The 2012 Mazda3 has undergone some changes and is looking all the better for them. The design of the front and rear bumper has been updated. There are new 16 and 17 inch wheel designs as well as an update to the instrument panel. Lastly the handling, stability and performance of the car have also been improved.

New face for Mazda3

For the design of the updated Mazda3 facelift, engineers looked to make sure the drive was as fun and enjoyable as possible in a number of different driving conditions. The styling of the vehicle needed to ensure that it didn’t only look good but was as aerodynamic as possible. The face-lifted version now has a muscular look thanks to a large 5-point grille and larger fascia around the air-lets. The 5-door version has also received some changes to the rear, with a slimmer bumper and the reflectors are placed closer to the side panels.

There will be three new exterior paint options available: Sky Blue Mica, Dolphin Grey Mica and Indigo Lights Mica.

Improved Handling

The handling and ride comfort has been designed to ensure the car is as fun and predictable to drive as possible. The car now comes with traction control and dynamic stability control as standard. The handling was further improved thanks to a rigid single brace bar that has been added to the front of the body. There are also changes to the front strut and rear multi-link suspension system which have resulted in improved steering feedback and road feel.

Engine Options

Under the hood are a number of engine options to choose from. There is a 1.6 litre inline 4-cylinder 16 valve engine that produces 145 Nm of torque at 4 000 rpm with a max power output of 77 kW, all the way up to a 2.5 litre inline 4-cylinder 16 valve engine that produces a max torque of 227 Nm and 122 kW.

Mazda3 – Price

The face-lifted Mazda3 will start at R210 650 all the way up to the R342 090.