mazda3 | specialprojects

ODD SPOT: Mazda design chief Laurens van den Acker added the smiley face to Mazda’s models then left the company. He’s now at Renault

For Australians spending their own money there’s only one choice: the Mazda3. NEIL DOWLING reports. Nov 2011

“FUN to drive” and “family car” together in the same sentence isn’t something you expect in a car test.
But then the rather conventional Mazda3 isn’t what you expect in a multitude of ways.
It’s the biggest single seller to private buyers in Australia.
In numbers, it was just pipped by the Corolla in 2010 and was soundly beaten by Commodore — but both are buoyed by hefty fleet sales. Mazda has no such fleet advantage.
So why is this seven-year-old car so successful? Because everything about it works. It is the right size, right price, looks good — even the gaping smile of the grille doesn’t dissuade buyers — and has an excellent range of must-have features.
Two of my daughters drive these and I wasn’t involved in the choice. Ask them why and they say they saw them on the road, liked the style and liked the Mazda name. Better, they paid for them without hurting my bank account.

VALUE: Excellent. This is a top car — Carsguide tested the hatch but the sedan is the same price — with an eight-model choice from the $21,300 manual Neo to the $33,575 SP25 Luxury auto. There’s a diesel and a turbocharged petrol model.
The Maxx Sport six-speed manual tested is $26,360 and is a slick drive for those who enjoy a clutch. Add $2000 if you want an auto. This model gets satnav, body kit, Bluetooth, six-disc CD player, cruise control and switches on the steering wheel.
This model is the best in the range in terms of value for money.

DESIGN: Practical, distinctive and, if I’m harsh, a bit nose-heavy. But it’s neat and attractive, especially from the rear, and is the perfect size for every buyer, from a couple and two children, to singles and retirees.
Boot space is very good with fold-down and split rear seats giving the hatch a lot of versatility. However, the spare tyre is a space-saver.
The cabin is simple, has oodles of perceived quality plus ooh-aah features such as the red dash lights at night, the little colourful satnav screen and the “hello’ and “goodbye’ messages on the audio when you switch the car on or off.
A decade or two ago that would be corny. Now it’s cute, personally bonding the little Mazda with its owner.

TECHNOLOGY: There’s not much that really comes out and hits you with a stick. But that’s because one of the Mazda3’s biggest strengths is its simplicity.
The platform goes back to a shared arrangement with Volvo (S40) and Ford (Focus) but each then tweaks suspension and steering to suit their desired markets.
The engine is all Mazda and comes from the same family that propels the Mazda6 and CX-7. It is to be superseded with the Sky-Activ engine later this year but that’s a completely different story.

SAFETY: The best news of all for you or your family is the five-star crash rating of the Mazda3.
It also comes with all the electronic acronyms to help improve your chances of avoiding an accident and, as a last resort, to protect occupants from harm in a collision.
Standard is electronic stability control, six airbags, ABS on four discs and
brake assist.

DRIVING: Behind the wheel this feels like home. Its seating position is damn near spot-on, visibility is good and it never feels cramped. There’s plenty of room for large people.
The “fun to drive” aspect is related to the very good response of the engine, the positive feel of the steering, the comfort and support of the seats and the flat cornering stance.
The engine’s performance is aided by the slick six-speed manual gearbox and the well-spread ratios. So light is the gearchange and the clutch action that drivers now accustomed to an automatic could comfortably make the transition.
Mazda has done work on this second-gen Mazda3 to correct the cabin noise of the previous model. It’s heaps better and on the Maxx Sport has been reduced to match the levels of other cars. Apparently low-profile tyres were the culprits.

VERDICT: Value for money is the theme here.
It’s been around for a while yet Mazda has cleverly refreshed the shape and will continue that in the next model due this year.
The Mazda3 is not only good value but should have strong interest on the second-hand market. It is a difficult new car to overlook.

specs

Mazda3 Maxx Sport

Star: 4/5

PRICE: $26,360
RESALE: 68 per cent
SERVICE INTERVAL: 15,000km/12 months

ECONOMY: 7.9L/100km; 187g/km CO2
EQUIPMENT: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC
CRASH RATING: 5 star
ENGINE: 2.0-litre petrol, 108kW/182Nm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
BODY: 5-door, 5-seat
DIMENSIONS: 4460 (L); 1755mm (W); 1470mm (H); 2640mm (WB)
WEIGHT: 1294kg

VERDICT:

WE LOVE: Easy to drive and own, comfort, price
WE LOATHE: Space-saver spare, ubiquity

others to consider
Hyundai i30 2.0SR
Star: 3.5/5
PRICE: $26,590

ENGINE: 2.0-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 105kW/186Nm
TRANS: 5-spd manual, front-wheel drive
BODY: 5-door hatch
THIRST: 7.2L/100km, 95 RON, 170g/km CO2
“Well-built hatch — deserved ’07 Carsguide Car of The Year”

Holden Cruze 1.4iTI
Star: 4/5

PRICE: $26,490
ENGINE: 1.4-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol, 103kW/200Nm
TRANS: 6-spd auto, front-wheel drive
BODY: 4-door sedan
THIRST: 6.9L/100km, 95 RON, 153g/km CO2
“Hard to see how this could be better-suited to its purpose”

Golf 90TSI
Star: 4/5

PRICE: $24,990

ENGINE: 1.4-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol, 90kW/200Nm
TRANS: 6-spd manual, front-wheel drive
BODY: 5-door hatch
THIRST: 6.4L/100km, 95 RON, 149g/km CO2
“Eco-master 1.4-litre Golf with more than adequate performance”

