Test drive Mazda 323 F 1994 - 1997 hatchback

Three -native three

Nowadays, the name Mazda 323 has ceased to sound as a banal designation of the model - rather, this is something like a brand. Over the past thirty years, several generations of tremors have changed, and they parted around the world with millions of circulations. And not only under an index of three digits: in some countries the 323rd is known as Familia and Lantis, in North America it is known as Mercury Tracer and Ford Escort, in Australia - as Ford Laser, and in South Africa - as Ford Meteor. The current generation family has been sold in Europe since the fall of 1998, when a five -door hatchback 323F and sedan 323S was simultaneously debuted at the Paris Motor Show. It also includes a three -door modification of 323p and compactwane Premacy. However, the three -door, which entered the market in the winter of 1997, is technically closer to the previous generation family. Despite such a variety, only a sedan is subjected to special adaptation for the Russian market. And today we present to your attention the Mazda 323S model in the GLX configuration with a 1.5-liter engine.

It is no secret that from the states of the Old World, the position of Mazda Motor is the most strong in Germany. Therefore, there is nothing unexpected in the fact that the new treshka was developed in the European research center of the Japanese company, which is located in the German Ourgerzel. The result is this: the design, previously considered Achilles fifth Asian manufacturers, in the case of the 323rd became the strong side of the machine. The car is harmonious and beautiful! Firstly, finally, the proprietary proportions that are related to the car with the model 626 and the MPV minivan finally began to be clearly visible. The design of the body is self -sufficient: it does not copy any of the famous models of other brands and at the same time is by no means withoutless.
 
There is a troshka respectable modesty of the business class sedan, there are also features of sports car. The nasal part is especially expressive - a powerful integral bumper with a dough with a gas intake, slanting crystal headlights and large foglights immediately force the car to look decisively and even aggressively. And the chrome bar on the radiator lining you can’t call an alien element in any way. The backbone did not disappoint either: the two-color lanterns are very well decorated with impressive sizes, they decorate the stern of the compact sedan, by and large ordinary. In general, the car was a success. It remains only to add that the color of the black metallic to the machine is very to the face - it gives it arrogant alienation, favorably shading the specifics of the design.

What can be said about the interior? Gray plastic, excellent ergonomics, lack of a characteristic style. In other words, a real Japanese. However, there is something that distinguishes the 323rd from compatriots of the same class. It seems to be, what nonsense - chromium -covered doors handles and a button of a handbrake lock! And the salon immediately added to solidity! Or a stylish, sporting design of the steering wheel and gearbox lever - I just want to try them in action. Moreover, both the steering wheel and the gearbox lever made of rubberized material, with an overlay for aluminum, are perfectly in their hands. The driver's seat with good lateral support is equipped with a pillow adjustment in height and angle of inclination, which, together with an adjustable steering column, allows the machine to cordially accept the owner of any complexion.
But I would not call executive techniques a trump card of the TRANSTRAL SALON, but its spaciousness. This is just the situation when the car from the inside seems more than outside. Tested by wheels: a 190 cm tall, a man of 180 cm tall, without touching the back of the front seat knees. No less impression was flexible to layout of the cabin. The leading role is assigned the back of the right front seat: it leans forward. In one case, a convenient table is obtained, accessible to both the driver and the rear passengers. In another, with the folded right side of the rear seat, the Mazda 323s acquires the ability to transport objects more than three meters long. Here you have an impractical sedan! In addition, the locks of the back of the rear seat are blocked from the trunk, blocking access to it from the cabin. In case the thieves climbed into the car through a broken glass.

A few words about the configuration of the machine. The GLX version is equipped with air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, as well as ABS. The microclimate maintenance system was very effective: pleasing to the speed of the air conditioner, we tried the stove. Literally a few seconds took to turn the threek into a mobile sauna. So in winter you will not have to freeze. The remark arose to the ventilation control unit itself: it is not easy to communicate with a tiny handle of speed switching.
Mazda 323 became another in a long string of cars in which the glove box was sacrificed to safety: the space reserved under the right pillow was supplanted the glove compartment down. Therefore, there is no desire to open his desires once again. True, for all trifles there are other places - a shelf to the left of the steering wheel, a recess on the front panel and a bottomless niche at the bottom of the beard. Two cup holders are also located there.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - this is the essence of Mazda, who has left on the road. The motor is lazy at low speeds, which is aggravated by stretched gear ratio of transmission. Acceleration is smooth, unhurried, the suspension calmly digests all the irregularities of the coating, full acoustic comfort reigns in the cabin. All the reactions of the machine are absolutely predictable, I don’t want to drive anywhere, and soon a feeling of reliability and mental balance are condemned on you. Everything is so, if one day the devil did not pull you well to promote the motor.

As soon as the tachometer arrow crosses the line under the number 4000, the car is transformed. It turns out that he is not alien sports ambitions! The engine is spinning briskly until the limiter is triggered, and his ringing voice will delight the hearing of any auto -horman. The intensity of acceleration increases with one jump, and if you do not lose speed when switching, you can go actively without leaving the first rows of flow. The car responds to the opposite to the steering wheel smoothly, but very clearly. It is pleased that the feedback is maintained at any angles of rotation of the steering wheel, but only in the steep turns the returning force does not reach.

The 323rd to a large extent owes good handling and small rolls to its suspension. Let us give her tribute: at high speed, the profile of the road, although it is transferred to the body, but neither uncomfortable vertical accelerations, nor, more so, breaks, she does not allow. Yes, the suspension is harsh, but its rigidity does not annoy the passengers.

Such is an atypical typical Japanese. A strict car with a memorable appearance and not such a simple character. He is sincerely pretty to us. And you?
 
   
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 48/2001]