Mazda3 2011 review

Bits of my heart are starting to give up and the cardio specialist, who likely charges by the minute so the numbers fit on an A4 page, says it's soon time for new bits.

These new bits - specifically valves - will restore me to something akin to Usan Bolt and though I'm dubious about changing my skin colour, I'm pleased about the prospect of one day being capable of chasing down a Veyron on a 100m dash.

Putting in new bits to make a machine work better is close to my heart. It's also at the forefront of a multi-million dollar, do-or-die experiment by Mazda to make substantial improvements to fuel economy, lower emissions, minimise complexity while retaining decent performance.

Skyactiv is the umbrella term for Mazda's new technology, embracing powertrain, drivetrain, suspension, platform and bodyshell. In the Mazda3 SP20 Skyactiv - Australia's first taste of a new beat from the company - there's a new transmission and engine. And as expected, it has a healthy pulse.

Value:

Excellent. The $27,990 SP20 gets more equipment than the $26,990 Maxx Sport automatic and drives down running costs thanks to a 26 per cent reduction in fuel use. The 2011 sedan version tested wears a "Skyactiv" badge on the back but inside and out looks pretty much identical to the 2010 Mazda3.

Look closely however and compared with the Maxx Sport it has LED tail lights, lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat, a body kit, overhead sunglass holder and stainless-steel scuff plates.

On the downside, the boot is a bit smaller. I would recommend paying $3000 extra for the Luxury version - bi-xenon lights, leather seats, premium 10-speaker Bose audio and so on. By the way, Mazda doesn't charge extra for metallic paint.

Design:

If you don't know what a Mazda3 looks like then you're not looking. These are as common as a bank fee and are the yardstick of the current vehicle-buying trend.

The Mazda3 comes as a sedan or hatch - no cost difference - that is based on the combination of four (or five) doors, simple styling, loads of features and a sought-after palette of colours.

It spans generations of buyers and indiscriminately appeals to men and women. It just makes sense and probably the reason the new Skyactiv appears in an such aged body is fear that a new shape will unsettle Mazda's Golden Goose.

Technology:

Loads here. The 113kW/194Nm 2-litre engine is completely different from the 108kW/182Nm 2-litre in other Mazda3 models. It is a high-compression, very long-stroke, direct injection engine that averages 6.1 L/100km as an automatic compared with the 8.2 L/100km of its sisters.

It gets "i-stop" - Mazda's stop-start system - as standard and that helps fuel economy. The six-speed automatic transmission features lock-up in each cog to minimise slippage (and therefore energy and fuel loss). The ratios are widely spread so sixth is a very tall cog for touring. It also gets bigger front brakes than other Mazda3s.

Safety:

The Mazda3 has a five-star crash rating and gets the full suite of electronic safety aids plus six airbags. I have often criticised Mazda's interminable chimes and alarms that sound at any opportunity.

Open the door with the key still in the ignition and it's off; leave the lights on and there's another chime; and so on. Yet, of course, there's a reason for the musical madness.

Driving:

I backed the Skyactiv with a 2010 Mazda3 Maxx Sport automatic that lives at my address. Basically, there's no big difference - some colours in the dashboard, for example - and the overhead sunglass holder. The difference was in the driving. Despite the Skyactiv's extra power and torque and the six-gear auto, it never felt as sharp or responsive as the 2010 model.

Sure, it all worked but never felt as sprightly. The stop-start - which turns the engine off when stationary and automatically turns it back on when the brake pedal is released - can initially be annoying. It can be switched off. New underbody sound dampening has lowered road noise while ride comfort remains as good as before.

Both Mazda3 models boast liberal cabin room with the extra luggage space available when the rear seats are collapsed. Fuel consumption was the decider. The 2010 showed 9.6 L/100km on the trip computer and the Skyactiv showed 6.7 L/100km. Buyers who can live with the slightly dull feeling underfoot when accelerating will be smiling at the petrol bowser.

Others to consider

Holden Cruze 1.8 CDX

PRICE: $26,490

ENGINE: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 104kW/176Nm
TRANS: 6-spd auto, front drive
BODY: 4-door sedan
THIRST: 7.4L/100km, CO2 175g/km
"The Cruze concept is good but this engine is wheezy"

Honda Civic 2.0 Sport

PRICE: $32,290
ENGINE: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 114kW/188Nm
TRANS: 5-speed auto, front drive
BODY: 4-door sedan
THIRST: 8.4L/100km, CO2 200g/km
"Sadly, no longer competes on price or quality"

Ford focus sport

PRICE: $29,690
ENGINE: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 125kW/202Nm
TRANS: 6-spd dual-clutch auto, front drive
BODY: 4-door sedan
THIRST: 6.6L/100km, CO2 154g/km
"Hits Mazda head on with similarities in technology, price and driving
pleasure"