Mazda3 gets fresh new look

The Mazda3 has been a real hit here since its launch and now benefits from a major revamp, with a fresh new style, new interior and revised and improved specifications. The Mazda3 range includes a tax friendly 1.6 litre diesel turbo which further enhances its appeal. The Mazda range has really been going from strength to strength over the past few years. The new Mazda6 heralded a new and more dynamic approach from Mazda resulting in the new 6 winning numerous accolades not least of which was Semperit Irish Car Of The Year. The diesel engine powering this weeks test car comes to Mazda courtesy of Ford. This turbo diesel can also be found under the bonnet of the Focus C-Max and Volvo S40. First impressions Well the style is certainly a winner. The long wheelbase, short overhangs, and solid proportions give the car a dynamic profile. The Mazda3 is built on the platform of the Ford Focus and that is a good thing as the Ford engineers make a damn good chassis. My test car was the saloon version and overall I must say the more muscular new style is very appealing. Performance The 4-cylinder 1.6 litre turbo charged diesel engine produces a very healthy 110 bhp. Mated to a very slick 5-speed gearbox it really performs extremely well, giving this new diesel 3 the sort of performance you would expect from a much bigger capacity engine. The car has terrific mid-range acceleration and will pull quickly and smoothly from lower speeds in higher gears. On the motorway it further impresses by accelerating so well in 5th that you rarely need to down change to 4th to overtake. On the economy side it is equally impressive burning on average only around 6.1 litres per 100km. Road Behaviour The Mazda3 is more than a match with the class leaders when it comes to the handling. The car feels taut and well balanced even on poorer road surfaces. In short I found this a fun car to drive, something lacking in many of its class competitors. Verdict Put simply the new Mazda3 is more than a match for any of its current class rivals. The Mazda3 provides space, versatility, style, performance, and legendary reliability. With this diesel buyers can have real performance without any sacrifice in terms of economy, furthermore with its low emissions of just 119g/km it costs just €104 per year to tax. The new Mazda3 Executive 1.6D costs €23,065 including metallic paint. In my opinion the new Mazda3 is a very fine car that offers real value for money in a car that really does feel a cut above the rest in terms of quality and style.