Back in January, Roadshow's Steven Ewing spent a day driving the brand-new 2019 Mazda3 though sunny Southern California, and came away impressed. It's as great to drive as ever, but the new Mazda3 boasts significant improvements in onboard tech, not to mention creature comforts. Overall, it's a better-rounded car, but hasn't lost any of Mazda's characteristic on-road verve.
But while Ewing's test was relegated to the front-wheel-drive car, a big part of the 2019 Mazda3 story is its newly available all-wheel drive. That's what brings me to Lake Tahoe, California, for this second take, to find out whether or not AWD truly elevates the Mazda3's appeal.
Most all-wheel-drive systems are reactive, meaning they don't send power to tractionless wheels until slip is detected. Mazda's i-Activ system is a little bit different.
Dave Coleman, Mazda's manager of vehicle dynamics, says i-Activ AWD monitors things like steering inputs, G-forces and vehicle speed, to get a better idea of how much load is being applied to each tire. "It's figuring out where it should send the torque based on which tire has the most grip available to use that torque," he says.
In other words, rather than waiting for a tire to slip before sending torque its way, Mazda's system is a bit more predictive. It automatically routes power to the wheels that already have the most grip, can predict oversteer or understeer situations and mitigate those situations before the front or rear axles have the chance to be overwhelmed. This methodology makes the Mazda3 more surefooted in all situations.
It's easy to experience the virtues of i-Activ AWD system on a Mazda-designed snow course near Lake Tahoe. Starting with a front-wheel-drive car, then moving to an all-wheel-drive Mazda3, the difference is noticeable, even on all-season tires. With the added four-wheel power, I can move through the snow faster and with more confidence -- the AWD car is much more willing to tuck into corners, even in these slick conditions.
A final run in an AWD Mazda3 equipped with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires provides the best experience -- a reminder to always equip your car with season-appropriate rubber, regardless of drive configuration. With all-wheel drive and proper snow shoes, the Mazda3 attacks a snowy slalom course with total aplomb. If I lived in a place that routinely saw snow, I'd love to have this combination of fun-to-drive capability.
All-wheel drive gives the 2019 Mazda3 an extra layer of dynamic depth on dry roads, too. With 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque coming from a naturally aspirated, 2.5-liter I4 engine, there isn't a huge performance envelope to dig into. But AWD lets you make better use of that power while cornering. The Mazda3 isn't a sports car, but it certainly doesn't mind being driven like one.
As Ewing explained in his first drive, the Mazda3 offers great steering feel at speed, with a nicely tuned chassis that allows for natural-feeling on-road reflexes. All-wheel drive simply lets you carry a bit more speed through each turn, knowing you've got the advantage of power application at all four corners.
Adding AWD comes with a small weight penalty -- 177 pounds on the sedan -- but it's not something you'll truly feel from behind the wheel. However, it's worth noting that adding AWD reduces fuel economy a bit. A front-wheel-drive Mazda3 sedan has EPA-estimated ratings of 27 miles per gallon city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined. Adding AWD drops those numbers to 35, 33 and 28, respectively. If you want the all-wheel-drive hatchback, you're looking at a further reduction, to 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined. Certainly not hugely detrimental, and remember, your mileage may vary.
In addition to all-wheel drive, my second go with the 2019 Mazda3 involved a chance to hop behind the wheel of the hatchback model; Ewing was only able to test the sedan. As you'd expect, the cars drive pretty much identically. The hatchback only weighs 7 pounds more than the sedan.
The cheapest way to get an all-wheel-drive Mazda3 is to opt for the Select-trim sedan. At $24,000, not including $895 for destination, it's $1,400 more expensive than a similarly equipped, front-wheel-drive sedan. Same goes for the Mazda3 hatchback, which starts at $25,000 with all-wheel drive, compared to $23,600 with front-wheel drive.
Comments
Post a Comment