9th Jul 2008, 18:58

The 1.6L engine is perfect for turbocharging. They make just about 300ps without changing anything inside the engine. That engine just LOVES turbo.

4th Aug 2008, 21:09

I love how you guys get stuck with a crappy 1.6 while us Americans get a 2.3L 160 HP engine that goes like you won't believe, but then again it is supposedly our Euro Ford Focus, because our American Ford Focus is cheap econo-crap.

29th Aug 2008, 16:02

I had the Mazda 3 1.6 L for almost 3 years now with 40,000 KM, and I have not noticed any mean bad point compared with other cars in this category it’s perfect so far..

12th Sep 2008, 10:44

I have a Mazda Speed 3 5 speed stick and your Citroen or Renault won't even come close as far as power. Plus they only last for 3 years. I've had my car for 3 years and I never had a breakdown problems. I just the occasional oil & filter change and the recommended maintenance. :-)

12th Sep 2008, 10:53

Yeah, the standard engine stock in the US is 2.0L~2.3L; not 1.6L. I mean the auto Tiptronic is not as good a torque converter, but with the manual transmission, you can feel the power of the engine. The stock Mazda 3 2.0L is not really for racing or performance, but designed as an everyday car. The Mazda 3 is a well-built car, and I recommend it for everyday driving. My sister has one and its saves her a ton on gas. I have a Mazda Speed 3 (by the way) and I get 263 HP @ 5500 RPM with 280 peak torque (lb-ft) on stock. I added other performance parts so it probably makes close to 300hp; well, it's overkill for everyday commuting! I like to have a 4 banger with 280+ HP and a Bose stereo.

11th Oct 2008, 10:22

I own a UK Mazda 3 (face-lifted) 2.0 Sport. I've had a loan of a 1.6 TS2 and was disappointed with the engine.

The 2.0 has a really peachy engine. I was a bit surprised how lumpy the 1.6 was in comparison. It was a hire car so these tend to be abused. Its not a patch on the 2.0.

As a whole owning a 3 is painless, it works, is cheap to maintain. Only the lack of dealers is a pain.

If you want real performance then its the 2.3 MPS with 256 BHP!

29th Dec 2016, 03:04

Why do so many people judge a car by its acceleration? This car is about its sweet handling and smooth engine. I love mine. OK, maybe it isn't the fastest car around, but it's fast enough and (more importantly) it's fun.

29th Dec 2016, 21:52

That's because many people actually NEED a car to accelerate, not just cruise - which all cars these days do very well. Try following a large, lumbering truck or van (or a car pulling a boat) on winding 2-way hilly roads for a very long time, hampering all visibility ahead, and once a passing lane comes up and you see a sign that the lanes merge again in 200m, you want the car to GO.

7th May 2017, 11:50

I have a 1.6 Takara and it's plenty fast enough for real life conditions. Of course you can swiftly pass slow trucks and buses.

7th May 2017, 20:37

You could also leave 20 minutes earlier. I drove a Mazda 3 at the 70 mph legal limit effortlessly on a long trip. I have a couple cars that have a top end that would both terminate my license with mandatory jail time. And yet I like this little car. It surprised me on the interstates in overdrive cruising fine. And loaded with all kinds of options. Yes it won't go 190 mph, but you are not spending 6 figures. And I don't drive at that speed. I guess I simply learned this by simply being a dad, helping their kid get a good and reliable safe car.