Mazda 3 Reviews

Adding a diesel variant to their already popular 3 range seemed like an obvious decision by Mazda HQ, given that the world is turning increasingly towards better fuel efficiency.

It is one of the enduring mysteries of modern diesels.

And just sometimes, you can get it all and still hear the reassuring sounds of change rattling in your pocket.  Small cars don't have to be cheap and nasty or even perform like an asthmatic snail in a bid to maximise fuel economy. Nor do they have to be cramped or have the visual appeal of a packing crate that instantly identifies you as cheap.  Here are five small cars that will haul you and three friends - and do it on a miserly fuel budget.The good news is they're all less than $30,000. And that includes comprehensive safety features with electronic stability control and ABS brakes.  But best of all, turn up the wick and these things will give you a decent thrill.  Two are turbocharged and one has a 2.5-litre engine. No need to be red-faced at the traffic lights in these.Mitsubishi Colt RalliartThis looks like a small apartment block sitting on a cute set of alloys. In fact, it's a powerhouse that will dust of a lot of cars with twice the engine capacity and has room for four adults, parks in weeny car bays, runs on a sip of fuel - though you'll need premium brand - and is the perfect shopping trolley for people who like their food fast.Price: $25,740Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged 113kW/210NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 6.7 l/100km premiumPerformance: 0-100km/h in 7.6 secSafety: two airbags, ESC, ABS, BAVolkswagen Polo GTIThis baby sister of the Golf GTI quickly gets off the mark thanks to some component sharing and a 1.8-litre turbo engine. It comes only as a three door so may limit those with heaps of friends, though certainly looks as good as it goes. Solid German construction and versatile interior add to its appeal.Price: $26,990Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged 110kW/220NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 7.9 l/100km Premium0-100km/h: 8.2 secSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, diff lockFord Fiesta ZetecYou can get this in three and five-door versions (extra money for the five door) and while it's not turbocharged, is a spirited performer with lots of aesthetic charm. It's an easy hatchback to live with and aside from a small fuel thirst, runs on cheaper unleaded petrol. Comprehensive safety features show you care for your friends.Price: $20,490Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl 88kW/152NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 6.1 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 8.2 sec (estimated)Safety: 5 airbags, ESC, ABS, BASuzuki Swift SportYou know the Swift, now meet its more beefed up brother. The Sport is unassuming though gets a bigger engine and tauter suspension to accentuate its handling and acceleration. That makes it as practical and reliable as its less-powerful relations. Also has great features and the full safety package.Price: $23,990Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl 92kW/148NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 7.5 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 8.8 secSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, BAMazda3 SP25This is a great package at a superb price. The SP25 just takes the refreshed Mazda3 to another level, boosting power and torque yet not crushing attributes such as its fuel economy. The features are also excellent as is the safety equipment. It's physically bigger than its rivals here and that means more cabin and luggage room, so it never feels like a small car.Price: $29,740Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cyl 122kW/227NmTransmission: 6-speed manualFuel economy: 8.6 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 7.9 sec (estimated)Safety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, BA

The hot-hatch brigade is a relatively exclusive club. There are plenty of pretenders but few actually make the grade with the right combination of performance, handling and equipment.

That's the lure of hybrids and the reason why cars such as Toyota's Prius is so attractive to green-tinged and fuel-conscious buyers. But are they the be-all and end-all of personal transport?

Mazda is not a company that needs to be told something twice. Hence the more overtly aggressive look of the new Mazda 3 MPS.

The hot turbocharged hatch accounts for only a small part of Mazda 3 sales, but its importance goes beyond that to the halo it casts over the rest of the brand.

