2010 Mazdaspeed 3: The Secret Handshake

Nice post!

Great, thoughtful post.

If they ever add a sunroof, it'll be just about perfect.

My primary car of choice if I ever get that Ferrari F430 I want, would be a hot-hatch, and I think this is the best of the bunch.

very good article, thanks for reminding us how good this car is.

As a Gen1 GTI owner (12 years) I am tempted by the MS3. I like it not having a sunroof, which eliminates 2/3 of the cars I'd like, and almost TRIPLE the hp is attractive, but 20 mpgs? I never got less than 25 in my GTI (never much more, either, thanks to the short gearing), but there are lots of V6s out there that'll get 20 mpg or more day in, day out...

I like these little hatchback's a lot, but they need to get rid of that stupid smiley face grill.

@texases:

it's rated at 18/25mpg, and I'm sure with sensible driving, anyone can get 25mpg or even more w/o problem
I myself have driven so many cars and I can always exceed their highway ratings by 10%, if I drive economically.

"As a Gen1 GTI owner (12 years) I am tempted by the MS3. I like it not having a sunroof, which eliminates 2/3 of the cars I'd like, and almost TRIPLE the hp is attractive, but 20 mpgs? I never got less than 25 in my GTI (never much more, either, thanks to the short gearing), but there are lots of V6s out there that'll get 20 mpg or more day in, day out..."

I'm a 2002 owner who also owns a 2007 MS3. It's actually a quite decent commuter/grocery getter, and I get @23 mpg driving it fairly hard. It's not very much fun on the track, sad to say- and that was the primary reason I bought it. I'm waiting for the right E46 M3 to come along, at which point I'll dump the MS3 immediately.

^^Yes, I guess going by the IL average (about 20 mpg) is really a 'worst case' number...but I do imagine there are some v6s that'll match it.

Great car I'm sure, but it looks horrible. It's even worse in person. If you're over 21, forget about it.

^^ Agree, only color I'd consider is black.

"A look of respect" You have to be kidding! It is a neat little car but come on......

@bodyblue, it is "a look of respect". Coming from the Nissan SE-R crowd, I know exactly what Jordan is refering to. The 1991-1994 Sentra was an unattractive box on wheels, but damn, it had a sweet engine and chassis. You just felt connected to it... People didn't buy it because it was 'pretty', people bought it because it was a blast to drive! For those only going by looks, well, they just didn't get it.

People b**** and moan about the front of the MS3, but you can't see it from the driver's seat, so who cares?

spdracerut nice point. The thing about the MS3 is that the majority of people who own it know it's capability because they either did the research or are enthusiats at some level. They probably didn't just buy it based on it's looks, because it really isn't all that different from the base model. Compared to some "special editions" that only have extra plastic and badges the MS3 actually has substance behind it's face, which I happen to believe is subtle and classy on 2007-2009 and exciting and adventurous on 2010.

Oh and nice post Mr. Jordan. You defintely "get" the MS3.

If you "respect" someone because of the car they drive then that indicates a problem somewhere. I can see respecting someones decision, but my respect for someone is not based on the car they drive.......I also find it revolting that some people demand respect because of the car they drive. They are just machines...fun and interesting.....but just machines.

If they ever add a sunroof, it'll be just about perfect.

I stopped by my local dealer and asked about the Sunroof. Said they could install a factory moonroof in at cost of $1100. Mazda does not offer them in packages because it degrades the rigidity of the chassis.

Bodyblue

The respect I'm referring to is "respect" for making a good choice and knowing a thing or two about what you're buying rather than respecting someone just because of WHAT they buy. I agree with you that simply respecting someone becasue of the car they drive is ridiculous, no different than respecting someone simply becasue of the money they make or the house they live in. The respect I'm talking about is more about respecting someone for being educated and not following the crowd. Someone who doesn't simply go out and buy a BMW because it's a status symbol or becasue someone famous drives it, but becasue they made a informed decision and didn't follow the rest of the crowd off the cliff like lemmings. In this way I think Mazda is the epitomy of the well-informed and educated enthusiasts, simply becasue they don't over market their products and don't breed elitism. Most people would simply listen to the latest marketing hype and buy something sight unseen instead educating themselves by frequenting a high class site like Edmunds. :-)

Whoa there Jordan. I like the MS3. I'm glad Mazda made it (just like I'm glad they made the Miata and the RX7 - not so much the RX8). They did things that other manufacturers used to do, or should be doing, with their small econo rockets. Kudos x10.

