Zoom, zoom anyone? (From Living Northeast)

Zoom, zoom anyone?

1:46pm Thursday 25th February 2010 in

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There’s plenty to smile about in the all-new Mazda 3 range, says Nigel Burton.

THE all-new Mazda 3 comes with a built-in grin factor regardless of which model you choose. That’s all down to the ridiculously smiley grille, but opt for diesel Sport or the fire-spitting MPS and you’re almost guaranteed to replicate the expression on your own face.

While the diesel is no match for its petrol brother, you can still have fun with it. Powered by a 2.2 litre engine, which is fired into life by a stop/start button, it packs 148bhp and 266lb/ft of torque. It will reach 60mph in 9.2 seconds and go on to a top speed of 127mph.

Admittedly, this is not fast enough to melt the tarmac, but the compromises you make in terms of performance will be worthwhile if you are keeping one eye on your wallet: driven well, you can expect to average around 52mpg, which is not to be sniffed at.

There’s power where you need it, but I found the gearbox was a little stiff and the steering lacked real feel.

On the outside, with its bodykit, the Sport – smiley front apart – looks the part and that continues on the inside where the layout, while a tad plasticky in parts, is very now.

There are plenty of curves and sweeping lines, echoing those on the exterior, and the dash is intelligently laid-out. Everything is very accessible and it doesn’t take long to work out what does what.

I wasn’t overly impressed by the room in the front, but the kids had no complaints in the rear and getting them in and out was no problem. The boot is also a decent size and a good shape for loading and unloading.

If it’s real thrills you seek, then the MPS has to be the model of choice. It has a turbo-charged, 2.3 litre petrol engine which knocks out 256bhp and 280lb/ft of torque. As a result it can rocket what is essentially a family car to 62mph in 6.1 seconds and onto a limited top speed of 155mph.

Whereas other models are dominated by the design of the front end, with the MPS your eye is drawn to the huge scoop which sits there like the mouth of a whaleshark on the bonnet.

Aggressively-styled alloys look great when shod with 18-inch rubber and the whole thing is capped off with a large roof spoiler at the rear.Thestyling is not just forshow though, as it helps to create extra downforce, ensuring the car stays planted when driven enthusiastically.

I took it out on the twisting roads between Teesside and North Yorkshire and was impressed with its grip, balance and handling. The power needs to be fed in and I imagine it could catch the uninitiated unaware if they are not careful, but in experienced hands it really comes to life.

The interior isn’t hugely different from the other models further down the food chain and some people might think it overpriced, given some of the materials used, but it’s packed with kit, like a BOSE stereo system, and is a pretty nice environment from which to watch the world whizz by.

My biggest gripe was to do with the integrated satellite navigation system which almost needed another one to locate it, such was its diminutive size.

That said, if you are driving the MPS as nature intended the last thing you want to be doing is looking at the sat nav. Your eyes need to be firmly on the road ahead. Zoom, zoom anyone?