Topic: CD Article: 2005 Mazda3 GS sedan

[Autos_Editor]

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....
Test Drive:

Most of the hype that surrounds the popular Mazda3 focuses on models with the up-level 160-hp, 2.3 litre engine, says Chris Chase.  But equipped with the smaller 148-hp, 2.0 litre engine, it's still a fine car for under $20,000, he reports.  However, real-world fuel economy was disappointing, he says.
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[Shnak]

Only a year old and already outdated compared to the new competition (Civic)... That's what happens when you don't push it enough when developping a new car...

[Craig]

Looks great, drives better, sporty, lotsa bells and whistels, etc.  Sure.

But here's what I don't get:  How can the 2.0L engine in this car consume 9L/100km in mixed driving?  Our X-Trail does better than that, and it's aerodynamic like a brick, with a 2.5L.  If I were to pick up a 3 to replace the EL, I'd be spending $3 more per day on gas, just for my commute (~$60 per month).  That would get to me.

What little fuel economy tricks have Toyota, Nissan and Honda learned that they aren't telling Mazda, Hyundai and the domestic manufacturers?

I like the 3.  I bet I'd love driving it.  But if the new Civic has fuel economy of the old 1.6L engine and performance that approaches the 3's, that should become a problem for Mazda.

[quadzilla]

I'm thinking this guy must have been driving it pretty hard to get those numbers for that gas mileage.  My P5 could easily do better than that and my 6-wgn got 8.75 driving to Tremblant and back last week with four people and a full trunk.

[chrischasescars]

I'm thinking this guy must have been driving it pretty hard to get those numbers for that gas mileage. 

Bingo!

The 3 isn't a car that invites sedate driving. Like the article says, you have to really keep your right foot in check or else you're accelerating hard away from every stoplight and charging around on- and off-ramps like you're at the Nurburgring.

If the new Civic gets the fuel economy it gets now AND is as entertaining to drive as the Mazda, then yeah, maybe Mazda will find the Civic stealing some of its sales (if people don't run screaming from the new Honda's weirdo interior).

Driven normally - even in a more spirited fashion than most - without beating on it all the time, the 3 will do better than 9 L/100 km in mixed driving. But Mazda doesn't care that its car isn't the be all-end all in fuel economy. There's a reason they've been selling so damn many of these things, and that has everything to do with the driving experience. As cphansen said, however, it will be interesting to see what will happen if the new Civic is as fun to drive as the Mazda3 and as efficient as the current Civic is. In my opinion, it can only mean good things for us: more small cars with great performance AND fuel economy.

[keageconcepts]

I've owned a GS sedan for about 3 months now. It's been a great car and i put almost 3000 km on it on a road trip (sorry, no gas figures were calculated). One thing that i wanted when i bought this car was a little exclusivity and that's exactly what i didn't get. I see them everywhere. I don't think Mazda is hav'n any trouble selling these things, so they shouldn't have anything to worry about.

I have one issue with the interior to mention. The bolstering on the drivers seat already looks a little worn. The console and dash etc... qualities are great, but the quality of the cloth of the seats seems low. I wonder what my seats will look like in five years. Is there any other 3 owners with that issue?
 

[si]

I wish Chris would have brought up the differences between Canadian and US Mazda3s.  He also completely missed talking about the car's safety features.

Then again, there isn't much in terms of safety to talk about. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I think the 3's are popular for their driving dynamics but more so because they just look damn good. The average Joe probably can't recognize the difference in driving feel from a test drive around the block, but they can see the spec's that there's 148 or 160hp there (vs 115, for instance), and it looks fackin' fantastic inside and out. Style and sportiness is really what's selling the 3, but the fuel economy really does hinder it.

I bet Civic the new Civic's style will be more than enough to put Mazda in a serious situation. It's a good thing the Civic won't come in a hatch, but even the fairly large Jazz/Fit will steal some buyer's I'm sure.

I don't know what the fuss with the interior of the Civic is. It's fan-tabulous. The spedo will be good for older folks, and is sharp for 'the kids'. It's the main reason - along with the futuristic and progressive exterior - that I love the damn thing. Tired of all the sameness, and the Civic looks super cool. Like how BMW has moved to make competitor's style look crusty and obsolete. More cool than the Mazda3 sedan even, although it will serve Mazda well that the 3 looks compact, sporty, and sits nicely planted on the road. They'll have to up the ante somehow tho to keep buyer interest, probably by introducing new upscale features, as I believe that Honda will undercut them price-wise as well for the must-have equipment.

