Mazda 3 SP20 SkyActiv

Mazda 3 SP20 SkyActiv

By Michal Kieca

Engine: 2 Litre 16-valve Petrol. Power: 113kW @ 6000rpm | Torque: 194Nm @ 4100rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Automatic

Fuel Consumption listed: 6.1 l/100km | Tested: 7.2 l/100km

Price (as tested, exc. on roads): $27,990

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Plusses: Performance, quick-shifting transmission, handling, fuel consumption, value for money

Minuses: Excessive road noise, firm ride, sat-nav screen too small, it's not a 'full suite' Mazda3 SKYACTIV - yet

OVERVIEW

Driving Australia’s best selling car makes you feel immediately like a member of a club. It also helps explain why the car has been such an amazing sales success. Offering more spark and style than a Corolla, mixed with the same sensible traits –Japanese quality, reliability – the 3 continues to offer a fine blend of the things that both driving enthusiasts and consumers enjoy.

With the Mazda3, Mazda just keeps on winning. It's styled right, fun to drive, robustly built, has personality written all over it, and it's very easy to own. Now Mazda has added a very desirable model to the 3’s line-up; the SP20 which brings both great fuel economy and performance over the normal petrol variants. It’s a great car made even better.

THE INTERIOR: ★★★

The interior of the Mazda3 feels like a night out in Downtown Tokyo. The bright white, red and blue illumination is striking to look as is the heavily button clad steering wheel which falls nicely to hand. This interior is best encountered at night, not because its materials aren't nice to look at – which they are, even if most of them are hard plastics chosen for their cheapness – but because it generates quite a light show inside. 

As part of a mid-life facelift the Mazda 3’s cabin received a minor cosmetic update, resulting in a slightly more luxurious look and feel inside. The black dash fascia is calm and curvy, with a swathe of padded slush moulding ahead of the front passenger that continues behind the instrument cluster. The interior is not a bad place to be, but after about 5 years it is starting to appear somewhat dated, especially against some of the class leaders such as the Golf and Focus, with perceived quality lacking in particular.

All of the minor controls fall well to hand and have been logically positioned meaning that they’re a synch to use when driving. The Mazda also excels ergonomically, with a sporty and comfortable driving position. The front seats support their occupants well, with height and lumbar adjustment for the driver. 

As for overall space inside, rear room is adequate, with good foot space under the front seats, but a central passenger will have an uncomfortable ride because the rear seat and armrest are most definitely shaped for two. The backrests fold down to create a stepped load bay, but the boot itself is long and deep albeit awkward to access thanks to the large sill. One major issue arises with entry and egress; the rear doors are way too small and do not open wide enough, causing problems for rear passengers.

PERFORMANCE: ★★★★

The SP20’s engine is the major talking point of the entire car as it heralds the birth of SkyActiv Technologies here in Australia. The car may ride on a platform developed over 10 years ago but the engine in the SP20 is brand new. Think of it as a technology showcase before the all-new 3 arrives next year. You’ve got to remember; the Mazda3 SP20 SkyActiv is only partly SkyActiv so the weight loss isn’t that significant. Eventually, all Mazda vehicles will be ‘full SkyActiv’: that’s engine, gearbox, body and chassis. The Mazda CX5 and new Mazda 6 are already SkyActiv.

Performance from the engine is far better than you would ever expect from a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre powertrain. High-speed overtaking on country roads is a breeze. The car pulls hard, especially mid-range, and there’s seemingly a lot more torque on tap than the 194 Nm would normally convey. This is a car that feels more like a 2.5-litre sedan than its 2.0-litre displacement and that includes a thoroughly sporty engine note to boot.

Mazda engineers have been able to raise the engine’s compression ratio to an unusually high 12.0:1, and that feature combined with the tricky SKYACTIV-Drive transmission means this car punches well above its weight in the performance department. In fact, the engineers have been able to raise the compression ratio to 14.0:1 in the ‘full’ SKYACTIV powertrain, but due to Mazda Australia’s insistence that its cars be compatible with 91 RON fuel and the fact that this engine is not using a 4-2-1 exhaust system, a slightly lower compression ratio has been adopted.

