Details of Cars

Mazda 3: four generations of Mazda’s compact car

MAZDA

Mazda 3 BK five-door hatchback
A first-generation Mazda 3 hatchback. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Mazda 3 is Mazda’s compact car, made since 2003 over four generations as a five-door hatchback and a four-door saloon. It replaced the Familia/323 and was sold in Japan as the Axela until 2019. By January 2019 cumulative sales had passed six million.

Mazda 3 at a glance

Mazda 3 key facts
On sale since June 2003
Generations four: BK, BL, BM and BP
Japanese name Mazda Axela, until 2019
Replaced Mazda Familia / 323 / Protegé
First generation BK, 2003–2008, Ford global C1 platform
Second generation BL, from late 2008, Skyactiv from 2012
Third generation BM, 2013, first with the Kodo design language
Fourth generation BP, 2019, with Skyactiv-X
Performance version Mazdaspeed3 / Mazda3 MPS until 2013
Cumulative sales over 6 million by January 2019

History of the Mazda 3

The first-generation BK was unveiled at the 60th Frankfurt Motor Show on 10 September 2003 and went on sale in Japan in October as the Axela. It used Ford’s global C1 platform, shared with the European Ford Focus and the Volvo S40, and was previewed by the MX-Sportif concept. Design work began in 1999 under chief designer Hideki Suzuki across Mazda’s studios in California, Frankfurt and Hiroshima; by 2001 Hasip Girgin’s proposal was chosen and he spent six months in Hiroshima finishing it. The car came as a four-door fastback saloon and a five-door hatchback, with MacPherson struts at the front and a Ford-designed E-link multi-link rear suspension. Euro NCAP gave it four stars, which Mazda answered by making six airbags standard. In 2006 the Mazda3 was the second best-selling car in Canada.

Mazda 3 BL five-door hatchback
A second-generation Mazda 3 hatchback. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The first generation was built in Japan from June 2003 to November 2008 and sold in North America as a 2004–2009 model. It was also assembled in Colombia from 2004 to 2014, in Iran from 2006 to 2010 and in China from 2007 to 2013. The second generation arrived late in 2008 for the 2009 model year, the saloon at the Los Angeles show and the hatchback at Bologna; from the 2012 model year Mazda added Skyactiv technology with a stiffer body, direct injection and a six-speed transmission.

The third generation came in mid-2013 for 2014 and was the first Mazda3 with the Kodo design language and a full Skyactiv range, as well as the first made by Mazda independently. The fourth generation was unveiled in November 2018 at the Los Angeles show for 2019, with updated Skyactiv engines including the spark-controlled compression ignition unit sold as Skyactiv-X.

Design and features

  • Ford C1 platform: the first generation shared its base with the Ford Focus and Volvo S40.
  • Two bodies throughout: a four-door saloon and a five-door hatchback in every generation.
  • Skyactiv: from 2012, with a stiffer body, direct injection and a new six-speed gearbox.
  • Kodo design: the third generation introduced Mazda’s current styling language.
Mazda 3 BP saloon
A fourth-generation Mazda 3 saloon. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Mazda 3 versions

  • BK (2003–2008): first generation, C1 platform, saloon and hatchback.
  • BL (2008–2013): second generation, Skyactiv from 2012.
  • BM (2013–2018): third generation, Kodo design and full Skyactiv.
  • BP (2019–): fourth generation with Skyactiv-X.

The Mazda 3 replaced the Mazda 323, and the performance versions share their engines with the Mazdaspeed3. More Mazdas are in the Mazda collection.

Sources

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