Tweaked 2008 Mazda3 sports range
April 7, 2008 by George Skentzos
Mazda has freshened up its Mazda3 sports line up with improved value, safety and appeal across the sports range.
The streamlined Neo Sport, Maxx Sport, Diesel, SP23 and MPS variants now sport a host of cosmetic changes and added extras.
The range of colours available for the Mazda3 range has also increased to 12, with the addition of Copper Red, Golden Sand, Metropolitan Grey and Stormy Blue.
Base model Neo Sport retains its $20,990 price tag despite the addition of alloy wheels, power windows and mirrors and an AUX jack for iPod compatibility as standard – totaling $1600 worth of extras at no added cost.
Priced from $25,500 the Maxx Sport gets six airbags, chrome outer door handles, new design 16-inch alloy wheels, upgraded cloth interior trim which takes inspiration from the SP23, and a sleek centre console in Piano Black finish.
The Mazda3 Diesel sedan and hatch enjoys the same improvements as the Maxx Sport, with the best-in-class 360Nm and 105kW diesel engine taking the price to $29,500.
Chrome outer door handles and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), previously packaged into the SP23 Luxury, are now standard features on the Mazda3 SP23, priced from $29,600.
Inside, the SP23 gets a new ultra-quality seat and door trim cloth courtesy of the MPS, and a centre console, instrument panels, steering wheel and power window switch bezels all in Piano Black.
The turbocharged Mazda3 MPS gets similar interior upgrades along with a brand new cloth trim with red highlights, priced from $38,750.
Mazda3 Sport range
Sedan and Hatch
Mazda3 Neo Sport $20,990
With Safety Pack $22,690
Auto transmission $2,000
Mazda3 Maxx Sport $25,500
With DSC $26,500
Auto transmission $2,000
Mazda3 Diesel $29,500
Mazda3 SP23 $29,600
With Luxury Pack $31,600
Auto transmission $2,260
Mazda3 MPS $38,750
With Sports Pack $42,250
Print it: 
Base model sounds cheap now, but still has no curtain airbags or stability control!! , why do manufacturers believe people should pay extra for safety items!! people should look at subarus view eg(impreza) every model has
6 airbags, vdc stabilty control, constant awd, abs with ba,
and 5 star safety, for not much more money!! the awd system and boxer engine alone are worth the extra cash ($24490)
Mazda has a safety pack available on the base model, for $1700. You don’t have to go for the next spec up if you want extra airbags and ESP.
how about options 4wd on the mps, now thats a safety feature
The car is due to be replaced soon, if I were in the market for this sort of car, I’d pass.
Despite it being at the end of it’s model life, it is still a better car then a lot of its rivals.
Mitch you are spot on after driving a mazda 3 mps, I hated it, it is very unsafe under full accelaration even in dry weather!! the torque steer is scary! I cant imagine trying to drive one even remotely briskly on wet/damp roads!! it amazes me that mazda has an awd system in 6 MPS
and dont fit it to smaller/lighter 3, surely the cost isnt that high when subaru manages to supply all imprezas with it std…
It is a pity people are so dumb as to buy these cars without the safety pack. They stuff up everyones resale…
Why ? – Well, if everyone was safety minded, and the takeup rate was 100%, the manufacturers wouldn’t make these features options. The base price could then go up a bit but model variation numbers would reduce, helping the brands and dealers alike. That also rubs off on resale, as a car with options never ever holds its value as well as one that is better specified from the factory (and gets its own Red Book listing etc.)
The way I look at it is, if I had a accident and a family member was killed or injured, would I regret saving a few dollars ? – Yes, I would. I buy the safest car for my family I can afford.
MPS 3 is not better then its rivals, prob the worst hot hatch out of them all.
Mitch, it’s not the MPS Myke was refering to….they meant the general range was better than it’s competition, which it most defently is
Only the Focus & Golf really rival the 3…it’s fantastic car that is now even better value and even near the end of it’s life, a great buy
why people continue to by the underequiped Corolla amazes me…then again, i suppose it is pretty much fleet companies holding up Corolla sales atm..
