MOTOR RIVALS

Mazda North American Operations announced pricing for the repackaged 2016 Mazda3 four- and five-door models, starting at an MSRP of $17,845.

Mazda3 is available with a 155-horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine in Mazda3 i configuration or a 184-horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine in Mazda3 s vehicles. Either engine can be paired with a six-speed manual or available six-speed automatic transmission and in four- or five-door body styles. Mazda3 comes standard with premium features that are rare among compact cars and available class-above options like adaptive high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights and Mazda Radar Cruise Control. With KODO—Soul of Motion design, Mazda3 stands out in a segment awash with conformity.

For 2016, the Mazda3 is equipped with a standard backup camera on all models. The popular Mazda3 i Sport kicks off the lineup with more standard features while lowering MSRP by $600 to $17,845 for the i Sport sedan with six-speed manual transmission and $18,895 for the six-speed automatic. Additional standard equipment includes power windows with a driver-side one-touch up/down feature, power door locks, 16-inch steel wheels with covers, dual-power folding exterior mirrors, a tilt and telescoping adjustable steering wheel, air conditioning with pollen air filter and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

Additionally, Mazda3 i Sport models come with MAZDA CONNECT^TM, a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth phone pairing and audio streaming, cruise control, trip computer, push button start, remote keyless entry and map lights.

New for Mazda3 i Sport is the available Preferred Equipment Package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, bright beltline trim, heated body-color dual power door mirrors with integrated turn signal lamps, premium cloth-trimmed sport seats, a rear-seat armrest with cupholders, auto on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and  Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

The mid-level Mazda3 Touring features 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, halogen fog lights, heated body-color exterior door mirrors with integrated turn signals, bright beltline trim, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, moonroof, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped hand brake handle, shift knob and three-spoke steering wheel with contrast stitching, a rear folding center armrest with cupholders, premium cloth-trimmed sport seats, and a rear spoiler on sedan models.

For 2016, the new Mazda3 Touring Popular Equipment Package is available, adding an auto-dimming interior mirror, dual-zone (driver and front passenger) automatic climate control system, Bose^®nine-speaker surround sound system with Centerpoint^® 2 and AutoPilot^® 2, SiriusXM satellite radio with four-month subscription, a CD player and shark fin antenna.

Anchoring Mazda3’s lineup is the Grand Touring model, which is available with either engine in sedan or five-door body styles. Mazda3 i Grand Touring comes with leatherette seating surfaces, while Mazda3 s Grand Touring has leather seats. Additionally, both Mazda3 Grand Touring models come with navigation and heated seats; Mazda3 s Grand Touring adds adaptive xenon HID headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Top-trim Mazda3 s Grand Touring models with the Technology Package include i-ELOOP, Mazda’s brake-energy regeneration system that captures kinetic energy to power accessories and help increase fuel-efficiency compared with other SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter models, as well as the full suite of i-ACTIVSENSE features including Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart City Brake Support, High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning System, and Forward Obstruction Warning.

The seventh-generation Golf goes on sale in dealerships this August, celebrating 40 years since Volkswagen’s iconic hatchback debuted in the United States. The 2015 Golf will be available with two or four doors and with two powertrains: the EA888 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injection four-cylinder TSI® engine mated to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission; and the new EA288 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injection four-cylinder TDI® Clean Diesel, fitted with a six-speed manual or a six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is the first time the entire Golf lineup will feature powerful and efficient turbocharged engines. The Golf TSI gains up to 6 mpg (or 20 percent) on manufacturer estimated highway fuel economy compared to the 2.5-liter model it replaces.

This new-generation Golf has grown in size yet dropped in weight by up to 79 pounds (depending on model), despite a plethora of new and upscale features. The new generation introduces Volkswagen’s versatile MQB (modular transverse matrix) vehicle platform to the U.S. market—a significant step in standardizing, simplifying, and improving the design and creation of products across the entire Volkswagen Group portfolio. The MQB architecture allows for a more cab-backward design, which gives the new Golf a more upscale appearance while retaining classic design cues from the Mk 1 and Mk 4 Golf models.

The new Golf is better equipped than its predecessor, no matter the trim level. The limited-availability entry Golf Launch Edition two-door with manual transmission starts at $17,995 (plus $820 destination and handling) and adds the following over the outgoing Golf 2.5L: a turbocharged and direct-injection four cylinder as the base engine, along with a standard 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth® connectivity, a Media Device Interface (MDI) with iPod® integration, and SiriusXM® Satellite Radio. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System (APCBS) is standard on all Golf models, while available new comfort and convenience features include the Fender® Premium Audio System and Climatronic® automatic air conditioning. Fans of Volkswagen’s TDI Clean Diesel engines will be thrilled that the price of the base TDI model has been reduced by more than the $3,000 compared with the previous-generation Golf TDI model.

At launch, Volkswagen will also offer the Golf Sport model. About 650 of these SE four-door models will be built, equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission. Offered in either Pure White or Platinum Gray, the Sport model is visually enhanced with a striking bodykit that includes a front lip spoiler, side skirts, a rear valence, a larger rear spoiler, and chrome exhaust tips. Pricing starts at $26,930, plus $820 destination and handling.