Mazda3 2004 review

Indicative of the Mazda3's pronounced effect on the Australian car market is the instant reaction by rival manufacturers.

Toyota, which admitted this week that the Mazda3 was a force, presented its feature-added Corolla.

Nissan is holding firm on its $19,990 equipment-laden Pulsar and there's free fuel from Hyundai dealers, free automatic gearboxes at Volkswagen and discounts on Mitsubishi.

Meanwhile, an unfazed Mazda refuses to enter the sub-$20,000 price war and trots out the Mazda3 from $21,490.

Which pretty much says everything about the car that a few months ago replaced the extremely popular Mazda 323.

From a driving viewpoint, there's good reason for other car companies to fear the Mazda3.

But West Australians are very price conscious and the extra $1500 is sure to temper demand to a level that Mazda can accommodate. The sedan version tested came with the standard 2-litre engine, as compared with the 2.3-litre fitted to the SP23 model.

Straight up, you won't need the bigger engine unless you really need extra performance ; a licence to lose your licence in Perth.

The two-litre is quiet, flexible, sparkling and fuel-efficient.

Matched to the five-speed manual, it made driving the children around a pleasure.

Mazda says the engine runs perfectly on standard unleaded, but mentions there's another kilowatt or two on tap if you can afford to fill up with premium unleaded.

The relatively modest power output gets to the ground cleanly and, importantly, works perfectly with an excellent suspension layout. The unusual rear-suspension combination of long-travel rear shock absorbers and squat coil springs housed in a rigid box offers a compliant ride with sports-car levels of road grip.

A second part of the precise roadholding is the rigid body that not only improves handling but aims to stand up better in an almighty prang.

Through the bends the steering is precise and well weighted, though it feels vague when driving straight ahead.

Four adults can fit within a pleasantly trimmed cabin and while the boot is huge, the opening is relatively small.

The Maxx Sport model tested comes with a host of equipment, including a neat bodykit that gives it a distinctive appearance.

Also included is a six-airbag package that rates this car as potentially one of the safest small cars on the Australian market.

It also gets 16-inch alloy wheels, six-disc CD player, airconditioning, electric windows and mirrors, rear spoiler and bodykit, and front foglights.