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Mazda Mazda 3 (2004 - 2009)

What's Good

Mid-size Mazda replaced 323 on same C1 floorpan as Ford C-Max, Volvo S40/V50 and Focus II. Length 4,420mm (14’ 6”, Width (not including mirrors) 1,755mm (5’ 9”), Height 1,465mm (4’ 9”) 80bhp 1.4, 98bhp 1.6 or 150bhp 2.0 chain cam petrol engines. Choice of 5-door hatch or 4-door saloon. Saloon by far the better looker and stiffer, better handler. European launch Frankfurt September 2003. UK launch December 2003. 1.6 automatic nicest, most 'together' of the range to drive. 2nd equal European car of the year 2004. Full road test on this site. 1.6 diesels from Spring 2004. 1.6 110PS diesel has 181lb ft torque at 1,750rpm, does 115mph, 0-60 in 11 seconds, 56.5mpg and emits 138g/km CO2. But has same 'feel-free' electro hydraulic steering as 150PS 2.0 petrol versions. 3rd top marque in 2004 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Hold values better than a Focus.

Mazda3 MPS launched Geneva Show March 2006. Called Mazdaspeed Axela in Japan, Mazdaspeed3 in North America. 2.3-litre MZR DISI turbo petrol engine.

Range facelift summer 2006.

Belt cam 143PS MZRCD diesel announced Geneva Show 6-3-2007. In UK from April 2007 in TS2 and Sport trim. Maximum Torque of 360Nm at only 2,000 rpm. Strong performance (0-to-60 mph in 9.6 sec) with 47.1mpg combined economy. Priced from £16,735 (on-the-road), until 30 April 2007. Sport trim very worthwhile as the car feels very taught with good steering feel and nice handling.

Mazda 3 MPS Sport Aero with dropped suspension, big rear spoiler and special aerodynamic mirrors also available from April 2007. Seems to go and handle a bit better than standard MPS, for just £500 more at £19,495.

Mazda3 1.6 Tamura Spring Special announced June 2007 with additional features that include a body-coloured sports styling kit (new front and rear aero bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler), front fog lamps, larger diameter 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust trim, unique Tamura exterior badging and a choice of two colours – Aurora Blue Mica or Galaxy Grey Mica exterior paint finish – free of charge. The additional equipment of the Tamura package is worth £2,835. Powered by a 105ps, 1.6-litre petrol engine with five-speed manual transmission, this Summer Special model costs £13,795 – only £455 more than the donor car, representing a saving of more than £2,380. Only 700 Mazda3 Tamura cars will be offered. Standard spec of base car already includes: black/red interior trim, climate control air conditioning, radio/CD with steering wheel controls, electric front windows, remote central locking with a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser, plus electric and heated door mirrors.

TUV 2008 Report for cars 2 - 3 year old. After analysing seven million main inspections from 194 different models for over 160 criteria – including lights, brakes, chassis, exhaust and oil-loss – the Mazda3 came in first with almost no defects, followed by Mazda2. This outstanding result gives the Mazda brand the coveted “Golden Badge” award from Germany’s Technical Inspection Agency for the first time. In the category for vehicles two to three years old, Mazda3 prevailed with a defect quota of only 1.2 percent, followed closely by the Mazda2 with only 1.4 percent. Coming in third and fourth were the VW Golf and Ford Fusion (2.2 percent each), and the Honda Jazz (2.3 percent).

Full description of original Mazda 3 range at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=92

Road tests at
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=95;
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=108; www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=113

Road test 2006 facelift at
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=233

Road test Mazda 3 MPS at
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=248

Mazda 3 MPS on Nurburgring 8min39secs (taster)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuyaojwoa7M

Mazda 3 MPS on Nurburgring (public day)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_sqdA9K43M

Mazda 3 MPS on Nurburgring (closed circuit)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5giCFSFW9tU

In addition these movies can be downloaded at www.mazdamovies.com

Buy Mazda3 MPS online at www.mazda3mpsonlineorder.co.uk

Mazda 3 range updated 1-5-2008:

* Specification enhancements offer greater value for money
* Mazda3 TS is replaced by Mazda3 Takara
* Mazda3 range consolidated to 14 models from 19
* Range retains the entry price point of £11,440 on-the-road

The Mazda3 Range for 2008:-

Mazda3 S
1.4-litre 84ps Petrol, 5-door OTR £11,440
1.6-litre 90ps Diesel, 5-door OTR £12,930

