, encouraging the vehicle leftward and into the corner.

G-vectoring works more like what happens as you tap off slightly, or feather the brakes, on approaching a fast corner. The idea is to settle the car down on its suspension for greater stability and to transfer weight slightly forward. (You do that, don’t you? Or do you plunge in at full throttle; blindly believing that ESC will save your sorry ass?)

GVC monitors three parameters: vehicle speed, throttle position and degree of steering wheel rotation. Turning the steering wheel even slightly starts the system working. It reacts in less than 50 milliseconds, minutely reducing engine torque by retarding spark timing. The result is increased downforce on the front tyres.

At maximum, the system will deliver 0.05 g of deceleration, enough to generate a measure of longitudinal g-force but usually below the threshold of human perception. This longitudinal g-force, coupled with lateral g-force created by steering input is, Mazda says, where the magic happens. It results in a more natural cornering posture for improved turn-in performance.

The information about G-Vectoring came from a Road and Track article. Read it here:

A single large dial, the rev. counter, with digital speed readout in its lower right corner, still dominates the cockpit while an iPad-like screen displays the various functions. Only a few items are controlled by touch; most rely on a rotary controller and operating buttons on the centre console.

Astina and Plus models have head-up displays. It means you can view speed, limit signs and navigational instructions with just a tiny shift in focus, rather than by flicking your glance downward.

Also carried over from 2015 is the in-house SkyActiv six-speed automatic transmission that we rated as good, but not brilliant, back then. Mazda seems to have adjusted something in the meantime because we’re now impressed. We could not fault it. The new paddle shifters are nice-to-have for occasional use although we still prefer using the stick for manual overrides - when the inner hooligan demands to be let out. The two-litre, naturally aspirated petrol motor works willingly and the car handles very well.

Its 10.6-metre turning circle and good view outward make it pleasant to drive in crowded places, the RHD parking brake works smoothly and interior storage rates an “OK but not brilliant.” Further, because the hatchback is 120 mm shorter than the sedan, it loses 100 litres of luggage space, leaving it with 308 litres rather than 408.
 
The space is easy to get at, the lip being only 68 cm above ground level and just 9 cm deep, so it should be a breeze to load and unpack. It’s nicely shaped without intrusions and has a courtesy light while the levers that release the 60:40-split seatbacks are accessible from behind. The spare is a spacesaver.

Head-, knee and foot room is plentiful, a folding armrest features a pair of cup holders and there‘s a full set of belts and head restraints. The middle passenger needs to be small, however, because the centre hump is rather high.
 
Mazdas have always been enthusiasts’ cars built, by people who love driving, for those who share their passion. Mazda3 extends the formula to include practical family cars. Now you can enjoy that while adding yet more safety kit to the mix.

Test unit from Mazda SA press fleet



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This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

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