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Mazda 3 Touring hatch 2017 review: Torquing Heads

EXPERT RATING
6.5
Nikki Cousins and Peter Anderson road test and review the Mazda 3 Touring hatch, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Nikki Cousins and Peter Anderson road test and review the Mazda 3 Touring hatch, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

With the onslaught of SUVs, you'd be forgiven for thinking Australian families had forgotten about hatchbacks. Turns out they haven't - the Mazda3 was the best-selling car in the first month of 2017, again drawing blood from Toyota's formerly invincible Corolla.

So the hatches are hanging on. Nikki Cousins and Peter Anderson both spent a week living with the updated Touring hatch to see how it fares in a world that seems to prefer riding higher but is still buying lower.

The Touring is the third tier in the 3's 2.0-litre lineup, adding leather trim, dual-zone climate control, and auto headlights and wipers to the Maxx that sits beneath it. Ours was equipped with the $2000 optional six-speed auto, which brings the list price to a very reasonable $27,290.

Nikki compares it with her own car, a second generation Mazda3 and Peter remembers what it was like to own the first iteration and gives his verdict on ten years of development.

Plus: Read Peter Anderson's review of the Mazda 3 Neo hatch auto

More: Check out our small cars hub for other small car reviews

Also: Visit the Mazda3 hub for everything Mazda3 related

Would you consider a Mazda3 Touring hatch over a Corolla or an i30? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Pricing guides

$20,977
Based on 281 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$13,989
Highest Price
$27,830

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
Neo 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $13,530 – 17,820 2017 Mazda 3 2017 Neo Pricing and Specs
Neo 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $14,850 – 19,580 2017 Mazda 3 2017 Neo Pricing and Specs
SP25 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $16,280 – 20,900 2017 Mazda 3 2017 SP25 Pricing and Specs
SP25 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $19,030 – 24,090 2017 Mazda 3 2017 SP25 Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
6.5
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