mpg. ACCELERATION seconds 0–60 mph 1/4-mile. Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V.
Mazda 3 (estimated). Toyota Matrix SRS (estimated). Ford SVT Focus (5-door).
CD01 3 LAYOUT 7/29/04 10:44 AM Page 4
MAZDA 3
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5door wagon Estimated price as tested: $21,000 (base price: $17,410) Options on test car: anti-lock brakes, sunroof, leather seats, xenon headlights Major standard accessories: power windows and locks, remote locking, A/C, cruise control, tilting and telescoping steering wheel, rear defroster and wiper Sound system: Mazda AM/FM radio/CD changer, 6 speakers
substance and quality. And speaking of price, more car, which is what we have here, inevitably means a bigger sticker. Mazda says four-door models will start at $14,200 and five-door editions at $17,410. Both body styles should top out at about $23,500 loaded. Our test car, which included a mix and match of features, carried an estimated astested price of $21,000. That price included such things as leather, ABS and electronic brake-force distribution, xenon headlights, a tire-pressure monitor, and a power sunroof. It did not include Mazda’s DVD-based navigation system, a CD player (which will be packaged with the sunroof in U.S. models), side-impact and curtain airbags (ordinarily packaged with ABS), or an automatic transmission. Package prices notwithstanding, this adds up to a rather expensive five-door compact—$2260 more than that Protegé5 comparo winner. The Mazda 3 may
very well carry on the Protegé’s best-inclass tradition. But for all the gain, something’s been lost. That’s the price of growing up. ■ CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V Mazda 3 (estimated) Toyota Matrix SRS (estimated) Ford SVT Focus (5-door) 0
4
ACCELERATION Seconds Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3 40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.9 50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.5 60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.4 70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.2 80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.1 90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17.4 100 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22.8 110 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30.1 Street start, 5–60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.6 Top-gear acceleration, 30–50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.7 50–70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.7 Standing 1/4 -mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.0 sec @ 87 mph Top speed (governor limited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 mph BRAKING 70–0 mph @ impending lockup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169 ft HANDLING Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.87 g Understeer . . . . . . . . . . . . .minimal moderate excessive FUEL ECONOMY EPA city driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 mpg EPA highway driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 mpg C/D-observed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 mpg INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL Idle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 dBA Full-throttle acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 dBA 70-mph cruising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 dBA 92
www.CARandDRIVER.com
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ACCELERATION seconds 0–60 mph 1/4-mile Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V Ford SVT Focus Mazda 3 Toyota Matrix SRS 0
C/D TEST RESULTS
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*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler taxes.
4
8
12
16
20
BRAKING 70–0 mph, feet Toyota Matrix SRS
Ford SVT Focus Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 160
170
180
190
200
ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V Ford SVT Focus Mazda 3 Toyota Matrix SRS 0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
EPA CITY FUEL ECONOMY mpg Toyota Matrix SRS Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V Ford SVT Focus 6
DIMENSIONS Wheelbase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103.9 in Track, front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.2/59.6 in Length/width/height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176.6/69.1/57.7 in Ground clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.9 in Drag area, Cd (0.35) x frontal area (24.6 sq ft, est) . . .8.61 sq ft Curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2957 lb Weight distribution, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.3/39.7% Curb weight per horsepower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18.5 lb Fuel capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.5 gal CHASSIS/BODY Type . . . . . . . . . .unit construction with a rubber-isolated front crossmember Body material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .welded steel stampings
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Front-seat adjustments . . . .fore-and-aft, seatback angle; driver only: seat height, lumbar support Restraint systems, front . . . . .manual 3-point belts, driver and passenger front airbags rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .manual 3-point belts SUSPENSION Front . . . . . . . .ind, strut located by a control arm, coil springs, anti-roll bar Rear . . . . .ind; 1 trailing arm, 2 lateral links, and 1 toe-control link per side; coil springs; anti-roll bar STEERING Type . . . . . . . . .rack-and-pinion with variable electrohydraulic power assist Steering ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.6:1 Turns lock-to-lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.8 Turning circle curb-to-curb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34.1 ft BRAKES Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . .hydraulic with vacuum power assist and anti-lock control Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.8 x 1.0-in vented disc Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.0 x 0.4-in disc
Mazda 3
0
DRIVETRAIN Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-speed manual Final-drive ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.11:1 Gear Ratio Mph/1000 rpm Max. test speed I 3.31 5.3 38 mph (7100 rpm) II 1.84 9.5 68 mph (7100 rpm) III 1.31 13.4 95 mph (7100 rpm) IV 0.97 18.1 118 mph (6500 rpm) V 0.76 23.2 118 mph (5100 rpm)
INTERIOR SAE volume, front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 cu ft rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 cu ft cargo, seats up/down . . . . . . . . . . . . .17/31 cu ft
Mazda 3
150
ENGINE Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .inline-4, aluminum block and head Bore x stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.44 x 3.70 in, 87.5 x 94.0mm Displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 cu in, 2261cc Compression ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.7:1 Fuel-delivery system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .port injection Valve gear . . . . . . . . . . . .chain-driven double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake-valve timing Power (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 bhp @ 6500 rpm Torque (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm Redline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7100 rpm
18
24
30
WHEELS AND TIRES Wheel size/type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5 x 17 in/cast aluminum Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goodyear Eagle RS-A, P205/50VR-17 Test inflation pressures, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32/32 psi Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . .high-pressure compact on steel wheel JANUARY 2004
