www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 20, 2008 - 23 FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED You'll Love Our Service! 905-335-4080 BURLINGTON LINE Thrifty 2.0-litre engine now offered in popular Mazda3 hatchback By Neil Moore METROLAND MEDIA GROUP I was annoyed when the Mazda3 first hit dealer showrooms in late '03. Not that I didn't appreciate this newcomer, with its fresh, sporty styling a departure from the ennui pervading the entry-level compact segment. It's that all of a sudden, my 2001 Mazda Protégé looked tired, and its upgraded 2.0 litre four-cylinder, at 130 hp, seemed frail against its successor's 2.0 and 2.3-litre fours putting out 148 hp and 156 hp, respectively. Mazda3's styling was also subtly athletic, with its clean body panels fashioned into wide shoulders and bulging wheel flares, creating a hunkered-down stance. You could order the 3 either in sedan or five-door hatchback versions, and either way, it demonstrated that style was more a function of artistically-hewn sheet metal, than of tacking on spoilers, cladding and body kits to an otherwise dull-as-dishwater body. Since then, the Mazda3 has been a hot seller for the company and more than four years later has not grown stale. Corolla, Civic and Lancer have recently upped their game, but haven't in my mind surpassed the 3 in the style department. The Mazda3 sedan has always been available with base engine and trim, giving price conscious, entry-level buyers some choices under $20K. The same could not be said, however, for the hatch. Both its trim levels offered only the 2.3-litre engine which, with enhanced content, pushed the price beyond many entry-level budgets. This spring, the Mazda3 Sport (hatchback) added a new trim level the GX which is unique to the Canadian market. It is powered by the same 148-horsepower, 2.0-litre engine found in the current Mazda3 GX and GS sedans. The 2008.5 Mazda3 Sport GX starts at $17,895 with five-speed manual transmission. Add $1,000 for four-speed automatic and another $1,000 for air. By comparison, the GS trim level starts at $22,195 with manual ($23,295 auto) and the GT starts at $23,495 ($24,595 auto). The GX comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, body coloured front grille, GFX front and rear bumpers, and sporty fog lamps. Let's stop here 15 inch steel wheels? Sure the GS and GT come with 16-inch and 17-inch alloys, but look ahead two years when it's time to replace the rubber. If you're eager to keep costs down at the dealer showroom, what are the chances you'll want to dish out big dollars for new tires? The GX also comes with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution. Safety is enhanced with dual front airbags, side and curtain airbags. Sound is provided by a four-speaker AM/FM CD sound system with MP3 capability and auxiliary input. Other standard features include tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 12-volt power outlet, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats and intermittent rear wiper. There are a number of power items missing from this list, which are available as standard on the GS. Still, if you want more content, order the Comfort Package, which for another $1,295 adds power locks and windows, keyless entry, steering-wheel audio controls, 15-inch alloys, power and heated mirrors, and a rear roof spoiler. You must order air to get the Comfort Package. Aside from its sporty look, one of the main reasons I'd opt for the hatch is its cargo capability. Order the sedan and you get a 325-litre trunk, while the hatchback offers 484 litres behind the rear seat. But fold down the seatbacks and that expands to 1240 litres of space with a large open- The Mazda3 Sport GX trim level was introduced mid year to provide an entry-level car for those wanting the hatchback version. It comes with the previously unavailable 2.0-litre four cylinder engine. ing and low cargo floor. But there's more to the Mazda3 Sport than its prowess at hauling your stuff. Despite its low sticker price, interior fit and finish is worthy of cars costing thousands more. The quality of the plastics, fabrics and trim are first rate, and everything fits solidly and tightly. The three-gauge instrument panel is attractively trimmed and laid out, as is the centre console with its large, easy-tooperate HVAC controls. I know this is a matter of taste or not but I like the red backlighting. Seat fabrics are comfortable and attractive, and the seats themselves are reasonably supportive. Fuel economy is another consideration in choosing the 2.0-litre engine, and at 8.4/6.1 L/100 km city/hwy, it offers an advantage over its 2.3-litre sibling at 9.2/6.7 L/100 km, with five-speed manual. Horsepower, as previously mentioned, is 148 at 6,500 rpm and torque is rated at 135 lb/ft at 4,500 rpm. With these numbers, the 2.0-litre compares favourably with the base engines of competitors like Corolla (132 hp/128 lb/ft) and Civic (140 hp/128 lb/ft), and it packs enough punch to merge comfortably on highways or pass slower-moving vehicles. And its suspension struts, coil springs and stabilizer up front; independent multi-link in rear handles nimbly in corners, yet offers a comfortable ride. Although the Mazda3 Sport GX could be seen as a compromise when compared to the more powerful and content rich GS and GT versions, the `glass is half full' approach would be to call it good value. The GX's low sticker price, solid build quality and savings at the pump should be enough to convince many car buyers that one need not sacrifice flair for frugality.