Pre-First Generation

Before Mazda introduced the Mazda3, they sold another family hatchback, the Mazda 323, which was produced from 1963 to 2003, and was one of the first cars that Mazda brought to the UK. Throughout its production, the Mazda 323 was available in a number of different body styles, including a saloon, estate and 3 and 5 door hatchbacks.

First Generation

The first generation Mazda3 was launched in 2003 with a much more contemporary and attractive design than the 323 it replaced. It was available as both a hatchback and a four-door fastback, and came with a variety of engine options, from a 1.4 petrol, all the way up to a 2.2 diesel, meaning that there was an engine for just about everyone.

In 2007, Mazda used this generation as the basis for the Mazda3 MPS, a hot hatch version of the Mazda3 hatchback, which came with a turbocharged 2.3 engine which in just 5.9 seconds, which makes it an attractive prospect even now in 2022.

Second Generation

Mazda introduced the second generation Mazda3 in 2008, with an evolutionary design from the first generation. This means that it took a lot of the nuances and applied them to an updated design language. As a result, the second generation mirrored the previous generation in a number of different ways, including the engine options and body styles, as it was again available as a hatchback and four-door fastback. It did however receive a number of different upgrades including on the Mazda 3 MPS, which now was 0.3 seconds faster to 60.

Third Generation

The third generation took a completely new approach to design, moving away from the original styling and adopting Mazda’s Kodo design language. Kodo refers to the Soul of Motion, which means that this model’s design was inspired by the power of human touch, putting life into the design.

This design came with a low drag coefficient which helped to aid fuel economy and better performance. The third generation featured a completely new style of interior, which was more contemporary and minimalist, whilst utilising more premium materials across the range.

Fourth Generation

The fourth generation Mazda3 was introduced in 2019 and came with the best design of any of its predecessors. It features a long wheelbase and the hatchback features a curvaceous rear design that really is like none of its competitors, and the hatchback and saloon now have very different designs allowing them their own identities.

The saloon was no also a true saloon, rather than a fastback and as such it has a more grown up, executive design, compared to its predecessors. Inside, the Mazda3 features an array of luxury features and touches which again help it to stand out from competitors. This generation of Mazda3 was also the first to feature Mazda’s M Hybrid technology, a Mild Hybrid setup which allows for even greater fuel efficiency.

Discover the Mazda3