Mazda3 SALOON RANGE
Most Small Saloons Are Just Hatchbacks With A Hasty Bit Of Surgery To The Rear End. The Mazda3 Saloon Is A Little Different. Andy Enright Explains Why
More often than not, small saloon cars look a little strange. Based on more popular hatchbacks, its obvious where the stylists have shortened the roof panel, cropped the rear wings into shape and grafted on a distended rump. Rather more O-No than J-Lo in the posterior, these cars have never sold very well here in the UK, British buyers preferring the sleeker shape and added versatility of a hatchback.
Mazda, as is so often the case, think rather differently.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
Try as you might you wont find one body panel shared between the Mazda3 saloon and its more common sibling, the hatchback. Its a model developed in its own right.
But how can the
Mazda turn a market that has been largely indifferent to small saloons? The answer, to be crushingly blunt is that it cant and wont. It will never be an everyday sight on our roads nor will its sales figures rival that of the hatch. What it does offer is possibly the best option in class for those who adhere to the notion that boot is best. Where Mazda characterise the hatch as being dynamic and sporty, the saloon is marketed as being a sleeker and more sophisticated car, its coupe-like roofline, long wheelbase and short overhangs giving it a very distinctive and not unpleasant profile.
The front end treatment is different to the hatch although youd probably benefit from the two cars lined up side by side to appreciate the differences. The front bumper has been flared to stand proud of the headlamps and grille, the latter incorporating lines that depict a powerful bonnet bulge. Flattened surfacing over the wheelarches give the saloon a more muscular look than the hatch. The sweep of the roof combines with a pert and high bootlid and big rear combination light clusters that are obviously anything but a hastily contrived afterthought.
The interior is very similar to the Mazda6 insofar as it offers a resolutely modern design with decent levels of equipment coupled with materials quality thats rather variable. Although the fabrics and leather trimming of the test car were beyond reproach, some of the dash plastics felt a little lightweight. The steering wheel and overlapping aluminium-rimmed dials look very sporting and there are some nicely detailed metallic touches dotted about the cabin. The minor controls on the centre console are all very easy to get to grips with and upspec models feature an LCD screen that rises out of the dash top to house functions such as satellite navigation.
"The Mazda3 saloon offers possibly the best option in class for those who adhere to the notion that boot is best"
Interior accommodation is middle ranking, Mazda perhaps deciding that if customers in this price range really want to maximise the sheer amount of cubic inches available in the cabin, theyll likely opt for a
mini-MPV. The Mazda3 isnt huge in the back and the small rear doors dont open particularly wide. Headroom is very good, despite the swoopy styling. The front pair of passengers should have no difficulty getting comfortable although one drawback of the thick rear pillars is somewhat limited rear three-quarter visibility when reversing or doing a lifesaver check when switching lane.
Three engines are offered in saloon guise, the entry-level 1.4-litre unit not being available if you want four doors. Prices kick off at £12,800 for the 1.6-litre engine in TS trim with TS2 weighing in at £13,600.
TS2 and Sport versions are offered with the punchy 150bhp 2.0-litre powerplant and theres also a 108bhp diesel. With low Group 5 insurance and a saintly 138g/km carbon dioxide emissions, this looks to be the smartest pick of the whole bunch, the MZ-CD common rail diesel powerplant offering a decent blend of power and parsimony. The 150bhp 2.
0-litre petrol engine will be of most interest to those subscribing to Mazdas whole zoom-zoom philosophy and its a pleasantly peppy unit, zipping the Mazda3 to sixty in nine seconds flat. A fuel economy figure of over 34mpg is fair return for an engine with this much go, although the 196g/km emissions figure will probably have company car drivers checking out the diesel version. Straight off the bat its apparent where the advances are, with refinement and general drivetrain smoothness being a standout feature of the Mazda3. The five-speed manual gearbox is one of the slickest in class, although as the sector is dominated by many
Volkswagen group boxes, thats perhaps not saying much.
This focus on refinement and civility come at the expense of ultimate handling capabilities. Although this chassis may well be sharpened up in sportier versions, the Mazda3 doesnt feel on home turf if hurled through a series of corners with extreme prejudice. The controls feel well weighted but keen drivers will yearn for a little more feedback and response. That can probably be engineered in with beefed up springs, lower profile tyres and industrial-strength anti-roll bars but for the time being, the Mazda3 should be applauded for bringing big car ride quality into a manageable sized package.
Equipment levels are, as you would expect from Mazda, generous and aggressive pricing is as you would expect. The reason Mazda has been able to develop so rapidly from also-ran to genuine industry powerhouse is due in no small part to a solid bankrolling by
Ford and the reason the Mazda3 is so significant is that it runs on the next-generation Focus platform, along with the C-MAX mini-MPV and the
Volvo S40. Thats not to say the Mazda3 is a car we can afford to ignore in its own right, however. In translating much of the popular Mazda6s appeal into a handier sized package, the Mazda3 is sure to be a winner.
Although the Mazda3 saloon isnt going to change the way we perceive small saloons, it does have a lot going for it. In fact, its hard to think of a better small four-door car in this very niche-orientated little sector. Manufacturers such as Volkswagen and
Vauxhall offer no credible threat in this sector but - and its a big but - even if they did bring models to market, theyd have a tough time competing with the Mazda3 saloon. And talking of big buts, never let it be said that this car has one.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mazda3 saloon range
PRICES: £12,800-£15,600 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 138-196g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0] 0-60mph 9.0s / Max Speed 124mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0] (urban) 24.6mpg / (extra urban) 44.8mpg / (combined) 34.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with EBD, Dual Stage Front Airbags, Side Airbags, Seatbelt Pretensioners, Collapsible Steering Column.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 1465/4490/1755mm
<< Back to Mazda car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Mazda Cars For Sale UK
