Is the new Mazda 3 the best-looking family hatchback in years? Its maker would certainly hope you think so. When it revealed the Kai concept some two years ago - this fresh model is based on that car鈥檚 squat, sporty design - reaction to it was overwhelmingly positive. With a few months still to go before the new Golf arrives, the Mazda 3 will need to square up to the latest Ford Focus. Both are sharp-looking and promise maximum driver engagement, although the Mazda鈥檚 launch line-up is much slimmer than the vast number of configurations you鈥檒l be presented with in a Focus brochure. Just two engines are available. The SkyActiv-D diesel produces 114bhp, while the SkyActiv-G petrol we drove is slightly stronger. It鈥檚 expected to be more popular, even if it lacks the diesel鈥檚 torque and fuel economy. An all-important third option will appear later this year, called SkyActiv-X; it鈥檚 a new engine that promises diesel-like fuel economy with the punch of a petrol unit, thanks to clever compression technology. It鈥檚 a shame the new motor isn鈥檛 available at launch, because the existing engine is a weak link.
There isn鈥檛 much torque, and it takes more than 10 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph, so it鈥檚 far from fast. The older SkyActiv-G engine is very refined, though. At cruising speeds the Mazda 3 is extremely quiet, and it works well with chassis, gearbox and steering settings that are fundamentally sound. Be in no doubt, the Mazda 3 is a great car to drive. The innate tautness of the platform means that the suspension doesn鈥檛 need to be rock-solid for this to be a hatchback you can drive hard with a bit of confidence. It鈥檚 superbly composed - if maybe not as grippy or keen to turn in as a Focus - but it does it while retaining excellent ride quality. Given the scant torque served up by the turbo-less engine, you need to work the gears to keep momentum. But the six-speed manual is a joy to use, with a short, accurate throw.
You might wish the steering felt more alive, but by family-hatch standards it鈥檚 well judged. The driving position is nicely adjustable, too. Whoever sits behind the wheel will be impressed, as should anyone in the passenger seat, given the quality of the cabin. We tried a mid-spec Sport Lux car, and although you鈥檒l need to step up to GT Sport for leather seats, the materials used around the interior feel of a high standard. It鈥檚 a much nicer place to sit than the latest Focus, and probably surpasses the outgoing Golf, too. Importantly, the 3 gets a new infotainment set-up as well. The 8.8-inch display is crisper than what we鈥檝e seen in Mazdas before, placed neatly in the driver鈥檚 eye-line, and operated through a rotary dial like BMW鈥檚 iDrive. Nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all present, as they are on every model. In fact, every version of the new Mazda 3 is well equipped for the money. Even the basic model has radar cruise control and LED lights. A couple. The Mazda鈥檚 sleek shape means space in the back isn鈥檛 amazing, and it鈥檚 dark back there, too. The thickness of the C-pillar means that rearward visibility is restricted, and the 351-litre boot isn鈥檛 among the most spacious in the class. Overall, the Mazda is definitely worth exploring. But if your budget will stretch by another 拢1,500, it may be worth waiting for the SkyActiv-X to arrive in October.
Computer-generated images leaked out of a japanese patent office give us an accurate look at the first-ever bmw x2. 2 was shown as a thinly-disguised concept car. 2017 bmw x2 release date, 2017 bmw x2 specification 2017 bmw x2 interior 2017 bmw x2 models 2017 bmw x2 release date. 2019 bmw x5 spy video from motor authority on vimeo. 5 was introduced for the 2014 model year but its underpinnings are shared with the second-gen x5. 2017 bmw x2 specifications, release date of 2018 bmw x2, review horsepower engine performance top speed interior 2017 bmw x2 car for sale 2018 series. The current bmw 1-series hatchback is somewhat of an oddity in the world of compact cars, because it comes with a sporty rear-wheel-drive layout and available inline. Bmw x4 vs x6, bmw x4 review, mw x4 for sale, bmw x4 specs, bmw x4 vs x3, bmw x4 precio,2018 bmw x4 concept, 2018 bmw x4 review, 2018 bmw x4 powertrain. A completely refreshed bmw x line-up is just around the corner, with two completely new models joining the fold. Bmw was established as a business entity following a restructuring of the rapp motorenwerke aircraft manufacturing firm in 1912 named aerowerke gustav otto.. 2017 bmw 340i price and release date - you are welcome to our car website, this time around we are going to reveal specifics of the most recent cars is provided. An electric version of the mini cooper -- the model you thought already existed but does not -- will go on sale in 2019, corporate parent bmw announced this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment