2007 MAZDASPEED3

Performance

The six-speed manual transmission in which this torque control is incorporated offers up excellent gearing for spirited driving along with keeping reins on the fuel economy. The shifts are concise once you are familiar the shifter. Even during speed shifts on the track we never missed a gate with the shifter.


Climbing the hill up to the famous Cork Screw the car labored just a bit. In all fairness, it takes a lot of power to climb this hill. Mazda was pretty brave to let us test their performance compact under these conditions. They knew this minor condition would be overshadowed many times over by the advantages the MAZDASPEED3 displays.


Hit the Cork Screw at speed and it is like riding a wild roller coaster, flick the wheel to the left, line up on the oak tree on the hill in the distance and flick the wheel to the right. All of this happens in a blink of and eye—and you better not blink. This is where the MAZDASPEED3 shines. The modifications to the suspension system help guide the hatchback through the turns with very little body roll. This makes it easy to keep the car tracking in the direction the driver points the wheels.


Another masterful thing here is that even though the car handles these high-speed turns easily, the suspension isn't so stiff as to not be able to soak up irregular road surfaces on the road to the market. A big salute to the suspension engineers who can make all of this happen in a small affordable vehicle.

Styling

Comfort yet sportiness are carried through to the interior. When you are dealing with an affordable compact car you cannot be too austere with interior accommodations. Most who buy the MAZDASPEED3 are folks who are making their paychecks stretch as far as they can. The vehicle they buy must go far beyond performance; it must function well day-to-day.