Mazda3 2003 Review - International

What we liked
>> Big-hearted performance from 2.0 and 2.3 engines
>> Distinctive styling
>> Spirited handling and sharp steering

Not so much
>> Excessive road noise
>> Projected price increase
>> Peaky torque output

OVERVIEW
This is the latest chapter in a model revamp that so far has brought the Mazda6 and Mazda2, plus the sports/family orientated RX-8. These are all cars with more fire in terms of performance, handling and style but still sold at affordable prices with the reward for Mazda being a huge leap in sales. The company hopes the same formula will work for the 3.

To that end, the new Mazda3 is a highly distinctive-looking five-door hatchback or four-door sedan with Mazda's characteristic front end featuring a bulging bonnet, sculpted guards and a five-point grille. It is taller than the old 323 (and even a little higher than the Mazda6) and sits on a longer wheelbase giving more interior space.

Keen drivers will like the sound of the engine options, with mainstream models getting a 2.0-litre four developing 104kW of power, or a more sporty model, expected to be called the 23 SP, fitted with -- you guessed it -- the 2.3-litre engine from the Mazda6.

The bad news? Even though a 1.6-litre model is sold overseas, we won't be getting it so forget about a sub-$20,000 price tag like on the current 1.8-litre 323 Shades. Pricing is expected to start at $22,500 with the SP a $30,000-odd proposition. Despite the nominal 10 per cent increase in the base model, Mazda Australia is hoping to shift as many as 1800 a month.

FEATURES
Despite carrying the same name as the hatchback version, Mazda is keen that the sedan be seen in a different light. In fact, the four-door doesn't share a common body panel with the five-door: a smooth bonnet, more narrow headlights and high boot line combine to give a less chunky look than the hatch.

The 23 SP gets a styling upgrade thanks to the awkwardly named "sports appearance package" fitted as standard. This adds new and deeper front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a small bootlid spoiler on the four-door, and a different grille with horizontal bars that, perversely, doesn't really look as sporty as the standard mesh.

Both sedan and hatch versions will come reasonably well specified with air conditioning, dual airbags, disc brakes and power windows as standard, although it will be a bit closer to launch time before full specifications are known.

COMFORT
If the Mazda3's exterior has a strong family resemblance to the 6 and 2 then the interior is even more so. The centre console has a simple stack of controls mainly with rotary knobs, topped off by an LCD display strip for air conditioning, stereo and other settings. Instruments in front of the driver are housed in three distinctly circular binnacles much like recent Alfa Romeos, and the round swivelling air vents reinforce the Italian ambience. No matter the provenance, it all looks rather good.

We won't get satellite navigation (at least initially) so forget about the foldout display atop the dash that will probably be replaced by a simple bin. Gadgets aside, the simple three-spoke wheel is a beauty, and the deep seats offer comfort and plenty of lateral support.

There is plenty of cabin width and height thanks mainly to the body's generous exterior dimensions, but a real feature is space in the rear seat. Legroom is generous even for bigger Aussies and there's space for a decent-sized bonce under the roof-lining as well.

The rear suspension has a trick up its sleeve by being designed with separated springs and shock absorbers instead of the usual strut arrangement. Mazda argues as well as improved damping response, it frees up more boot space, and after looking at the hatchback's generously deep and square boot, and the even longer load area in the sedan, you'd have to agree. The five door gets an exterior handle for opening the tailgate, while strangely, the sedan has an interior remote release.

SAFETY
As usual, Mazda claims its new baby is stiffer and stronger than its predecessor with increased rigidity and crashworthiness thanks to a system of distributing forces through parts of the body frame.

More tangible safety features include dual-stage twin airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters, three lap-sash seatbelts in the rear and three rear headrests. That's the basic package: top-flight models including the SP will get no less than six airbags, including side and curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. The six-bag/ABS package will be offered as an option on other models for around $1500.

MECHANICAL
The Mazda3 faithfully follows the tried-and-tested mechanical layout for small cars of a transversely-mounted engine driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox, with MacPherson strut suspension at the front end.