Mazda has undergone a reincarnation in recent times with a raft of new and exciting models like the 3. The respected Japanese company has renewed its entire range in just six years or so, from the diminutive 2 in 2002 to the exhilarating RX8 in 2003, and then the 3 a year later.The 3 replaced the highly regarded 323 in the old range, a car that had won the hearts and minds of many Australians over the previous 30 years, but brought with it a touch of the Mazda ‘Zoom-Zoom’.MODEL WATCH While it was a popular small car the 323 had lost much of its gloss by the time the 3 was launched amid Mazda’s ‘Zoom-Zoom’ renewal. As a result the 3 faced a big task. It had to win back 323 buyers to the fold and make new conquests to keep the Mazda resurgence zooming along.At first glance the 3 was unmistakably new, from top to bottom, bumper to bumper. It looked good from all angles with its striking lines and balanced proportions. Mazda offered two body styles, a five-door hatch for the young and progressive, and a four-door sedan for older motorists who liked the familiarity and security a sedan offered. It not only looked different to the middle-of-the-road 323 it replaced, it was also bigger in all dimensions compared to its illustrious predecessor.The larger exterior dimensions resulted in a roomier interior with good front and rear shoulder room and plenty of leg room for the five adults it’s capable of accommodating. Add to that a large and flexible luggage compartment, and a number of useful storage options and the Mazda 3 is more than capable of satisfying the needs of a modern family.The upright design of the 3, along with a higher seating position also makes its easier to get in an out, an important consideration for ageing motorists who might be thinking of a 3.There were two engines offered in the Mazda 3. The first was a 2.0-litre all-alloy, double overhead camshaft unit boasting 104 kW at 6000 revs and 181 Nm at 4500 revs, respectively 13 per cent and eight per cent more than the 1.8-litre engine in the old 323.A 2.0-litre engine powered the Neo, Maxx and Maxx Sport models, but the sports SP23 had the extra zip of a 2.3-litre engine, which featured variable valve timing, and gave out 115 kW at 6500 revs and 203 Nm at 4500 revs.Buyers could choose between a four-speed automatic tuned for lively acceleration, or a five-speed manual with improved synchronisers for smoother shifting and a cable shift for quieter operation and less vibration. Underneath there was new front and rear suspension that was tuned for a more dynamic drive, new electro-hydraulic power steering and more powerful brakes for better stopping.The 3 range began with the Neo, which came with air, a CD player, remote central locking, tilt and reach adjustable steering column, and a height adjustable driver’s seat. Go to the Maxx and you got side and curtain airbags, ABS anti-skid brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, alloy wheels, power windows and mirrors, a six in-dash CD player and steering wheel-mounted controls. If you went for the Maxx Sport you also got front fog lamps, side skirts, rear spoiler and 16-inch alloy wheels.Then, at the very top of the range sat the SP23 sports hatch. It had everything, from a full body kit, 17-inch alloys, climate control air, sports trim, to a leather wheel and shift knob.IN THE SHOP Mazdas generally cause their owners little concern; they are robust and reliable. The only complaint that is regularly aired by owners is the level of road noise that is audible in the cabin. It is of more concern to hatch owners than it is to those who own sedans, but there’s little that can be done about it. Make the usual checks for evidence of a bingle, and carefully check around the fringes for parking scrapes.Under the bonnet check the oil. Missed oil changes can lead to sludge and ultimately cause the demise of the engine. Make sure of servicing to ensure your car of choice has regularly seen the inside of a service garage during its life.IN A CRASH All models in the 3 range had dual-stage front airbags for the driver and passenger with seatbelt pretensioners, load limiters, and lap/sash belts for all five occupants. For more protection in the Neo you could option it up with a Safety Pack, which gave you front side and curtain airbags, anti-skid brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist. All of that came standard on the rest of the range.AT THE PUMP The Mazda3 is in the small car mix in terms of fuel consumption. It will return 8.5-9.0 L/100 km in manual form; the auto will sip about half a litre more per 100 km.LOOK FOR • Dynamic styling• Roomy interior• Zippy performance• Good build quality• Respected brandTHE BOTTOM LINE Good-looking, well-built small car with plenty of room and economical performance.RATING 78/100

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

The Mazda 3 line-up has been a star in the strong, consistent performance of the Japanese carmaker’s passenger cars here, with sales reaching the million mark faster than any other of their models.