Mazda3 Touring 2014 Long-term test 3

Twelve months ago I did the Melbourne-Bathurst-Melbourne sojourn for the 1000km V8 Supercars race in a Golf Mk VII.

Back then I mused the most appropriate way to complete the journey in 2014 would be in the new Skyactiv Mazda3.

Which is how I found myself in the motoring.com.au long term Mazda3 Touring sedan in early October, headed north for Mount Panorama. As comparisons tests go this has been a long one – in terms of kilometres and duration!

Anyone who read last year’s report on the Golf will remember I emerged from the 1783km experience impressed. A great drivetrain, a purposefully tuned chassis and high-quality and spacious interior made for a terrific package. I am hardly alone in that opinion too, as the VII has picked up numerous wins and gongs.

Well, this year’s epic stretched to more than 2000km as I went a longer way home – more time off the freeway and on the back roads – and had a couple of substantial side trips out of Bathurst during race week.

Last year the Golf averaged 6.1L/100km on 98 RON PULP, while this year the 3 came in at 6.3L/100km on 91 RON ULP. Both are pretty impressive results.

Where the 3’s naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed auto falls marginally behind the Golf’s downsized turbo-petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is in low-throttle response.

The Mazda engine is smooth enough, but it simply doesn’t have the guts of the VW unit, taking a while to wind up and get going for overtaking and hills, as well as kicking down to third gear quite often.

Having said that, combining the latest iteration of the Skyactiv-G engine with the Skyactiv platform feels more convincing than when Mazda combined an earlier iteration with the old 3.

The new 3 has also made a substantial step forward in its driving behaviour. The balance between ride and handling is excellent and the electrically-assisted steering proves both light and sure in its responses. I would rank it close enough to Golf to be on a par (boom-tish). It’s a really impressive effort.

Driving downers? As Adam Davis has commented previously, the brake pedal seems too sensitive to mild contact. Also, the continued transmission of too much road noise from the rear wheel arches – albeit much reduced from the old car – continues to disappoint. And the 3 also seemed somewhat susceptible to wind buffeting – is it the shape of the sedan?

The interior is a big step forward. The instrument panel and dashboard are simple and sensible, although I’d like a larger tacho. Interactivity with the iPad-style screen was pretty efficient once you figured it out – it’s sort of touchscreen, but mostly controlled via a remote dial – and the Bluetooth and multiple USB connections were helpful… I learned some fascinating stuff from those ABC Radio National podcasts as I cruised along.

Speaking of whiling away the hours, the front seats are excellent for long distances, there are comfy rests for both left and right feet, vision is good and the steering wheel was right-sized for me.

However, I felt it could have had more reach to be truly comfortable and I also found the flappy manual gearchange paddles too small and too far inboard.

As per usual I loaded too much stuff – including a mountain bike – into the car for the trip. But the 3 coped even better in this regard than the Golf did last year. At 4580mm long, with a big 408-litre boot and a rear seat that split folds flat to create even more space, there was never a drama fitting everything in. There are also lots of storage pockets spread about the cabin too.

I didn’t carry any passengers so rear seat space wasn’t a real concern, but having read other reviews critical of this area, I did hop in the back and see whether I could fit behind my 180cm self. I could, but only with knees splayed. Disappointing also that there are no adjustable rear air-con vents up back.

Overall though, the 3 completed the 2014 Bathurst sojourn very impressively. I’d probably still give the edge to the Golf, but there’s no doubt the gap between the two cars has been closed enormously.

But action in the small car class never stands still. Since Bathurst I have driven the new Peugeot 308 for the first time and I am really impressed. Hmmm, one of those triple-cylinder turbo-petrols would be a great way to make the trip to the big race in 2015. I’ll work on it.

Also consider:
>> Toyota Corolla
>> Ford Focus
>> Hyundai i30

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