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A flashback to how it all began

Founded in 1920 and named after a god of wisdom - sounds like a great start, doesn’t it?

In the 1960’s Mazda developed the rotary engine in the quest to differentiate from other Japanese motor makers and to this day are the only motor company to continue with this technology. The benefit? Weight saving. The result: quicker and presumably more efficient cars. Citroen, NSU and General Motors dabbled in the engineering and manufacturing of Rotary engines too, but soon gave up.

During the 1970’s Mazda fell out of favour, primarily due to the oil crisis and the fact that their rotary engines though lighter than the competition were not as fuel efficient as traditional engines. Thankfully they had traditional piston engines in the family. These piston engines were placed in smaller compact cars, while the rotary varieties were left for sportier and more expensive Mazda models.

As part of the brand’s quest for unique innovation, in 1989 the brand launched their iconic roadster, the MX-5 - a car which arguably revived the trend for two-seater open-air motoring. This concept was mimicked by BWM with their Z3, Mercedes-Benz with their SLK and Audi in their TT Roadster.

During 1979 and up to 2010, the Mazda brand was influenced by the partner brand, Ford, who began purchasing shares in Mazda throughout that period. In 2008 through to 2010, Ford began gradually divesting its stake in Mazda. Today, Ford holds a meagre 2.1% share in the company.

Mazda today

Standing on its own four wheels so to speak, Mazda has gorgeously penned a new range of vehicles that were designed to set them apart and captivate the eyes of potential customers.

Mazda’s design philosophy, KODO, encompasses the mantra of ‘breathing life into the car’. A car isn’t simply a mass of metal. Mazda believes it’s more like a living creature. Creating an emotional bond between a driver and their car - comparable with the relationship between horse and rider. That’s the ultimate goal of Mazda’s “Soul of Motion” or KODO design philosophy.

As in the past, so to like today, Mazda are walking a unique road in their engine technology, SkyActive. This is a blanket or umbrella term for a variety of technologies used in the current ranges available in South Africa. Together, these technologies increase fuel economy to a level similar to that of a hybrid drivetrain. Engine output is increased and emission levels are reduced. These technologies include high compression ratio gasoline engines (13:1), reduced compression diesel engines (14:1) with new 2-stage turbocharger design, efficient automatic transmissions, lighter weight manual transmissions, lightweight body designs and electric power steering.

My month with Mazda

Mazda3

My month with Mazda began with the two examples from the Mazda3 range - both sedans. The first, a 1.6 Dynamic 5-speed manual and the other, a 2.0 Astina 6-speed automatic. Similarly, the two cars adorned a glorious metallic red colour called Soul Red.

I found both cars easy on the eye, with the 2.0 Astina having greater levels of visual attraction - due to its 18” twisted spoke wheels that add to the dynamic nature of the cars KODO design.

The Mazda3 slots in between the compact Mazda2 and the larger family sedan, the Mazda6. It’s a versatile option within the family - as it is available as a sedan or a hatch. This range, like that of the entire Mazda family, can be ordered in a hierarchy of specifications. Beginning with the Original, followed by the Active or the Dynamic, but reaches a pinnacle with the flagship Astina models in terms of luxury trim and specification levels.

 On the road

Both cars look great. Their cabin ambience is clean and follows a similar ethos to Audi’s minimalist Bauhaus influence. The seats, steering wheel dimension and the fluid motion of the design details within and without hint towards a sporting prowess.

Both cars are easy to drive, featuring an intuitive pedal action and gear change movement (5-speed manual). Steering is electrically power assisted - the result is firm in a sporting manner, but with less feedback than you’d expect to find in an actual sports car. The ride of the car leans towards the firmer side of life, albeit by no means hard, but rather acute - versus a Corolla, which has a soft and supple ride, giving the car a less than athletic handling character.

The 1.6 Dynamic is no Usain Bolt, but rather a leisurely city commuter. With 77kW on tap, its power output is modest at best. The result? You need to work the engine to get the car going. This inevitability compromises fuel efficiency.

The 2.0 Astina on the other hand is blessed with 121kW, which is almost double the power of the 1.6 and mated to an effortless and proficient 6-speed automatic. Sometimes but not always, the top of the range model in a range is the pick-of-the-bunch - in this case, the 2.0 Astina possibly is. Loaded with a host of features like: blind spot indicators, start/stop technology, a BOSE sound system, head up display and a keyless entry system. Both cars feature leatherette interiors and Bluetooth® hands free telephony and music connectivity.

As nice as the Astina flagship model is, I think downgrading to the Individual model that is almost R30K less will get you a fantastic family sedan at a value for money price.

www.Mazda.co.za