The other day, I wrote about how my husband bought a Nissan Note e-POWER NISMO S as his commuter car, but actually, the Mazda3 was also on the shortlist. He went for a test drive, so I asked him to share his impressions. Please have a look if you’re interested.

Mazda3 Interior and Exterior

When considering a commuter car, there was one model we couldn’t overlook: Mazda’s new Mazda3. It used to be called the “Axela” in Japan, but with this model change, it adopted the globally used name “Mazda3.”

When I heard this, I felt Mazda’s strong determination and was very impressed by their effort to break free from the typical Japanese “Galapagos car” mindset.

Before the test drive, I did some homework through magazines, websites, and videos, and all the reviews were very positive. Although it was just released, so there might be some bias, even setting that aside, the praise was quite high, which piqued my interest. So I was eager to seriously consider it as a commuter car and went for the test drive.

This time, I actually test drove two Mazda3 models: the Skyactiv-X and the Skyactiv-G 2.0, and I’ll share my honest thoughts without any sugarcoating.

Interior

Before the drive, I took a close look at the display model, which was the Skyactiv-G 1.5, the entry-level version. But when I got into the driver’s seat, I was surprised!

The quality feels very high. From the dashboard materials to the seat fabric, steering wheel, and center console, it doesn’t feel like a car priced in the two-million-yen range. Honestly, it feels much better than the Golf 7 I used to drive.

The interior doesn’t feel spacious; it’s somewhat tight but not unpleasant. It has a snugness that helps you focus on driving. I also sat in the passenger seat, which felt even tighter in width, but that cozy feeling was quite pleasant.

The seats felt a bit small for my body type, but they were comfortable. They have a simple design but offer solid support. If you’re looking for the soft, sofa-like comfort often found in Japanese cars, this might not be for you. People who think “thick, soft, cushy seats = no fatigue” might not like it.

The brochure talks about keeping your pelvis upright and so on, but I couldn’t really focus on that. However, I think this shape and firmness would keep fatigue low and be comfortable even on long drives.

Exterior

The exterior design is a matter of taste, so I can’t speak for everyone, but I really like it. It skillfully uses surfaces without relying on the vertical cuts or press lines that are so common these days, expressing freshness and beauty with a clean, sleek design.

What struck me as especially beautiful was the small gap and smoothness between the doors and body when viewed from the side. The door gaps are minimized, making the body appear as a single solid form.

Rear Seats

Honestly, the rear seats are not very spacious. But given the stunning exterior design, I think this compromise is understandable.

With the driver’s seat adjusted to my position, there was about one and a half fists of space. But with the passenger seat reclined comfortably, there was almost no knee room in the back. However, the seatback is deeply contoured, so knees didn’t actually touch.

On the downside, the rear door build quality felt cheap. While the front doors close with a solid, satisfying sound, the rear doors feel light and cheap both in closing sound and weight. Also, the door trim rattled when closing. The trim material itself is good quality, but the fit and finish aren’t quite there.

As I always say, many Japanese compact cars skimp on rear door quality, and Mazda3 is no exception, which is disappointing. The car’s exterior and interior quality are so good, so why can’t they get this last detail right?

Mazda3 Skyactiv-X

The first test drive was the Skyactiv-X model. Skyactiv-X is Mazda’s new engine, a new grade released just last fall.

This was the Burgundy Selection, with a beautiful red color and a very elegant interior. The seats have a tasteful red tone that even feels formal. I really liked this interior and could imagine people buying it just for this reason.

When I started the engine, I noticed the sound a bit. The volume was controlled and didn’t feel cheap, but I could hear a somewhat rough, rattling or buzzing noise—not as loud as a diesel but noticeable. Skyactiv-X uses “compression ignition” like a diesel, firing at high compression. It can also ignite with spark plugs depending on the rev range, making it an engine that combines the best of gasoline and diesel engines.

Once moving, I felt a surprisingly firm ride. My impression was, “This doesn’t match the luxurious interior.” The tires felt a bit stiff or the 18-inch wheels weren’t fully tamed, causing noticeable vertical movement at low speeds.

At around 40-50 km/h in city traffic, it wasn’t much of an issue, but I wanted a smoother, gliding ride. It felt like the tires weren’t perfectly round. In this regard, the 1.2 Golf 7 I used to drive felt more refined. But since the Mazda3’s interior feels like a class or two above, my expectations for the ride were higher, which probably made this stand out more.

The engine has good low-end torque and is very easy to drive. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly with little shock. It’s agile enough for city driving. The engine is smooth but not particularly sporty—just good for its class. I climbed a steep hill in the test car without needing to press the accelerator much; it had plenty of power.

The brakes have a short stroke and respond to pedal force. They feel crisp and very controllable, but the stopping power is a bit lacking. With such a nice brake feel, I wish the braking force was a bit stronger.

I didn’t get to test the handling much, but the steering feels very smooth and pleasant to turn. As a practical car, it’s agile and should be fun on winding roads.