Going for the hat trick: after the success of the Mazda6 and Mazda2, can the company do it again? Natalie Wallis and Tony Meredith check out the Mazda3 ��

You know that feeling you get when you're on a roll? Mazda certainly does. Fleet sales have rocketed so much that they almost overtook Beagle recently--the company expects the figure for 2003 to be around 10,000, up from 4582 in 2002, thanks to sales of the Mazda6 and 2.

And now the Japanese manufacturer is getting excited again as it launches the Mazda3, which could give the marque a hat trick in terms of sales boosts.

Three petrol hatchback versions of this C-segment car hit the UK in January--a 1.4-litre 84PS, 1.6-litre 105PS and a 2.0-litre 150PS. The saloon and a Euro III diesel will arrive in May but you will have to wait until the second half of the year to get behind the wheel of a Euro IV diesel.

But it will be worth the wait. Fresh out of the bonnet of the Ford Focus C-Max, the MZ-CD diesel engine has some firm credentials. The latest product of a joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Ford, this unit will provide the 3 with a zippy 0-62 performance of 11.5s for the hatch and 11.3s for the saloon.

This will be balanced out by economical running costs. When the final figures are published for the Euro IV version, both models are expected to offer combined fuel consumption of 56.5mpg and C[O.sub.2] emissions of 138g/km. This will put the Euro III version in the 18% BiK bracket while the Euro IV model will be rated at 15% for the next three years.

But figures are only half of the story. According to the marketing blurb, the Mazda3 diesel has been designed to be "nearly as quiet and smooth operating as its petrol counterparts" In addition, it employs a variable geometry turbocharger that alters the turbo blade angle to reduce lag and improve turbocharger performance.

The 3 will be offered in four trim levels: S, TS, TS2 and Sport. The Euro III diesel will only initially be available in S and TS guises; TS2 and Sport versions will appear later in the year. The entry-level S trim offers front and side airbags, ABS with EBD and EBA. Air conditioning is an option at this level but you have to move up to TS2 if you want automatic climate control.

On the entertainment front you'll get a four-speaker system with radio/cassette on the S, a single CD player on the TS and a six-disc changer on the TS2. If you want the full six-speaker system then you will have to opt for the Sport model.

According to Mazda, fleet sales will contribute a healthy 30% of the Mazda3's total sales, of which 75% will be made up of hatchbacks. And with an expected total of 14,000 sales by 2005 that's no mean feat. Overall, diesels are expected to mop up 22% of sales this year, rising to closer to the C segment average of 34% in 2005.

"By mid-2004 we will have a 16-strong Mazda3 range to embrace the entire fleet market," says David McGonigle, fleet and remarketing director. "The Mazda3 will further develop the significant corporate inroads achieved by the Mazda6."

Considering the financial benefits of the Mazda3, it's not surprising that fleet managers are expected to pay it rather close attention. In fact, the marque believes that when it comes to BiK the Mazda3 compares very favourably with the likes of the VW Golf. According to Cap Monitor's March data it also have comparable RVs; a Mazda3 1.6 TS2 will realise a credible 37% over three years/60,000 miles against the Golf's 43%. Not bad when you consider that the Mazda3 is still establishing itself while the Golf has been around for 30 years.

Although prices for the Euro IV diesel are yet to be released, they are said to be "competitive".

Also expected to shake up the compact car segment is the Mazda3's design. Like the 6, the 3 brings a fresh look to its market that is set to give the current Focus a run for its money--although we are expecting a new model out of Dagenham later this year. It will also make Vauxhall and Volkswagen think twice as the latest Astra and Golf could find the going tougher than expected. We particularly liked the fact that Mazda has clearly differentiated the rear-end styling for the saloon and hatch versions, making each model stand out.

We were also impressed by the 3's high-quality feel--the level of fit and finish puts it among the best in its class. The interior has an airy feel to it with a good, clean layout and drivers will benefit from a good range of seat adjustment and reach/rake steering wheel adjustment.

Passenger space is excellent in both models as is load space; the hatchback grants a boot volume of 300 litres with the seats in situ and 635 with them retired while the figures for the yet-to-be-launched saloon are more impressive at 413 and 675 litres respectively.

On top of all this the Mazda3 is a joy to drive too. Having tested the 2.0-litre petrol model in Sport trim we can assure you that this is a car that will compete well alongside the likes of the new Astra and Golf. Handling is sharp and the 3 corners well with no unwanted sloppiness.

Undoubtedly though, the diesels are the feather in Mazda's cap. We were only able to trial the Euro III version but were impressed by how capable it was. Mazda's attempts at reducing diesel clatter and eliminating turbo lag have been extremely effective. The MZ-CD started up very quietly and was very refined on the road--it must be one of the quietest diesels in the class.

The diesel unit also gave a strong performance with virtually no turbo lag to speak of--it pulled well from extremely low revs and then powered up to offer more drive at higher revs.

Not only is the diesel's performance assured but ride and road handling were both excellent and the car felt extremely responsive both on the motorway and on the more demanding, winding roads.

Rest assured that this is not the last you have heard of the Mazda3. It may be early days for this car but we feel certain that its influence on fleets will soon be felt.

DRIVER'S LOG

OTR PRICE: Petrol: 10,650 [pounds sterling]-15,500 [pounds sterling] Diesel: TBA

ENGINES: Petrol; 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0 16V four-cylinder DOHC Diesel: 1.6 MZ-CD 16V four-cylinder DOHC

TRANSMISSIONS: Five-speed manual. 1.6i: optional 4-speed Activematic auto

POWER: 1.6i: 105PS @ 6000rpm 1.6 MZ-CD: 109PS @ 4000rpm

TORQUE: 1.6i: 145Nm @ 4000rpm 1.6 MZ-CD: 240Nm @ 1750rpm

C[O.sub.2] RATINGS: 1.6i man: 172g/km 1.6 MZ-CD: 138g/km

OFFICIAL COMBINED: 1.6i man: 39.2mpg. 1.6 MZ-CD: 56.5

INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-8E. Diesel: TBA

ON SALE: Petrol: Now. Diesel: Euro III due in May. Euro IV at end of year

(Fuel and C[O.sub.2] figures Euro IV diesel are awaiting final homologation)

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COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group