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Madza3 XD Astina diesel road test review

It drives well, is well equipped and offers good practicality for a small car, but it comes at a premium price over its petrol siblings.

Drive Team

01:3003 October 2014

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Madza3 XD Astina diesel road test review

Since Mazda introduced a diesel 3 in 2007 it's accounted for a mere 1 per cent of the significant sales. That can largely be put down to the lack of an automatic transmission, something that struck it off the shopping list of many prospective small car buyers.

But that's been rectified with the latest 3, which now picks up its own nomenclature – XD Astina – which is somewhat more enticing than plain old "Diesel" of the previous model

Going with the snazzier name is a new positioning that sets the XD as the flagship of the broad Mazda3 lineup. Rather than being a fuel miser with plenty of sensibilities, Mazda is hoping people will see the diesel as a rortier range topper, complete with plenty of goodies and a grunty engine.

But there's still a lack of choices with what is a simplified Mazda3 diesel range; other than colours the only choice is between a manual or auto transmission, with all diesels in the five-door body style (no sedan).

What do you get?

The diesel is a single model – called XD - that matches the Astina SP25 for its equipment levels. With a price tag of $40,230 (or $42,230 for the auto tested here) it's the most expensive 3 on offer and is almost lineball with the lesser equipped but bigger entry-level Mazda6 diesel.

That represents a $4040 premium over the 2.5-litre petrol engine that graces the SP25; nothing to be baulked at for a small car that now effectively competes with various hot hatches.

For that you get leather trim, smart key entry (working on only the front doors once you press a small black button), LED daytime running lights, heated and electric front seats, head-up display, radar cruise control, auto high beams, sunroof and various active safety features, including autonomous emergency braking and blind spot warning. There's also a great Bose sound system.

What's inside?

There's a high quality flavour to the interior of the 3 thanks to carefully placed metal or faux metal finishes, a chunky steering wheel and elegant dark-finished plastics. Leather trim and the snug but comfy suede-finished pews completes the upmarket deal.

The colour screen atop the dash may not be to everyone's taste but it presents information close to the driver's line of sight, as does the head-up display that incorporates a small adjustable glass screen above the steering wheel.

There are frustrations, though, particularly with the menu system for the central screen perched on the dash like a miniature tablet. Simple operations often demand too many twirls, clicks and pushes of the main knob and surround buttons just aft of the gear selector.

Air vents are missing from the rear despite a dual-zone ventilation setup up front. And rear leg room isn't as generous as some, although it'll still do the trick for most small families or outings with four people.

The tapering roofline and chunky rear-most pillar can make blind spot checks more challenging, but the electronics make up for any deficiency. The boot, too, is compact but flexible, with fold down seating adding large load space.

Under the bonnet

From the moment you fire it up it's obvious the XD is different to your average 3. There's some clattering and rumbling as the diesel wakens.

Throttle response, too, isn't as sharp as petrol-fed 3s, although it doesn't take long for the diesel engine to liberate its ample muscle. The generous 420Nm torque peak arrives at 2000rpm and quickly propels the five-door forward.

In some conditions – up a steep hill or on a wet road - it can struggle for traction if you're enthusiastic from a standstill. It's an impressive mill and one that brings some sportiness to the otherwise sensible five-door body.

The engine spins freely to just beyond 4500rpm, at which point it's hitting its natural ceiling and changing up a gear. Aurally the 3 XD sounds more appealing as revs rise, in part thanks to the "Active Engine Sound" that pumps synthesised sound through the speakers.

As you're decelerating at city speeds, though, there can be some booming as the engine hovers around 1500rpm. It's no game changer – and didn't occur all the time - but it's less than ideal for what is otherwise an impressively polished drivetrain.

The six-speed auto is intelligent in its shifts, dropping into a higher gear as needed. It'll also let the engine use its great flexibility, ticking over gently at about 2000rpm on a freeway.

One of the big appeals of the diesel is its more frugal nature. According to the government-derived fuel figures the auto oil burner sips just 5.2 litres per 100km, which is 0.9L/100km more than the Astina petrol. Assuming annual mileage of 15,000km, petrol prices of $1.35/litre and diesel at $1.40/litre (the price relativity can fluctuate) the XD would cost $1092 to fuel versus $1235 for the petrol equivalent.

With a $143 saving at today's prices it makes the diesel difficult to justify given the $4k premium. But that's overlooking the driving benefits and the resale benefits; Glass's Guide predicts a diesel 3 will be worth $23,000 (54.4 per cent of the purchase price) after three years or 60,000km while the otherwise identical petrol model is forecast at $20,300 and 53.2 per cent).

For the record, in almost 500km of suburban running we achieved 7.4L/100km.

On the road

There's a maturity to the 3's road manners that help cement it as one of the standouts in the small car class.

Suspension is taut and the low profile 18-inch Dunlop rubber can tremble over a pothole, but it recovers quickly and is generally compliant in the way it deals with imperfections.

Road noise – long a bugbear of Mazda3s – is again more prevalent than on some rivals, but it's only noticeable over more aggressive road surfaces.

Other noises are kept at bay and the 3 is generally a quiet, comfortable machine.

It's also a lively small car in the bends, even with the extra 106kg the diesel donk plonks over the nose. Those tyres grip impressively well, even on a wet surface, and in the dry the athletic setup comes into its own.

The steering isn't darty but it's accurate enough and feels confident to the user.

Verdict

The biggest issue with the Mazda3 XD Astina is the petrol-powered 3s. While it's loaded with much welcome flexibility and overall muscle it comes at a cost – and one unlikely to be realised during the average owner's time.

Considering the diesel engine is only available in the most expensive 3 to start with it makes for a harder price tag to swallow.

That said, those prepared to dig deeper will be rewarded with a great driving, well equipped and practical small car. And a diesel with some feistiness befitting the 3's hatchback body.