MAZDA 3 Review

Summary:

What we like: Quality, Styling, Handling.

What we don't like: Tight rear legroom, Fuel economy

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MAZDA 3 review in detail:

Mazda has enjoyed huge sales success with the 3 since it arrived in Australia in 2004. So strong have the numbers been that Mazda these days sits routinely in number four spot overall in our market.

The Mazda 3 continues to show that you don't have to pay a lot to own a sport sedan. Available in stylish hatchback/wagon and sedan body styles, the 3 brings a lot to the table in terms of driving excitement and available luxury features while also providing the roominess and thrift expected from today's economy cars. If a sporty drive and getting a lot for your hard-earned cash are top buying priorities, the Mazda 3 should be at the top of your test-drive list.

Mazda pushed further forward in the safety field with the introduction of a mid-life update of its popular Mazda3. Vibration, Noise and harshness were significantly reduced at the same time.

The MPS (Mazda Performance Series) version of the 3 is a real hotshot. The 2.3-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine has huge power and torque.

The engineers have opted to go only for FWD models, primarily to keep weight down, but also because using two-wheel drive can add more character to a car. Maximum power and torque aren't always available in first and second gear to cut torque steer.

The Mazda3 MPS is hugely enjoyable to drive, with a minimum of turbo lag and a big rush of power once it gets over about 2500 rpm.

In frontal-impact crash tests, the 3 scored four stars (out of five). It received three stars in that agency's side-impact tests. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the 3 received a "Good" rating (the highest out of four) in frontal-impact crash tests but got a "Poor" rating (the lowest) in that agency's side-impact crash test. It should be noted that all of the above side-impact tests involved a Mazda 3 without side airbags.