The devil is in the detail, however, and there's plenty of nice juicy bits in the Mazda3's armoury. The 2.0-litre engine's outputs seem ample, with 104kW of power and 182Nm of torque, even if that latter figure doesn't arrive until 4500rpm. Unlike the rest of the engine line-up there's no variable valve timing, although the 2.0 does get a variable-length induction system.

The 2.3 fitted to the SP has both, although it doesn't lead to a massive power increase as you'd expect from the extra capacity. Part of the reason is it has been detuned to cope with low-octane unleaded fuel, and so delivers seven kilowatts less than when the same engine is fitted to the Mazda6 and runs on the high-octane brew, and has a twin exhaust system. Still, with 115kW at 6500rpm, and 203Nm at 4500rpm it is still a bit stronger than your average city runabout.

Rear suspension is a multi-link set-up similar to the Mazda6's, and interestingly, it is one part of the Mazda3 that will be largely carried over on other small cars in the Ford family including the next Focus and Volvo S40. Look closely, and you'll even see something looking suspiciously like what the Ford marketing people call Control Blade IRS.

COMPETITORS
Where do we start? There's a whole gaggle of "small" (but getting larger) rivals for the Mazda3 including the class-leading Toyota Corolla and the Holden Astra is still going strong despite a replacement being due next year. Throw in everything from cheaper-priced Nissan Pulsar and Hyundai Lantra variants and it's as tough a marketplace as ever.

Still, Mazda has high hopes for the 3, with project leader Akira Tanioka saying it was benchmarked against the VW Golf in the design and development stage, the aim being not necessarily to replace the Golf on European roads, but at least offer excellent dynamics and quality to those who couldn't afford one.

ON THE ROAD
No, we haven't driven the Mazda3 in Australia yet, but an overseas test-loop set up by Mazda in the Chantilly region of France just outside Paris allowed CarPoint to cycle through a good representation of the models we'll be getting.

The volume seller will be the 2.0-litre in five-speed manual hatchback form, so that's a good place to start. The main impression is it's an easy car to drive, and if that sounds trite then take into account not all manufacturers can get a good balance of a crisp power delivery, light but positive clutch pedal, and an engine that drops then regains revs smartly during gearchanges.

Run the engine through its rev-range with plenty of throttle and it responds well, producing a decent turn of speed and hiding the fact this Mazda3 is about 50kg heavier than the equivalent 323 model. The peaky torque delivery shows through in a relative lack of oomph in the lower and middle ranges of the rev-scale; it might be seen as the sporty alternative, but a bit more pulling power down low would be appreciated.

The 2.3-litre version has appreciably more grunt, but it isn't a huge step-up in performance over the smaller engine. But compared with similarly priced rivals - and the high-revving Corolla Sportivo springs to mind here - there's more than enough power to suit most mainstream buyers, and it is delivered in a nice, relaxed fashion.

Mazda has worked on instilling its latest range of cars with fine handling response, and the 3 doesn't disappoint in that regard. There's plenty of front-end grip, with the 2.0-litre cars getting 205/55R16 tyres and the 2.3 even lower-profile 205/50R17 rubber. Electro-hydraulic power steering has just the right amounts of assistance and feedback, and if it's a tight, challenging road you find yourself and the Mazda3 upon, it is a more rewarding drive than most small cars.

The payback in stiffer than usual suspension is a ride quality that, while not overly stiff, certainly doesn't offer the ultimate in comfort. The suspension is also a little noisy, and there's plenty of roar transmitted by the tyres on coarse bitumen. The engine has a healthy rasping note when pushed but relatively low gearing (presumably to offset the high revs at which peak torque is delivered) also means you can hear it while on the cruise.

Small prices to pay, although as ever, a drive on Australian roads will deliver definitive answers. The main thing is that the Mazda3 seems to have the goods in terms of style, space, safety equipment and that important driving spark to warrant it bursting through the $20,000 barrier.