The engine combines with Mazda’s SkyActiv six-speed auto and stop/start system to record an official combined fuel consumption of 6.1l/100km - a very significant 2.1l/100km better than an equivalent automatic Maxx Sport sedan. The stop/start system is flawless and the best that I have ever used. Restarts are instantaneous; with virtually zero lag as no starter motor is required to restart the engine. Instead, Mazda has very cleverly developed a system whereby the engine is restarted using a single spark.

RIDE AND HANDLING: ★★★★

Along with this mid-life update of the 3, Mazda promises improved ride, handling and refinement. Could the revised Mazda 3, not traditionally known as a quiet and refined car, with its tweaked suspension and steering tuned for better linearity, stability, ride comfort and NVH, do better this time around?

Perhaps ironically, considering the vast amount of small Mazdas zooming around capital cities these days, it’s the mundane and boring day to day stuff that the 3 doesn’t cope with so well. For enthusiasts the car is a peach to drive but buyers continue to take no notice of the car’s refinement shortfalls.

When driven enthusiastically, you can’t help being impressed with the way this car sits on the road and handles. It corners flat with little or no body roll and feels very planted on the road. The body control is truly top-notch when belting down a country road. The chassis encourages the driver to push on harder and go faster. Punting the Mazda hard is genuinely enjoyable. Past the very high limits of grip, the Mazda understeers predictably in a nice way, with not too much drama. The Mazda 3 changes direction keenly, feels light and at higher speeds is extremely stable. Finally, here is an orthodox small car that is also designed with the needs of enthusiasts in mind. Another nice surprise stems from the fact that the ESC system can be completely disabled when needed. 

The Mazda’s electro-mechanical steering system simply blends into the background when commuting, yet it reveals itself as tactile, consistent and rather rewarding when the 3 is hustled around. The steering is very direct and provides more than adequate feedback of what the front wheels are doing at all times. It really is one of the better systems out there, inspiring the driver with plenty of confidence. 

There is a trade-off for all of this sharp handling however. The 3’s urban ride is very firm and occasionally quite harsh over bumps and potholes. Primary bump absorption is rather good, however the Mazda just doesn't have the finesse of lets say the New Golf, resulting in a ride that never settles down. On good roads the Mazda doesn’t have any major problems but once the surface becomes patchy, the ride quality issues come out very quickly. 

The Mazda is also unfortunately one of the noisiest small cars on the market. Even though Mazda claims to have improved refinement, plenty of tyre roar on coarse bitumen continues to enter the cabin. The interior is always subject to noise not only from the tyres but also from the wind, annoyingly whistling around the door mirrors.

DESIGN: ★★★★ 

The Mazda has quite a lot of visual flair for a small hatchback. The design might not be to everyone’s taste but it certainly is distinctive. Design-wise Mazda has been careful to not fiddle with the existing styling too much, given that last year, the Mazda3 model became Australia’s best selling car. The result puts it ahead of Holden’s everlasting Commodore, which has held the crown for the past 15 years. The model gets new front and rear bumpers for a cleaner look and improved aerodynamics, as well as a new front fascia and alloy wheel designs, which all help freshen up the design.

VALUE AND FEATURES: ★ ★★★

At $27,990 the SP20 is superb value for money as it comes kitted out with a smorgasbord of gadgets and features. Dual-zone climate control, cruise control and Bluetooth are standard, as are sat-nav and ultra-cool ambient night lighting. The SkyActiv engine and transmission are exclusively found on the SP20. With such a low asking price for a car that is as fuel efficient and powerful as the SP20, you’d be right in thinking that the Mazda is exceptional value for money

SAFETY: ★★★★★

The Mazda 3 comes full of passive and active safety features. ABS, brake-force distribution and brake assist with ESP and TCS are standard. The car has 6 airbags and achieved a 5 star ANCAP rating.

VERDICT:

The SP20 is a welcome addition to the best-selling Mazda 3 range. The Mazda 3 is already a great car all round. A funky cabin, more standard equipment than most comparable cars in the class, and a reputation for quality already hold the Mazda in favour with the consumers. Its top-notch chassis and steering keep interest warm for enthusiast too. That’s almost certainly why it tops the sales charts so often. With the SP20 SkyActiv now being sold in Australia, Mazda has delivered another cracking addition to such an accomplished range of cars.