- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.8i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
92kW, 163Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 7.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Special addition
Pigeonhole: Value version of Mazda's most popular small car.
Philosophy: Conservative quality garnished with extra novelties.
Who's buying it: Mazda loyalists. Why? Because the Ford Laser is a cheaper clone. The differences are in the trim, equipment, a few badges and chrome garnishes.
Why you'd buy it: Thorough engineering, good build quality, space, practicality and a welcome interior makeover for this special edition.
Why you wouldn't: Lacks the last few degrees of refinement with some traces of engine harshness. Incredibly dumb mounting of CD stacker which robs boot space. Lacks some safety kit.
Standard equipment: White faced instruments, leather Nardi steering wheel, special trim, CD stacker, leather gear knob, climate control air-conditioning on top of standard features including alloy wheels (plus spare), central locking, power windows and mirrors, body coloured bumpers and mirrors, fog lights.
Safety: Bare minimum of add-on features (no pre-tensioning seat belts, no anti-lock brakes) but this is a contemporary bodyshell that passes standards well in advance of current Australian Design Rules. Dual airbags are included, but the rear seat still doesn't have a centre, three-point belt. It's lap-only, which is no good for kids.
Cabin: Roomy in every direction for this class. Lots of storage and a useful boot with 60:40 split and fold rear-seat access. Anniversary edition interior provides a more contemporary feel with special trim and enhancements.
Seating: Well-bolstered front buckets, useful rear pew.
Engine: The more powerful of Mazda's two four-cylinder choices, this 1.8 litre produces 92kW and 163Nm of torque which means it's lively enough in traffic and can be spun hard when more sporting opportunities beckon. No complaints apart from some thrashy induction noise when asked to rev.
Transmission: Choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Buy the manual. It's by far the more sporting.
Steering: Leather-bound wheel imparts a chunkier, more sporty feel but the underpinnings are standard power-assisted rack and pinion. No complaints. Parking efforts are easy. Turning circle is a tidy 10.4m.
Handling: Typical Japanese front-wheel drive with a slight sporty bias, which can make the ride firm over some road surfaces.
Fuel: About 10 to 11 L/100km in the city/eight on the highway.
Brakes: With the 1.8 engine comes the welcome addition of rear disc brakes. Overall balance, fade resistance and feel are high-calibre, but there's no anti-lock system to control them. Blame that on the bean counters who know the punters are more seduced by white-faced instruments than state-of-the-art stoppers.
Build: Japan still leads the world for good reason. Mazda isn't quite in the Honda/Toyota/Lexus league, but it's close. Buy with confidence.
Warranty: Three years/unlimited kilometres.
Anti-theft: Engine immobiliser standard, remote central locking.
Audio system: Six-stack CD player is a good addition, but it's mounted on the boot floor to cause maximum inconvenience. Sound quality is middle-of-the-road from four-speaker system.
Cost: The starting point is $26,190 for the manual and $28,140 for the automatic. These cars will have 1999 compliance plates, so there is some room for negotiation. The added equipment is enticing, but the Astina is still expensive when ranged against competitors, such as Nissan's Pulsar. It is, however, a generation ahead in most areas.
Verdict: Introduced in late 1998, the Astina has won a loyal following despite its premium price and modest equipment list. This special edition addresses the latter at the top end of the market and is solid buying. Ford's Laser is worth comparison shopping if lowest price is your prime motivation. But if that's the case, wait until July 1 for the GST. By then, this limited edition of 350 cars will be well gone.