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2007 Mazdaspeed3 Grand Touring Road Test

Who says you have to be rich in order to buy a super car? Mazda begs to differ with a low-slung, high-powered, bright red rocket of a hatchback that's more fun than most people will know what to do with,and despite being stuffed to the gills with luxury features, top-tier audio equipment, and premium-like build quality, it can be yours for a little over 24 grand.

As those who read my ramblings regularly will appreciate, I get to drive a fair number of exotic rides, from Ferraris to Aston Martins, Lotuses to Audi's hot new R8, not to mention just about every Porsche in existence and all the new Maseratis, turbocharged Bentleys and BMW M cars available, so when I tell you that this little Mazdaspeed3 will put a smile on your face, please take me seriously.

Mazda took its latest 'Speed creation very seriously, knowing that it would be up against some pretty stiff competition. After all, Honda's new Civic Si, MINI's Cooper S, VW's GTI and Chevy's Cobalt SS Supercharged, just to name a few, deliver about 200 horsepower apiece, making them seriously fun rides. Of course,

'Speed3's cockpit is a cut above. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

as good as they are, these hot hatches and sporty coupes have just been thoroughly eclipsed by the Mazdaspeed3, with more than a 60 horsepower advantage on average.

The unassuming 2.3-liter four-cylinder makes a ton of power. Thanks to a turbocharger and direct injection, among other things, a total of 263 horsepower can be had at just 5,500 rpm, and even more astounding, 280 lb-ft of torque is available at a mere 3,000 rpm, making the 'Speed3 scoot like a nasty little attack bunny. But just when you're getting ready to hear the revs scream into the stratosphere, they're cut short by the electronic rev limiter, forcing the need to shift. Yes, 6,700 rpm is a little uneventful for a high-powered four-cylinder, especially if you're comparing it to a VTEC equipped Honda.

Cargo space is sizable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Where the Honda spins into oblivion, the 'Speed loses air at just over 6,000 rpm, but then again if pure acceleration is all that matters to you it's best to leave the high-revving Civic Si in the garage as it can't match the Mazdaspeed3for get up and go. The Mazda knocks roughly a third of a second off the Honda's sprint at six seconds flat to 60 mph compared to 7.1 seconds. Sure it's not 911 or M3 territory, let alone the super cars mentioned earlier, but it'll still suck you back in your seat when the turbocharger kicks in.

It'll take a dual between Subaru's legendary WRX STi or Mitsubishi's EVO to make the Mazda eat tailpipe fumes, although Dodge will soon make its 300-horsepower Caliber SRT4 available, so even owners of Mazda's outrageously quick sport compact will have to watch their rearview mirrors.

The six-speed manual, first used in

There's lots of room in front and back, and the seats are truly comfortable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

the larger Mazdaspeed6, features triple-cone synchronizers in its first three gearsfor really smooth operation, although the gears are tightly spaced together, which might need some getting used to.

The clutch is heavier than the majority I've tested too, which means that your left leg is going to get a workout in stop-and-go city traffic. That could prove a literal pain.

Let that clutch go too quickly when your foot is on the throttle and the front tires will lose traction as the car bunny hops uncontrollably, forcing you to back off the throttle before the traction control comes on to slow things down. What'sneeded is a more mature right foot, gently feathering the throttle until the tires grab hold of the tarmac and the car starts moving forward. A steady increase of pedal pressure will pull the car forward in lightning quick fashion, at which time you'll need to short-shift it due to that rather low

Four-wheel discs with ABS have no trouble managing steep grades, with very little fade. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

redline. Again, remember to be smooth, because if you're too aggressive when letting out the clutch and getting on the throttle the car will break traction once again and start shuttering the front wheels, slowing your momentum. Once you learn how to master the power, this is one quick little beast.

Oddly, despite all the power going down to the front wheels there's surprisingly little torque-steer under normal use. You really need to get stupid with the car and dump the clutch at full throttle to feel a tug on the steering, so once again the trick to mastering the 'Speed3 is to be smooth.

Smooth doesn't describe the car's suspension however… it's clearly not for the feint of heart. The term rigid comes to mind, and while a setup like this would be ideal for the racetrack, it's not always optimal on real roads, alleys and parking lots with speed bumps, that cause it to bounce around uncomfortably. Yet there's more than just discomfort that the stiffer springs can cause. Over rough pavement

Lower ride height, stiffer springs and large 18-inch rims with low-profile rubber make the 'Speed3 a little rough around the edges. But boy does it handle! (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

its tires are more likely to lose connection with the road thanks to very little suspension travel, and when rubber isn't touching pavement it's somewhat difficult to turn. So, on smooth surfaces this is an ideal setup, but on rougher roads you'll probably be better off in the already impressively agile Mazda3.

Just the same, I took to some winding, undulating roads near the waterfront and the 'Speed3 took to the turns with an almost unflappable composure. Even when bumps and dips rudely interruptedmy push forward, and the big 18-inch performance tires lost traction, a split second later they reattached to the road surface as if nothing happened at all, a process that felt totally stable and completely controllable. In fact, I soon started scouting out rougher patches just for fun. Amazingly, for a front-drive car that should normally favor understeer, it's wonderfully balanced, almost entirely neutral no matter what you throw at it. Still, to live with the constant pounding on a daily basis might be a bit much for my middle-aged bones.

So while the ride was a bit aggressive I've

Feather the pedals lightly, and you can get a lot out of this little rocket. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

got no qualms about the car's stopping power. Its extremely large four-wheel discs with standard ABS didn't hesitate in pulling the car down from seriously fast speeds to standstill with just a tap on the pedal. Even when used repeatedly, they didn't fade away to nonexistencelike so many others do in this class, and a good, strong braking system means that in the end, you'll get where you're going much faster, and much safer.

Keeping overzealous drivers in check is standard stability control that will literally pull a wayward car back on track, potentially saving lives let alone embarrassment. And just in case someone hits you, dual airbags come standard, as do side thorax and side curtain airbags.

The Mazdaspeed3 Grand Touring also boasts standard rain sensing wipers as a safety feature, but I found myself sweeping the windshield by manually toggling the wiper stalk upwards instead, as the rain sensors never really kept up to my need for clear, unhindered visibility, and the light, misting drizzle that seemed to hang over the city for most of the week (other than the latter half of the day that I shot the car for my TV show, and concurrently took the still photos that you see here).

Visibility

Even standing still the Mazdaspeed3 looks menacing. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in mind, I couldn't help but appreciate how easy the five-door hatch was to see out of from all angles, especially through the rear quarter windows and back glass; it's truly a practical driver.

And unlike most sports cars this one can haul five people in a pinch and four adults comfortably. What's more, behind the rear seats a large cargo bay is good enough for a weekend's load of luggage at 16.5 cubic feet, and if only two are along for the ride you can drop the 60/40 split rear seatbacks forward to make use of an even larger, flat-folding load floor totaling 43.4 cubic feet.

Somethingto consider is the Mazdaspeed3's price. Compared to a Subaru WRX it's relatively inexpensive at $24,550 (or $22,835 for the base, Sport model), but most of its less powerful competitors are quite a bit cheaper. Really, for about the same price you'll soon be able to get Volvo's hot new C30 with its turbocharged five-cylinder, and for only a little more you can opt for an Audi A3. While neither of these cars is as sport-oriented as this little Mazda, they offer more prestige, although not a lot more luxury.

Yes, I think you'll be surprised at just how nice any Mazda3 is inside, and the 'Speed model has taken things up a notch or two. Dash plastics are much better than average and most of the remaining plastics are made

The 'Speed3's 263-hp 2.3-liter four makes 280 lb-ft of gut wrenching torque. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

out of fairly goodmatte grain, plus they're put together snuggly. The center stack is really a piece of art, with a gray textured surface and backlit orange detailing. At its base, a three-dial automatic climate control system is easy to operate, and just above an excellent standard audio system boasts a six-disc dash-mounted six-disc stacker, Bose speakers and, and lest we not forget, an input jack for everyone's essential accessory, an iPod. The stereo can be controlled remotely via steering wheel mounted controls too, top-tier stuff for the compact class. What's more, the right side spoke includes cruise control buttons. The wheel itself is leather wrapped with a perforated look covering part of the rim, and frames a truly sport pod-like gauge package trimmed in chrome. And those two-tone cloth sport seats with Mazdaspeed embroidered in the seatbacks? They're totally supportive and comfortable over the long haul.

Still, as luxurious as Mazda has made it, the 'Speed3 is a bit too boy racer for my liking. Maybe I'm getting old, but I'd rather not get beat up by my car's suspension and 18-inch rims when I'm driving around town. Then again, I could get used to all this power if I could just hang onto my license long enough to enjoy it. As good as it looks in red, we should probably be glad that there are other colors available. No doubt black, blue or silver will fly under the radar more effectively.

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