I'm just so disappointed that I responded to the media 'advertising' about the new model launch by going out of my way to visit dealers only to find out that the dealers aren't ready to sell to customers.

According to information I've gleaned from web sourced, including watching Savageese YT reviews of the car (2), it appear that Mazda, on splitting with Ford, didn't have the resources to keep designing and making high performance cars that still met all the more stringent emissions rules - they never sold that many MPS models anyway and shared many components with their Ford cousins, saving on cost.

Thus they concentrated on developing mass market cars only, still great handling, but just adeqaute performance for the most part. It should also be noted that we're unfortunate in the UK/EU as we never got the more powerful 2.5 N/A petrol engined versions (185PS) which are available in North America and Down Under, and the 2.5T petrol (around 100PS more) which is available in some of the larger Mazda CXs in those countries, many of which aren't and won't be available in the UK for the foreseable future.

I also suspect that this is due to the EU having low corporate CO2 levels for car companies ranges, and thus even the 2.5 petrol would not be great when compared to an equivalent powered 1.5T in those terms. The same goes for their TC autos, and why for a long time they've limited auto options in their bigger models.

The new 3 (along with the CX-5) is their next phase of development, going for an upmarket feel, including supposedly far better noise and road surface dampening, as well as a more posh feel inside and better comfort which appear to have worked (at least according to Savageese, who owned a gen-3 car but was disappointed with it and sold it). Even the ICE is much better than before, although that isn't saying much.

What annoys me is that the new Mazda 3 with the 'carryover' 2.0 petrol engine is, on paper at least, 1.5sec slower to 60mph than the car it replaced. The difference between the manual and auto, at least for the petrol version, is only 0.5sec slower; the newer (not quick, probably replacing the 1.5TD instead of the 2.2TD) 1.8TD is a bit quicker in manual form but the usual 1.5sec slower to 60 in auto form. Very odd, given the car is no bigger or heavier than the gen-3 model. HJ didn't have an answer for me on that, but still was very impressed with the car he tested.

We'll also have to wait until the autumn for the SCCI 2.0, which, whilst likely far better under normal driving for mpg and CO2 than the 'normal' 2.0, is only as powerful as the existing 2.5L available in the US. Whilst the rest of car seems a very big improvement, I won't consider buying one with the new engine design until 6-12 months after it's been out, just in case it has any issues that need fixing. The 2.5L would've been just the ticket, especially if it came in auto form.

Not sure if we'll be getting the AWD version either, which at present is in 2.5 auto form in those other markets. Lucky them. I haven't been impressed with Mazda UK thus far given the lack of demo cars and expecting people just to pay deposits unseen, especially when the cars are paired with the very average performaing 2.0p and 1.8TD engines.