Mazda3 up with very best
THE latest revisions to the excellent Mazda3 have seen it outclass almost every competitor and even make cars in the executive bracket look to their laurels.
The changes introduced late last year have made an already very good car into a truly great one that sits alongside the VW Golf at the top of the class.
It doesn’t quite match the Golf’s looks but in every other way it has the answer to the equivalent German model.
From the outside, it looks very much the same, but inside, the cabin has been updated, and underneath, the chassis uses Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology.
This has improved overall refinement, which was already up to a high standard, and suspension revisions have brought an improved ride and reduced vibration, while at the same time bringing better handling.
Ride comfort is so much better that it tops every other car in the class apart from the Golf. It rolls over speed humps with consummate ease, and takes the worst surfaces in town beautifully.
Yet it’s also very agile and safe through the corners, with tremendous grip, marvellous roadholding and wonderful balance.
It can be chucked around like a sportscar, instilling immense confidence in the driver.
I recently drove both the 1.5 105bhp diesel and the 2.0-litre 120bhp petrol. Other engines available are the existing 150bhp 2.2 diesel, and the 165bhp 2.0-litre petrol.
Both diesel engines now feature what Mazda calls Transient Control, to give a more positive accelerator response by reducing turbo lag, and they also have a sound smoothing system that reduces the knocking sounds during starting and at low speeds.
All cars in the range come with stop-start as standard and unlike some others, it works well every time.
The Mazda3 1.5 diesel SE Nav costs £19,695.