2020 Mazda 3 G20 Evolve Long Term Review

• Introduction
• Update #2

IN MY IDEAL WORLD the sun would be shining and there’d be a warm spring breeze when gifted the keys to a new Mazda 3 G20 Evolve hatch. I assume that’s the kind of experience buyers would also like to receive when taking delivery of their new pride and joy. But then I remember I’m in Melbourne. It’s cold. It’s raining. And the keys to ‘my’ 3 slide across my desk as if it’s any other night at Wheels HQ.

Call me precious, but I wanted the new-car fanfare. Instead, I walk up to a very grey ZZG107 (there’s no hint of the sparkly metallic blue some sunshine extracts), hop inside and head home.

This ‘privileged motoring journalist mentality’ lasts all but a few moments. Luxurious and unexpected are two adjectives that describe the 3’s cabin to a T, while bemoaning price increases (between $3500 and $4500 depending on the model) compared to the old car seems an exercise in futility once you experience the upmarket vibe.

At $27,690 you’d expect the goal posts to have moved significantly from the outgoing range, and it’s clear Mazda sees its future heading in a premium direction. Don’t forget that the 3, in range-topping G25 Astina guise, has already won a Wheels comparison test against VW’s venerable Golf, the new Ford Focus and the Holden Astra.

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So, what am I getting for ‘my’ $27K? G20 refers to the SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces 114kW at 6000rpm and 200Nm at 4000rpm. There’s a conventional torque converter six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddles. Mazda’s naturally aspirated four goes against the downsizing, turbocharging grain, but still achieves a claimed combined fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km – which I got close to with an average of 7.7L/100km for the month.

The 8.8-inch infotainment display is a big step forward over the usurped MZD Connect system. However, it’s no longer touchscreen. Luckily the control wheel is intuitive. The instrument cluster has been updated to a digital screen, while everything is crisp and concise with crystal-clear lighting at night. Design wise, the climate controls are aesthetically pleasing and also satisfyingly tactile.

Further justifying its higher price is the list of standard features. Safety kit includes items like AEB (with pedestrian and cycle detection), lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear cross- traffic alert, blindspot monitoring, radar-guided cruise control, reversing camera and sensors. There’s more to list, but it’s impressive to see just about all the safety systems offered as standard.

A few of the 3’s qualities I already like are the head-up display (it’s clear and doesn’t impede your vision), high-beam assist and traffic-sign recognition. Plus, you wouldn’t really expect to see these items in a variant placed one rung from the base.

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The must-have smartphone mirroring works well and the easy-to-find USB points make accessing Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto) straightforward. The steering wheel feels nice in hand and employs just the right amount of buttons – all with an underlying level of quality. I also quite enjoy the honest and comfortable nature of the cloth seats – they’re a far better option than fake leather that reeks of pretentiousness.

There are few initial signs of conflict, yet I’ve muttered a couple of terse words when exiting the cabin due to the forward positioning of the B-pillar – the space between it and the steering wheel can be tight for ... rotund bodies. And call it a first-world problem, but a lack of proximity key is a bit frustrating considering the Evolve has push-button start and rivals like the Hyundai i30 Elite have both features. The hatch bodystyle also raises vision concerns.

In the coming months the relatively small boot (295L) will be put to the test on a long trip up the Hume Highway, as will the overall cruising economy and Mazda’s improved NVH levels. I’m looking forward to building a rapport with a much-loved model. Private Aussie buyers have traditionally lapped up the 3, so I’m keen to see how my relationship with it, ahem, Evolves…

Update 2

Food for thought

• This month: 1533km @ 6.3L/100km

It’s late, a work night and, on this rare occasion, I’ve managed to complete something akin to meaningful exercise. All things considered, my checklist for the day is going well. All that remains is grabbing some dinner before heading home. All good – in theory.

For those who don’t know, Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping centre is huge; often referred to as the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere. For me, that spells parking hell – 10,000 spaces awaiting cars piloted by drivers of differing levels of incompetence.

Said dinner acquired, I return to ‘my’ Mazda 3 to be confronted with a mangled front bumper bar. No note on the windscreen. After just a handful of weeks with ZZG107, it has been rendered imperfect by a careless Chadstone shopper. Profanities ensue.

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After a few apologetic emails to Mazda HQ and the completion of an insurance form (for which I had to draw the incident – really), the 3 was replaced with a G25 GT sedan for the interim; a happy bonus, as I got to experience the big-boy 2.5-litre four-cylinder and the booted bodystyle.

If anything, it made me appreciate the 2.0-litre more. Okay, it’s a bit lax off the line as it struggles to climb out of a bit of a torque hole, but otherwise, it’s proving economical (6.9L/100km overall) and relatively refined. Interestingly, stepping up to 2.5 litres wasn’t the torque antidote I thought it’d be. Yes, there’s more grunt and overall pulling power (25kW and 52Nm respectively) in terms of raw figures, but it doesn’t translate to enough of a difference on-road. Ultimately you’re better off with the cheaper, smaller engine and splurging on a higher level of spec.

What did make a difference was the sedan bodystyle, which lifts boot space to 444L from 295L. Also, I no longer had a rear three-quarter blindspot I could lose a truck in, and back-seat passengers didn’t feel so claustrophobic.

My Evolve hatch returned as new again, with a repaired and painted front bumper and the centre grille replaced, and all for a little more than $1000. But for damage I didn’t inflict, it’s a pain. Since then, ZZG107 has been on the Hume Highway for a long stint in the country, far, far away from danger-filled shopping centres. Although it wasn’t scare-free. Stay tuned.