Introduction

Mazda’s advertising tagline is zoom-zoom. But with the exception of impressive handling, Mazda’s product line isn’t particularly fast. Rather, they are cars that focus on weight savings, nimble handling, and responsive powertrains. Drag-strip kings, not so much. In recent years, however, Mazda has been leveraging turbocharged four-cylinder engines and its Mazdaspeed brand name to give cars like the Protégé, Miata, and Mazda 6 street cred. The 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 is the fourth in this limited-production lineup. Based on the universally applauded and extremely useful Mazda 3 five-door hatchback, and boasting horsepower and torque that puts most other factory sport compact cars on the bench, the 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 is set to redefine the phrase “cheap thrill.” Consider this: the new Volkswagen GTI, which is coming to market in three- and five-door body styles, and has received glowing reviews from the press, gets just 200 horsepower out of its turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Mazdaspeed 3, about the same size and weight, is pushing 250 horsepower. That’s more than the defunct Dodge Neon SRT-4, the raw but ready Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged, and well above the excellent new Honda Civic Si.

Mazda’s taking no chances with the 2007 Mazdaspeed 3. It gets a turbocharged, direct-injection 2.3-liter four-cylinder under the hood, the same engine found in the larger Mazdaspeed 6, but detuned to 250 horsepower because the 3 is front-wheel drive, rather than all-wheel drive like the Mazda 6. Power peaks at 5,500 rpm, and while torque peaks at 3,000 rpm, it’s spread across a wide rev range to ensure that the car is quick to respond under a variety of conditions. Power is transferred to the front wheels through the same six-speed manual as the Mazdaspeed 6, and a standard limited-slip differential helps the Mazdaspeed 3 get from a standstill to 60 mph in about six seconds. Hauling the car down from speed is a set of upgraded brakes, vented 320mm discs up front and solid 280mm rear rotors equipped with ABS and brake assist. Rolling on P215/45R18 rubber mounted to sharp multi-spoke alloy wheels, the Mazdaspeed 3 sticks to the road thanks in part to a standard dynamic stability control system. The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension is massaged to produce 60-percent greater roll stiffness than the standard Mazda 3, and boasts higher spring rates, stiffer dampers, and thicker stabilizer bars. Structurally, the Mazdaspeed 3 is stiffened up through the use of reinforced front cowl members, a gusset running between the rear shock towers, and underbody strengthening.