Volkswagen R32 vs. Mazdaspeed 3
By Jason Cammisa
What's that, you say? You have a serious need for speed but a shortage of cash? The Mazdaspeed 3 will leave the Volkswagen R32 in the dust - and $10,540 for gas money in your pocket.
Looking for sports-car acceleration for economy-car bucks? Here's a hot hatch that - literally - has "speed" for its middle name. The $23,090 Mazdaspeed 3 is a 263-hp, turbocharged and intercooled, direct-injected beast disguised as a handsome hatchback; a tire-shredding rocket that blasts its way to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
Impressive as that seems, the little MS3 is even faster than that number implies. Because the Mazda routes all that power (and a half-shaft-tweaking 280 lb-ft of torque) through the front wheels only, its off-the-line acceleration times are limited by tire traction, not engine muscle. In fact, in an attempt to safeguard its driveline and curb wheel spin, the engine-management computer reduces the turbo four's power output in first, second, and third gears. If this little puppy could put all its power down, it would likely scoot to 60 mph a half-second quicker. Few cars can keep up.
Most of the Mazdaspeed 3's cabin comes from the more pedestrian Mazda 3, but a few changes distinguish the Speed. The front passengers are treated to comfortable, aggressively bolstered seats, and the driver grips a sporty, three-spoke leather steering wheel. Drilled aluminum pedals reinforce the message that this isn't a regular econohatch. Fire up the engine, and the deep exhaust note will remind everyone that this is no ordinary hatchback.
At Sally Safedriver speeds, the hottest 3 drives very much like a regular 3, albeit with slightly stiffer suspension calibration. The ride is never punishing, and even though the six-speed manual transmission's shifter is a little vague, the clutch takeup is positive and deliberate, making smooth driving a pleasure.
The Mazda's closest competitor - in terms of performance - comes from Germany, costs ten grand more, and follows a slightly different theme. The Volkswagen R32 is also a hatchback, but it sends the 250 hp from its normally aspirated, narrow-angle six-cylinder engine to all four wheels through a dual-clutch, six-speed automatic transmission. The R32 has no traction problems and yet still loses the sprint to 60 mph by 0.3 second. But it's at higher speeds, where traction is no longer the Mazda's Achilles' heel, that the turbocharged MS3 shows the Volks-wagen who's boss, beating the R32 to 120 mph by almost six seconds. The VW stops the fun at a speed-limited 130 mph, but the Mazda's limiter isn't tripped until 155 mph.
The Mazda's huge straight-line speed doesn't come without some notable drawbacks. Its turbo four-cylinder, despite using thoroughly modern technology like direct injection, is a throwback to old-school turbocharged engines, meaning that it has lots of lag and a narrow operating range. Boost doesn't come on strongly until 3000 rpm, and the game is all over at 5500 rpm (despite a 6800-rpm redline). In its sweet spot, the Mazda is seriously quick, but outside of that range, it's frustratingly not.
And despite the torque-managed lower gears, the Speed 3 also suffers from some of the worst torque steer of any car on the road today. Most modern Mazdas offer brilliant steering feel, but not this little monster. That pretty steering wheel will try to rip itself out of your hands even at interstate velocities.
It may have a distinct lack of finesse compared with the Volkswagen, but if it's straight-line speed that floats your boat, there's no cheaper way of getting your toes wet than by climbing into a Mazdaspeed 3. ...next page >>