Mazda 3 dressed to impress

The Mazda 3 is a spacious, well-built car with an attractive design.

The inside of the Torana TT36 is a big break from tradition.

Specs

Mazda 3

SPEED 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds ECONOMY 11-13 litres/100km WARRANTY Three years/unlimited kms PRICES Neo manual $21,490 Neo auto $23,570 Maxx manual $25, 690 Maxx auto $27,770 Maxx sport manual $26, 375 Maxx sport auto $28, 455 SP23 manual $30,190 SP23 auto $32,270

WE ARE getting ever closer to “international cars”. For example, last month’s test car, the Volvo S40, is built on the same platform as the Mazda 3.

Both are very good cars. One is designed by the cool Swedes and the other by the innovative Japanese engineers.

Regular readers of this column will have noted my high praise for the Mazda 6 and a number of enthusiastic owners emailed me following my road test. The Mazda 3 is in the same league.

Today there is huge competition in this market segment with the Renault Megane, Peugeot’s 307, Holden’s new Astra, Ford’s Focus, VW’s Golf and Toyota’s staid but well-built Corolla.

The 3’s predecessor, the 323, was a very likeable and superbly-built car, but lacked the impact needed in today’s market, hence the dashing lines of the new model. The 3 comes in baseline, mid-range and high-performance models, in hatchback or sedan. Mazda gave me the SP23 to test.

Comfort/goodies
The SP23 is a well-balanced car that provides an excellent compromise between road holding and comfort. Grip from the 17-inch Bridgestones is tremendous.

Standard equipment includes electro-hydraulic power steering, air conditioning, six in-dash CD player with steering wheel controls, ABS brakes, six airbags, power windows and mirrors, and alloy wheels.

All the controls are easy to read or reach, and well laid out. It is very easy to arrange a comfortable driving position.

And the 3 is a very quiet car with only tyre rumble on coarse surfaces intruding into the silence.

Engine/transmission
The SP23 has a strong and flexible 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engine (the same as the Mazda 6) that pumps out 115kW at 6500 revs. It has large reserves of torque and engine balance shafts to keep vibrations at bay. The slick five-speed manual proved a delight to use.
Safety

All models are equipped with driver and front passenger airbags. Side airbags were also fitted on the test car. Stopping power is by four-wheel disc brakes with the extra aids of ABS and electronic brakes force distribution.

Mazda has also added an advanced distribution and absorption system.

Economy
The SP23 is a performance car, so expect economy of 11-13 litres/100km.

Negatives
Cruise control is not standard and comes as a $572 option. The sloping roofline could be a problem for tall, rear passengers and the very short tail only allows a narrow boot opening. Bulky objects would be a problem.

Summary
Similar to the Mazda 6, the 3 deserves high praise.
Certainly in the SP23 version, there is considerably more performance, but even the base-level two-litre model is no slouch.

The 3 is a spacious, well-built car with a modern, attractive design. It is a very sensible choice for buyers seeking a long-term purchase in the smaller/medium-size category.

Torana stops show