2014 Mazda 3 v old Mazda 3

Swap out of the old Mazda 3 and into the new Mazda 3 and it feels as though the fast-forward button has been pressed through not one, but two generations.

The new Mazda 3 sedan and hatch range are identical length to the five-year-old models they replace, but the wheelbase extends by 60mm and overhangs are reduced by 35mm front/25mm rear on both bodystyles. Body width is up 40mm, while clever packaging means front shoulder room extends by a full 57mm – or about a third of the typical centre console width. Rear shoulder room is up 9mm, too, though second-row legroom actually falls by 10mm.

The larger interior reflects the newfound maturity of this Mazda 3. There’s more soft-touch dashboard plastics, although enough hard ones remain for its rival Volkswagen Golf to retain its benchmark interior quality status quo. Beautiful touches abound, though, including the central tachometer and electronic speedometer nestled inside it, all encased in silver-finished binnacle.

On the long, speed bowl at the proving ground the old Mazda 3 steering required only a tiny input to get the car to turn in, but the weighting was so light that delicate movements of the hands are needed. The new steering system is far more progressive on-centre, requiring more lock on turn-in, but also being more meaty and consistent once the front wheels bite.

The steering in the new Mazda 3 is quicker overall, though, so despite more initial input being required on turn in, it also takes less time to reach full left or right lock. That can be appreciated on the handling track’s couple of hairpins, where the driver doesn’t need to have their arms crossed-up.

Not only did the old Mazda 3 turn in quickly, but it also felt light on its feet, and was keen to quickly roll onto its outside rear tyres and oversteer after a mid-corner throttle lift. Some of that friskiness has been dialled out of the new Mazda 3 – in the same way it has between the most recent Mazda 6 generations – but although it now feels more planted and secure – thank the extended wheelbase – it’s also beautifully balanced and, more importantly, still fun. Cornering limits are higher with the new Mazda 3, and the car responds less aggressively once they are reached. The stability control calibration remains excellent.