Well, look, for me I think the diesel is really an excellent car: The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder turbo-charged diesel really gets going from down low; it's six-speed manual and excellent fuel economy.
How do you rate the diesel Mazda 3 against the diesel i30? 'Cause I've not driven the diesel.
Look, it's really hard to pick between the two. They're both fantastic cars. And I think it'll just come down to price and which you prefer more in terms of design. And that's an important consideration, right? Because we can talk about the differences between the cars. What we can't evaluate is the differences between people out there and how you fit your life into each one of those cars.
So I guess it's important to trot out to the dealer with all the accoutrement -- your push bike, your golf club, your prams, whatever -- and just make sure the car can do the job before you sign on the line.
And people never do that. You've got to go to the dealer with everything you have in mind doing. You can't take the car for a test drive on your own because it will handle and feel totally different to what is does with a carload of family.
All right, now speaking of handling and feeling, what does it handle like, because my impression of every Mazda 3 I've ever driven was that the handling was just so right.
It's perfect in my opinion. For a car that size, you can't match it. The steering's great, the brakes are fantastic, and in the SP25 you get a 2.5 liter, four cylinder engine which gives you that extra bit of poke, and you have a manual gearbox to play with in addition to a five speed auto, whichever one you please.
Now I guess the MPS is a good car to turn left in because all you have to do is squeeze on the throttle, right? It torques tease like crazy. The performance is up there with, it's WRX-like, isn't it?
The performance is insane, as you said all you do is just tramp on the throttle and you've got to hold on tight for the ride. But on that same token, the front wheel drive, it's got plenty of grip and just the induction noise is perfect. Yeah, it's really great.
What's got to be on the short listin the market for a Mazda3. Cruze, Corolla, I30?
For sure they have got to make it to make the short list as well. Corolla, a little bit boring. They have recently done a styling upgrade. So I guess that's a positive. But the bigger surprise is the Cruze.
And it is literally a bigger surprise, right?
Yeah, that's right. Both in terms of size and just in terms of quality. It's from Korea, and it's unlike all the other Korean products Holden have released. Not like the Berena, which was a bit of a disappointment. But the Cruze drives well. It's available in a diesel. And for your top spec model Cruze, you're sort of edging into a lower spec Mazda3, so if you want the extra goods.
The MPS and the diesel are manual only, but everything else you get an auto option. Which one are you gonna pick?
Probably go for the auto. While it's only a five speed, it manages the engine's power and torque really well. The manual is just a bit notchy and a bit fiddly at times. And look, in that sort of car, you're going to be probably commuting in traffic most of the time. and the pain of the clutch in a manual is just a little bit annoying when you're stuck in peak hour traffic.
So, just in summary, you reckon this a car you can do all the domestic running around in, and still have a good time driving on those rare occasions that you get to have a bit of a play.
And it looks great, as well. So I think it takes all the boxes, and it's definitely one of my favorites in that segment. That was Paul Maric. You can read the full Mazda3 review, download the specifications, add your comments and even get a quote from a Mazda dealer. Just follow by the links on this page.