Neil…
You 100% correct.
I’d buy the mazda 3, astra, golf or focus over the corolla.
The NEW corolla came last in a comparison between the 3 and golf.
The 3 is still a handsome shape after 4 years :)
Subarus are more expensive due the AWD and heavier, AWD does NOT always = safer handling. This theory has been tested before.
You also have more expense with the driveline alignment and tyre costs.
Personally, I think the Focus (namely Zetec) has aged more gracefully then the 3. Engines are almost the same, Ford use a better manual in the Focus and the IRS in the Focus is better tuned in my opinion after driving both.
I do believe the focus is a slightly better at the limit than the mazda 3.
A Mazda SP23 auto sedan or a Hyundai i30 SR auto???? any comments.
I’ve driven plenty of SP23’s, not an I30 thus far. An SP23 is very fun to drive, man or auto.
Yet another reason not to buy a Corolla!!!!
Yet another reason not to buy Corolla? They are beating a dead horse with the Mazda3, it looks dated, extra features dont do it for me, time to bring out the new model. Side note, saw a Mazda6 in person, veeeeeeeery hot, better in metal then in flesh (wouldnt have thought that would be possible)
*better in metal then in pics
One can only assume that being a Mazda the sound system – particularly in the Luxury Pack; would be BOSE as it is with the Mazda6.. which on its own is good a enough reason to put it ahead of the corolla.
Well TP when I first saw pics of the Camry.. I though they would never make a car which is that ugly.
I then saw one in the “metal” and I was wrong.. .
they did/have/do
Garry, Mazda 3, I reckon. It’s older, but probably better on balance.
Great to see that the best package on the mid small cars got better and the the small improvements will see it thru till 2009 when the new model arrives..
If you have to really on AWD like the Subawho’s then I gather you have an old style box head or is that motor..
If they are so good why aren’t the Impreza and Liberty outselling the 3 a 6 why because they aren’t that good….
I drove a SP23 recently and was surprised by its strong performance and the way it drove generally. Still looks great as well. Overall, I prefer the Golf’s combination of looks and performance though. A Golf GT or GTI would be my pick of the current crop of small cars.
Wheelnut continue talking shyte… if you think the Camry looks ugly then you must think an Aston Martin is boring. I think the Camry looks better than the Aurion, in fact in the U.S the Camry body is their equivalent of the Aurion. And the Aurion is better looking then the BF I mean FG Falcon. So both are better then local trash.
TP car magazines and website say the Mazda is a far superior car to drive than the Corolla, despite being three to four years older. It is starting to look its age but there is no denying it as a handsome car. Which can’t be said about the Corolla sedan, that looks as though someone rammed into the back of it.
You yourself said on a different page: “…Someone in Aurion article mentioned how much better Omega is, the problem with a comment like that is the Omega has a 4 speed tranny and 180kw compared to 4 speed and 200kw in Aurion… and has less features. Some people are like children, looks prity but forget what actually matters!”
You stated that looks don’t matter (there are more important things), the Mazda3 is more powerful than the Corolla, better to drive, has a greater choice of engines and has more features (including ESP!). Whether the features “do it for you” or not, it is the more convincing package.
I keep saying…
Why can’t a cash rich auto company like TOYOTA make class leading vehicles?? Mazda 3 and the rest, still beat the NEW corolla!
Ian…
I agree unltimately the Golf is better but the price difference with the SP23 and golf is significant, it’s all relative to price.
Take the Gov sales of the Corolla Camry and Lolux and Toyota’s share in the sales market would be a shame on how much it realise on them. The 3 is showing its age and within 12mths a new model will be born to the markets of the world and then look out with the 2, 3 & 6 Mazdas market share will strengthen.
the mazda 3 appears to be a very nice car and in all the car magazines and newspapers it is rated the highest out of the small cars. I’m interested if you had a choice between the base model mazda 3 and the base model holden astra which one would you choose and why? They seem very similar with only slight differences to me but the mazda is always rated more highly…