We have already said a lot about the Mazda3: about its beautiful design , the innovative diesel engine and the many strengths and weaknesses of this thoroughly thought through car . Everything was great – until we picked up the sedan with diesel engine.
Let’s put it this way: It is understandable that the diesel in the Mazda3 by the manufacturer itself was intended a wallflower existence. This existence manifests itself in the fact that this motor version many extras are withheld. Orderable is neither the BOSE sound system with 12 speakers, nor the style package (including adaptive LED matrix headlamps, LED daytime running lights, frameless rearview mirror), the Tech package (including 360 ° ambient monitor, traffic warning front, rear parking aid with emergency braking, Staufolgeassistent with steering assistance) or the premium package (leather etc.). The “Comfort +” – equipment of the 28,000-euro test car marks already the end of the flagpole (and that only with manual transmission, with automatic, it is only up to “Comfort”).
The 116 hp diesel is quiet and generally relatively powerful, but has a real problem in terms of power development. From that he has his maximum torque of 270 Nm already at 1600 / min. is to reach, nothing is noticeable. Because: The turbocharger takes a felt eternity until it responds. At every throttle. As a result, you fall into a torque hole when accelerating with each upshift, no matter what speed you turn.
But what the hell, one assumes at Mazda anyway, that only relatively few Austrians resort to the D116.
Apart from that: A top compact!
If we ignore the moments when the turbocharger annoys, there is not much to complain about. The design of the sedan is almost more consistent than that of the hatchback (no tight feeling in the back seat, 450 liter trunk), in comparison, the clarity is better (except straight back, because of the high-mounted rear window), the rear seat backs can be from Fold down trunk (then 1138 liters volume) and the real consumption of 6.0 liters per 100 kilometers, without putting it on saving, is fine. Overall, it is anything but lame on the road, the sprint to 100 km / h goes for the 1299 kg (according to DIN) compact sedan in 10.3 seconds.
The operating concept is probably the simplest and distraction-free on the market, the ads on the digital instrument cluster have a pleasant analog and are just as sharp as intelligent and the overall impression is so high that you will probably soon Mazda titled premium brand. It goes without saying that a real head-up display is standard on board. This does not fit, however, that the rear doors and especially the trunk lid sound tinny when closing.
