Mazda 3 G25 Astina Vs Volkswagen Golf Highline Comparison Review
But that was then. This pair bristle with quality surfaces, seductive instrumentation, long standard equipment lists, and painstaking attention to detail. Separating their individual attributes isn鈥檛 difficult, but declaring a clear winner? That will prove not so simple. But let鈥檚 give it go. We鈥檒l kick off with the Mazda 3, as it has been a regular podium seller since bursting on the scene in 2004, and the series from Japan is today deeply ensconced in our national streetscape. Toyota鈥檚 Corolla might pip it for sheer sales, but more private buyers choose the diminutive Mazda, and - as a show of pride in their purchases - in higher model grades too. Aussies have been won over with high quality, driveability, efficiency, affordability, and - vitally - after-sales care. Consistency has been the key to the Mazda鈥檚 success. Mazda is so confident this BP-series redesign is the finest C-segment small car going, it has bravely pushed prices firmly into Volkswagen Golf territory.
Here we鈥檝e plumped for the richest of the six 3 model grades available. 37,990 (plus on-roads) is powered by a normally aspirated engine - a newly overhauled, 139kW/252Nm, 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit, driving the front wheels via the same six-speed automatic. 36,490. Released in 2013 - though a thorough 鈥楳k 7.5鈥?facelift brought worthwhile updates in 2017 - the former Wheels COTY winner has famously seen off most challengers since. Additionally, the VW comes with the luxury of space. Entry and egress is easier than the Mazda, material quality remains unsurpassed, functionality is unimpeachable and the ambience draws you in. The facelift has kept the tech current and nothing here beats the Golf for all-round vision, seat comfort, room for five adults and overall utility. It is mind-blowing how ahead of the pack the Mk7 was in 2013. The sheer ubiquity of the VW鈥檚 dated cookie-cutter dash and some minor hidden switchgear are perhaps the sumptuous Highline鈥檚 only true shortcomings.
In terms of performance, neither of our test examples achieved what we know them to be capable of, partly because both were very green in terms of ultra-low kilometres, and partly because our test strip was damp. But the gap in the acceleration numbers is not substantial. The Golf hit 100km/h from a standing start in 8.3sec, the Mazda was just 0.3sec adrift at 8.6sec. Later, both grew exponentially faster as the kilometres piled on. However, the turbo-fed Golf always felt perkier as well as sweeter at lower speeds than our tight atmo 3, which required a concerted right foot and lots of revs for really rapid getaways. But in the 80-120km/h increment, there鈥檚 virtually nothing in it: 5.7sec for the Mazda; 5.6sec for the VW. It鈥檚 the Golf鈥檚 torque at lower revs that makes it feel the more responsive of the pair; only when fully wrung out does the gap between them close. Likewise, there鈥檚 not a huge difference in fuel consumption. But what about dynamic differences? After all, there are key hardware variations.
The Astina uses a simpler torsion beam rear suspension and wears size 18-inch rubber; the Golf has independent rear suspension and runs on smaller 17-inch wheels and tyres. Riding on 17s, the Golf prevails with a softer ride, but the Highline鈥檚 body motion isn鈥檛 as contained as the Astina鈥檚, and likewise the VW鈥檚 steering is both less instantly responsive and not quite as tactile. But only comparatively, for the ageing VW still steers sweetly, and is a supremely secure and relaxed high-speed grand tourer, carving through the apexes with entertaining precision, self-assurance and imperious dignity. We鈥檝e long said the seventh Golf iteration is one of the world鈥檚 best vehicles and all the car anybody would ever need, and little changes, highlighting the monumental achievements of this 2012 design. The 110TSI Highline may be marginally more expensive, but it brings Audi levels of tech, quality and desirability for much less. Yep, that鈥檚 why this VW is a bargain, despite the seemingly hefty sticker price. And if you鈥檝e regularly got passengers in the back - and you genuinely care about their comfort and visibility back there - that alone could be enough for the Golf to be the better car for you. No doubt the Golf 7 served as a muse for Mazda when developing the latest 3, for the result is its own brilliant interpretation of what a 2020s hatch should be, rather than yet another carbon copy. The latest 3 possesses possibly Mazda鈥檚 best-ever small-car cabin - it鈥檚 certainly the quietest. That lovely steering wheel, fine seating, great ergonomics, gorgeous instrumentation, premium controls and fastidious quality all set the cocooning Astina apart. However, entry/egress out back is limited due to a lower roofline and smaller door apertures, vision out is limited in every direction and back-seat legroom also lags behind the Golf鈥檚 despite scalloped front seatbacks. Spare is a space saver, but boot volume is just 295L. And yes, you need to work the engine enthusiastically to get the best out of it.
