Sporty to the Maxx

After a few years in the doldrums, Mazda has fought back with a fabulous range of new models. The award-winning Mazda 6 was released first, before the cute little Mazda 2. The sensational RX8 followed.

But, now, comes the latest release in the new line-up – Mazda 3, which replaces the popular 323.

Compared to its predecessor, Mazda 3 is sporty and athletic to look at, and a more vibrant car to drive. It is also larger, more powerful and far more sophisticated. Its sales reflect these attributes; and, demand has sometimes outstripped supply.

Mazda 3 comes in two body styles – a sporty-looking sedan and a retro-style hatchback. And, with four specification levels, (Neo, Maxx, Maxx Sport and SP23) there should be a model to suit everyone.

Prices for the new range start at $21,490, for the Neo manual. This exceeds the price of the old 323, but Mazda 3 is bigger, more powerful, and features more equipment.

Neo’s standard equipment includes:

• Air conditioning.
• CD player.
• Remote locking.
• Reach-and-rake adjustable steering.
• Height adjustment on the driver’s seat.

For safety, it features:

• Dual-stage inflation front airbags.
• Seat belt pre-tensioners with load-limiters.
• Anti-whiplash front seats.
• Five lap-sash seatbelts.
• Headrests.

On Neo, a $1,600 Safety Pack adds significantly to affordable safety, and includes: seat-mounted side airbags, head-protecting curtain airbags, and ABS brakes with EBD and Brake Assist. Six airbags and ABS is standard on the rest of the Mazda 3 range.

Like all recent Mazda releases, the 3 features that sporty, aggressive front end, which first appeared on the Mazda 6. And, the now familiar Mazda family grille, with those bold projector-style headlamps, also features. Deep section bumpers give the car a purposeful look, while the steeply-raked windscreen, rearward-sloping roof and short, rear overhang dominate its profile.

From the 323, the new Mazda 3 is a step up in size – not quite to mid-size, but not far short, either. It looks and feels bigger than its arch rivals, Corolla and Pulsar.

It is roomy, comfortable, and provides a good driving position with excellent visibility.

...supplies stacks of useable power
...excellent combination of space, power and confort

Its gauges include a bold speedometer and tachometer, with needles that rest in the six o’clock position. The steering wheel – one of the best standard wheels around – looks and feels good, and features audio control buttons on some models. The central facia, which features an integrated audio system, resembles that of the RX8.

Front and rear seats are comfortable and of good quality. Storage areas abound in this car, and offer one of the largest glove boxes the Police Journal has ever seen.

Door pockets include space for sizeable drink bottles, and cup holders feature in the centre console. Boot space is more than adequate, and made a lot deeper by the space-saver spare wheel.

Neo, Maxx and Maxx Sport models feature a new, all-alloy 2.0-litre engine, which produces 104kW of power and 181Nm of torque. This represents increases of 13 per cent and 8 per cent respectively over the 1.8-litre power plant of the 323. With 80 per cent of its torque available below 2,000rpm, the engine is highly flexible, and capable of propelling the car from 0 to 100km/h in a little more than nine seconds (manual models).

SP23 models feature a more powerful 2.3-litre engine – with sequential valve timing – producing 115kW of power and 203Nm of torque. This represents increases of 17 per cent in power and torque over the SP20 engine. A smooth five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic (Activematic), with staggered gate selection lever and manual selection mode, is available across all models.

On the road, Mazda 3 performs just as it looks. Its zippy 2.0-litre engine supplies stacks of useable power. The engine, when pushed hard, quickly revs all the way to redline and propels the car very fast. The manual gearbox has a short throw and is light and easy to use.

Suspension and steering are well sorted and combine excellently to provide a firm but compliant ride, with cornering agility akin to many sports cars.

Maxx ($25,490), in addition to Neo’s standard features, comes with:

• Six airbags.
• ABS.
• Alloy wheels.
• Power windows and mirrors.
• Six-disc CD with wheel-mounted controls.

Maxx Sport ($26,175) also has fog lamps, side skirts, rear spoiler and larger alloy wheels. SP23 hatch and sedan ($29,990), in addition to their bigger engines, feature:

• A full body kit.
• Much larger alloy wheels.
• Climate-control air conditioning.
• Revised interior trim.
• Leather steering wheel.
• Stainless steel scuff plates.

In its base form, Mazda 3 breaks the mythical $20,000 price barrier, but should sell like hotcakes. Both sedan and hatch look fabulous, and offer an excellent combination of space, power and comfort. More important, however, each offers affordable and comprehensive occupant safety.

A new benchmark

With its stylish new Maxima sedan, Nissan has thrown down the gauntlet to its competitors. This elegant, sophisticated car challenges contemporary design concepts and makes its predecessor – and much of its current competition – look decidedly old-fashioned. It is good enough to become a new benchmark.

