MAZDASPEED3 Part 3: Performance Review

The Mazdaspeed3 is quite possibly the best front-wheel drive performance car currently on the market. Bold words, I know. But consider that its 5-door hatchback body offers tons of practicality and style and that it's $23k base price gets you 263 direct-injected and turbocharged horsepower, and that claim - as well as Mazda's Zoom-Zoom tagline - starts to make sense.

With that kind of horsepower under your right foot, there's real "shove-to-the-back" acceleration here... even with the car weighing a portly-for-its-class 3153 pounds. Credit the equally healthy 280 lb-ft of torque for helping to deal with the weight. Curiously however, you don't always get the full-power experience. The Mazdaspeed3 employs an advanced torque management system that basically bleeds off turbo boost in first and second gears in order to control the power spike of the turbo power plant. So you get different levels of boost in the first three gears.

It's pretty frustrating... You've got all that power, and yet, you're not able to use it. Well, not all of it anyway. The system decides how much power you can use - or probably more specifically, how much the half-shafts and gearbox can handle - and then doles it out accordingly. Admittedly its just fractions of a second that you're left waiting, but it feels like more. If you think of it as artificial turbo lag designed to keep you out of the Mazda service department, you won't be quite as frustrated.

The system also takes into account what gear you're in and how much steering lock you've applied before determining how much power to make available. So you don't know how much you're going to get at any given time. But it's not as bad or confusing as it sounds and you quickly get used to it.

Whatever power is made available is easily put to the ground when accelerating in a straight line, or through a corner, thanks to the cone-type limited-slip differential. You can still feel a little bit of wheel-tuggin' torque steer, but considering the power and torque on tap, it's not bad at all.

Steer the Mazdaspeed3 into a series of bends and you'll discover that the car handles extremely well as Mazda has struck a great balance between ride comfort and handling. Body control is excellent, with the suspension seemingly making one move per bump and quickly settling down. This composure gives you the confidence to really hustle the car through the twisty bits.

But the biggest compliment I can pay the Mazdaspeed3 is that it made me think that if a company like Porsche - for example - ever decided to dedicate their considerable sportscar-building talents to producing a front-wheel-drive hot-hatch, it would probably feel a lot like this.

Actually, I suppose that shouldn't be too big of a surprise, because as the only Japanese company to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mazda obviously knows a thing or two about building sportscars themselves.

Zoom zoom indeed...

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience

Mazda Mazdaspeed3

Performance
- Acceleration: Among the best in its class - Advanced Torque Management System limits boost in 1st and 2nd
- Handling: Adjustable and willing to wag its tail, yet still surefooted
- Braking: A little instability at maximum braking adds to the excitement, but very good and composed otherwise

Design
- Exterior: Great looking 5-door hatchback still looks fresh years on
- Interior: Unlike the exterior, showing its age a bit - solid build quality though

Utility
- Comfort: Excellent for four adults
- Space: Hatchback and folding seats make this the most practical shape in the compact auto world

Safety
- Dynamics: Quick moves will help you avoid trouble in the first place
- Technology: It's all here as expected

Value
- Price: Hard to find a better front-wheel-drive performance value
- Mileage: As always, if you stay out of the throttle... low boost means high mileage

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: As far as front wheel drive cars are concerned, it doesn't get too much better
- Fun to spank: Did you see the video? 'Nuff said then.

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Front-wheel drive
Engine: 2.3 liter, turbocharged inline 4
Power (SAE): 263 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 280 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3153 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.4 sec.
1/4 mile: 14.0 @ 101 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 18 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $23,410
Competitors: Honda Civic Si, Volkswagen GTI, Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Subaru WRX