Standard Equipment

* Driver and front passenger airbags

* ABS

* Emergency Brake Assist

* Remote central door locking with deadlocking

* Side airbags

* Black mirrors and exterior door handles

* Electric front windows

* Electric and heated mirrors

* ISOFIX child seat anchorages

* Seatbelt pre-tensioners/load-limiters

* Thatcham Category 1 Alarm and Immobiliser

* 15" Steel wheels

* Jack Knife Key

Plus 2008 Additional Items

* Aux jack and power outlet

* MP3 compatible single CD player with 4 speakers

Mazda3 Takara

1.6-litre 105ps Petrol, 4-door/5-door OTR £13,495
1.6-litre 105ps Petrol, 4-door/5-door Automatic OTR £14,495
1.6-litre 109ps Diesel 5-door OTR £14,995

Contents over 1.4 S

* Body coloured door mirrors and door handles

* Climate control air conditioning

* Driver's lumbar support adjustment

* Reading lamp

* Curtain airbags

* Audio steering controls

* Rear seat centre armrest

Plus 2008 Additional Spec items over outgoing TS:

* Rear electric windows with global opening /closing

* Leather steering wheel & gearknob

* Trip computer

* Fog lights

* 6-disc CD autochanger

* Front sports bumper

* Rear spoiler

* 16" alloy wheels

* Illuminated vanity mirrors

* Piano black centre console

* Black/ red cloth trim

Mazda3 1.6 Sport
1.6-litre 105ps Petrol, 4-door/5-door OTR £15,205

Contents over 1.6 Takara

* Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS)

Plus Additional Spec items over outgoing TS2:

* 17" alloy wheels

* Xenon headlamps and automatic headlight leveling and washers

* Automatic rain sensing wipers & dusk sensing lights

* Full sports styling kit including front and rear sports bumper, side skirts and rear spoiler

* Premium Bose® audio system with 7 speakers

* Privacy glass

* Rear combination lamps with LED rear lights

* Blackout meters

* Chrome exhaust

* Black sports cloth trim

Mazda3 2.0 Sport
2.0-litre 150ps Petrol, 4-door/5-door OTR £16,605
2.0-litre 143ps Diesel, 5-door OTR £18,005

Contents over 1.6 Sport

* 6-speed manual transmission

* Cruise control

* Chrome exhaust (petrol only)

Plus Additional Spec items over outgoing Sport:

* Leather seats

Mazda3 MPS
2.3-litre 260ps Petrol, 5-door OTR £18,995
2.3-litre 260ps Petrol, 5-door with Sports Aero Kit OTR £19,495

Contents over 2.0 Sport

* 2.3-litre DISI Turbo engine with 260ps at 3,500rpm

* Limited Slip Differential (LSD)

* MPS Sports styling with unique body–coloured front grille and bonnet design, front and rear sports bumpers, side skirts and rear lip spoiler

* Large chrome exhaust trim

Plus 2008 Additional Specification Items

* 18" alloy wheels - new dark finish

* Half leather / Half Alcantara® seats

MODEL/Combined mpg/CO2 g/km/VED Band

Petrol 5-door

1.4 5-door (M5) 42.2 157 D
1.6 5-door (M5) 40.9 162 D
1.6 5-door (Auto) 36.2 183 E
2.0 5-door (M6) 35.8 189 F
2.3 5-door (M6) 29.1 231 G

Petrol 4-door

1.6 4-door (M5) 40.9 162 D
1.6 4-door (Auto) 37.2 179 E
2.0 4-door (M6) 35.8 189 F

Diesel 5-door

1.6 5-door (90ps) 60.1 125 C
1.6 5-door (109ps) 58.9 128 C
2.0 5-door (143ps) 47.1 162 D

More at www.mazda.co.uk

Last Updated 16-11-2009

What's Bad

Steering of early 2.0 litre petrol cars was not very informative. Sorted our on later cars. Owner/driver feedback welcome.

New Mazda 3 in UK from June 2009.

What to Watch Out For

"Pressure gateway failure" (EGR failure) caused turbo failure on early 1.6 16v diesels.

End of plastic dipstick of 1.6 HDI engine can break and drop into sump requiring removal of sump to retrieve it.

Reports of rust on rear wheel arches of 2004/2005 cars.

US models door lock problem www.mazda3problem.com

Problems with Dynamic Stability System on Mazda 3s more than 4 years old. Up to 75% goodwill may be available from Mazda, brionging the cost of replacement down to around £350.

One reader reported a lot of problems with a 1.6 diesel between purchase in Sept 2005 and disposal 4 years later. It required 8 trips to the garage mostly because of excess exhaust gases (black smoke). It blew a turbo, needed two replacement air hoses (something to do with oil in them), required a replacement reversing light switch and finally the EGR valve went.

Seems to be suffering the same TEVES Mk 60 ABS/ESP "boost pressure sensor G201" fault at 3 - 4 years old as on Golfs, Tourans, Leons, Alteas, Toledos, Octavias, BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 407s, and Volvo S40s/V50s.

Recalls

Unknown date TSB about Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) light coming on and diagnostics showing fault code C1288. For cars 3 - 4 years old Mazda will usually contribute 80% of the cost of £2,700.