Mazda3 SP25 Luxury manual sedan 2009 review

But the new 3 is not the sort of seismic change that came with the original, which replaced the 323.

This one is more of a monster facelift than a road-up reinvention of the car.

In a lot of ways that's a good move, because the old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' line has worked well enough for a whole range of makers in recent years. The latest Volkswagen Golf is only a tickle, Nissan kept the mechanicals and re-did the body for its new Murano, and even Porsche has resorted to the same tactic with its 911.

Explore the 2009 Mazda 3 range

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• Mazda3 SP25 2009 review
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• Mazda3 2009 review

In the case of the 3, the basics were always right. It was a car conceived with the right size and equipment, a solid driveline and the sort of styling and quality you expect from a Mazda.

Changes

In 2009 the rework means a new body, worthwhile cabin improvements and a tickle on the engine, transmission and suspension to make the car more efficient without losing the driving enjoyment.

Mazda also claims it is the company's greenest car yet.

Variants and pricing

The new 3 lineup is just what you would expect, from the $21,990 Neo starter car, available as both sedan and hatch, through to the 2.5- litre SP25 from $30,690 as a sedan or hatch.

There will soon be a new turbocharged MPS pocket rocket and, further into the future, a new diesel car as Japanese makers continue their slow-but-steady conversion to the alternate fuel.

Equipment

Basic equipment across the range runs from twin airbags and ESP stability control to airconditioning, a new-style trip computer and central locking.

The walk-up through the range grows the luxury, safety and convenience and the SP25 tops out - if you tick all the boxes - with leather trim, a sunroof, Bluetooth phone connection, a larger display screen including satnav, and six airbags.

But the most important job was getting the basics right, and Mazda did the job with everything from the 'giant smile' new grille to the suspension settings. It went back to check its original work on the 3 and tweaked and improved everything that needed work.

Driving

There are no surprises when you get into the latest Mazda3.

The car is instantly familiar in the way it looks, the way it feels and the way it drives.

Parked alongside the old Mazda3 you can quickly spot the differences, especially at the front, but the general style is much the same and the car is not a massive departure in size or style or content.

The new nose looks good and makes the car easy to spot in traffic, the cabin changes mean the dash is more user friendly than before, and the new 3 is still one of the sharpest drives in the class.

It has a taut chassis and the sort of suspension settings that make driving fun, with crisp response for corners, solid braking and a ride which is firm but not in any way severe. The steering can be a little odd, something you get with the latest electric-hydraulic systems, but I adjusted quickly.

The 2.5-litre engine is always my pick in a brand which is not great in the powerplant area - not compared with Nissan or Toyota, anyway - because it has more torque and it works well with the six-speed manual gearbox in the SP25. Economy is good but it's still an engine that does its best work well before the redline.

The new 3 seems a little quieter than the outgoing car and the quality is a touch better. It's enough to maintain its place against most of its showroom rivals and shows that Subaru definitely went backwards when it updated its Impreza.

The new display screen is a good idea and it is loaded with information, but . . . I definitely think the screen is too small for satnav use and having fiddly buttons on the steering wheel instead of a more user-friendly link that is available to the passenger is a mistake.

But the Bluetooth phone system hooks up well and this feature is getting more and more commonplace, but does not always work successfully.

On the downside, the boot on the sedan is still not huge and can be hard to load, I have to ask why Mazda still does not have automatic headlamps, and there can be a bit too much road noise on harsh surfaces.

Also, the new Mazda3 arrived for test while I am driving the latest Volkswagen Golf and it loses out in refinement and luxury to the German car. But the approach is very different and the 3 definitely scores for driving enjoyment, as well as the youth appeal in its body design and cabin work.

For my money the new 3 is equal best in class with the Golf. If you want a crisp chassis and youthful driving enjoyment the Mazda is best, and if you want a cushy drive and a more mature machine then the Volkswagen is a better choice.

Rivals

Ford Focus: 76/100
Holden Viva: 70/100
Toyota Corolla : 73/100
Volkswagen Golf : 78/100