Mad about the new Mazda3

Curious about the zoom zoom boom, Angela Pisanu test drives the new Mazda3 2.0 Sport and is instantly impressed by its intelligent stop-start technology, i-stop

Launched in May 2009, the new Mazda3 range focuses on improved fuel consumption and environmental performance. A contributing factor is Mazda’s stop start system, i-stop, which is featured on the 2.0 petrol Sport.
    
If you’ve never used stop-start before, It would be easy to feel a little disconcerted at the thought of the engine cutting out every time the car comes to a standstill. But I found Mazda’s i-stop function to be so soft and smooth that it was barely noticeable. When the car comes to a standstill, neutral is selected and the clutch is released, the engine shuts down quietly, without judder. It gently murmurs back to life the instant you depress the clutch.
    
And it is quick – 0.35 seconds to be exact. This is because i-stop puts the pistons in optimum position, and then uses Mazda’s direct injection technology to perform a combustion restart. The car comes back to life with very little noise or vibration.

When to stop start
It’s also very clever – it can detect situations that would compromise safety or comfort. For example, if the battery is not charged enough it won’t activate. Or if you are demisting windows due to frost or fog, or have the heaters on because you’re cold, i-stop senses that this is a priority and will not shut the engine down – which makes sense.
    
Tests reveal that i-stop can contribute to up to 16 per cent in fuel savings over the previous mazda3 model – an improvement of 5.7mpg.
    
Another tool for keeping an eye on fuel efficiency is the car’s Multi Information Display, which shows, amongst other things, average fuel consumption. I found this extremely useful, and it definitely made me more conscious about the way I was accelerating and breaking.

Safety and comfort in mind
The car also comes with important safety features such as Traction Control, Dynamic Stability control, six airbags and Emergency Stop Signalling, which activates the hazard lights when sensors detect emergency braking.
    
Ergonomically, it’s comfy. Everything is within easy reach and the seat gives lots of support. Bumps are absorbed well, the gear change is smooth and the handling is firm but responsive, giving you lots of confidence on the road. And at motorway speeds the wind noise is hardly noticeable.
    
The Mazda3 2.0 Sport comes equipped with plenty of features, including cruise control, parking sensors, integrated satellite navigation, Bluetooth, heated seats, and a state-of-the-art Bose sound system. These come as standard on the model, which, at around £18,025, seems competitively priced.
    
The Bluetooth system will be greatly appreciated by business drivers. It pairs with your phone to let you make hands free calls using just voice commands, and, unlike some systems, I found this easy and quick to set up, with clear instructions.
    
With emission levels at 159g/km, the 2.0 Sport fits under the capital allowance threshold, but the range does go as low as 119g/km in its 1.6 diesel model. So, depending on your business needs and agendas, the new Mazda3 range should have a model that fits the bill.