In case you aren’t aware, the facelifted Mazda3 that was revealed a few months ago in the United States has finally made it to our shores. It’s actually been around since last September, when Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc., official Mazda distributor, launched the compact offering at the 6th Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
While it may look like it received a mere nip-and-tuck, Mazda points out that the changes done on the Mazda3 are more than just cosmetic. Sure, the front and rear bumpers have been revised for a more aggressive look. The grille has also been updated, along with the updated headlight and foglamp assemblies, larger side mirror-mounted turn signal lamps, and high-gloss 18-inch alloy wheels. Yet there is more, particularly under the metal.
The cabin, for instance, receives new leather and carbon fiber accents in various places for a more premium feel. The leather seating surfaces now features double stitching—true attention to detail here. The SPEED and R variants now come with an electronic parking brake, revised gear shift layout, and a new sliding accordion-type cover on the center console.
With safety being a Mazda hallmark, the 2017 Mazda3 now comes with more safety kit for even greater confidence at all times. Besides boasting LED headlights and foglights for better night-time visibility, the new Mazda3 now has the upmarket Adaptive Front-lighting system, first seen on its bigger Mazda6 and CX-5 brothers. The cool lighting system automatically adjusts the beam to varying road and vehicle conditions to ensure that the driver can still see as bright as day without blinding other motorists, particularly oncoming vehicles.
Other protective gear include child lock and ISOFIX anchor points, Blind Spot detection on the SPEED models, and a DVD player that won’t work unless the vehicle is stationary. Moreover, the 2017 Mazda3 is now equipped with Skyactiv-Vehicle Dynamics, more specifically, G-Vectoring Control. In a nutshell, this new safety aid not only improves vehicle stability but likewise enhances driving feel by reducing side-to-side and other unnecessary vehicle motions. In short, the driver experiences a more natural feel behind the tiller.
The 2017 Mazda SPEED and R models are powered by the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine, while the V versions are motivated by the 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine. Both are mated to a six-speed Skyactiv automatic gearbox with Sport mode. The higher end variants even get goodies like a rearview camera and dual-zone climate control, among others.
The 2017 Mazda3 is now available at your friendly Mazda dealer in both hatchback and sedan.
