2009 Mazda3 SP25 at MIMS

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By David Twomey | February 27th, 2009

Mazda has unveiled its new generation normally aspirated flagship SP25 variant at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

A new MZR 2.5-litre petrol engine replaces the previous 2.3-litre unit, making an appearance exclusively in the updated SP variant.

The new engine delivers more performance with an added 7kw and 24Nm over the previous model and a more refined and sportier driver without an increase in fuel consumption.

It develops maximum power of 122kW at 6000rpm and 227Nm at 6500rpm through either a six-speed manual or optional five-speed Activematic transmission.

Newly evolved MacPherson strut suspension at the front and multilink at the rear delivers sharper handling dynamics for a more precise drive.

Standard safety includes Dynamic Stability Control, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and dual front, side and curtain airbags.

Inside buyers will find air-conditioning, power windows, remote central locking, CD audio system, integrated satellite navigation system and Bluetooth with MP3 connectivity as standard.

The new Mazda3 SP25 will go on sale in Australia from April 2009 with local pricing to be announced closer to the release date.

HAL

why do the photos show the 2.2L diesel engine if this article is about the new SP25?
Tony

This new model is a bit bigger (40 cm longer) than the outgoing model. With the same 2.5 litre engine as the Mazda 6 and with more standard equipment (sat. navi and Bluetooth) than the Mazda 6; it will probably take some sales from the Mazda 6.
HAL

^ Tony, exactly. I said this in another article the other day – with no point of difference in the 6 engines to the SP25, it doesn’t make sense. Mazda need to release some higher performing engines in the 6 as it will not be offering anything more than slightly more rear legroom once the SP25 gets released.
Neutral

Just look at the smiling grill!!! yuck
Technofreak

LOOK – CARTOON CAR!!

I hate Mazda for making this look like a cartoon car! GRRR!! i was hoping they would fix it or tone it down for final release

well….won’t be updating now….
…wonder if the dealers here have any MPS left for me…??
RallyWhiz

Front Grill….very ugly…yuck..couldnt agree more with you “neutral”

Top Ugly car manufacturers in the world:
1. Peugeot – all models score cr.p
2. Subaru – for impreza hatch
3. Subaru – for impreza sedan
4. Subaru – for tribeca old
5. Honda – for the current CRV. WTF is that double grill
6. Mitsubishi – for the lancer rear design. couldnt even
copy alfa and lexus properly.
7. Nissan Micra – This should exist in the first place.

and now Current Mazda..copy of peugeot

whats happening with all manufacturers? why are they moving to ugly designs?

Hate the looks of this mazda.

Yuck Yuck Yuck..

Louise

I think ur all stupid! this car is gorgeous! i just bought one and its awesome!! so easy to drive aswell and very spacious! i have a baby so fits her car seat and pram and drives really well!!the color is amazing too! dont critisize before u actually drive it!

RallyWhiz

Ha! this car!!!!

how can anyone in their proper sense sit in this toy car. cars looking like this should be restricted to Cartoon movies only.

These photos have upset me so much…it has destroyed my Friday evening

haha
DJ

Definitely a good looking and stylish car. Dares to be a little different and does aim for a younger audience.

May not appeal to the more conservative and older generation.
http://ozmazdaclub.com Ozmazdaclub

Well done Mazda another great looking car….
Falcodore

I actually like the looks and the shape! The cars not too bad either
Falcodore

Wheres the MPS? I thought it was at the show
ZoomZoom

The MPS will be revealed at MIMS March 4 after its world premier at Geneva March 3
Andrew

So when do we hear about prices and release dates?
Joober

“Just look at the smiling grill!!! yuck” – Agree I hate that smile – and yes it reminds of pixar’s cars cartoon.
Al Juraj

This will definitely be on my list, but I hope the SP25′s pricing isn’t too close to the base 6. I can’t wait to test it and anticipating no fatal flaws as compared to my other prospects. So the candidates now are…

1. Honda Accord Euro – best interior and exterior, great package even on the base model, but auto just not fast enough and a V6 or Type R is unlikely.

