The all-new Mazda3 which is set to go on sale in Janaury 2014, priced from £16,695 has scored five-stars in the latest Euro NCAP Tests.
It scored 93 per cent for adult occupancy and 86 per cent for child occupant protection and 65 per cent for pedestrian and 81 per cent for safety assist, which is a marked increase over the outgoing model. It compares to the five-star rated Ford Focus tested in 2012, which scored 92 per cent adult, 82% child, 72% pedestrian and 71% safety assist.
The new Mazda3 comes with an impact-absorbing lightweight SKYACTIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis. Around 60 per cent of the body is made from high and ultra-high tensile steels. That’s up from 50 per cent in its predecessor, making the all-new Mazda3’s lighter yet some 30 per cent stiffer than the previous model. This has helped to improve passive safety protection, which is back up by a range of sensor-based active safety equipment and technology.
At the time of launch there will be a 36-model line up featuring five trim levels (‘SE’, ‘SE Nav’, ‘SE-L’, ‘SE-L Nav’ and ‘Sport Nav’), with 21 hatchbacks (including eight diesel models) and 15 Fastbacks, (five with diesel power), including 13 models with automatic transmission.
Published 27 November 2013
