A little more premium: the American Mazda 3 has lost its base engine and got more expensive.
The North American division of Mazda has introduced sedans and hatchbacks Mazda 3 of the next, 2023 model year.
There are no cosmetic innovations, but the engine range has been shaken up and prices have risen.
The fourth-generation Mazda 3 debuted in 2018 as a global model, the U.S. market is one of its key markets, although it is the fourth generation of the «three» Americans are not very fond of.
Peak sales of Mazda 3 in the U.S. came in 2012, when, according to the resource CarSalesBase, the model has sold a circulation of 123,361 units.
Sales of modern «three» last year amounted to 37 653 units, and in the first half of 2022 — 14 855 units, which is 31% less than in January-June 2021.
For comparison we shall say that the leader in the segment of compact cars on the American market now is Toyota Corolla: for the first half of the year it has sold 116 832 units, the second place is occupied by Honda Civic (70 335 units), and the third — Kia Forte (51 806 units).
Meanwhile, for the last few years, Mazda is positioning itself as a premium brand.
Not everyone still agrees to accept such positioning, but if you agree with it, it will turn out that in a premium-segment Mazda 3 is the absolute leader of its class.
The BMW 2 Series sold 7,605 units in the U.S. in January-June of this year, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class/CLA sold 7,036 units, the Polestar 2 sold 4,285 units and the Audi A3 sold 3,740 units.
Renewal of Mazda 3, timed to 2023 model year, is intended to emphasize premium status of the «three».
For this purpose, the basic 2.0-liter petrol «atmospheric» Skyactiv-G (157 hp, 203 Nm) is excluded from the engine range, and power of the 2.5-liter atmospheric Skyactiv-G engine, which is now the base, is increased from 189 to 194 hp with the same torque of 252 Nm.
In addition, for the 2023 model year, Mazda has slightly improved the fuel economy of the 2.5-liter atmospheric by tinkering with the cylinder deactivation system under partial load.
At the top of the range is still a supercharged 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G gasoline engine with a maximum output of 254 hp and 420 Nm.
The Mazda 3 combined with the atmospheric engine is available with both front- and all-wheel drive, while the supercharged versions only come with all-wheel drive.
Almost all versions come with a non-alternative six-speed hydromechanical automatic, and only the front-drive hatchback in the Premium trim with the atmospheric engine is equipped with a six-speed manual.
The American Mazda 3 has gone up in price by $450 to $550 in all configurations with a reference to the 2023 model year.
At that, if previously the most affordable sedan with a 2.0-liter motor cost $21,150, now the basic «four-door» with a 2.5-liter engine will cost $22,550.
Any hatchback is $1,000 more expensive than a sedan, all other things being equal, which means it now costs from $23,550.
The most expensive all-wheel-drive Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus hatchback will cost $35,300 without including options, with them the price easily flies over $40,000.
A BMW 2 Series in the liftback body now costs from $36,600 in the U.S., a Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan from $33,950 and an Audi A3 sedan from $34,900.
We should add that the supply of Mazda 3 in Russia stopped back in the fall of 2020, there are no prerequisites for their resumption so far.
