Mazda 3

THE VERDICT Good:rnAn excellent all ‘round package; modern interior, fantastic ride and handling and quality engine & transmission packages. Not so Good:rnPetrol engine gas mileage isn’t class-leading, also there’s no auto option for the Turbo Diesel. THE REVIEW Design and Engineering Good:rnImproved version of the previous models, Mazda 3 comes with uniquely styled features. The brand trade mark is made more prominent with a gaping mouth grille and extra-large front guards. You cannot miss this. A hatch back model is mostly ideal and appealing to the eyes for a small car, however , the Mazda 3 Sedan appeals more than anything. Not so good:rnOne of our reviewers thinks the rear tail lights are a touch overly ‘bling’ (but, he could be wrong!?) and anyway, not all people longs for the a lot more controlled lines of say, a Volkswagen Golf. Interior and Styling Good:rnThe cabin gets a classy ambience with the soft touch plastics and soberly designed dash. The audio system is neatly placed in the dash with the rest of the controls laid out logically. The seats give complete comfort and the driver has better control with the steering designed for tilt and reach. The visibility offered is great and the storage space is ample. Not so good:rnThe ventilation controls could have been much better. Also the silver plastic used for the interiors are likely to get scratched and lose its charm over the period of time. The screen displaying the satellite navigation is on the smaller end also the rear seats have just enough space when we expected ample. Performance Good:rnThe six-speed manual and five-speed auto have both installed an extra gear over the earlier technology (and a number of existing competitors). The top-selling 2.0L Petrol remains relatively the same yet is still aggressive; delivering 108kW of power and loves being revved. The newer 2.2L Turbo Diesel produces a whopping 360Nm of torque for convenient pick-up; the larger 2.5L Petrol engine in the range-topping SP25 is also fixed to the larger Mazda 6. Not so good:rnWhilst numerous competitors are presenting smaller-sized, fuel effective Turbocharged Petrol engines, Mazda (as well as a number of other Japanese brands) are yet to do so. Ride and Handling Good:rnWhilst Mazda’s steering feels light, it still offers enough feedback for the sports car fan in your family to want to jump behind the wheel. Ride comfort is impressive and the suspension is very capable for a car of this price range. The Mazda 3 is extremely well-tuned for the often unique (read: rough) road surfaces of Australia. Not so good:rnThe Mazda 3 has class-leading ride and handling so not much to complain about here... Whilst quieter than the previous model, tyre noise on rough surfaces is still evident. Buying and Owning Good:rnThe Mazda brand has been getting better and better over the last decade, so with it comes greater resale value. April 2010 upgrade see's side and curtain airbags standard on the base grade Neo (previously only standard on mid and upper spec grades) so now all Mazda 3's achieve a five star safety rating. Not so good:rnThe elevated grades are fighting (and competing pretty well) versus a couple of awesome cars, so we think the very preferred value Mazda 3’s are at the lower and mid-range price points.