The crisply styled Mazda3 is sporty, fairly roomy and fun to drive, besides being generally frugal with fuel.
That's all many ask for from a front-wheel-drive compact car, and Mazda has broadened the Mazda3's appeal by offering models ranging from economy to red hot.
Redesigned for 2007, the new Mazda3 is little changed for 2008, although "s" Sport models add standard front side air bags and side curtain bags.
The Mazda3 is sold in "i'' and "s'' Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels as a four-door with a regular sedan body style and as a four-door hatchback. Hot rod MazdaSpeed3 Sport and Grand Touring versions come only as a hatchback.
Mazda has given the front-drive Mazda3 a dose of European flair. It's by far the automaker's top-selling car or truck in America. Calendar sales for the Mazda3 through November totaled 110,956 cars -- up from 87,341 in the same year-ago period.
The Mazda3 comes with three four-cylinder engines. The base 2-liter engine generates 148 horsepower, while a 2.3-liter four is a step up with 156 horsepower and more torque. The MazdaSpeed3 has a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine that provides 263 horsepower.
The base engine is best suited for in-town driving, while the non-turbo 2.3 provides lively acceleration in town and on highways.
The turbo engine makes the MazdaSpeed3 a speed demon. It races from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds and tops out at 155 mph.
Mazda says the MazdaSpeed3 "takes everything that made the Mazda3 a success and bumps it up a notch -- more style, more power, more handling, more value." Car and Driver magazine found in a test in its May issue that the MazdaSpeed3 beat the Mini Cooper S, Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen GTI and Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V -- all formidable rivals.
But the MazdaSpeed3, which has unique styling touches, only is sold with a six-speed manual transmission. And it's the most expensive Mazda3 at $22,340 to $24,055. It delivers the lowest fuel economy: 18 mpg in the city and 26 on highways. Premium fuel is required, while other Mazda3 models only need regular-grade gasoline.
The non-turbo Mazda3s, which cost $13,895-$19,895, have higher sales. They come with a five-speed manual or a four- and five-speed automatic transmission.
The most fuel-frugal Mazda3 has the base engine, which provides an estimated 24 mpg in the city and 32 on highways with the manual and 23 and 31 with the four-speed automatic.
I tested a silver $18,425 Mazda3 S Touring hatchback with the 156-horsepower engine. It provides 22 city and 29 highway with both the five-speed manual and five-speed automatic. It calls for lots of revs for the best acceleration, but it revs easily.
My test car's manual transmission shifted well and worked with a light, but long-throw, clutch.
The MazdaSpeed3 is naturally the most fun to drive, but my test car had quick, although somewhat heavy, variable-assist power steering. Handling was sharp, despite the 60-front/40-rear weight distribution. The ride was firm, but supple. Wheels are put at the far corners of the car to lengthen the wheelbase to a rather long (for a compact) 103.9 inches to help the all-independent suspension provide a smoother ride -- besides helping increase interior room.
Stopping distances are short, and the brake pedal has a nice linear action.
The S Touring sedan and hatchback have traction control, anti-skid system and wide 50-series tires on 17-inch wheels, up from taller 65-series tires on 15-inch wheels for the base Mazda3. (The zoomy MazdaSpeed3 wears 45-series tires on 18-inch wheels).
My test S Touring hatchback looked fairly racy, with body color mirrors, "sport-type" bumpers, body side sill extensions and a tailgate spoiler.
This hatchback is pretty well equipped, with air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM/CD with steering wheel audio controls, tilt/telescopic/leather-wrapped wheel, rear center armrest, 60/40 split-folding rear seat and power windows, mirrors and door locks.
Safety items included front side-impact air bags, curtain side bags, anti-lock all-disc brakes, an anti-skid system and traction control.
There's a bunch of options that allow the base Mazda3 to have key items that are standard on higher-line models.
The entry $13,895 "i" Sport sedan's standard items include a tilt/telescopic wheel with radio controls, AM/FM/CD player, intermittent wipers and rear defogger, but only 15-inch wheels. However, the $16,255 i Touring sedan adds air conditioning and power mirrors, windows and locks with remote keyless entry and wider tires on 16-inch wheels.
Large outside door handles helped make it easy to slip into my test car's colorful interior. The supportive driver's bucket seat has a manual height adjustment, but move it more than halfway back and a tall rear passenger will find legroom to be tight. Rear legroom behind a front passenger is fine for a 6-footer, and rear windows lower all the way.
The electroluminescent gauges can be quickly read, and climate and sound system controls are easy to use. Front cupholders are conveniently placed on the console and can be covered when not being used. Front doors have storage pockets.
The sedan's trunk is OK, but the hatchback provides more cargo room. Its cargo area opening is low and wide, and the hatch door smoothly swings up high via hydraulic struts; it can be closed via an indented pulldown area without getting hands dirty on salt/snow-covered outside sheet metal.
Rear seatbacks easily flip forward and sit flat to enlarge the cargo area, and there's a shallow covered storage area in the floor.
The solidly built Mazda3 provides a good blend of sportiness and practicality, with seemingly a model for every compact car buyer.
2008 MAZDA3
PRICE: $13,895-$24,055.
LIKES: Quick with upscale engines. Sporty. Good maneuverability.
DISLIKES: Long-throw clutch. Rather loud engines. Tight legroom with driver's seat pushed back. |