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• Mazda 3
Acriss
code:
CDMR
The Mazda 3 is getting on a bit now. While it handles well, the overall package has a few niggles and it doesn't really stand out compared to cheaper, newer rivals. + Neat handling, good steering, equipment tally stacks up - Showing its age, cheap interior plastics, dull styling, fidgety ride, engine noise Driving The Mazda 3, which shares its underpinnings with the Ford Focus, corners precisely. Body control is good, while the steering is well weighted and offers impressive feel. Over twisting roads, the 3 is surprisingly good fun, with high levels of grip and agile, predictable handling. Turn-in is incisive and body control taut. The ride isn't as accomplished though, and potholes are rather noticeable in the 3 - it tends to fidget over smaller bumps. This, combined with rather vocal engines, harms the Japanese hatch's refinement. Petrol engines are Mazda-built 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre units, while the 1.6-litre diesel is a Ford-sourced powerplant. We tested the diesel, and found it quite punchy low down. The trouble is it runs out of breath easily, and in town you have to keep the turbo on the boil for a quick getaway. Mazda also offers a 2.0-litre diesel, with engines from the larger 6 - and a sporty MPS edition, with a 256bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Marketplace Since its launch in 2003, the 3 has undergone a mild facelift, which introduced restyled front and rear bumpers and a new grille. There are some nice touches - the black surround of the tail-light clusters, for instance, but the small 15-inch alloys fitted to lesser models don't really flatter the lines. And the back end looks a little fussy, too - in fact, we think the 3 looks far better as a four-door saloon than as a five-door hatch. In short, it comes across as rather bland and dated. The mainstay of the range is the five-door hatch; there is no three-door, though there is that pretty four-door, which is unusual for this sector nowadays. Key rivals include the Toyota Auris, Kia cee'd, Ford Focus, Vauxhall and Opel Astra and Renault Megane. Owning Dark and dreary, the 3's cabin lacks flair, while the ambience isn't all that airy. The design is inoffensive but that's simply not good enough these days. In fact, the only thing that stands out are the flashing red lights that trigger when you turn the stereo on. Put simply, there's little to hold your attention. While build quality is good for the most part, out test car's glovebox had a habit of popping open when cornering. And even more disappointing are the materials. For instance, the thin-rimmed steering wheel is not a good first contact point, while dash plastics are cheap and shiny. Thankfully, storage is decent. The driving position is good, while there's plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment. |
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