• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2007 Mazdaspeed3 Road Test

Mazda has done it again. They are a company after my own heart, and havenow pulled me to the dark side. You see, when I first started driving I was a huge fan of performance cars. The Toyota lineup in particular had my complete and undivided loyalty. As a Toyota owner, naturally Mazda's equally impressive performance lineup became our sworn enemies on the streets. It was a widespread and deeply passionate rivalry between the two camps.

This was about eight years ago when sports cars from the '80s were still very popular tuners. Today, however, has seen massive changes to both Toyota's and Mazda's car portfolios. Toyota, which had several performance-oriented vehicles, has phased them all out to concentrate on the ever so lucrative sedan and SUV markets; not to mention hybrids. Mazda, on the other hand, has continued to evolve and improve its two performance mainstays. The Miata, or MX-5, depending if you'd rather call it by its alphanumeric designation, and the RX-7, which went away for a

At heart it's still a Mazda3, so lots of space in that hatchback for cargo. (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

few years but hasbeen reincarnated as the much more versatile RX-8.

Mazda with the all-too popular Zoom-Zoom marketing program has added two more performance versions of their small and mid-sized cars with Mazdaspeed editions of the 6 and now the 3. Well, I finally got my hands on the Mazdaspeed3 and that was the final straw that pulled me to Mazda's camp; my once bitter rival. The MX-5 made me open my mind, the RX-8 earned my respect and now the Mazdaspeed3 has me drooling.

The Mazda3, in either four- or five-door body styles, is a very capable and visually pleasing car.So, add a turbocharged engine, 6-speed gearbox, some mean looking bumpers,

Rear spoiler sits atop the hatch. The diffuser is horribly fake, though... (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

flared fenders housing 18-inch rims and you have yourself one bad ass Mazda. The almost luminescent color of the red bursts to the eye. It stands out in a crowd like a big bright red beacon, and makes all other red cars look dirty and, well, just a little bit boring. Unfortunately, this bright red beacon is also well spotted by police. A problem, as driving the car in a mature manner is very difficult.

Sitting below the bumper is a stylin' set of fog lights that give the car a distinctive look over the regular 3. A sporty yet subtle rear wing adorns the roof above the hatch, while an equally subtle kit covers each rocker panel. The front radiator opening is massive and a black blank has been set into the bumper to give it an even larger look. This is echoed in the rear

My, aren't you a mean looking machine? Big power bulge on the hood is justified when you've got this much power... (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

where a large black blank also stretches up the rear bumper to give the car an aggressive look. And it all works, as the Mazdaspeed3 has the appearance of a Mazda3 Sport, bred for battle. And it's not all show and no go either, as going to battle is one thing the Mazdaspeed3 excels at.

Just the same, there's only so much you can ask front tires to do. In a front-engine, front-wheel drive vehicles, the two round black things on the front are the most important parts of the car. They are used for putting power down to the road, turning the car, and the ever so important act of taking most of the load when bringing the car to a stop. In the case of the Mazdaspeed3, the front wheel and tire combination mounted to this car are among the more tortured around. Its one thing for a regular front-wheel drive car to ask a set of tires to stick to the pavement when accelerating,

Interior is akin to the normal car, except for the seats. (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

but Mazda decided that it was OK to throw 263 turbocharged horsepower to the mix. Then why not add performance braking, with the vast majority of brake bias obviously going through the tires up front. Then, to finish off what should already be an exhausted set of tires, Mazda tuned the suspension so that the car can corner like a demon. What did rubber ever do to you, Mazda?

Sitting at a stop I bring the revs up, the tach swings upright, I drop the clutch,the Limited Slip Differential locks up, and both tires scream in agony as the car leaps from the line. I ease off the throttle to find traction when the turbo spools to top pressure sinking my body down in the seat as the car grabs even more life in the forward flight. First, second, third all come fast and furiously with the close ratio gearbox, and I'm throwing gears nearly as fast as I can shift the lever. By the time I'm in 4th I am well past whatever speed limit that may have been posted. I've never driven a car so willing, so enthusiastic

Unusual shape for a pair of fog lamps, no? (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

and so able to light up a set of rubbers on a whim. Even with the traction control on, the onslaught of turbocharged power being unleashed on the tires is more than the DSC can handle.

All this power and the addition of a gas sucking turbo,one would think that the fuel bill would go through the roof. Not the case. The turbo was nearly constantly spooled up while I drove this car, and despite this I was getting an average of 21 mpg. That is amazing for a car putting out power numbers like this.

The Mazdaspeed3 has excellent handling and grip, very little torque steer for a car with 263-hp, and the turbo spools up in an organized fashion, not like a light switch as with some turbos are known for. The clutch, on the other hand, is more like that light switch and can be a bit harsh under normal driving conditions. Therefore it requires a little bit of slippage to pull away from a stop smoothly.

No matter the situation the car enjoys a very neutral feel during hard cornering, but there'sa little too much grip in the rear when compared with the front. Mazda has widened the

Speed is such an important part of this car that it's been incorporated into the name. (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

front track by 0.2 inches but added 0.4 inches to the rear, so when a healthy dose of throttle as added mid-corner the front end does tend to veer toward the trees. Personally I would have left the rear track the same as the 3 Sport and used the wider front end only. This would loosen up the back end a bit and allow the front to change direction more precisely. With the DSC turned off, ABS still activates while I suspect some other stability controls are hiding to keep the driver honest. Under heavy braking, this makes the Mazdaspeed3 incredibly stable and the car is near impossible to get out of line.

The Mazdaspeed offers an excellent platform from which to build a proper contender to the Subaru WRX 5-door. Ah, yes, could you imagine an AWD version of this little ripper? It has everything going for it, big turbo power, compact dimensions and excellent tossability. The added grip and balance obtained by including AWD would make the car the undisputed king of affordable performance compact segment, even if it's knocking on the door as is. Unfortunately, Mazda has no plans to create an AWD version, so we'll just have to enjoy the tire shredding FWD beast we have now.

With the car's

For a Toyota enthusiast, the Mazdaspeed3 is a blight on the landscape. (Photo: Budd Stanley, American Auto Press)

magnificent performance abilities and great looks, I've all but forgotten totalk about the interior. Inside, the Mazdaspeed3 is just as smart looking as it is on the outside. Excellent supportive seats and a great feeling steering wheel add to the performance feel of the car. A stylish dash houses simple yet good-looking climate control and stereo controls. The passenger side has a massive glove compartment, one of the largest I've ever seen. In the rear, you get the usual equipment. A good rear bench that will fit three in a pinch. The added convenience of the hatchback and 60/40 split fold-flat seats for when large amounts of cargo need to come along for the ride.

The beautiful thing about the Mazdaspeed3 is how fun it is to drive. Driving the car is like getting a shot of teenage ignorance. Sure your driving like a maniac loose from the asylum, but who cares when you're having this much fun. Not only is it fun, but it is ideally suited for competition use. Be it a simple track day weekend warrior or national rallies, this car will stamp its mark with authority, while at the same time the car is a very practical daily driver with the versatility of a wagon-like hatchback. It's an intense yet attainable driving experience, as it can be had for only $22,835. At that price, you really can't go wrong.

Page:  1

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo