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By
EWAN KENNEDY
23 October 2006
Launched in Australia at the start of 2004, the Mazda3 was the
replacement for the long-running Mazda 323 series. It has long since
gained credibility in its own right and spearheads the Mazda fleet in
the sales race. A race that sees the Japanese company frequently sitting
in number four spot overall.
Mazda3 has plenty of style, but there's a lot
more to it than good looks, there's plenty of substance under that
pretty body.
The ‘3 is sold as a four-door sedan and a
five-door hatchback. Though there’s a lot of commonality in the
out of sight parts, the two bodies share no visible external
panels. That differentiation, allied to changes in the feel of the
suspension, give the two models quite a different character.
Cabin space is good without being outstanding
and, as is not unusual in this class of car, you have to juggle
the front seat spacing if you want to carry big adults in the back
seat.
Under the bonnet of the Mazda3 there are three
distinctively different engines. The standard model sedans and
hatches get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. The sporty SP23 has a
2.3-litre version of the same engine. Transmission options are
five-speed manual and four-speed automatic with both engines.
The hotshot of the range, the Mazda3 MPS was
launched in July this year. It’s the subject of this week’s
road test and is something really special in the hot-hatch stakes.
MPS (Mazda Performance Series) version of its
popular ‘3. Interestingly, the engineers have opted to go only
for front-wheel drive models, primarily to keep weight down, but
also because using two-wheel drive can add more character to a
car.
Modern-day electronic stability controls mean
the torque steer, which could have made a front-drive car with a
380 Newton metre engine all but undriveable at times, are able to
tame the car. Specifically, maximum power and torque aren't
generally available in first and second gear.
There's some turbo lag in this engine, indeed
quite a bit at times in the manner of some old-fashioned turbo
engines. But that’s hardly a surprise given the huge output of
the engine. Once the unit gets up to speed it really hunts along
with plenty of verve (dare we say zoom-zoom!) that’s sure to
please those who like plenty of poke in their engines. And we have
to admit to a weakness for engines that operate in exactly this
manner…
On test we averaged about nine to eleven litres
per hundred kilometres in Mazda3 MPS in suburban running.
Consumption dropped to as low as eight litres per hundred in
gentle country cruising. These are exceptionally good figures
considering the nature of this hot little beast.
The Mazda3 MPS has tenacious handling that’s a
real pleasure to experience, with plenty of safe grip and the
ability to help out drivers who may not have a lot of experience
in big-performance cars.
May we suggest that an advanced driving course
is useful for anyone getting behind the wheel of a machine like
this? You will certainly enjoy the experience and will finish up a
more competent and safer driver as a result.
As well as introducing the MPS version, Mazda
also upgraded the rest of the range midway through this year.
This saw a significant move forward in the
safety field with the introduction of a mid-life update of its
popular Mazda3 sedan and hatch.
Mazda Australia has fitted ABS to all cars in
the ‘3 range irrespective of price. There's also an advanced
electronic stability program, Mazda calls its system DSC, in the
topline model, the Mazda3 SP23 Luxury. It’s a $1000 option on
Maxx, Maxx Sport and the standard SP23. Note that on the
lowest-cost model, the Mazda3 Neo, there’s an optional safety
pack consisting of side airbags and DSC for $1830.
Criticisms on noise, vibration and harshness in
the first series Mazda3 were also answered with the series II
update and the standard cars are now noticeably smoother and
quieter.
Mazda gave the new for 2006 models a mild
facelift as part of this mid-life makeover, but only Mazda3
experts are likely to notice the revisions to the shape of the
bumpers and the radiator grille. The taillights on the complete
range have a black-out treatment.
Inside, there are greater changes, with new trim
style and colours. White faces are used on the instruments instead
of the black on the first model Mazda3.
Where the complete Mazda3 really does score well
is in its traditional areas of superb build quality. Japanese
quality is something we have long admired and Mazda has
consistently been at, or close to, the front of the field in this
important area of car design.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Neo 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $20,990
Neo 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $20,990
Maxx 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $25,500
Maxx 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $25,500
Maxx Sport 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $26,500
Maxx Sport 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $26,500
SP23 2.3-litre four-door sedan - $29,600
SP23 2.3-litre five-door hatch - $29,600
MPS 2.3-litre five-door hatch - $39,990
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: $2000 option in Neo, Maxx & Maxx
Sport; $2260 option in SP23; not offered in MPS
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Not offered in Neo, standard in all other models
Driver Airbag: Standard in all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Not offered in Neo, standard in all other
models
SPECIFICATIONS (Mazda3 Neo 2.0-litre four-door
sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.999 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 87.5 x 83.1mm
Maximum Power: 108kW @ 6500rpm
Maximum Torque: 182Nm @ 4500rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.388:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4475mm
Wheelbase: 2640mm
Width: 1755mm
Height: 1465mm
Turning Circle: 10.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1224kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Towing Ability: 550kg (900 with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs,
double acting shock absorbers
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, low profile springs,
double acting shock absorbers
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 8.5 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 16.0 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Fuel Type: Petrol 91RON
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 8.2 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
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Marque Publishing Company
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