2. Mitsubishi Lancer – great looks with fantastic equipment for the price, also has decent back seat, but interior materials becoming more Korean.

3. Toyota Aurion – can outrun most bogan cars, space is really satisfying and we can get a substantial discount from a friend who works in Toyota, but dashboard is too plain and why in the world does this FF car have a foot operated parking brake (the Camry comes with a hand brake)?

4. Ford Falcon – a sincerely fine effort from Oz once and for all, but cost cutting is still visible inside and overall reliability is still in question.

5. New Mazda3 – set to be the class leader combining Japanese quality with European excitement. This is the likely winner if rear seat space is good enough.
ay

why do the rims look so small on this car, they look like 16′s, i know they are probably 17′s but they look out of proportion. Is it because the side panels have a large space between wheel arch other point of reference on car?

i don’t seem to like this car like the old mazda. sp. the old SP had a strong angry feel to it with the defined wheel arch overhangs, this car doesn’ have that, and lacks the sporty look subsequently.
ZoomZoom

Al Juraj: all your options seem ok but just be aware that the Honda accord euro has a problem with the automatic gearbox and Honda acknowledges it but doesn’t know how to fix it yet. Apparently it could lead to engine problems as well.

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99566
pious

I’d be smiling too, if that young lady had her hand on me.
Twilight

RALLYwhiz,

you forgot the Ssangyong STAVIC… THAT shouLD be AT THE toP!!!
ZoomZoom

More pictures of the Mazda 3 MPS have shown up. Looks hot!

http://www.motorauthority.com/2010-mazda3-mazdaspeed-mps-debuts-in-geneva.html
Fasthonda

I tend to agree with the other posts that it is a bit cartoonish.The MPS3 luckily,doesn’t quite have that look.
Al Juraj

Thanks for the heads-up ZoomZoom. I’m beginning to be sceptic of Honda automatics upon reading the Wheels article that it actually takes more than 1.5 secs to accelerate to 100 km/h compared to the manual. While other autos have matched or even surpassed their stick-shift siblings, Honda has yet to catch up. They haven’t even released a 6-speeder yet, even on the Legend.

Rear seat space is a bit of a problem for the old 3. I hope Mazda has rectified the issue on the new one. Performance should be better for the 2.0 auto as it gains an extra gear and the car is slightly lighter than its predecessor. I really can’t wait to test it.
ZoomZoom

No worries Al Juraj. BTW which model mazda 3 were you considering. Maxx sport, Maxx or Neo seeing as your looking at the 2.0. I think that the Maxx sport is the way to go with all those features standard: sat nav, bluetooth, ESP.
Devil’s Advocate

That is interesting you should say that Al Juraj. The 3, from what I have seen, is one of the better cars in it’s class for rear seat room, especially head room in the hatch. The shape of the seat is not the best for 3 people, but if you only have 2, it is great for what it is, a small/medium car. Of course it is going to have less space in the rear seat than the Euro, Aurion and Falcon.
Vid_Ghost

This car is going to well very well in black… and if you got it in any other colour your going to be stuck with that smiley face for the life of the car…

In black it will blend into enough to not look so bad.. cant wait to grab mine on 6th of aprl when that hit showrooms
Fasthonda

@ZoomZoom
You must work for Mazda?Maybe I should dig up info. on the Mazda 3 in regards to problems they have had?I definately know that the MPS3 have had i’ts fair share of problems..the most serious being massive engine failure.

@Al Juraj

I’m not quite sure in what market segment you are buying into anyway,Honda Australia have put out a statement in regards to WHAT the PROBLEM entails I’ve copied the most important part…..”These reports are in regard to an engine operational sound, which is linked to fuel quality/specification and the electronic emissions management system, has been confirm to be from a combustion sound taking place after the programmed ignition, namely a “post combustion noise”.

As this condition takes place after the programmed ignition and with the piston on its downward stroke, there is no detrimental force or impact within the engine in your vehicle.”
There is a software fix available later in this month.

