Mazda is moving in the right direction
While many of the leading manufacturers are investing heavily in electric power Mazda are going down a different route.
Mazda's aim is to get CO2 emissions down to the lowest possible levels as the industry concentrates on protecting our planet.
And the new Mazda3 is going in the right direction if the 2.2 150ps diesel version I tested in northern Scotland is any guide.
There's a 36-strong Mazda3 line-up of 21 hatchback and 15 Fastback models, priced from £16,695 to £23,345.
The range is powered by a choice of three SKYACTIV-G petrol engines - 1.5-litre 100ps, 2.0-litre 120ps and 2.0-litre 165ps – and a 2.2-litre 150ps SKYACTIV-D turbo diesel engine, with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic SKYACTIV transmissions.
The car on test went on sale this week at £21,345 in SE-L Nav guise with a CO2 rating of just 107g/km which is an amazing figure when you consider you can expect a top speed of 130mph, 0-62mph in 8.1seconds and combined fuel consumption figures of 68.9mpg.
Add that all up and it means you are not only protecting the environment but also keeping running costs to the bare minimum.
The diesel variant is powered by Mazda's award-winning 2.2-litre 150ps 380Nm SKYACTIV-D turbo engine, which meets advanced Euro VI regulations. Buyers have a choice of six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual or six-speed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmissions.
SKYACTIV technologies focus on advanced engines with outstanding compression ratios, efficient transmissions, and lightweight body and chassis technology.
Every Mazda3 will come with Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) which helps to reduce or prevent low-speed collisions by automatically applying the brakes if the driver fails to act, i-stop idle-stop system, and Hill Hold Assist (HHA) to prevent roll back on inclines.
The model has been awarded a 5-Star safety rating in the latest Euro NCAP tests. The result endorses Mazda's strategy of enhancing the safety of all its new vehicles.
Standard equipment also includes 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, power-folding heated mirrors, leather steering wheel, trip computer, radio/CD with six speaker audio system, 7-inch colour touch screen, USB/iPod connectivity and Bluetooth hands-free system.
So how does the new car handle? Well pretty well actually. It changes direction smoothly and stays pretty flat on tight bends, though you do feel the road thanks to hard riding 16" wheels.
Inside the car is comfortable and the driver gets a wide range of seating positions and there's more than enough head and shoulder room.
The new infotianment system is simplicity itself which means you can find all the controls easily on the uncluttered dashboard thanks to a seven-inch colour touch- screen.
In the back there's ample headroom and legroom thanks to the scooped out seating arrangement and the boot just about passed the golf club test.
Will it sell? Yes, no question. This is a practical Golf sized car. It looks good, is easy and cheap to drive and won't cost you a fortune to take off the forecourt. 2014 could be a big year for Mazda.
By Graham Breeze
