Blows everything but the new Rabbit clear out of the water

NOTE - Epinions' model listings only go up to 2005, but this review is of the 2006 model.

Introduction

I've owned a brand-new 2006 Mazda3 Sport GS for two weeks now, so this is definitely a first-impressions review. In short, I love it. It's a well-built, well-appointed and well-priced car, and definitely beats anything you can get for the same money.

Ultimately, the choice for me was between the Mazda3 Sport and the new VW Rabbit (aka the '07 Golf). Both cars are similarly spec'd and are very similar to drive, but as the Rabbit is a new model this year, the $4000 price difference made the Mazda an easy choice.


Comparable Models

Other models sharing the Mazda3's price/configuration point include:

- Volkswagen Golf / New Rabbit
- Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe (same car)
- Honda Civic
- Ford Focus


Options & Pricing

I opted for the Sport GS model, which is the lower of the two hatchback trims. The extra $1000 for the GT buys you the following:

- a purely decorative rear spoiler
- 17" rims instead of the 16" rims on the GS
- power mirrors
- leather wrap for the steering wheel and shift knob
- two extra speakers
- an alarm system (on top of the stock immobililzer on the GS)
- cruise control

Honestly, I wouldn't have minded the speakers, but otherwise none of those options made a huge difference to me.

I landed a 0% lease at $390/mo over two years, with a residual of about $15,500 (all figures Canadian). Total cost of ownership after tax will be about $25K, which is about $1500 more than the cash purchase price.


Exterior

I love the look of this car. The lines, the alloy wheels, the colour (black mica for me) look way better than any of the competing models on the road.

A couple of nice extras in this department, including automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic, uh, dark-sensing headlights, fog lights and a purely decorative hood-mounted radio antenna that's just plain sexy.


Interior

The interior is well put together and very comfortable for my 6'1", 200-pound frame, and I can fit four more guys just like me in the car (four comfortably, but then again nobody ever likes having to sit on the hump).

The driver's seat is completely adjustable, including a control for overall seat height which you don't normally see on cars of this level.

The back seat is well done, with a little extra legroom and removable headrests. Several of my taller friends have commented happily on the extra headroom back there.

The trunk is simply enormous. The rear seats fold down easily to make room for four full golf bags with room to spare, and the fact that the floor of the trunk can be flipped back and forth between carpeting and hard plastic is a very nice touch.

The stock stereo is decent, but anyone expecting audiophile quality in a $21,000 car is out of his mind.

Mazda have done a brilliant job of soundproofing this car. Roll the windows up in city traffic and the world pretty much goes away.


Performance

This car is going to get me in trouble with the law. I hate the "zoom-zoom" ads as much as you do, but this car is just a freaking ton of fun to drive. The engine and transmission are very definitely designed to give you a little extra kick between 55-100 kph (35-60mph) or so, just right for quick passing on city streets and freeways. The dangerous part is that in this car, 80 kph/50 mph feels like 50kph/30mph, and 140kph/85mph feels like 80kph/50mph. I am going to get a ticket in this car.

90% of my driving is in city traffic, so I opted for the automatic / Tiptronic transmission, which is just a ton of fun. The automatic is tuned to maximize fuel economy, so you'll often find you're doing 1200 rpm in 5th gear in the city, but the Tiptronic is where the real fun comes in.

My one real complaint with the car is that 1st gear is very narrow - in Tiptronic mode, you'll hit redline before you hit 30kph/20 mph, so you need to shift very quickly. If you don't need quick starts, the car is perfectly happy to start moving in 2nd gear, but that's just down to driving preference.

The handling is tight and responsive - I can take sharp corners comfortably at speed, and nip in and out of traffic with confidence, more so than in any Volkswagen, Honda, Ford or Toyota I've ever driven. It's interesting to note that the Mazda3 is built on the same platform as the Volvo S40.

Overall, a fun car to drive. On a side note, I'm currently running about 400km to a tank, or 250 miles for the Yankees in the crowd. This is well below Mazda's published figures, but still strong for an economy car and comparable to the competition. Plus, to be fair, I would probably get much better mileage if I didn't spend so much time having fun with the car.


Concluding Thoughts

Test drive this car, a Volkswagen Golf, a Ford Focus and a Toyota Matrix. Regardless of which way you choose to go, comparing those four cars should make your choice easy.

I love this car; your mileage may vary.


Recommended:
Absolutely.