At the end of the day Al Juraj,do you want to drive and be seen in a smiling clown faced car,or in a classy,award winning car.
ZoomZoom

Fasthonda, the Mazda 3 has never had any problems whatsoever. As for the MPS3, it has had a problem with the front enine mount where the engine could drop out only in the worse case scenario.
I don’t work for Mazda, just know a lot about them. If you liked Honda the same way you would know that they to have their fair share of problems just like any other car manufacturer.
BTW, did you ever consider that the Mazda 3 would cost around 20k less than an accord euro with equal specs(sat nav) and not to mention the 3 also has some features that won’t be found in the euro, eg. 10 speaker bose system if you opt for sp25 which is still 10k less than the euro with sat nav.. Also the 3 is faster and more economical.

It comes down to what budget he has but both are worth of a look.
Josie

Proud new owner of the mazda3 SP25 – took delivery of it yesterday and have been loving it ever since. Handles amazing, power is fantastic, interior is comfortable and both the inside and out has a very sytlish and classy finish. Definitely turns heads (in a good way) when driving. I upgraded from a Mazda 3 Maxx Sport (2006) and definitely worth the extra investment.

Very happy!!!
MADAZ

See it in person before making judgements on the smile, remember, a registration plate helps break it up, this car is amazing enough for you haters to get over it. Look at the line of the car just above the smile, it looks very sporty like the RX-8 http://blog.webridestv.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/2009_mazda_rx8_webridestv20080310_0026.jpg which has a smile too, albeit smaller. You can understand where Mazda is coming from.
hotdog

As someone who has just picked up the latest model, in reply to some comments above, the back seat room is the same or less than in the previous model. Although the aesthetics of the front grille may upset some diehard fans, it doesn’t really look all that bad in reality.

The smile ain’t such a bad thing. I think it’s some form of strange japanese marketing as many cars, including hondas and toyota’s have some sort of ‘smile’ front and back. Plus on a darker coloured car its not obvious.

The radical design is also practical, that ‘smile’ represents more air to cool the radiator, and at least on the SP25 model, on the passengers side next to the smile is a cold air intake.

Of course it looks better from the rear, the slanted led lights and twin exhaust definitely make the previous model look a little bland.

My only criticisms, being an owner of the previous model aswell, is that storage space has been sacrificed, especially in the glovebox and centre console, and the handbrake is on the wrong (or opposite) side of the centre console compared to the previous model. Also, on the auto model it no longer tells you what gear you are in when the gearbox is in D. It’s a bit annoying and makes you wonder why they did it.
new owner SP25

whatever the comment above it won’t stop people who love MAZDA, like me…I just owned it last month SP25 with leather seat…i love it…and I think it worth my money and that’s it…how long u gonna live in this world…don’t think too much…(:
Ms A

Please tell me how much is your mazda 3 SP25?
http://danieldesilva@rocketmail.com Daniel

Just picked up my black SP25 manual from Geelong Mazda. I had been looking for a new car for under 32k, and I got a standard SP25 with mats and cargo liner for 31300 on roads. It’s the best value car on the market, it comes with some high standard eqiptment as listed in other comments. The only other car I considered was a golf GTI.
New owner

Just purchased a black sp25 fully optioned up, best you can get with luxury pack and sunroof etc etc, all i can say is GREAT CAR THIS CAR IS AMAZING.
Trust me, this car looks a bit wierd and feels weird to start with but once you adapt to it its just great, i love getting in the car in the morning and feeling the leather, opening the sunroof if its a warm morning and its just cool, good looking great car, i looked at the diesel puegot 308, just thought it was ugly, looked at ford, mitsubishi,nissan, Toyota, honda , Ralliart mitsubishi, test drove them all but the finnish and the quality of the mazda bet it all so i said, f*** it, wont live forever and said give me the works.
Was going to buy the mps but wihtout being auto i dont want it as i preffere paddle shift.
hope this helps people