Staring intensely at the Mazda 3, a car that not only ferries you and your companions from A to B but also has the Herculean task of swallowing your luggage, one might wonder, 'How much stuff can this beast actually take?' Well, step into my office, and let's dissect the evolution of the Mazda 3's boot space, and how this model measures up in a world where size matters, well, at least in terms of luggage capacity.
Over the years, Mazda 3's boot felt like a box of chocolates; you never quite knew what you're gonna get. Since the car's inception in 2003, its cargo capacity has been more unpredictable than a soap opera plotline. Initially, it started out with a decent 346 liters - enough to handle a sizeable grocery haul. The plot thickened with a slight dip to 340 liters in 2009, only for the story to take a triumphant turn in 2013, stretching to a more spacious 364 liters. But just when you thought Mazda had finally settled down, the current model (introduced in 2019) took a curious step back to 351 liters, coupled with a dramatic cut in capacity with the seats folded, from previous generations’ roomy 1360 liters down to a more modest 1026 liters. Talk about a roller coaster of space evolution!
| Generation year | Boot space |
|---|---|
| 3, Model year 2003 (BK) | 346 l |
| 3, Model year 2006 (BK (1. Facelift)) | 346 l |
| 3, Model year 2009 (BL) | 340 l |
| 3, Model year 2011 (BL (1. Facelift)) | 340 l |
| 3, Model year 2013 (BM) | 364 l |
| 3, Model year 2017 (BM (1. Facelift)) | 364 l |
| 3, Model year 2019 (BP) | 351 l |
| Variant name | Boot space |
|---|---|
| 3 | 351 l |
| 3 Fastback | 450 l |
When lined up against its siblings, the Mazda 3 stands out like a proud middle child. Not as compact as the diminutive Mazda 2 or Mazda 2 Hybrid, which pack 280 and 286 liters respectively, and certainly not playing in the same league as the hefty CX models or the Mazda 6, with the Mazda 6 Kombi and CX-5 offering a whopping 522 liters each. The Mazda 3 finds its cozy spot just above the treetop-sized boots of the MX-5 siblings but below the more capacious Mazda 3 Fastback, which boasts a generous 450 liters. A balanced middle ground, if you will, demonstrating Mazda's tactical variety across its fleet.
| Variant name | Boot space |
|---|---|
| MX-5 RF | 127 l |
| MX-5 Roadster | 130 l |
| CX-80 | 258 l |
| 2 | 280 l |
| 2 Hybrid | 286 l |
| 3 | 351 l |
| MX-30 | 366 l |
| CX-30 | 430 l |
| 3 Fastback | 450 l |
| 6 {sedan} | 480 l |
| 6 Kombi | 522 l |
| CX-5 | 522 l |
| CX-60 | 570 l |
In the vehicular Hunger Games of boot space, how does the Mazda 3 fare against its rivals? Well, standing next to the likes of the Hyundai IONIQ with a champion's chest of 443 liters, the Mazda 3’s offering might seem a tad modest. And while competitors such as the Nissan Pulsar and Infiniti Q30 lurk around the 385 liters mark, making them seem like the Mazda 3's immediate threats, it's the Skoda Scala that laughs last, boasting a cavernous 467 liters. However, not all class competitors are as daunting; the Mazda 3 comfortably surpasses mini warriors like the Fiat 500 and its ilk, proving that in the realm of compact family cars, it finds itself neither at the head of the pack nor trailing behind in despair but cruising comfortably in the median, offering a balance of space that many find just right.
| Car model | Boot space |
|---|---|
| Opel Insignia 2008 | 520 l |
| Lancia Gamma 1980 | 500 l |
| Citroen Xantia 1998 | 480 l |
| Rover 800 1987 | 471 l |
| Skoda Scala 2019 | 467 l |
| Renault R25 1988 | 442 l |
| Infiniti Q30 2015 | 430 l |
| Renault R21 1989 | 420 l |
| Renault R20 1976 | 400 l |
| Fiat Bravo 2007 | 400 l |
| Renault R30 1976 | 400 l |
| Nissan Pulsar 2014 | 385 l |
| Fiat Brava 1998 | 380 l |
| Lancia Delta 2008 | 380 l |
| Mazda 3 2019 | 351 l |
| Audi A3 2000 | 350 l |
| Audi A2 2000 | 350 l |
| Alfa Romeo 145 1994 | 320 l |
| Rover 25 2000 | 304 l |
| VW Fox 2005 | 260 l |
| Opel KARL 2015 | 206 l |
| Fiat 500 2007 | 185 l |
| KIA Picanto 2004 | 127 l |