Spacious and powerful, this Maxima looks sleek and classy. Its short, deep boot lid, curved roofline, and bold front and rear ends have obvious European influences. Short front and rear overhangs provide a long, low stance, while the sloping rear glass and boot lid give the car the appearance of a large coupe.

Maxima’s interior – which Nissan likens to that of a luxury apartment with modern furniture – is simple yet, tasteful and ultra modern. And Nissan appears to be right: the seats offer supreme comfort and styling.

Its dash layout, enhanced by subtle flush-mounted switches and backlit gauges, is very clean and uncluttered.

Nissan has made clever use of wood grain and polished metal, particularly on the dashboard and console. Unlike some, it doesn’t look artificial. The car’s long armrests, centre console, seats and dashboard all curve gently to blend with the roofline.

Under the bonnet is a delightfully smooth and powerful 3.5-litre all-alloy V6 engine. Designated VQ35DE, it is from the same family that powers the sensational 350Z coupe and roadster.

Featuring DOHC and variable valve timing, the engine produces a substantial 170kW at 5,600rpm, and up to 333Nm of torque at 2,800rpm. Drive is to the front wheels through an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission, with lock-up torque converter. Total driver control over the transmission is available through the easy-to-use gate-style gear selection lever.

To sit in a Maxima is to believe one has stepped into a luxury Lexus or Mercedes. On the road, it is ultra smooth, powerful, whisper quiet and very refined. The engine is fabulously flexible, and capable of very quick acceleration. It requires premium unleaded fuel but, for a big car, Maxima is very fuel-efficient (10.8 litres per 100km on test).

Available in three spec-levels (ST-L, Ti and Ti-L), Maxima comes highly specified in the area of comfort and safety equipment. Prices range from $39,990 (ST-L) to $48,990 (Ti-L).

Standard features across the board include:

• Alloy wheels.
• Fog lamps.
• Dual exhausts.
• Dual-zone climate control.
• Power windows.
• Cruise control.
• CD audio system.
• Eight-way power driver’s seat.
• Drive computer.
• ABS.
• Front and side airbags.

Ti also comes with a sunroof, six-stack CD, leather trim, four-way adjustable passenger seat, and side curtain airbags. Ti-L features rear park assist, and a rear-seat entertainment system with a DVD/VCD/CD/MP3 player with infrared headphones.

Best from the driver’s seat

Like most convertibles, the Saab 9-3 Linear 2.0t looks a lot better with its soft top down. And, with the touch of a button, that only takes around 20 seconds. One can drop the roof when stationary with the key remote, or while travelling at up to 30km/h with a switch on the dash.

With the top down and the side glass up, very little wind noise or turbulence is evident in the cabin, even at 100km/h. And, at that speed, the audio system and air conditioning remain quite effective, making open-roof driving a real pleasure, even when it is cool.

Saab rightly asserts that the best way to experience its cars is from the driver’s seat. The driving position is excellent, the seating just right and the dash layout – with its array of gauges and switchgear – resembles one of its manufacturer’s fighter aircraft. With the dashboard looking like a Christmas tree at night, its switches are easy to find and use.

All 9-3 convertible models feature inter-cooled DOHC 2.0-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engines, which drive the front wheels through manual or optional automatic transmissions. The standard motor in the Linear puts out a useful 129kW at 5,500rpm and 265Nm of torque, from 2,500 – 4,000rpm. The more expensive Aero gets a high-output version with 155kW at 5,300rpm and 300Nm of torque.

...resembles one of its manufacturer’s fighter aircraft.
...excellent braking and a compliant ride.

The Linear five-speed manual takes nine seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h, while the higher-output Aero, with its six-speed manual, takes eight seconds. Given that each weighs in excess of 1,600kgs, performance is more than adequate. But each performs particularly well in the mid-range, especially when the gearbox is worked to advantage. An optional five-speed automatic transmission features a manual mode for complete control and more spirited driving.

The 9-3’s delightful chassis and rigid body structure complement its performance. They ensure fast, flat cornering, excellent braking and a compliant ride. Unlike many convertibles, the 9-3 has body rigidity akin to a sedan. This comes about through the heavily reinforced windscreen frame.

Two roll bars, which pop up from behind the rear seat headrests in the event of an airbag deployment, add to occupant safety.

Part of the 9-3’s appeal is that it is a true four-seater, which can accommodate four adults. The car’s boot space is adequate, but diminishes when one lowers the roof.

Both models’ standard equipment comes highly specified, and features a full range of electronic driving enhancements. They include:

• Heated leather seats.
• Dual-zone climate control.
• Trip computer.
• Cruise control.
• Seven-speaker high-power CD audio system.
• Alloy wheels.

Linear Luxury pack also comes with a six-disc CD, rear park assist, electric front seats, and anti-theft alarm. Aero features:

• Bigger alloy wheels.
• Sports chassis package.
• Dual-tone leather trim.
• Leather steering wheel.
• A body kit.

Prices for these beautiful convertibles start at $72,900.