[B2]

I have a Mazda3 GX 5 speed.  Fuel economy CAN be good depending on how you drive the car, and how much weight you are carrying.  When I drive alone with little cargo, at a reasonable speed on the highway, I can get over 800 km on a tank.  Add an extra passenger, however, and the fuel economy quickly goes down.  Add some cargo and, again, a drop in fuel econmy.  If you drive with 4 people in the car, you should have bought slightly larger sedan with a V6 with more torque.  Weight and driving stlye are HUGE factors in how thirsty this car is.  And as the article says: this car begs you to drive it fast.  Obviously, these factors are relevant to any vehicle.  Also, it's my beleif that the lighter sedan will overall outperform the hatchback depending on the tires and the transmission (manual or auto).  Great car for the price though.  I'm never disappointed driving mine.  Why did Mazda refuse to build a handle to open the trunk on the sedan?  And there SHOULD be a button on the key fob to unlock the trunk.

[achr]

I find the observations of the Reviewer's Father to be enlightening.  Our 2003 Toyota Corolla suffered from the exact same anomolly, ie, it darted all over the place on the highway.  The steering is just TOO darned tight and makes the vehicle totally fatiguing to drive any distance.  Fine around town but these are not highway cars.  A Dodge Neon on the other hand will go straight down the road nicely but the motor sounds like the absolute crap that it is.  If Chrysler would put the balance shafted 2.4 liter from their PT Cruiser in the Neon, it could be a decent contender in the small car segment.  Alas, we purchased a loaded V6 Sebring for the same money as the Corolla.  It drives beautifully, has 200 horsepower and is spacious and quiet.  A 7 year powertrain warranty doesn't hurt either.  In the real world it delivers an actual 35 mpg (8.0 litres per 100 kilometers) on the highway at 115 kph, AND it is $600 per year cheaper to insure than the Corolla was.  That will more than offset the extra fuel cost over the thrifty Corolla or a Mazda 3 for that matter.

Back to the Mazda; in a trip from London to Toronto, I would get to experience the handling thrill of exactly two acceleration/deceleration ramps.  The rest of the time, I'm forced to curse at the inability to track a straight line down the highway without constant attention.  While I like the looks and the feature set of the Mazda 3, I just couldn't live with this particular problem.  For real handling thrills, I just go ride my motorcycle.

[chrischasescars]

Achr, it's interesting that you mention your Corolla had the same darty steering. The reviewer's father actually drives a 2004 Corolla, which he bought specifically for it's relaxed behaviour. He loves the 'Rolla, but found the steering the Mazda to be far too "sporty" in comparison.

Just proves the reviewer's point that no one car can be all things to all drivers.

[rianardo]

One thing that i wanted when i bought this car was a little exclusivity and that's exactly what i didn't get. I see them everywhere. I don't think Mazda is hav'n any trouble selling these things, so they shouldn't have anything to worry about.

I have one issue with the interior to mention. The bolstering on the drivers seat already looks a little worn. The console and dash etc... qualities are great, but the quality of the cloth of the seats seems low. I wonder what my seats will look like in five years. Is there any other 3 owners with that issue?
 

I have the same model as tested (and presumably the same as yours) - the interior is fine at 2600 kms.  No signs of wear - but I'll keep my eye out.  I find the interior a bit tough to keep clean though and I've read elsewhere that people have the same problem.  That's a pretty chincy complaint tho - this car is great. 

I don't care about the mileage that much.  It's a driver's car (and I exploit this daily) and I get complimented at least once a week on its looks.  It's still fairly rare out here in the sticks (Sask.) so the exclusivity is a nice touch (I've only seen one Mazda3 sedan with the same colour in almost two months of driving).  I predict more showing up on our roads though.  Very well-executed Japanese compact sedan (still built in Japan too!) - it has met all my expectations.

I will take a drive in a new Civic but I've already decided I don't like the looks (Si looks like a Saturn SC but the SC is nicer!).

Ya,
R.