Mazda3 SP25: Warm Hatch Comparison 2014

As with other variants of the new Mazda3 range, the SP25 appears to do nearly everything very well, with no real flaws to its game – except refinement. Mazda said noise suppression was a focus of the latest Mazda3, but it should have been benchmarked against the Ford Focus – the quietest hatch on test.

Compared to the also non-turbo Hyundai and Ford, the SP25's SKYACTIV engine is substantially larger capacity (2488cc) with a higher compression ratio (13.5:1). It generates 138kW at 5700rpm, with 250Nm at 3250rpm.

Coupled to a slick six-speed auto (complete with paddle shifters), the Mazda3 SP25 hits 100km/h in a racy 8.0sec and can match the rorty Kia pro_cee'd GT between 80-100km/h (at 2.5sec).

Over the course of a test lap, the SP25 feels nose-heavy to drive. The chassis does nothing out of the ordinary, but its relative lack of turn-in response and outright grip saw it set a rather leisurely 1:05.3 around the circuit.

The 18-inch alloys shod with 215/45-series Dunlop Sport Maxx TT rubber help deliver a well-resolved ride, and made the Mazda feel more comfortable than some of the others on regular roads.

A solid 8.0L/100km on-test is beaten only by the Focus.

Fit and finish

The Japanese-built Mazda3 SP25 rates highly in this group. Shoddy-looking boot floor aside, it's difficult to find any examples of cost-cutting in its level of finish.

The internal plastics are of consistently high quality and include a soft-touch upper dash. Trim-panel fit is flawless and there's a smooth tactility in the way the controls function. For example, the glovebox opens gracefully with a nicely damped action and there's an upmarket-style stitched cover for the handbrake lever.

Likewise, the Mazda3's paint job is excellent, and the body panels fit with commendable precision revealing tight, consistent gaps and flawless alignments. Paint colour is consistent across metal and plastic surfaces.

The attention to detail also extends to the door jams, which reveal clean execution of the welds and a deep, glossy paint finish.

About the only in-cabin weakness centres around the rear door trim panels where passengers have to endure hard, unyielding armrests. Up front, they're comfortably padded.

The engine bay is accessed via a propped-up bonnet and reveals a pretty conformist layout with a large engine shroud and easy-to-find regular service points.

The Mazda3 SP25 blends mature design flair with a considered list of technology features as standard. The 7.0-inch colour touchscreen set centrally atop the dash draws your focus and is home to all infotainment technology onboard the Mazda.

Front seaters can use the touchscreen or the centrally located rotary dial to select from communications, car settings, audio, fuel readings and navigation. Driving information is replicated in the instrument binnacle, and includes ambient temperature, fuel data and efficiency, safety warnings and speed settings.

The Mazda offers the most ‘intelligent' as well as the most intuitive technology among the group, with only the Hyundai i30 SR coming close in terms of user-friendliness.

To pair a phone, one press of the phone button on the steering wheel prompts the voice command system to direct you to the touchscreen to finish the task. No guesswork required.

Other standard inclusions are idle stop-start, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, Pandora, Stitcher and Aha apps, dual-zone climate control, auto wipers and headlights, and a reversing camera.

Keyless entry and push-button start deliver an added dose of pomp, as does the cost-option Safety Pack ($1500) which includes Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Smart City Brake Support.

The Mazda3 SP25 is priced at $27,890 (plus ORCs) – the cheapest here. Metallic paint is included for all hues except Soul Red ($200), while our test vehicle came with the $1500 Safety Pack option.

The Mazda3 SP25 is covered by a 36-month/unlimited-kilometre warranty and benefits from a lifetime capped-price servicing arrangement of every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first) for duration of ownership. The initial service is $296.

Roadside assist is available optionally from $68.10 per year.

As the latest-generation '3' is too new to determine an estimated retained value from RedBook.com.au, we've instead looked to a three-year old example as a resale guide. Priced at $33,670 new, a 2011 auto with 60,000km on the clock would today have a median private sale price of $22,350, a retained value of 66 per cent.

Big expectations can sometimes inflict big burdens. But the Mazda3 SP25 demonstrates why Mazda's small car has been embraced so warmly by Australian new-car buyers.

The interior speaks of quality, comfort and style. There's a sense of class and familiarity in the simple, logical dash and clean instrumentation, while the Euro-style central dial controller conveniently groups the most-used tech functions together.

The driver is made at home on comfy seats which offer good side support and a wide range of adjustments. There's a spot to rest the left foot and the driver's window gets an auto-down function.

There's no lumbar adjustment, however, and rear three-quarter vision is hampered somewhat by thick C-pillars

Typically for the category there are no mid-level ventilation outlets for rear passengers, who will also find legroom a little squeezy.

Equally squeezy is the Mazda's smallest-on-test boot at 308 litres. Also disappointing is a cheap-looking lift-up floor and lack of tie-down points. The 60/40 split-fold back seat will likely receive regular use in the Mazda3 hatch.

2014 Warm Hatch Car Comparison