The 2019 Mazda3 is all-new and now we have crash test ratings from the IIHS for both the sedan and hatchback.
Mazda engineers are proud to remark that the safety technology incorporated in its fourth generation Mazda3, “establishes a new norm for Mazda and a new safety norm for the small car segment. The use of ultra-high-tensile steel has risen from three to 30 per cent, to now include the framework, bumper beam, B-pillars and side sills.
Standard active safety equipment includes ABS, EBA and EBD, front and rear ‘Smart Brake Support’, blind spot monitoring, ‘Driver Attention Alert’ (DAA), ‘Forward Obstruction Warning’ (FOW), lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, radar cruise control (with ‘Stop & Go’ function), rear parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alert, reverse camera, traffic sign recognition, a tyre pressure monitoring system.
On the passive side the airbag count has increased from six (driver and front passenger, side front, and curtain) to seven with the addition of a driver’s knee bag.
The interior is nicely furnished and features a new infotainment system whereby drivers interact with a screen exclusively through a rotary knob. Handling is still nimble but less sporty than in the previous Mazda 3. The ride is firm yet compliant and the cabin is relatively quiet.
