Test drive Mazda Mazda 3 (Axela) Sedan 2004 - 2009 sedan

Two liters on top

Comparative test: Mazda 3 and Mitsubishi Lancer. Mazda 3 is a stylish appearance and an excellent engine. Mitsubishi Lancer captivates with clear handling, a good gearbox, thought out by ergonomics and a sufficient level of comfort.
Mitsubishi Lancer does not need performances: this model today is in leaders among foreigners sold in Russia. Over the past year, more than 39 thousand cars left the salons! The love of Russians for Lancer in particular and Mitsubishi generally made our country one of the key markets in Europe. So much so that they are specially prepared for us, inaccessible to Europeans. Such is the 135-horsepower 2-liter sedan with sports ambitions that has just appeared on sale, while equipped with a machine gun.
Competitors? There are a lot of them. How about the model for which motorists are ready to stand in line for several months? A two-liter nesting doll (as Mazda-3 was nicknamed) is not equipped with a automatic machine, which is more likely for a top version, but a possible plus for the athlete. Comparing the two expensive performances of popular cars, we will close the eyes to the differences in the bodies - after all, they love them not at all for the capacity of trunk
 
Beauty is a terrible force
I have a trembling attitude towards Mazdam. Especially strong nostalgia for a cozy, albeit a simple salon and a 323rd model of the late 80s jumping out of the body, how long it was! Now Mazda is no longer the same: once that was almost the most modest among the Japanese women, she suddenly turned into a fashionista and favorite of the public:
- Hello, is this a car dealership? Can I buy a threek?
- Of course, but we take orders only for six months ahead!
Suffending motorists from the first days of sales of Mazda-3 hear a similar answer.
I go around the test car, admiring the red sparks of the lamps in lamps, look into the cunning eyes of the searchlight headlights, smile in response to the radiator grille. Treshka is undoubtedly charming. It is not surprising that they fall in love with the car!
The interior did not disappoint either: the feeling that you are sitting in the car above, it arises immediately and no longer passes. The main magnet is the front panel. Red arrows flare up invitingly in the nozzles of devices, unusually frozen in the position for six hours. You can adjust the brightness in two ways: ruby \u200b\u200bbacklight stepped - button; And the purple halo of devices is flared up during the rotation of the rheostat. What will be in motion?
From the first meters it becomes clear: a very responsive power unit is hidden under the hood. It is worth giving the heat, and the Mazda quickly accelerates even at speeds by a hundred. The set of the last hundreds of revolutions to the maximum 7300 is especially exciting. The short lever of the box clearly finds the desired transmission, so it is difficult to believe in passport 9 seconds to hundreds. You can besiege the car very effectively, the benefit of the brake discs in a circle, the front ventilated.
However, it is worth expelling the hatchback on a winding slippery path, as not the most pleasant character traits appear - this is primarily concerns the stabilization system. Having disconnected it, accidentally sent the car to the skid, which would best suit the epithet, the slightly controlled. The demolition of the front is not stopped under the discharge of gas, you have to actively work with a throttle and steering wheel. The machine does not allow to relax at high speeds, finding nervousness.
O'Kay, press the DSC button on the panel and try to repeat the exercise. Here the situation changes dramatically: the stabilization system zealously rushes to the rescue, reducing the supply of fuel and thereby preventing not only the skidding, but also the full acceleration!
Perhaps the smoothness of the course is good? It corresponds to sports canons: shaking on small irregularities and short -term suspension make it vigilantly monitor the potholes. Yes, and the noise of tires does not add comfort
As a result of our two-day communication, I could not be related to Mazda-3. Its assets have excellent design, solid decoration materials, stylish interior, excellent climatic installation. But at the same time - mediocre smoothness, specific controllability, not the most convenient seats from the car in a beautiful wrapper are waiting for delicious handling, and here is, where are you, an honest three hundred twenty -third 15 years ago? Missing You.
 
