The Mazda 3 hatchback gets a mid-life facelift for 2017.

Introduction

Meet the new Mazda 3, which is more or less the same as the old Mazda 3. Not that we’re complaining of course, because the current 3 is one of the best hatchbacks on the market and this mid-life facelift for 2017 just adds a few minor tweaks here and there to keep it fresh.

Said tweaks include revisions made to the front grille, the door mirrors and the rear, along with a slightly updated interior and a couple of new gizmos including Mazda’s new G-Vectoring Control which the manufacturer says makes the car handle a lot better.

Unless you’re specifically looking for the differences, the chances are that at a glance you won’t be able to tell the difference between the outgoing model and the new one, such is the subtlety of the facelift.

That’s no bad thing though, so what else has the new Mazda 3 got that the outgoing model doesn’t?

Performance

Before we get on to the new, let’s start with what’s the same: Mazda is still sticking with the same high-capacity naturally aspirated engines as before, which means 1.5-litre and 2.2-litre diesels along with a single 2.0-litre petrol engine with a choice of 118bhp or 163bhp.

In this day and age of turbocharged everything it might seem a bit old school, but Mazda is convinced it’s the better way to do things. It even quoted a recent survey which found that 90 per cent of Mazda customers can match their stated mpg rating, while owners of other brands can’t.

The lower-powered 118bhp version is the one that we’ve tested, and we previously praised the same engine for its strong and surprisingly nippy performance for an engine of its size.

It’s a sporty feeling little motor that revs hard and happy, while the six-speed manual gearbox that comes as standard is a joy to use and really adds to the sense of fun that Mazda aims to instil within all of its cars.

Nought to 62mph takes a fairly spry 8.9 seconds, though you will have to work the engine hard to get the best from it. Unlikely some of its turbocharged rivals which will blast up the rev range as soon as the boost kicks in, the Mazda needs a bit more attention to keep it in peak power.

Ride and Handling

The car does the work so you can just get on with having fun.

The Mazda 3 has always been a well-balanced car with a ride than sits more on the sporting side of the fence than many rivals, but which still has enough give to prevent it from being uncomfortable or unusable day to day.

Given that Mazda has left the car mostly untouched the 2017 Mazda 3 retains the same responsiveness and keen composure of the previous model, with loads of grip and minimal body roll for a family hatch.

However, the crucial difference between the new model and the outgoing one is the G-Vectoring Control. Essentially, it allows the car’s ECU to adjust torque mapping in a split second, which reduces power from the engine and shifts weight to the front when you adjust the steering angle.

That loads up the suspension and front tyres just like a racing driver might do, which presses the tyre into the ground and gives more grip and a better turn in than you’d otherwise get. It’s clever tech, but unlike something like conventional torque vectoring you can’t really feel it work.

Mazda says this is all part of the plan though: the car does the work so you can just get on with having fun. The manufacturer also claims that it can reduce fatigue by subtly adjusting the car even on the motorway so you don’t have to tense your body as much to resist being tossed about under braking or through a bend.

Refinement, which could be an issue on the previous version, has also been addressed with marked reductions in wind noise and tyre roar, both of which make the 3 a much more rounded car than it was before and a better place to spend long trips in.

Did you know?

Mazda’s name is derived from the Ahura Mazda, the Iranian-Zoroastrian god of wisdom.

Interior and Equipment

The interior changes are slightly more noticeable than those on the exterior, with a redesigned steering wheel, a full-colour heads-up display in higher trims and improved materials that bring the 3 closer to the Mazda 6 in terms of quality.

Mazda has also ditched the traditional handbrake in favour of an electric parking brake, something which some drivers may lament, but it means that the car has a bit more room in the cabin and extra storage space.

Four trims are available with a wide range of kit, while the range-topping Sport Nav model we tested included the likes of sat-nav, parking sensors and a reversing camera, along with heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control and Mazda’s excellent MZD Connect infotainment system.

The dimensions of the car are completely untouched, which means that the driving position and visibility are still great, while there’s loads of leg and headroom in the back even if there is a fairly large transmission tunnel that eats into the middle passenger’s room.

Its boot is still fairly competitive in its class, with 364 litres for the hatchback or 420 litres for the fastback version. Fold the rear seats down and maximum boot space rises to 1,263 litres.

Cost

The facelifted Mazda 3 costs just £200 more than the old model across each trim level.

The facelifted Mazda 3 costs just £200 more than the old model across each trim level, which means that it now starts from £17,595 while the range-topping Sport Nav will set you back £21,845.

Fuel economy and emissions figures are the same as before, with the 118bhp petrol able to return 55.4mpg with a fairly competitive 119g/km of CO2.

Our Verdict

The revised Mazda 3 isn’t exactly revolutionary, but then it doesn’t have to be. It’s already fantastic to look at, handy to drive and fairly well proportioned compared to its rivals, and this minor update just freshens things up ahead of the new year.

It’s not the cheapest hatch around, nor is it the most practical on the market, but it was already a strong option when compared against alternatives like the Focus or the Leon, and now it’s just that bit stronger.