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First Drive: Mazda3 1.6 D. Image by Mazda.

First Drive: Mazda3 1.6 D
Mazda has refined and simplified its diesel hatch to improve economy and lower emissions.

   



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| First Drive | Nice, France | Mazda3 1.6 D |

Mazda is hoping a whole lot of minor changes will add up to a big improvement with its revised 1.6-litre turbodiesel 3 hatch. As with all Mazda models of late, lighter weight is a factor in this, but does a more frugal diesel make the 3 stand out any more in an already very crowded corner of the market?

In the Metal

From the outside, there's nothing to give away this new diesel model's identity, as it shares the same looks as every other mainstream Mazda3. UK buyers are not offered the 3 in saloon form, so the five-door hatch is all you can choose. This is no bad thing as it's a handsome car with decent front and rear seat space, a reasonable boot and typically solid Mazda build.

Under the bonnet it's all change, as Mazda has ditched the 16-valve cylinder head and double overhead camshafts. In their place comes a single overhead cam operating just eight valves. This may seem like a retrograde step but in doing so Mazda has saved 4kg from the engine's weight. Couple that to the 3kg saved with the switch to the new six-speed manual gearbox instead of the previous model's five speeder and these are small but significant moves in the right direction.

Other changes to the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine include increased turbo boost from 2.3- to 2.6 bar, while the particulate filter to catch sooty remnants is now maintenance-free (the previous model's needed a service every 12,500 miles). Mazda has also addressed the problem of diesel engines taking longer to warm up with some clever engineering of the exhaust, so chilly winter starts hold no fear for this Mazda's occupants. The sum total of all the changes to the Mazda3's 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine is an increase in power from 108- to 114bhp, with torque rising from 117- to 199lb.ft to put ahead of most rivals of similar size capacity - such as the Volkswagen Golf's 1.6-litre turbodiesel.

What you get for your Money

Aside from the revised turbodiesel engine, the Mazda3 1.6 D comes in TS and TS2 trim levels, with a third, TS2 Nav, as an option with satellite navigation. The TS has climate control, electric front and rear windows, a CD stereo, six airbags, alloy wheels and ESP traction control. Go for the TS2 and you also get cruise control.

Driving it

Mazda has addressed one of the weak spots in the 3 range with the much revised 1.6-litre turbodiesel. Where its predecessor felt generally flat and devoid of mid-range impetus, the new engine is has a much broader spread of useful power. It's not as brawny as some rivals' larger capacity diesels, and Mazda continues to offer its own 2.2-litre turbodiesels for those who want greater performance, but this latest 1.6-litre turbodiesel is a big improvement for driving flexibility. However, it still needs a few revs registering on the clocks before it's properly at ease. Try to drive on just a whiff of throttle and the car can stagger and jolt as the engine hunts for more input from the driver's right foot.

Use the six-speed gearbox to its full potential and 0-62mph comes up in 11.0 seconds. Use it lazily and you can find this Mazda3's turbodiesel engine taking too long to spool up into its power band. Because of this, the slick-shifting six-speed 'box needs to be worked harder than in the likes of the Volkswagen Golf or SEAT Leon Ecomotive. However, Mazda has improved the refinement of the engine and it is no longer the noisy companion it was in its 108bhp guise. It's not as hushed as the best in this class, but it's more than good enough for driver and passengers to maintain easy conversation right up to motorway speeds.

In every other respect, the Mazda3 1.6 D is just like the rest of the cars in its line-up. This means the ride is little too firm for our taste along rut-addled and roadworks-abused roads, though the handling offers plenty of grip, keen steering and little in the way of road or wind noise.

Worth Noting

Combined economy of 64.1mpg from a standard turbodiesel engine is impressive. It may not be quite the best of any small hatch with such an engine, but it puts the Mazda into strong contention on economy and price with the likes of the SEAT| Leon and Volkswagen Golf in small capacity diesel forms. Mazda has also managed to lower the 3's emissions from 119- to 117g/km. This means low-rate road tax and very affordable Benefit-in-Kind payments for company car drivers. However, the new 3 1.6 D cannot compete with the sub-100g/km emissions of the SEAT Leon Ecomotive or Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion.

Summary

The revised Mazda3 1.6 D addresses the faults of the previous version of this car, greatly improving refinement and flexibility. There's also a welcome boost to fuel economy, which is good by any standards, and lower emissions are also to be applauded. The only problem for this Mazda3 is that there are other very able alternatives with diesel engines that provide even lower emissions and better economy. A commendable effort from Mazda, especially for the way its engineers have reduced engine weight, but the 3 remains a middle-ranker in this field.

Alisdair Suttie - 24 Nov 2010



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2011 Mazda 3 specifications: (1.6 Diesel five-door)
Price: Prices start at £16,505 on-the-road.
0-62mph: 11.0 seconds
Top speed: 116mph
Combined economy: 64.2mpg
Emissions: 117g/km
Kerb weight: 1330kg

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.



2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.
 

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.
 

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.
 

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.
 

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.
 

2011 Mazda3. Image by Mazda.
 






 

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