2022 Mazda 3 Sedan 1.5 Review

Nowadays, the competition in Malaysia's C-segment sedan market is becoming increasingly fierce. Consumers value both design aesthetics and a balance between practical configurations and daily driving experience. As a popular contender in this segment, the 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan 1.5 features the "KODO – Soul of Motion" design language as well as standard configurations such as a HUD and 7 airbags, making many family users and young consumers curious about its actual performance. This test drive aims to comprehensively verify whether this car meets mainstream needs, from static experience to dynamic driving.

From the exterior, this car continues Mazda's iconic KODO design language, with overall flowing and dynamic lines. The front features a shield-shaped grille paired with chrome trims, which naturally connect with the LED headlights on both sides, offering high recognizability when lit; the vehicle's side adopts a fastback-style design, with a waistline running from the front to the rear, and paired with 205/60 R16 tires, it looks sleek and steady; at the rear, the LED tail lights use a smoked treatment, echoing the chrome decoration on the lower bumper, giving the overall style a youthful yet refined appearance.

Stepping inside, the interior layout is simple and emphasizes refined details. The dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials and accented with silver trims, with most areas within reach made of soft materials. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen is located at the top of the dashboard, supporting Bluetooth connectivity and Sound Plus functionality, alongside an 8-speaker audio system that delivers decent sound quality for everyday music. The 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster displays clear information, allowing direct visibility of speed, fuel levels, and more, while the standard HUD projects essential driving data onto the windshield, reducing the need to look down at the dashboard. In terms of features, keyless entry, power-folding side mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers all come as standard, greatly enhancing day-to-day convenience. However, the manual adjustment of the front air conditioning is slightly inferior to the automatic air conditioning offered by some competitors in the same price range.

Regarding space, the car measures 4660mm in length, 1795mm in width, and 2725mm in wheelbase, which falls into the mainstream range of the C-segment. The front seats are manually adjustable, providing good support and wrapping. A driver with a height of 175cm can adjust the seating position comfortably, with about a fist's worth of headroom remaining; sitting in the rear, the same driver enjoys around two fist's worth of legroom and one fist's worth of headroom, ensuring that even a full load of five passengers will not feel cramped. The trunk has a capacity of 444 liters, enough to fit two suitcases or a baby stroller for daily use. The 60:40 split-folding rear seats allow for the transportation of longer items when needed. Furthermore, the in-car storage space proves practical, with the central armrest box and door pockets being spacious enough to hold phones, water bottles, and other daily small items.

In terms of power, the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine delivers a maximum power of 120PS, with peak torque reaching at 4000rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. During daily driving, the power output is smooth during acceleration, and the throttle response is relatively linear. It does not feel jerky during low-speed driving in urban areas. When switched to Sport mode, the transmission's gear-shifting logic becomes more aggressive, with quicker downshifts when the throttle is pressed deeply, providing sufficient power reserves for highway or suburban overtaking scenarios. However, during full loads or uphill driving, the engine requires deeper throttle inputs to deliver adequate power, as the 1.5L engine slightly struggles under high load conditions.

The handling performance is one of the highlights of this car. The MacPherson independent front suspension is tuned to be firm yet comfortable. The steering wheel is precise with minimal play, and when cornering, you can clearly feel the front end's responsiveness. When dealing with bumpy roads, the suspension quickly filters out minor vibrations, and when passing over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, the body movement is kept within a reasonable range, ensuring both handling performance and everyday ride comfort. During the test drive, fuel consumption was tested. In urban commuting, the fuel consumption was about 6.2L/100km, and on highways, it could drop to around 5.4L/100km. Overall, this matches the official combined fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km, showing good fuel economy.

In terms of ride comfort, the vehicle does a good job of noise control. At high speeds, wind and tire noise are not very noticeable, and the interior maintains a relatively quiet environment. The seats are well-cushioned, so long-term sitting does not feel tiring. The rear row is equipped with an air conditioning vent and a 220V power outlet, ensuring a good experience for rear passengers. However, the manual air conditioning requires manual adjustment of temperature and airflow, making it slightly less convenient compared to automatic air conditioning.

Overall, the 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan 1.5’s key strengths lie in its balanced product appeal: striking "KODO" design aesthetics, standard HUD, 7 airbags offering high safety, smooth driving experience, and practical interior space. Compared to similarly priced Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, its design and texture are more distinctive, and its features are more comprehensive. Although the 1.5L engine lags slightly behind the turbocharged versions of its competitors in acceleration performance, its fuel economy and reliability are more aligned with the needs of family users.

This car is suitable for two types of people: first, young families who value design and safety and need a stylish car with complete features that can meet daily commuting and weekend travel needs; second, young drivers who value driving quality, where its handling performance and attention to detail meet the expectations of users with certain driving experience requirements. Overall, the 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan 1.5 is a C-segment sedan that balances aesthetics, features, and practicality, making it a well-rounded choice in this class.