Mazda has made a name for itself as a maker of cars that are driver-orientated. The Mazda3 saloon on test this week is proof that you can have a sensible saloon that is both a sound economic choice and a good car to drive.
Mazda3 has a very smart exterior that features lots of interesting design elements to please the eye. The saloon is very aerodynamic with a drag co-efficient of just .28, making it very slippery through the air and therefore more economical on long journeys.
The boot is large yet the 3 doesn't look tail heavy on the outside. This visual trickery adds to the saloon's appeal as it appears more like a notchback than a conventional 3-box saloon. The boot also features a couple of handy tie-down straps that helped when I needed to put a plastic can of petrol for the lawnmower securely in the boot and again to keep a bag of groceries from spilling over the boot floor.
Inside the dash and instrumentation are driver focussed. The seating position is very good as is the layout of the steering wheel-mounted stereo and trip information controls. Mazda3 feels well built and sturdy.
The 1.6-litre tax band 'A' turbo diesel is a great unit and a perfect match for the compact saloon car. Mazda 3 has plenty of pace and when loaded remains a strong puller with ample torque for daily use. The gear change is precise and the steering sharp. Mazda3 instils confidence on the open road. If you want an automatic the 2-litre tax band 'C' petrol model is the only version with a self shifter.
Mazda has worked hard to reduce levels of NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) which were high in the last 3. The result is a 6-11% improvement, so it is not surprising to find the cabin a bit quieter.
Ireland, more than any other European country, loves compact saloons. Mazda3 saloon should be top of anyone's list along with the Skoda Octavia in that it delivers more than the price tag suggests. It certainly is the most stylish saloon car of its class.
There are five specification grades available and petrol and diesel engines. A 1.6-litre petrol engine is available as is the automatic 2-litre, but the 1.6 diesel is really the only engine to choose. If you have the cash and need lots of power a 2.2 litre diesel is on the Irish pricelist. You can choose from two power outputs from this unit, namely 150bhp or 185bhp! Fuel-saving Stop/Start engine technology will be available before the end of the year as will a 260bhp very 'hot' version.
Mazda tells me the hatchback body type accounts for 70% of Mazda3 sales with the saloon making up the remaining units. 3 is Mazda Ireland's biggest seller. The potentially life saving technology of DSC (aka ESP or ESC) is standard as are a host of other features to make life easier for the driver and improve occupant safety in a collision.
Mazda3 saloon is a very easy car to live with and it ticks all the boxes for the times we're in.
Michael Sheridan