Big on safety, low on running costs. The base-model Mazda3 is a winner. NEIL DOWLING REPORTS

DO you buy a second hand Commodore for $25,000 or a new Mazda3 Neo automatic for $22,330 plus on-road costs? Stack up the pros and cons: The Commodore is a big car that is easy to fix, is safe, has a bit of guts and can tow a caravan. Carsguide website shows a few available with 45,000km and some dealers add a three-year warranty. But the V6 engine and automatic transmission create a thirsty mix at 9.5 L/100km and, perhaps, the Commodore is too big for city life. The Mazda3 Neo wins for practical size, easy to drive manners, safety and fuel consumption of 8.2 L/100km. But it may be too small for a family and the bling factor is tempered by being a base model and the fact there’s a brazillion of Mazda3s on the road. But the market wins. In the seven months of 2012, the Mazda3 has outsold all Commodore models by a factor of 10 to seven. It’s a solid, safe, stylish and well-equipped replacement to the historic Aussie six – even in its base model.

VALUE: The $22,330 Neo has a five-speed auto (the manual is $20,330) and lots of features to keep the family happy. This isn’t the fuel-sipping SP20 Skyactiv version – which costs $27,990 and I can’t see lots of value here – but the perky entry-level model. You doesn’t get the sat-nav of other models. On paper, the sat-nav is a nice touch. In reality, the screen is too small to be practical. Tip: Skip the sat-nav and spend $250 and get a decent plug-in Navman or Tom-Tom unit that has a bigger screen and is transferable. Features include alloy wheels, six-speaker CD/iPod audio (but no USB or Bluetooth), cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, airconditioning and a trip computer. Do you need much more?

DESIGN: It’s only when you drive one that you realise these things breed like rabbits. I was in a fast-food drive-through queue the other day – I was lost, honestly – and of the five cars, three were Mazda3s. Which shows either the popularity of the car or that owners are unable to cook for themselves. The Mazda3 sedan tested here is compact, neat, practical but subjectively, not especially pretty. The nose is too long and the grin too smarmy, for example. The cabin is way too black. The Neo’s cabin is so sombre you’d sink to the depths of considering playing Nickelback on the six-speaker audio.

TECHNOLOGY: It’s simple stuff and, for buyers who aren’t engine savvy or don’t care too much for technical driving skills, this is exactly how it should be. The 2-litre engine pumps an acceptable 108kW/182Nm but don’t jump on the couch about the power output because it arrives at an ear-piercing 6500rpm. The saviour is the five-speed auto – which has a manual mode – which is smooth and perfectly matches the engine. Four-wheel disc brakes, independent suspension and electric-assist steering are standard fare in this market.

SAFETY: This is one of the main reasons you buy this car. The five-star crash rating, six airbags and full suite of electronic aids is your insurance that does its utmost to protect your family. The spare is a space-saver though Mazda will sell you a real wheel.

DRIVING: For a bog-standard model, the Neo is quiet, smooth and comfortable. The audio doesn’t sound like music being played down a funnel – a bonus – and the view from the driver’s seat is clear, simple and, yes, sombre. The logical placement of switches and gauges endears the car quickly to drivers while the height-adjustable seat and tilt-telescopic steering wheel suits all sizes. The engine is quiet and, in comparison to the Skyactiv, punchy. It’ll get smartly away from the traffic lights and slip up quickly through the five gears. Though the steering is electric assist, it is one of the better ones around in terms of road feel. The seats are generally comfortable – perhaps a bit soft – and road noise is subdued in the front but a little bit more noticeable in the rear. The Neo benefits from higher-profile 195/65R15 tyres which have more rubber – compared with the low-profile tyres on higher-spec Mazda3 models – to soften road noise.

VERDICT: Surprisingly good model that skips the extras and presents as an honest, affordable and safe family transport.

MAZDA3 NEO

STARS 3.5

Price: $22,330 Warranty: 3 years/100,000km Resale: 56% Service interval: 10,000km, 6 months Safety rating: 5-star Spare: Space-saver Engine: 2-litre 4-cyl petrol; 108kW/182Nm Transmission: 5-spd auto, front drive Body: 4.5m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h) Weight: 1304kg Thirst: 8.2 1/100km; 91RON; 193g/km Co2

Three Others to consider.

FORD FOCUS 1.6 AMBIENTE Star: 3.5 PRICE: $24,290 ENGINE: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl petrol; 92kW/159Nm TRANS: 6-spd dual-clutch auto, front drive BODY: 4-door sedan THIRST: 6.5L/100km; 91RON; CO2 153g/km “Thai-build Focus is an enjoyable drive but weakens with load. Fuel economy and spacious interior is best here”

HOLDEN CRUZE 1.8CD Star: 3 PRICE: $23,790 ENGINE: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol; 104kW/176Nm TRANS: 6-spd auto, front drive BODY: 4-door sedan THIRST: 7.4L/100km; 91RON; CO2 175g/km “Nice sedan with responsive handling. Roomy and comfortable but 1.8 isn’t the best Cruze engine. Get the 1.4”

HONDA CIVIC VTi-L Star: 3.5 PRICE: $23,990 ENGINE: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol; 104kW/174Nm TRANS: 5-spd auto, front drive BODY: 4-door sedan THIRST: 6.7L/100km; 91RON; CO2 158g/km “Pretty 2012 car is better built and rides better than its predecessor. It has the best cabin here. Performance is average but makes up for it with good economy”

Test: 2012 Mazda3

Test – Mazda3 Neo