New Mazda3 hits the road

The new Mazda3 goes on sale on Monday, May 18, priced from £13,500 on the road.The new 20-strong model line-up (16 hatchback and four saloon cars), has a more striking design, higher levels of interior comfort and a more premium cabin environment. Both retail and fleet customers will benefit from the dramatic CO2 reductions that Mazda’s engineers have achieved to bring models below the 120g/km and 160g/km tax thresholds.The all-new Mazda3 is offered with a choice of four petrol and three diesel powertrains, all fine-tuned to use less fuel, which should please fleet customers. For customers who prefer a petrol engine, there is a choice of the 1.6-litre (105ps), 2.0-litre (150ps with a new 5-speed automatic transmission) or 2.0-litre (151ps) powertrains for the 11 regular Mazda3 models – or the 2.3-litre 260ps turbocharged engine in the Mazda3 MPS, due to be launched later in the year. The choice of diesel engines is expanded to encompass 1.6-litre (109ps), and the new 2.2-litre (150ps) and 2.2-litre (185ps) engines.The all-new shape of the new Mazda3 has lowered aerodynamic drag to just Cd 0.28 (saloon) and 0.30 (hatchback) – ‘best-in-class’ figures. The improved aerodynamics and retuned powertrains, plus the reduced weight (down by 15 kilos on some models), result in significant reductions in CO2 and fuel consumption. On the official combined cycle, petrol models achieve up to 44.8mpg, while diesel models record up to 62.8mpg.“The CO2 output of the 1.6 petrol model has been cut to 149g/km, from 162g/km on the current model. The 2.0 petrol is down to 159g/km from 189g/km due in part to the new i-stop technology. The 1.6 diesel model emits just 119g/km, down from 128g/km, and benefits from only £35 per year road tax. Even the range-topping Mazda3 MPS, powered by a turbocharged 2.3 petrol engine has slashed CO2 output to 224g/km meaning that the annual road tax will be just £215 as opposed to £405 on the current vehicle,” highlights Mark Cameron.Technical innovations featured on the all-new Mazda3 include the fuel-stretching ‘i-stop’ (Smart Idling Stop System) technology on the Mazda3 2.0 Sport (available from June), which can deliver fuel consumption savings of up to 16 percent on the combined cycle.Safety features include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and an Emergency Stop Signalling (ESS) System standard on all models. This system automatically activates the hazard warning lights at cruising speeds when the ABS sensors detect emergency braking. Mazda's Traction Control System (TCS), active front head restraints and six airbags are also standard across the range.Be the first to review the new Mazda3 on RoadTestReports.co.uk Search ContractHireAndLeasing.com for the best deals on Mazda3

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