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By EWAN
KENNEDY
13 April 2009
At
a time when the overall Australian car market is suffering from a
lack of buyer interest it came as a surprise that the about-to-be
superseded Mazda3 sold out so quickly. To the extent that the new
model has had to be rushed down under ahead of schedule.
Or perhaps it's not such a surprise after all, because Mazda
buyers are a knowledgeable group who realise the runout phase is
the best time to get in for a good deal. The same thing happened
with the Mazda 323 (the predecessor to the Mazda3) when it reached
the end of its life in 2004. Younger car buyers may be well
advised to heed the reasoning of this older and wiser group...
Australians buy more Mazdas per head of population than people in
any other country. So Australia's Mazda importer had a lot of
clout when asking the factory to supply the new 3 ahead of
schedule.
The frontal treatment is very Zoom-Zoom, to use Mazda's
advertising slogan, with a huge radiator grille, cheekily shaped
headlights and a strongly ridged bonnet. The large grille is a bit
of a cheater, though. Despite appearing so large as to harm
aerodynamics its actually quite small inside and air is
carefully managed to give just enough to the engine air intake and
cooling system.
Interestingly, the standout tail-lights, that seem to be there
purely for styling reasons, actually act as part of the
aerodynamic package.
As before, Mazda3 is offered in five-door hatch or four-door sedan
format. Both bodies are now larger, being almost the size of the
old Mazda 626 in many dimensions. Part of the increased length of
the 3 has gone into providing crash protection, both for
occupants and pedestrians, but interior room is good, with a back
seat that can be used by children well into their teenage years.
Of particular interest is the new high-performance model, the
Mazda3 SP25. Its 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine (122 kW / 227 Nm)
is borrowed from the larger Mazda6, but with engine mapping
changes to give it sportier throttle response.
We spent quite a bit of time behind the wheel of an SP25 during
the press launch of the new 3 range in the vicinity of the
Albury-Wodonga region straddling the NSW-Victoria border.
There it proved excitingly satisfying motoring with plenty of
engine torque, highly responsive turn in, strong braking and a
generally willing feel designed to please the driver. The
six-speed gearbox, which incidentally is now used on all manual
models, has well-selected ratios and there was usually one that
was right for the occasion.
Our next test drive was in the entry-level Mazda3 Neo with its
2.0-litre engine (108 kW / 182 Nm) and a five-speed automatic
transmission. Naturally we knew it would feel down on power
compared with the SP, but were disappointed in its performance.
Perhaps it was still too new to give its best, but we really
expected more from it. In six-speed manual format, tested next,
the 2.0-litre was far more acceptable to our tastes.
Ride comfort and overall refinement was good in all three cars and
road-tyre noise on rough back roads and coarse-chip surfaces is
generally acceptable.
Mazda3 Neo starts at $21,990 and has air conditioning, a
sophisticated trip computer, and MP3 compatible four-speaker audio
system with an auxiliary jack.
Next up the list is the Maxx (from $24,990), with 15-inch alloy
wheels, a six-disc in-dash CD player with six speakers, cruise
control, and a rear spoiler on the hatchback.
The popular Maxx Sport (from $ 27,690) gains a body kit, 16-inch
alloys, satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and a
leather trimmed steering wheel and shift lever.
On the safety front, all models have ESP (Electronic Stability
Program) and ABS. The Neo has two airbags, all others have four.
The outgoing Mazda3 has consistently been in the top-four overall
in sales on the Australian market, actually managing the top spot
on one occasion. This new, even more stylish and refined, model
should further cement a place in the hearts of many buyers looking
for a combination of quality, image and real driving pleasure.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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