But to call the 2.3 DISI engine one of world's great engines is pushing it - very, very far. First, let's give credit - it makes decent power for a turbocharged engine in that size class. It is also available at a decent price and has what seems to be pretty decent technology on board (direct injection, VVT, etc.). And it gets the MS3 down the road in a very fun way in concert with the lively chassis.

Now let's get the rest straight. The DISI is not used across the board in Mazda and Ford cars. The DISI, at least in US markets, is only used in the Mazdaspeeds (MS3 and MS6) and the CX-7. Other cars (including the Miata) use a version of the MZR, but it isn't the DISI - big difference.

Additionally, the MZR-R 2.0 liter used in high level racing is a bespoke racing engine. It shares no common parts with the roadgoing MZRs, and was developed by an outside company, AER:

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/technology/258149/mazda-mzr-r-lmp2.html

In the realm of turbocharged 2-2.5 liter engines, the DISI is somewhere in the middle. It is a bit fragile when pushed, doesn't spool up particularly quickly given the direct injection and higher compression, and has a very abbreviated powerband in stock form. I won't comment much on NVH as that's a bit hard to quantify, but I certainly wouldn't call it class leading in those areas.

Mitsu's 4B11 from the Evo spools up about as quickly and makes makes much better top end power, especially from 5k-7.5k rpm. This despite 300 cc less displacement, lower compression and no direct injection.

Even Subaru's base EJ25 in the WRX spools up similarly to the DISI engine, makes similar peak power and pulls better up top (again, without the advantages that the DISI engine should offer). The STI engine is another level better still.

Another 2.0 liter of note would be the Ecotec mill in the Cobalt SS. Spools up quickly, makes similar top end, great economy and available with 300/300 hp/lbs-ft with a $600 dealer option. Also pretty durable and proven in racing. And then there's the 2.0T from VW. Probably the most refined of the turbo-4's out there, spools up super quick, and in the more aggressive guises produces similar power and great economy.

If you want to look at NA engines in general, Honda's K-series 4's still top the MZRs in pretty much every category - in some cases by huge amounts, and compared to Toyota and Nissan, I don't think you can make a good case that the MZR is any more special than their families of I4s. Yes, you can argue that some engines aren't available at the price point the MZR is, but if we're talking engines, that's not so important.

Again, the MS3 is a good car, great if FWD doesn't bother you. Other cars in the class may do a thing or two better, but its hard to find a performance car in the sub-$25k class that does so many things so well as the MS3. But its a great FWD car because of how well the package comes together at the price you can buy it at. The MZR-DISI provides exactly what the car needs to be great, but it isn't a great engine in any sort of comparative way. It just gets the job done so you can focus on enjoying the drive.

I agree with church123; the motor makes decent power, but it is far from great. The engine note is all too similar to the Kawasaki twin in my ZTR mower, the power delivery is far to dependent on ambient temperature, and it never feels willing to rev.

I'm not a fan of having an engine that will outrun the chassis of a vehicle. The great fun of a Miata is that the chassis can stay balanced during all portions of what the engine can muster. The 370Z was heralded by IL as having an high level of mechanical grip. BMWs don't boast the most HP when compared to their peers, but somehow draw the love and admiration of the entire IL staff (and many others) due to their road manners - which comes, in part, from the balanced chassis that can take what the driver and road dole out.

I'd argue that a great engine with a mediocre chassis is worse than the reverse.

@yellowmiata: I definitely agree with you on the chassis/engine thing...a chassis that outshines an engine is something you can enjoy without thrashing the motor...a motor that outshines a chassis is a recipe for disappointment.

It's the biggest reason I disliked the previous-gen MS3...it seemed like all motor and an unrefined chassis (and by refined I don't mean quiet, soft, comfortable, etc...I mean well developed for performance on the road and track) and thus failed to hold my interest. This new one, though, sounds like it's got great underpinnings!

Awesome post, church123.
By the way, Jordan, nice to see your enthusiast side in this particular post, instead of your nitpicking, Automobile Magazine-style ridiculousness. You are a great writer when you stick to that enthusiast side...
And it's simple -- flash the high beams at other MS3s to recognize a fellow enthusiast. When I had my 86 GTI, the drivers of Rabbit GTIs and other A2 GTIs flashed their lights in recognition of the breed.