Teresa’s View
Pssst. Want a cheap thrill? Have you met the all-new Mazdaspeed3? This naughty, road-rocket is sister to the more conventional Mazda3. It seems that after zoom-zooming the Protegé, Miata and Mazda6, Mazda’s performance division took the hatchback version of Mazda’s smallest offering and created the Mazdaspeed3, a wild child that’s more than happy to live life in the fast lane.
If cars came with tattoos, this one would have several.
Yes, the saucy tart dresses the part. Flared front fenders and tight little side skirts set off 18-inch, 10-spoke heels, er, wheels. Inside, the black-on-black theme is punctuated with touches of aluminum trim. Comfortable semi-bucket seats sport sexy red stitching.
The 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood is the same turbocharged, intercooled Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) barnburner Mazda uses for the Mazdaspeed6 and the CX-7. In this iteration, it delivers 263 horsepower and a gutsy 280 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. Sold only with a six-speed manual transmission, the Mazdaspeed3 is said to run the 0-to-60 dash in under 6 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
Placing such a powerful engine in such a small, front-wheel drive vehicle is a bit like wearing a dress two sizes too small. Something’s gotta give. Have no fear. Those crazy engineers came up with an electronic torque management system that helps to reduce torque steer. Other improvements monitor vehicle speed and steering angle for maximum traction and minimum wheel spin. That said, fancy technology doesn’t guarantee the tires will stay firmly planted on the road. The Mazdaspeed3 performs best in the practiced hands of an experienced driver.
Running the Mazdaspeed3 at speed makes for a noisy, if entertaining, ride. On the plus side, turbo lag is barely noticeable. However, the gearbox takes some getting used to and the sporty suspension can feel stiff around town, but these are small sacrifices for such this much affordable fun.
What Is It?: The Mazdaspeed3 is an all-new, four-door, five-passenger, high-performance hatchback from Mazda. Offered in two trims — Sport and Grand Touring — prices for the hot hatch start at just under $23K, leaving plenty of money left over to spend on the many aftermarket add-ons.
Gadget Rating: 6 out of 10. The Sport trim comes with an average set of features for the price — most of the cool technology is found under the skin. Still, the Mazdaspeed3 is outfitted with air conditioning, audio system with CD player, and power windows and door locks. Everything is clearly marked and within easy reach of the driver.
Safety: Four-wheel ABS is standard. So are stability control and an electronic brake force distributor with brake assist (go fast, stop fast). Airbags? There are a few — front and side-mounted bags for the front seat occupants and roof-mounted curtain airbags all around.
Cheat Sheet: Mazda is a member of the Ford family.
What’s Your Name?: In Europe, the Mazdaspeed3 is called the Mazda3 MPS (Mazda Performance Series), while in Japan she’s known as the Mazdaspeed Axela.