Mazda3 Maxx Sport Road

IT IS INTERESTING suddenly finding yourself upside-down, wheels in the air, and swinging on the steering wheel as though it's useful. There is a perspective that comes with those moments.

"Is my old man right? Am I really wasting my life half-arse-ing around? Is there a deeper meaning to it all? So it's not amusing when you throw up on yourself in a dinner-suit?" These and other thoughts about life's essential paradox can enter an upside-down head when you're sliding through a paddock.

Maybe not immediately. Depending upon the suddenness of the exit from a conventional vertical plane, your more immediate concern might be with the state of the pants region and whether or not that clammy feeling there is something altogether more serious than sweaty buttocks.

But, in that brief post-event hiatus, you will find yourself visited by any number of little epiphanies. One of which will centre on the character and robustness of the vehicle followed by a nod of thankfulness.

In my case it was a red Mazda RX3. And, until the exact point in time that it decided to muck around on its roof in a paddock, it was a very nice one.

But it left me in one piece and still with most of the more important marbles. You don't readily forget a favour like that. It colours your view of things.

I have had a very healthy respect for Mazdas ever since. I feel 'close'… like we've shared something special.

And even when Mazda decided to experiment with some decidedly fugly and monumentally crappy models in the late 90s, I could forgive them.

This brings me to the new Mazda3. It has taken us a while to get around to reviewing it, but this is a seriously terrific car. It has real personality and is great to drive. (If that is all you need to know, stop reading now and just put it on your shortlist.)

It's not without its faults, and others in the segment have closed the gap on the former class leader, but here's why it's terrific (and it doesn't involve a paddock).

Styling

Ok, so the huge 'carnival clown' grin is not for everybody. Some like it, some don't, some are still trying to work out where to stick the golf ball.

Here, at TMR, opinion is divided. Me, I don't mind it. It perhaps works best with the 'tougher' MPS nose, but give it time and it will grow on you. After all, it is just one element in a balanced and quite expressive design.

There is a fresh, crisp and youthful style to the 3 that sets it apart from others in its segment. The sculptured lines that rise over the front wheels and terminate in muscular haunches are a little Alfa-esque – and very appealing.

Front to back, the Mazda3 oozes character. It manages to blend sporting muscularity with pert cheeky charm.

The last model, the first Mazda3, achieved a kind of cult status for its individual style and on-road dynamics. It was universally admired – particularly by younger car buyers – and quickly became Mazda's number one seller. Worldwide, it accounted for over two million sales.

The new model therefore has big pantaloons to fill, but VFACTS results would suggest it is filling them rather nicely. November sales were up 8.7 percent over November 2008 sales and are up 4.1 percent for the year.

Available as a five-door hatch or four-door sedan, we had the Maxx Sports hatch: to these eyes the better-looking twin. The hatched 'boot' area is surprisingly large, easily accessed, and provides ample cargo space for a young family or for the Saturday mega-shop.

The Maxx Sport comes with nice-looking 16-inch alloys, fog-lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and other minor visual enhancements and features to distinguish it from the Neo and standard Maxx.

The 2009 model sedan is 105mm longer than the previous model, the hatch 60mm longer. Importantly, the new model doesn't look like it's grown.

Its size is just right (plaudits to Mazda for keeping it that way). It also retains the low centre of gravity and relatively light weight of the outgoing model.

With a drag coefficient (Cd) of only 0.31 for the sedan and 0.33 for the hatch, the 2009 model offers improved aerodynamics, more efficient drivetrains, and improved dynamism at the wheel.

The design improvements extend to the engineering below the 3's flowing wedge style. The new chassis provides increased suspension rigidity, and increased body and panel rigidity. These improvements are apparent at the wheel (as we'll explain shortly.)

All panel gaps are tight and, to these eyes, as good as flawless. The Mazda3 is an exceptionally well-built and thoroughly engineered car.

There is no unnecessary weight – at the wheel, the 3 feels quite light – but for reliability and robustness, Mazda products have an enviable reputation.

The Interior

I like the sporty style of the interior, it works ergonomically, it's not fussy, and it fits with the edgy youthful character of the car.

But I'm not so sure that the 'feel' is quite up to the mark.

In this, in the impression it makes of quality and robustness, the Mazda is bested by some in the segment… and one or two that might surprise. Like the nicely styled Kia Cerato. Even the Tiida has the edge on the 3. And the Lancer is a clear step ahead.

There is nothing overtly wrong with the 3's interior, everything works as it should and the fit is good, it is just that it feels thin and a tad insubstantial. Knock on the dash and it sounds like an ice-cream bucket.

And the centre console moves a little too easily if you rest your knee against it.

Too be fair, nothing creaks, nothing shimmies in the dash, and the test car was completely free of rattles, squeaks and noises even on rough gravel.

(And it will last forever at least, that's what Mazdas do.)

That said, the quibbles don't extend to the seats, which are well-shaped for both comfort and enthusiastic driving.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au