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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Admittedly,
when the curtains were pulled off the all-new Mazda3, the reception was a bit
lackluster. Given the first-generation 3 collected numerous accolades and was
for a time, the Philippines’s best-selling compact car, expectations for the
new model was stratospherically high. Plus, since its arrival was a full two
years (and a facelift) behind schedule, everyone was expecting to be blown
away. Rumors circulated about the possibility of having a 2.0-liter hatchback,
a manual transmission option, and even the arrival of the mythical Mazdaspeed3.
Alas,
when the covers fell, there sat the all-new Mazda3—still shapely and smiling,
if a tad familiar. Despite all the rumors, Mazda played it safe: the all-new 3
is available in the same basic choice of configurations as the previous model
was: two 1.6-liter variants and a top-of-the-line 2.0-liter, all equipped with
an automatic transmission. And despite being marginally wider, longer, and
lighter than its predecessor, the 3’s platform is largely carried over. Plus,
when the pricing was announced: P 1,299,000 for the 2.0-liter sedan, a
collective gasp could be heard. But despite all the criticisms leveled at the
3, you can't pass judgement until you've tried it. You have to spend some seat
time in it. It may be expensive and all, but it could very well be worthy of
your hard-earned cash.
And
after a week’s worth of drive time, there’s only one conclusion you can reach with
the all-new Mazda3: the magic is there. This is still the driver’s compact car,
bar none. Worth every cent? You betcha.
Mazda
engineers knew they struck gold with the first-generation 3’s platform, so why
fix if it isn't broken? Sitting on a set of independent MacPherson Struts and
Multi-links, the new 3 is agile, communicative, and invigorating to drive
whatever the road, whatever the condition. It turns into corners with
katana-like precision—carving through bends with almost no roll. Show the 3 an
S-bend, and it will eat it for breakfast. This is the closest thing any
Japanese carmaker has come to matching the yardstick of all front-driven cars:
the Mini. Yes, it's that good. What's more, the rest of the drivetrain
elements: from the nicely weighted and no-nonsense steering to the nicely
modulated and responsive brakes and even the grippy 17-inch Toyo tires all work
in unison to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. In fact, if you have
to be overly critical, the only weakness to the 3 is its firm ride. There are
clear improvements done to reduce NVH,
but the jiggly ride remains a facet to the Mazda3 ownership experience.
Another
perceptible weakness to the 3 is its choice of engine: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
unit carried over from the previous generation model with outputs remaining the
same: 145 horsepower and 182 Nm of torque. The power is still there, but
considering its newer rivals can extract the same outputs from a smaller
engine, and you’ve got a recipe for “trolling” (internet speak for inflammatory,
useless or extraneous comments in an online discussion). That said, you can’t
dismiss this powerplant. Granted it isn't as punchy as other engines, but
whenever you need the boost (overtaking, and the like) it never fails to
deliver. You can hat tip this newfound responsiveness to the 3’s new 5-speed
automatic. It's just as smooth as the engine and pairs very well with it. Mazda
has even incorporated steering wheel shifters (paddles for up shifts, buttons
for downshifts) in case you need extra control. However, despite the extra
gearing, the 3 needs to rev comparatively higher (past 2,000 rpm) before
shifting which means the benefits to fuel economy remain marginal: 8.13 km/l.
There's no available cruise control too.
The
Mazda3’s on-road athleticism is only matched by its sporty styling both on the
outside and inside. It wears the Mazda design DNA on its sleeve (and bulbous
fenders). Despite being launched as early as two years ago in other markets
(facelifted this year), the 3 remains a fresh and sporty face in the sea of
compact car ubiquity. From the outside, it looks like a miniaturized
Mazda6—down to “cycle” fenders, turbine-like split-spoke alloys, and
cleared-off tail lamps. And since the design formula is concentrated on a
smaller body, the 3 actually looks even more aggressive than its larger
sibling, especially in Velocity Red.
Inside,
the story's the same as the 3 feels pretty much like a smaller version of the
6. Everything from the layout, choice of materials, even creature comforts all
mirror the executive sedan. The all-black motif is unabashedly sporty with just
the right spattering of aluminum to keep things interesting. Not surprisingly,
because of the 3's high price tag, it's fitted to the roof with toys and
features: leather seats, moon roof, dual-zone climate control, 6 speakers, 6
airbags, ABS, and even traction control. As kitted as it is, the 3's age is
starting to betray itself by lacking a proper USB input for an iPod (there's
just an aux) as well as the lack of a built-in Bluetooth hands-free. Another
thing that betrays the 3's age is the tight interior. Despite a longer
wheelbase compared to its rivals, the 3 doesn't seem to maximize available
space. As a result, it feels claustrophobic and lacks much needed knee room, especially
for the rear occupants.
Nonetheless,
the 3 remains every bit a driver's car with an ergonomically sound interior.
All the controls are within excellent reach, and the gauges though, not sitting
upright like the previous generation, remain highly legible with large
numerals. The multi-information as well as audio/climate displays have been
moved closer to eye-level while the most-used controls such as audio volume,
temperature adjustments, and the like have been given larger rotary knobs. That
said, the sheer number of buttons on the center console is even more daunting
than before.
In
the end, it's clear that the Mazda3 isn't the perfect compact car out there.
However, you get the feeling that Mazda wasn't aiming to deliver a compact car
to appease everyone. More than anything, Mazda stuck to their guns--delivering
a fun-to-drive, enthusiast-centric car that's every bit as magical as the
original one. Indeed, the Mazda3 and its engineers are ballsy for retaining
their focus when they could have just gone through an easier route. If all car
makers were to do a car based solely on their founding principles rather than
what the accountants say, most likely, they'll end up with a Mazda3.
grabeh.sabe samen date ng mazda matagal pang lalabas ung bagong model ng mazda 3.so bumili na kame nung 2011 daw na model pero in other country is 2009 model pa un.sobrang panloloko ginawa ng mazda.basta lang makabenta gumawa cla ng paraan para manloko.
ReplyDeleteYou should have visited the local forums since this was a popular topic because a lot of people here were aware that a new model was launched in most markets around the world some 3 years ago and have been waiting for the 2nd gen model to arrive here ever since.
ReplyDeleteNaku wait 1 year at yang nabili mong mazda 3 lalabas na kalampag nyan. Mahna ang suspension system nyan. Ang mazda 3 ko ilang balik na di maayos ayos. Hanggang mapalso na ang warranty. Nilagyan pa ng garden hose ang spring ng suspension. Parang ginawang dyip. Never will i buy a mazda again!!!!
ReplyDeleteBaka naman kasi barumbado at barubal ka mag-drive kaya madali nasira suspension mo. Nag-slow down ka ba sa mga lubak at sirang daanan? Baka dapat sayo owner-type jeep or jeepney para pang-harabas ang gamit.
Deletehahaha! I like your comment: AnonymousJuly 6, 2012 at 11:24 AM! Nasa may-ari lang yan.. :)
DeleteI posted 2 other comments in 2 recent articles here but they simply got deleted without notice. sa tingin nung site owner eh hindi positive yung comment about the article. Buti pa sa motioncars noon before the crappy reformat. -TM
ReplyDelete