Do not be born beautiful
Switching from Mazda to Lancer is not easy. Even a recent restyling will not make me call this olan a handsome man. Although the plastic body kit in a sporting spirit is designed to make a car more noticeable, no one turns on the street anyway.
A similar picture is in the cabin: only light plastic on the front panel, which replaced the gloomy stone insert, slightly decorated it. Like all new machines, there are white scales of devices. In our configuration, the intensity of the air conditioner took the air conditioner, but it is already automatic: it catchs the flow of the desired temperature, but you adjust the fan speed manually.
Perhaps the owners of Lancer still have one argument with whom you can’t argue: the salons of cars in our configuration are not much different from the cult evoluish - and they are several times more expensive! Here is the same cool momo steering wheel, leather, with a cold aluminum hub and at least the seats of rosaro and not quite combat, but very tenacious, well fixing the body.
The first check of the car, in which the machine is equipped with a manual mode, begins with the same exercise for me: intersection, first hand transmission - and gas to the floor. Briefly bargaining, Lancer gains 60 km/h and freezes - the machine holds the first gear, and does not cross above! Unfortunately, such boxes are rare, but for a car with ambitions above average, this is a fat plus: in a quick turn, the electronics will not offer unnecessary increased gear, and the driver can click on one step down when it is necessary to slow down with the engine.
Further exercises finally clarify the character of the machine gun: easy thoughtfulness when switching to a reduced one - the only claim; But good braking by the engine and quick, almost invisible switching in manual mode leave a very pleasant impression. As for the dynamics - against the background of the Mazda, it is still not enough. Eh, the motore would still be twenty to thirty!
However, in most cases, the reserve in power is enough. If it were not for the bully anti -wing, looming in the rearview mirror, and sports attributes in the cabin, the demand from the car would be different. And so - I want more!
Unlike Mazda-3, Lancer is not able to boast of a stabilization system even in the list of options. But at the same time, Mitsubishi is more understandable in reactions and does not frighten a beginner: the beginning of slipping is quite easy to predict, and skidding - predict and control. The machine behaves a little more clearly less powerful modifications; We tend to attribute this to a stretch under the hood and shock absorbers with changed characteristics.
In terms of comfort, Lancer is surprisingly not bad: the shaking is moderate, the tires are heard in moderation. That's just the engine that throws up the momentum in the Kik Dawn begins to speak in high colors.

Despite similar positioning, Lancer and Toshka are completely different in the nature of the car. Mazda is more suitable for those who like to work behind the wheel and appreciates first of all good dynamics and appearance. Lancer is calmer and even more phlegmatic; Yes, he will give in at the start from the traffic light, but maybe he will be played in turns. In the stream is invisible, not happy, but it does not irritate the eye.
Well, once again we have to admit that machines are characterized by character traits similar to human. It’s easier for someone to communicate with choleraiks, others find a common language with phlegmatics faster. Someone like fashionistas, others modest. The choice is yours.
Mazda 3
She debuted in the fall of 2003, in Russia since 2004. A sedan and hatchback are produced with bodies on the same platform with Ford-Focus II and Volvo S40.
Engines: for Russia, gasoline 1.6 and 2.0 liters (105 and 150 hp).
Gearboxes: mechanical 5-speed and 4-speed automatic.
Complete: Base, Touring, Sport.
Price: $ 17 70027 000.
Mazda 3 is a stylish appearance and an excellent engine for many will turn out to be decisive penders when choosing.
General assessment 7.7
+ A great motor, a clear short -crossing gearbox, stylish appearance and interior.
- low smoothness, noise from rolling tires, the fifth door is instantly polluted, not the most convenient landing in the rear seat, and a fairly high price.
 
Mitsubishi Lancer
The ninth generation was presented in 2003. Lancer produces sedan and station wagon with bodies. A magnificent is the all -wheel drive evoluly VIII (265 hp).
Engines: 1.32.0 l (82135 l.
Gearboxes: mechanical 5-speed, 4-speed automatic.
Complete: Invite, Instile, Intense.
Price: $ 14 49021 050
Mitsubishi Lancer moderately bribes a dynamic car with clear handling, a good gearbox, thought out by ergonomics and a worthy level of comfort.
General assessment 7.9
+ Comfortable seats and steering wheel, understandable and reliable handling, comfortable suspension.
- Fresh interior and exterior, quite noisy at high speeds and insufficiently powerful motor, the absence of a stabilization system.
 
Mikhail GZOVSKY: Frankly, before the start of the test, my sympathy belonged to Mazde-3. Nevertheless, according to the aggregate of consumer qualities, Lancersprinted himself a worthy opponent and, as a result, at least not much, but ahead of the treshka, which is confirmed by the numbers. Council for potential buyers be sure to ride on both cars before paying for the purchase!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Mikhail Gzovsky
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"