Powerfully entertaining entry in hatchback field
Way back when the Earth was cooling, I was the proud owner of a Mini. It was a dog that boasted 39 horsepower, 52 lb-ft of torque and took 20 seconds to meander its way to 100 kilometres an hour. Regardless, I loved the “queen of slow” and the fact it was an absolute hoot to drive. Shortly after acquiring it, I dropped in a blueprinted 1,071 cc Cooper S engine with a Weber carb — this bumped the output about 90 hp, which shaved the run to 100 km/ h to 10.3 seconds.
So, why the preamble about a car that has long since rusted its way into oblivion? The answer is the Mazda3. It can be viewed as that Mini's spiritual successor, as it brings a truly entertaining drive that never fails to put a big grin on the driver's face. When the fourth-generation model arrived in 2019, it received positive reviews for its bold style and interior execution, but fans wanted something else — more power.
The answer is found in the
2021 Mazda3 Turbo, which is offered in both sedan and hatchback (Sport) models. As it was with that Mini, the latest Mazda3 has been “blueprinted” by adding a 2.5-litre turbo-four. This transforms it into a speedster reminiscent of the bygone Mazdaspeed3, albeit one with appreciably more civility.
The key is the 2.5L turbo-four has an air-to-water intercooler to keep things cool and a trick wastegate that uses small ports to improve low-end punch and large ports to ensure it delivers in the mid-range. This strategy allows an earlier ramp-up of the turbo's boost pressure.
The result is 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm when burning premium gasoline — using regular drops the numbers to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Frankly, regular gas is all most will need to enjoy the fruits of the blown performance.
As the torque turns up early, thanks to the turbo and its 17.5 psi boost pressure, it all but banishes turbo lag. This sees the Mazda3 leap off the line and pull hard and fast through the mid-range. The work also brings an engine that is ultimately very responsive to a stab at the gas and remarkably civilized when the throttle is not wide open.
According to my admittedly crude stopwatch, the Mazda3 Turbo runs to 100 km/ h in about 6.5 seconds and it managed the 80-120 km/ h passing move in 4.8 seconds. Both are solid times to say the least!
The Turbo works with a sixspeed automatic with paddle shifters and Mazda's i-activ allwheel-drive system (AWD). The combination works to maximize performance and it manages to get the power down without torque steer. Normally, firing this much power through the front wheels would see the car tug at the steering wheel and pull left or right as the tires worked to find grip. That is not the case here. The Turbo pulls straight and true even as maximum power comes online.
The i-activ system is predictive and proactive. It monitors everything from driver input and individual wheel speeds to the forces acting on the car and studies this information to arrive at the best power split.
This predictive ability is layered with Mazda's G-vectoring Control (GVC Plus). It's a simple, but highly effective system. Heading into a corner, it momentarily backs out of the gas, which loads up the front tires and brings a crisper turn-in response. At the exit, it dabs the outside front brake to straighten the car and get it pointed down the road in a smoother manner. In practice, all the thinking that goes on in the background means the Mazda3 hooks up seamlessly. The added traction afforded by driving all four wheels saw it handle a delightfully twisty road without missing a beat.
There is a Sport mode. It changes the shift points and ensures the shifts come at the right time.
The 2021 Mazda3 Turbo is a delightful car. It handles remarkably well; it is fast when needed and civilized when not.
The 2021 Mazda3 Turbo is at a dealer near you now. The sedan has a starting price of $32,900; the Sport starts at $33,900. The range-topping 100th Anniversary Edition comes in at $36,100 and $37,100, respectively.