2008 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 Review

PROS  Good fuel economy, Fun to drive, Powerful engine on MazdaSpeed3

CONS  Awkward radio and navigation controls, Cramped back seat, Ho-hum interior 

The 3 is Mazda's entry into the crowded compact-car segment--a market which has grown significantly more relevant with the recent spike in gasoline prices. It competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, Nissan Sentra, Saturn Astra, and Toyota Corolla.

The 3 is offered as a four-door sedan or a four-door hatchback. It was introduced in 2004 and replaced the Protégé in Mazda's lineup. The 3 comes in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim. There's also a limited-edition high performance model called the MazdaSpeed3, which is available only as a hatchback and comes in Sport and Grand Touring trim.

All Mazda 3's have a four cylinder engine. Models with the "i" prefix get a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter engine and either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Models with the "s" designation get at 156-horsepower 2.3-liter engine and either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. The MazdaSpeed3 gets a turbocharged 263-horsepower 2.3-liter and come only with a six-speed manual transmission.

The value-priced i sport lists for $13,995 and comes with dual front airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, tire-pressure monitor, tilt-telescopic steering wheel with radio controls, front bucket seats, center console, split-folding rear seat, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system, and 195/65HR15 tires.

The i touring list for $16,595 and adds front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, air conditioning, interior air filter, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, driver-seat height and lumbar adjustment, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, fog lights, 205/50VR17 tires, and alloy wheels.

The $17,535 s Sport adds illuminated visor mirrors, cargo cover (hatchback), intermittent rear wiper (hatchback), rear spoiler (hatchback), and 205/55HR16 tires on sedan or 205/50VR17 tires on hatchback. The $18,595 s Touring adds traction control, stability control, and 205/50VR17 tires.

The $20,295 S Grand Touring adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, automatic climate control, trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic HID headlights.

The two MazdaSpeed models build upon the s Touring. The MazdaSpeed3 Sport lists for $22,440 and adds limited-slip differential, uprated brakes, sport suspension, and 215/45YR18 tires. The $24,155 MazdaSpeed3 Touring adds to the Sport automatic climate control, alcantara upholstery, Bose AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, trip computer, and rain sensing wipers.

Significant options include sunroof, navigation system, satellite radio, and remote engine start. All models come with a $650 destination charge and are assembled in Japan.

Get Up and Go  The i's 2.0-liter four provides adequate around-town acceleration, but lacks any real passing punch. With EPA ratings as high as 32 mpg it's the value leader in the lineup and the fuel-economy champ.

The s, with it's 2.3-liter four, is significantly faster, capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in about eight seconds. That's on par with the peppier vehicles in the class and certainly acceptable for most driving needs. Like the smaller 2.0-liter engine in the i models, the 2.3 in the s lacks passing power, do drivers will want to make certain there's ample passing room before darting out into oncoming traffic.

The 2.3 carries EPA ratings of 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with either transmission. Those numbers are impressive and make it an excellent overall choice for buyers looking to balance performance with fuel economy.

Enthusiasts will certainly appreciate the high-strung nature of the turbocharged 2.3 in the MazdaSpeed3. Mazda says it will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds, a number that's believable only if you are pushing the engine. That's because there's quite a bit of turbo lag. There's plenty of power for routine city driving or quick highway passing maneuvers, but drivers have to work to keep the engine above 3000 rpm for best performance. EPA ratings for the MazdaSpeed3 are an impressive 18/26 mpg. Unlike the other engines, the turbocharged motor requires premium-grade gasoline.

All transmissions perform admirably. The manuals have a light and natural shift action and a firm, but not heavy, clutch. Automatics upshift smoothly and downshift promptly.

On the Road  All Mazda 3s feature a ride that favors sport over comfort. In comparison, cars like the Cobalt, Elantra, and Corolla ride with more smoothness. Focus and Civic seem to have about the same firmness, but the Mazda 3 has them all beat for overall composure. The higher-up the model line you go the firmer the ride, thanks to the larger 16- and 17-inch wheels on those models.

The MazdaSpeed3 has a noticeably firmer ride that borders on harsh. There's little bump absorption on broken pavement and the body is prone to bobbing when traversing expressway expansion joints. Given this model's mission, the level of comfort is acceptable.

The 3 really lives up to Mazda's Zoom-Zoom advertising in the handling department. Compared to most others in the class, it's a sports car. Even the base model feels well balanced, nimble, and athletic. Adding to the sporty character are direct and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and a solid body structure. It is a shame that antilock brakes aren't standard on the base model.

The MazdaSpeed3 is by far the best handling car in the class. The sport suspension and uprated brakes elevate onto a plane with the more-expensive Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Another bonus is the limited-slip differential, which helps control torque steer and makes the car more manageable when rounding corners under full throttle.

No model of Mazda 3 is as quiet as class leaders Corolla and Cobalt. That's not to say that the 3 is noisy, still, there's more road and wind noise than you'd expect. The engines are none too quiet either, especially in hard acceleration. MazdaSpeed3 models have even more road and engine noise.

Behind the Wheel  Though Mazda's designers tried to give the 3's interior a sporty feel, the effect isn't entirely successful as there are too many hard plastic surfaces. Most controls fall close at hand and the gauges are easy to read and well lit at night. Audio controls are placed high on the center stack. However, they really aren't that clearly marked. Radio controls, which feature two dials, are simpler and more straightforward.

The optional navigation system pops up from the center of the dash top. Its controls are placed to the left of the console-mounted shifter. They are awkward to reach and even more confusing to operate. I'd only recommend this costly feature if absolutely necessary.

Front-seat passengers are treated to good leg room and above-average head room--even with the optional sunroof. Sport and Touring models have typical compact-car seats, while the MazdaSpeed3 seats get significantly more bolstering. Either way, they are comfortable. The standard tilt and telescopic steering wheel is a nice feature at this price point.

The rear seats aren't as roomy or as comfortable as you might expect. Leg and knee room are especially tight. Rear-seat head room is OK in sedans, better in hatchbacks.

Cargo space is adequate in the sedan, good in the hatchback. Both feature a low liftover and wide opening. The hatchback also adds a rear cargo organizer. All models have split-folding rear seats that fold nearly flat to increase cargo space. Interior storage is compact typical, featuring a decent-sized glove box and center console bin, but few additional cubbies.

Bottom Line  Mazda's done a great job of setting the 3 apart from other compacts. Positives include good fuel economy, fun-to-drive nature, and a solid overall feel. The versatile hatchback only adds to the models uniqueness. On the downside, the 3 isn't terribly roomy or overly powerful--unless you opt for the MazdaSpeed3.

Mazda was smart add to add a two value-priced models at the bottom of the lineup to appease thrifty shoppers. When teamed with the MazdaSpeed3, the 3's lineup now has long legs reaching from $14,000 all the way up to $24,000.

Sure there are other compacts that offer more room, a smoother ride, or more luxury, but the sporty demeanor of the Mazda 3 really sets it apart from the pack. That uniqueness makes it a must see if you are looking for a fun-to-drive yet economical car.