Review of the new Mazda3 1.6

Diesel isn't always the best choice for motorists looking to save money. If you're going to cover a medium to modest mileage and aren't overly concerned with performance, a small petrol engine could be just the ticket. There's an even greater chance of finding love and happiness with a car that quaffs unleaded if it happens to use the 1.6-litre petrol engine found in the latest Mazda3.

1.6-litre engines are the staple powerplants of family hatch-sized cars. Look around the sector at the major players and everybody's got one. There's been a growth in smaller turbocharged petrol engines recently but the simplicity and suitability of a good 1600cc unit still seems an ideal fit with this size of car. It was only fitting, therefore, that Mazda should put one in its latest generation '3' hatch and it's handy that the engine in question has turned out to be quite so good.

While the bottom end of the Mazda3 range isn't where the magic happens in terms of fiery performance, the 1.6-litre engine is far from dull - if you get excited by clever engine technology that is. It's an in-line four-cylinder engine with 16 valves and double overhead cam shafts. It also features sequential valve timing, a low speed cam and an exhaust gas recirculation system. We won't go into the details here but its advanced stuff for a petrol engine in an £15,000 hatchback. The outcome of the unit's clever layout is a 105bhp maximum power output and torque of 145Nm at 4,000rpm, giving rise to a 12.2s 0-60mph sprint. On performance, it's well down on the diesel 1.6-litre engine that's also available in the Mazda3 and it struggles at times, particularly with a big weight on board. It feels eager on the flat though and doesn't get too noisy at cruising speeds, even if trips into the upper reaches of the rev-range do have a rather harsh aural accompaniment.

"It's a high-tech unit with decent economy, low emissions and an attractive list price"

The lack of outright grunt from the 1.6-litre unit can easily be forgiven because the Mazda3 is a real joy on the road. Based on the same basic underpinnings as the Ford Focus, it had a head start in the handling stakes that it has built on well. Unlike the majority of its key family hatch rivals, it has independent suspension for all four wheels rather than just the front pair. This higher tech approach manifests itself in the form of a more supple, fluid feel on the road. The Mazda3 rides well, soaking up the worst of the bumps but letting you know what's going on at the wheels. The steering is responsive and the car changes direction sweetly, keeping body lean on a tight leash.

Mazda is determined that its products will no longer pass under the radar of buyers and has fashioned an adventurous design direction to see to it. The lines are almost organic in the way they curve around the vehicle's surfaces while the narrowly contoured headlights and the black grin of the huge central air-intake provide a malevolent feel to the front end. Both this central vent and the smaller ones either side that house the fog lights on up-spec models are crossed by black plastic fins, adding to the feeling that you could be looking at some giant insect. Mazda has aimed to retain some of the aggression and sporting focus of the exterior inside where the instruments are housed in two heavily hooded binnacles and the dash is divided in to curved tiers that mirror the bodywork, the upper one displaying important information in the driver's eye-line. The seats are supportive and the handbrake and gear lever are mounted high-up within easy reach.

The layout of the minor controls in the Mazda3 is cluttered and it can take a while to get to grips with the various systems. The materials used in places aren't up to the high standards set elsewhere in this sector but build quality seems extremely good throughout. From a practical perspective, the storage options in the cabin aren't particularly generous with the thin door pockets and glovebox yielding little by way of capacity, forcing any large items into the deep bin beneath the centre armrest which has a tendency to get over-stuffed. The hatchback bodystyle provides good rear passenger accommodation with plenty of space for a couple of six-footers and a big boot with 340-litres of capacity.

The 1.6-litre petrol engine is the only unit available with the entry-level S trim level and that makes its pricing look all the more attractive. Buyers can also secure it with the TS, TS2 and Sport grades but with the basic cars featuring air-conditioning, a trip computer, a CD stereo and most of the other essentials, many won't see the need to bother. The TS grade adds alloy wheels, climate control and some extra gadgets while TS2 has Bluetooth, cruise control and a 6 CD autochanger. Then comes the Sport with its styling accessories, keyless entry and premium stereo system. The 1.6 is predicted to be the Mazda3's biggest selling engine in the UK market.

Mazda is throwing in DSC Dynamic Stability Control, traction control and an advanced braking system as standard on all Mazda3 models. There are also twin front, side and curtain airbags, adaptive head restraints and seatbelt pre-tensioners for the front seats making a strong safety specification. Saloon or five-door hatchback bodystyles are offered but the hatch will be by far the most popular version in the UK. The absence of a three-door model seems a shame considering the sporting flavour of the '3' and that other manufacturers have used the three-door shape to create a coupe-like versions of their hatchbacks. Still, the good-looking five-door should be enough for most.

Root out the figures for the 1.6-litre petrol engines available elsewhere in the family hatch sector and the Mazda3's unit compares extremely well. It emits 149g/km of CO2 and achieves combined cycle fuel economy of just under 45mpg. That's obviously well down on the diesel alternative which manages 62mpg and 119g/km but that car will cost you significantly more than the entry-level 1.6. The amount of time it takes to recoup the difference in fuel and tax savings will depend on the mileage you cover.

The strong environmental performance is achieved partly through the efficiency of the 1.6-litre engine and partly through the attention to detail elsewhere on the car. The Mazda3 can boast excellent aerodynamics of 0.30cd for the hatchback bodystyle most UK customers will choose and the car as a whole is 15kg lighter than the pervious generation Mazda3.

The 1.6-litre engine might be the entry-level choice in the Mazda3 range but buyers choosing it shouldn't end up disappointed. It's a high-tech unit with decent economy, low emissions and an attractive list price. Performance isn't spectacular but the Mazda3 is one of the best drivers' cars in the family hatch sector and it'll still entertain, no matter which powerplant is installed.

There are a lot of worthy contenders in the family hatchback sector but the Mazda3 counts among the best. Its strengths are its fine chassis and composed handling, engaging design and roomy cabin. Some of the interior materials could be of better quality and the controls can be tricky to work out but otherwise, it's a package with few faults, even in entry-level guise.

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