Category Archives: Motor reviews

Family hatchback, Manufacturer, Mazda, Motor reviews, Vehicle type

Mazda looks the part

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Mazda3 2.0 122ps Sport Lux

By Bill McCarthy

In a packed field of competitors, to stand out from the crowd takes a bit of doing.

Step forward Mazda. The new Mazda3, is without doubt one of the lookers in the compact family car market.

Sleek, svelte, feline, particularly this exclusive model in  pretty unimaginably named Polymer grey livery, prefer gun metal grey,  matched with privacy glass, dark alloy wheels.

New for this year, it offers a huge range of standard equipment across the range, as well as high-end pieces of kit normally associated with executive/luxury brands.

 The front features a sloping low nose with large front grille with lowered air scoop, flanked by slim light clusters which feature LED lighting.

The light are incorporated into the high boot line with twin exhaust.

There are five trim levels: SE-L, SE-L Lux, Sport Lux, GT Sport and GT Sport Tech..

All models feature head-up display with Traffic Sign Recognition,Radar Cruise Control, plus sat nav and smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and an impressive eight-speaker audio system.

This model also included a reversing camera, multi-function steering wheel, smart keyless entry, heated front seats and frameless rear view mirror .

The interior is the best yet with the model featuring black leather seats with powered adjustment, a heated steering wheel.

The cabin has an executive feel, with soft touch plastics throughout and although the letter and trim makes the interior dark, it is nicely offset with chrome detailing throughout.

The firm says it takes a minimalist approach with every aspect of the cockpit laid out in perfect horizontal symmetry with the driver to deliver both ergonomic simplicity. If that means comfortable, then it is.

 All models feature a seven-inch colour TFT driver instrument display, and the brain of the car is the  8.8-inch central display, controlling sat nav, infotainment and connectivity via central control dial.

It exudes comfort and luxury although leg and headroom is slight restricted for rear passengers.

 This model features a two litre 122PS petrol engine which delivers plenty of grunt. Mated to a slick-shifting six-speed gearbox, it feels like a real driver’s car with plenty of shifts from maximum performance. Refined and free revving, acceleration is brisk, if not startling, hitting 60mph in around 10 seconds.

Brisk performance is accompanied by excellent handling, sharp steering and a firm ride.

Mazda says its SkyActiv-Vehicle Architecture is intended to optimise ride, refinement and handling and it certainly feels the case as the car turns in sweetly to corners, always feeling well balanced with the driver in control.

The only slight setback is the firm ride, which can be unsettling over rougher roads. As a hatchback the car needs to be practical with good stowage and storage space.

The Mazda3 is a family car and meets its role with plenty of oddments room in the front and back together with a decent sized easy to use boot which dramatically increases capacity as the offset split rear seats are folded.

Factfile

Mazda3 2.0 122ps Sport Lux

Price: £22,795

Mechanical: 122ps, 1,998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 122mph

0-62mph: 10.4 seconds

Combined mpg: 46.4

Insurance group: 16

CO2 emissions: 119g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/62,000 miles

Manufacturer, Motor reviews, Supermini, Suzuki

Swift’s electric charge

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Suzuki Swift Hybrid Allgrip

By Bill McCarthy

AS the electric revolution moves on at pace, so the hybrid, once expensive and exclusive, is now pretty mainstream.

Becoming mainstream, means even small vehicles are now using the technology with Suzuki’s excellent Swifti no exception.

A so-called mild hybrid the SHVS includes a battery under the passenger seat which powers an electric motor which in turn boosts power to the 1.2 litre petrol engine, delivering extra grunt, but a reduction in CO2 emissions to 101g/km and economy of around 50mpg.

 The SHVS works on the principle of regenerative braking. The kinetic energy that is generated while slowing down is converted to electric energy, which is then stored in the car’s battery. This model also featured the firm’s tried and tested on demand all wheel drive system. 

So an all wheel drive, range topping hybrid for just under £17.5k is  pretty impressive.

Which should not be surprising because the Swift is a very impressive car, few frills, but plenty of substance, packed with standard kit.

It is a stylish looking car, looking like a three door but in fact is a five-door, with rear door handles cleverly concealed so it still has that dynamic, coupe-like styling.

It is available in SZ3, SZ-T, Attitude and SZ5 grades and all models feature Suzuki’s  Heartect platform seen on stablemates the Ignis and Baleno, making it much lighter yet stronger with increased rigidity. 

It does look good with sharp creases and angles giving an impressive profile, while the smart 16-inch polished alloys and LED running lights add to the attraction.The interior is more utilitarian than executive, but that does not detract from the quality or indeed the comfort.

 The layout is simple with  logically placed dials and stalks and excellent build quality, with everything feeling solid and well screwed together including the sturdy plastic trim. The central console is turned five degrees towards the driver and on higher spec models a central screen controls infotainment, connectivity and navigation systems.

This seven-inch touchscreen  controls infotainment, sat nav and connectivity  for smart phones with with MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection. It also houses the rear view camera for reversing.

Standard kit on the base model includes six airbags, air conditioning, DAB Radio, privacy glass, LED daytime running lights and Bluetooth. This model had extra goodies such front fog lamps, auto air conditioning, navigation, LED headlamps and  rear electric windows.

 On the road, the car is a lively performer, despite its seemingly pedestrian 0-60mph time of over 12 seconds and handles well, with direct and responsive steering and feeling well planted and agile on corners. In fact it’s a really fun drive.

The on-demand all-wheel drive sends power to the rear wheels when adverse driving conditions are detected and extra grip is required in muddy or icy conditions.

It’s not a car that is seen that often on the roads despite selling a million in Europe and nearly 130,000 in the UK since first being introduced. But it certainly sparked interest from a couple of neighbours looking to downsize from larger family cars.

It will comfortably seat four adults and boot space is now a decent 256 litres, which increases substantially with rear seats folded.

Safety kit is comprehensive with those airbags as standard, stability programme, advanced forward detection system, Lane Departure Correction adaptive cruise control and assisted braking.

Factfile

Suzuki Swift Hybrid Allgrip

Price: £17,749

Mechanical: 90PS, 1242cc, four cylinder petrol engine with electric motor driving all wheels via 6-speed  gearbox

Max speed: 105mph

0-62mph: 12.2 seconds

Combined mpg: 49.7

Insurance group: 9E

CO2 emissions: 101g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles