‘ZOOM-ZOOM’ is more than an advertising jingle for Mazda, it’s a corporate philosophy, so there was no way the Mazda3 diesel was ever going to be a crook drive.
Like so many European diesel-powered small cars, the ‘3’ goes, points and steers just great, and Mazda has certainly stolen an edge over its Japanese rivals. True ‘world’ small cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and GM’s Cruze have handy diesels, which leaves you wondering why local versions of the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Tiida and Mitsubishi Lancer are missing out.
What You Get
Already an award-winning small car, addition of the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine provides the Mazda3 hatch and sedan with a marketable extra dimension.
Car Showroom tested the diesel in sedan form and was reminded about the credentials of the ‘3’: easy on the eye, nicely packaged, stylish interior and a handy drive.
Combine those attributes with the 5.7l/100km economy of the diesel and it’s easy to predict continuing sales growth for Mazda.
Under The Hood
Mazda specified the diesel ‘3’ for Europe’s C-segment – a tough gig with established diesel stars like Volkswagen-Audi, Opel-Vauxhall, Ford etc. But with 110kW of power at 3500 rpm and peak torque of 360Nm at 1800rpm, the 2.2-litre engine is actually at the front of the C-segment pack.
It’s a contemporary design with common rail direct fuel injection and a variable geometry turbocharger. Euro 4 compliant, the fuel economy is rated at 5.7l/100kms (combined cycle).
New technology for the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) speeds-up the rate at which exhaust soot is burned. The company says the Mazda3 diesel burns soot 66 per cent faster than rival DPFs.
A lower engine block made of highly rigid aluminium alloy and a balance shaft reduce NVH. We were impressed by the quietness of the Mazda3 diesel during our week behind the wheel – even on cold mornings when first cranked to life.
The Interior
No real changes to the Mazda3’s clever interior for the diesel – you’ll notice different numbers on the tachometer however.
Conventional instrumentation is ahead of the driver and to the left is a curved panel which houses the 4.1-inch full colour thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) screen for the trip computer and integrated satellite navigation system. Small though the screen is, picture quality is excellent and as it is blank when the engine is turned off, prying criminal eyes would not think the Mazda3 actually has a sat-nav system to steal.
Our female drivers commented on the excellent all-round visibility of the Mazda3. In fact, the narrow A-pillars were shifted outwards to provide a wider field of forward vision.
Seats and trim are finished in quality materials and the height-adjustable drivers’ seat combines with the rake/reach steering wheel adjustment to provide a nice driving position.
Audio is an in-dash six CD system with six speakers, an auxiliary jack and MP3/Bluetooth compatibility. Remote controls on the steering wheel spokes drive the audio, trip computer and satellite navigation operations.
Rear seats split 60/40 and our sedan model provided 430 litres of luggage space (340 litres for the hatchback).
Active front head restraints and six SRS airbags are part of the safety package.
Exterior & Styling
Mazda3 diesel comes standard with the aero bodykit of the Maxx Sport model (rear spoiler and side skirts). It also gains an extra front air intake for the turbocharger’s intercooler – this is mounted in the left-front fog light housing.
Apart from the diesel-specific ‘MZR-CD’ badge on the rear, that’s it.
Of course, the Mazda3’s sharp, chiseled styling, aggressive silhouette and wide-mouthed front end are just some the features which have been acclaimed by critics and new car buyers since it was launched.
Like other Mazda designs, form does meet function and the final looks of the ‘3’ were finessed after 34 days of aerodynamic testing at the company’s Miyoshi Proving Ground in Japan. The result is a class-leading drag co-efficient of 0.31 for the sedan or 0.33 for the hatchback.
Small details -- like the front tyre wind deflectors and even taillights designed to reduce drag -- show Mazda’s aerodynamicists have been busy.
On The Road
It’s easy to confirm Mazda3 diesel has met the requirements of European diesel small car buyers – just turn the ignition key and notice how quiet the engine is at all speeds. Against benchmarks like the Golf and Focus, the Mazda compares favourably.
Same thing on the road – impressively quiet and refined. In fact we conducted a secret test on a couple of colleagues who did not pick the test car as a diesel until we told them -- after they’d driven it.
When it comes to ride and handling, the Mazda3 is king of the ‘non-European’ small cars. It’s balanced and responsive in the quick stuff but nimble and easy to use around town – the 10.9 meter turning circle was greatly appreciated in our tight city carpark.
This is a car drivers of all genders and ages will enjoy.
Verdict
Here’s the arithmetic: recommended retail price sub-$30K, fuel consumption 5.7l/100kms, fuel tank capacity 55 litres. For school mums, the Mazda3 diesel could go a whole month without refueling.
Smart move Mazda … now where are the competitive diesels from your Japanese rivals? Not on the horizon, it seems.
The Competition
For the sedan you can look at the sharply priced Holden Cruze. Talking diesel hatchbacks, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus shape-up as likely candidates and you should also look at Hyundai’s i30. Likes:
Competent engine; modern looks; stylish interior
Dislike:
Manual only (no auto)
