When it comes to compacts and performance, Mazda’s Mazdaspeed3 may not be in a class by itself, but as old football coach Bum Phillips once said of his running back Earl Campbell, “it don’t take long to call the roll.”
Most of the competitors in its class seem to emphasize fuel economy and the capacity to haul lots of stuff, but Mazda makes no pretenses about where its priorities are with this little bombshell out of its performance division.
For 2013, the spunky little hatchback comes with a 2.3-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out 263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, propelling its 3,281 pounds from zero-to-60 in the six-second range and a quarter mile in under 14 seconds.
Zoom-zoom indeed!
There are some downsides here, though.
No. 1, with all that power going to the front wheels, there is a bit of an issue with torque steer that can catch you unawares if you’re not paying attention. It’s not as much of an issue was it was when the first generation hit showrooms as a 2007 model, but it still can grab you if you’re not paying close attention
And the shifts in the six-speed transmission, the only gearbox offered, aren’t the smoothest to make either.
Of more consequence, however, is that premium fuel is recommended, and the Mazdaspeed3 drinks it at the rate of 18 miles-per-gallon city, 25 highway.
That makes it a bit more thirsty than a couple of its key competitors, the Ford Focus ST (23/36) and and the Volkswagen GTI (21/31). The Focus ST also runs on 87 octane (regular) fuel and with 252 horsepower is competitive in the power department as well.
As far as other amenities in the Mazdaspeed3, the sport front seats are comfortable enough for relaxed cruising, and the hatchback style (no sedan configuration is offered) provides for 17.0 cubic feet of storage space with the second-row seats in place and just under 43 with them folded.
Safety features such as antilock brakes, dynamic stability control, front and side-curtain airbags, and side-impact door beams are standard. The feds gave the Mazdaspeed3 four stars overall and five stars on frontal crash tests for the driver, four for the passenger. The rear seat got only two stars in side-crash testing, however.
An optional technology package adds such features as keyless entry and push-button start, satellite radio, a touch-screen navigation system, blind-spot monitoring, Pandora connectivity, and voice command operation for audio and navigation.
There is only one trim level, which is called Touring, offered on the Mazdaspeed3, and it starts at $24,995 including destination and delivery.
You can get a hatchback of this ilk for a bit less, or in some cases a lot less. But they’re not going to give you the kind of kick you’re going to get from the Mazdaspeed3.
Class dismissed!
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