Third-generation Mazda Axela (BM) and Axela Hybrid (BY)

It's been 10 years since Mazda introduced the Axela (known worldwide as the Mazda 3) and on paper this is somewhat made to compete against the Corolla and the Lancer. It's made to follow the footsteps of the legendary Mazda Familia and carries on the trademark zoom-zoom tradition as other Mazdas do. Now, there is a third-generation of Mazda's Corolla fighter in the making and for this new generation, the all new Axela is all about choices.

2014 Mazda Axela

Now, the big story about the brand new, third-generation Mazda Axela is all about how the customers want and for Mazda, the new model is available in three powerplants such as petrol, diesel, and for the most unexpected twist...a hybrid. Yes, Mazda broke the whole "not a drag to drive" promise because since Mazda introduced the SKYACTIV Technology two years ago, they have strongly promise that they would be as fuel-efficient as a hybrid or an EV without sacrificing its fun-to-drive characteristics. The whole SKYACTIV Technology started with the Demio, then the previous second-generation Axela, last year's CX-5 and present third-generation Atenza, as well as this year's Premacy and Biante. It keeps on expanding while keeping the whole portfolio complete such as SKYACTIV-G, SKYACTIV-DRIVE, SKYACTIV-BODY, SKYACTIV-CHASSIS, SKYACTIV-D, and SKYACTIV-MT. The current Demio introduced SKYACTIV-G, previous Axela introduced SKYACTIV-DRIVE, CX-5 introduced SKYACTIV-BODY, SKYACTIV-CHASSIS, and SKYACTIV-D, and present generation Atenza introduced SKYACTIV-MT. Wow, I am now on the edge of my seat recapping this but anyway...SKYACTIV-HYBRID?! What's it all about? Has Mazda lost its mojo? Has the company that once make fun cars gone...boring? Let's find out more about the new Hybrid model but first...

The entry-level models are offered with the smaller SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine (codenamed P5-VPS) which develops 111PS of power and 144Nm of torque. In the sedan model, fuel economy comes at around 19.6kmpl while the Sport hatchback gets to 19.4kmpl as calculated in JC08 Mode standards. Exclusively on the Axela Sport hatchback is the more powerful SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine (codenamed PE-VPR), which develops 155PS of power and 196Nm. Mated with a well-balanced SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed gearbox, fuel economy is a promising 19.0kmpl, making it the most fuel-efficient 2.0L engine ever made and since I can't find any Japanese hatchback with a 2.0L engine on it, I think this variant doesn't need the competition for sure, apparently. Also exclusive to the Sport is the CX-5-derived SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engine, which can be offered this January, and this diesel engine can be mated with either a 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE gearbox and the Roadster-inspired, driver favorite, 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT gearbox first applied on last year's Atenza. When mated with the automatic, it gives about 19.6kmpl of fuel economy but as for the manual gearbox-mated variant...well, results to be determined but I think it will be below the estimated 22kmpl gap. That's a theory.

Now, let's talk about the sedan-exclusive SKYACTIV-HYBRID variant. This is not the best Mazda for the enthusiast. It's more fuel efficient than the SKYACTIV-D 2.2L engine, more powerful than the SKYACTIV-G 1.5L engine, and of course, hybrids are Japan's inventions. Of course, Japan first invented the hybrid car since the first Toyota Prius of late 1997. Surprisingly though, the hybrid powerplant was derived from Toyota, in case you heard of it. The key target for the Axela Hybrid is the Toyota Corolla Axio Hybrid, launched in Japan earlier this year, so let's see how this thing stacks up....

The SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine, which produces a short 99PS of power, is connected to a 60kW electric motor and an old-fashioned nickel metal battery. Because it's mated to a CVT gearbox and the reason why JDMs of today have gone CVT-crazy is because of good fuel economy at low speeds, easy start-up, and smooth shifting, fuel-economy is 30.8kmpl, meaning that's about 2.2kmpl less than the Axio Hybrid but this car's no fool because the combined power output of 136PS is better than the Axio Hybrid's.

Of course, being the next to be a full-SKYACTIV model since the CX-5 and the new Atenza, the new Axela is not fully prepared without SKYACTIV-BODY which is 8-percent lighter and 30-percent more rigid than the previous model, and the SKYACTIV-CHASSIS which handles like a Mazda Roadster but with a bit more feel. The result is a more of a game-changer in the eyes of a driver and it feels like some lucky guy walking through a pool of custard. I like it.

2014 Mazda Axela interior

While we're still in the whole "Be a driver" initiative from Mazda, the new Axela has numerous safety features that will keep the driver noticed on the road ahead. It even has i-ACTIVSENSE, which is a series of Mazda's advanced safety technologies designed to aid the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions and reducing the severity of accidents when they cannot be avoided. It ranges from Radar Cruise Control, Forward Obstruction Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Vehicle Monitoring, High-Beam Control, Adaptive Front-lighting, Smart Brake Support, Smart City Brake Support, and Acceleration Control.

Connectivity aside, the new Axela comes with an all new MAZDA CONNECT where, at the turn of the dial, allows you to stay connected with some apps, navigation, and entertainment. You may end up posting Facebook status updates and Twitter tweets while on the move or you can even listen to streaming music courtesy of Aha by Karman.

Mazda Connect

What is Aha? For starters, Aha Radio starts on your smartphone with an app where you can easily access and organize your favorite content from the web into personalized, live, on-demand stations.  Once you get the Aha app, it syncs the experience to your car. It's quite amazing that Mazda's infotainment system gets a big makeover and its new operating system allows you to connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone and can easily be updated without the need to swap out hardware. Those options are brought to life through an optional Bose premium audio system complete with Centerpoint2 virtual surround sound playback and ambient noise compensation. Do really like this new gig? Thought so but whatever it is, it's gonna be worth addicting in the ever enthusiastic eyes of today's computer geeks.

So, another scientific investigation has been covered for now and for this new Axela, it seems that the new infotainment system really hooks me because of my fondness of infotainment systems but if I had a criticism, I would say that it's about as advanced as an Android phone, which I don't have one and never will. If I want something more of a driver-focused, I would go for the Sport hatchback model because it has all the right ingredients of a perfect weekend car where I can go to the shops for miles but when its range I'm after, guess I have to stick through the rather disappointing Hybrid model. Can't believe there is now a hybrid Mazda offered. Remember the promise "Not a Hybrid, Not an Electric, Not a Drag to Drive"? Well, you've just made a Mazda that is a drag to drive and that is none other than your first ever Axela Hybrid. Because this is Japan, home of the hybrids and the first nation to create hybrids, expect orders of this hybrid-powered Axela to exceed the sales target. I really do mean it.

Price begins at 1,711,500 Yen for the sedan and Sport while the Hybrid starts at 2,373,000 Yen.

Available colors: Soul Red Premium Metallic, Titanium Flash Mica, Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Blue Reflex Mica, Jet Black Mica, Meteor Grey Mica, Aluminum Metallic, and Snow Flake White Pearl Mica.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation