New Mazda3 Hatchback & Fastback priced from £16,695

The new Mazda 3 – hatchback and fastback – will arrive in the UK in January 2014 with prices starting at £16,695, rising to £23,345.

Mazda revealed the new Mazda3 back in June, but didn’t manage to come up with prices for the UK. But now, with the Mazda 3 going on sale and due to arrive in the UK in January, Mazda has decided what it’s going to charge.

The starting point for the new Mazda3 will be £16,695 for the 1.5 litre SKYACTIV-G petrol 100ps SE hatchback rising to £23,345 for the diesel 2.2-litre 150ps Sport Nav Auto hatchback. Fortunately, Mazda has decided it’s best not to plaster the name on the boot.

In total there are 36 new Mazda3 models (hatchback and fastback) with 21 hatchbacks and 15 fastbacks with five trim levels on offer – SE, SE Nav, SE-L, SE-L Nav and Sport Nav.

Under the skin lies a range of SkyActiv petrol engines, with the 1.5 litre offering 99bhp and 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds, a 2.0 litre petrol with 118bhp and o-62mph in 8.9 seconds, or 8.2 seconds if you choose the 162bhp version. There’s also a 2.2 litre diesel with 148bhp and 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds.

All the new Mazda3s get Smart City Brake, Hill Hold Assist and internet connectivity with Mazda’s Aha’ and ‘Stitcher’ app integration.

SE models come with 16″ alloys, AirCon, heated fodlin electric rdoor mirrors, 7″ touchscreen, USB and Bluetooth with the SE-L offering Bi-xenons, LED running lights, Climate, front fogs, auto lights and wipers, heated front seats and rear parking sensors.

The top of the range Sport Nav comes with 18″ alloys, Adaptive Front Lighting, Bose, heads-up display, Nav, front parking sensors and the option of leather.

It’s  strong offering from Mazda, and the Mazda3 now looks even more capable of costing the VW Golf and Ford Focus lost sales.

The new Mazda3 will arrive in Mazda’s UK showrooms in January 2014.