by Seán Creedon
I got my first penalty points in either a Mazda 2 or Mazda 3 around ten years ago on the stretch of the Naas Road between the Red Cow and the Long Mile Road. I wasn’t going that fast, but it took three long years for the two points to disappear from my driving licence.
I was back in the new version of the sporty-looking Mazda 3 last week and I think I can safely say that no points were accumulated this time round.
When you sit into the Mazda 3 the first item that catches your eye is the heads-up display on the wind screen, telling you the speed limit on the road you are travelling on plus your own speed.
If that wasn’t enough to warn a driver, the speed limit of the road you are travelling on, is also shown on the speedometer and a red line appears on the speedometer at say the 80km/h or 100hm/h, whatever the speed limit is.
This was a first for me and it took me a few hours of driving to realise what was happening with the red line on the speedometer. A really great service to help you avoid those dreaded penalty points.
My 2.0-ltire Skyactiv G was a mild hybrid version of the Mazda 3 and it certainly was economical, especially in urban driving. Good room in the back for two or maybe three adults at a squeeze.
The boot is a decent size and while there is a ‘well’ provided for a spare wheel none is provided. So again the motto if buying new is, haggle for a spare.
The cabin is very neat and is made with what Mazda describe as ‘Japanese Takumi craftsmanship. Takumi is an ancient Japanese word meaning artisan. The dash is not cluttered with switches, as most of the controls are near the gear lever.
Excellent i-phone connectivity, the system synced automatically with my phone by simply plugging in the phone charger.
Mazda tell us that every element of the car: seats, body, tyres and suspension has been developed with ‘a human centred approach,’ to ensure that Mazda’s famous ‘Jinba Ittai’ sense of oneness between car and driver is more finely balanced than ever before.
On the road the new motor is a pleasure to drive and I enjoyed working through the gears in my six-gear manual version.
We hear a lot nowadays about young people as some have overly sensitive opinions. Ryan Tubridy is forever mocking some teens as being ‘snowflakes.’ I was thinking of those young people last week as my test car came in a very attractive Snowflake White Pearl and it looked very impressive.
Would the snowflakes like a Mazda 3 GT? I think this car has enough of a personality to impress those snowflakes, provided they have the means to buy one. But in reality Mazda will probably get more customers from more mature millennials.
Prices start at €29,295, but my test car, the 2.0-litre GT Sport version with 122 brake horse power, will cost you €31,495. Road tax is €200. The top speed is officially 197km/h, but I’m sure with the wind in your back you would get over 200km/h, if it’s speed you are after.
Definitely one of the best looking hot hatches around right now.
