Test Drive Mazda Mazda 3 (AXELA) Sedan since 2009 Sedan

Let's go ... with a gun

You have not paid attention to how familiar to our motorists have become automatic transmissions? Five years ago, everyone crammed from them, like damn from Ladan, and now almost every second new car, which left the car dealership, is equipped with a machine gun. And even more so: if there is no modification with an automatic transmission in the gamma, it is very negatively affected by the volumes of its implementation!

So Mazda 3, which appeared in the Belarusian market at the end of last year, at first, also did not have a version with a machine gun. True, a novelty of the Japanese manufacturer turned out so lucky that this fact did not affect her sales - the treshka was sold very well, and there was even a queue. But still, some buyers remained dissatisfied with the fact that they cannot buy a car with them in the desired configuration. And now this gap is eliminated: Mazda 3 comes to the Belarusian market with an automatic transmission!

The new transmission is available only with a 1.6-liter 105-strong engine, and is offered in our market in the Touring configuration. This is not a basic option, the standard treshka is indicated by a laconic base, and the machine for models of this class is not yet a standard equipment. But equipping Mazda 3 Touring can envy more high-end cars. Without exaggeration, we can say that everything is in this Mazda! A little refinement: this car has everything you need.

And the list of necessary equipment is included, such as air conditioning, electrical windows on the front and rear doors, electric drive and heating of external mirrors, steering amplifier, headlights, audio system, and even an outdoor pointer! Here you will find skin-skinned steering wheel and gearbox handle, upholstery Sports and audio control panel on the steering wheel. In addition, even in the MAZDA 3 base, an anti-lock brake system ABS, an EBA brake force distribution system, and EBA's emergency braking system, which helps to fully realize the potential of brakes during emergency braking. Four airbags are responsible for the safety of the driver and passengers: two frontal and two side. Parabees with them work three-point seat belts with pretensioners, and head restraints are provided for all five passengers. From the side impact, protect the safety bar in the doorway, and at front collisions, the branded Mazdovskaya distribution system and repayment of the impact energy.

With a complete set, as we see, everything is in order. And how is Mazda 3 driven with a machine gun? After all, automatic transmissions not only make it easier to control the car, which very much like the ladies, but also deprive the driver of some share of information, so necessary with the active driving style. And for this, by the way, the automata do not like experienced drivers. Hurry to calm both those and others. Mazda found a brilliant output from this situation: it developed an automatic transmission that corresponds to the requests of both consumer groups. It can work both as a regular automatic, and if desired, both as a manual transmission. The driver himself can change the transmission, shaking the lever of the PPC forward-back, including an increase or lower transmission.

The name of the automatic transmission is ActivMatic, it explicitly hints at what the character has this unit. That is, even before getting behind the wheel, the future owner of the treshka already tunes himself to the corresponding way - the machine is active. So, the sporty driving style is just for him. Intriguing, you know ...

Both modes, automatic and pseudo-mechanical, can replace each other while driving. In the Drive position, the box works in a fully automatic mode, and if a desire to control the switching process itself occurred, it is enough to tilt the lever to the left - so manual mode is turned on. You can independently change the transfer, and both up and down. And you get tired - you can again turn on the automatic mode.

In the city, of course, it is more convenient to ride the machine - turned on the drive, and the whole trip do not remove the hands from the steering wheel. Switching soft, barely noticeable. If you do not unscrew the engine above the average revolutions, then it is almost impossible to feel the moment of changing the transmission. At the same time, the transmission control unit also has its own logic: if you pull the gas sharply, it will not switch up, having a mixture. On the contrary, feeling the driver's desire to overclock the car, the machine patiently holds the transmission - in this case, the switch will occur at 2500-3000 rpm, but much later, almost near the red tachometer zone. But it is necessary to let go of the gas, as the box turns on the economical mode again, and subsequent switches will occur in the medium revolution zone.

Therefore, it is better to use a manual mode for active driving. Reduce the time of overclocking up to 100 km / h This is unlikely to be able to: in any case, faster than 12.4 seconds Mazda 3 will not be releasing until hundreds. But the driver, independently controlling the change of gear, can better control the acceleration of the car in transition modes. Suppose if the gas pedal is simply coated at a speed of 60 km / h (a typical situation when overtaking a summer house), then the machine will start to be accelerated immediately - first the machine will switch down, and then acceleration will begin. In the manual mode, this effect can be reduced to a minimum, just before overtaking the driver itself includes a downstream transmission, forcing the engine to work in the zone of optimal revolutions. Again, knowing all the characteristics of the engine, with the help of manual switching, it can be achieved that it will constantly issue the maximum torque.

It is very convenient to manual and for high-speed maneuvering: independently changing the transfer, the Mazda 3 driver can achieve maximum acceleration, and also effectively slow down the engine when turning turns. True, acknowledged by a hundred percent driver does not allow one particular feature - when maximally revolts achieved, the box switches up without asking for the consent of the driver. For some, very experienced drivers who use special control techniques, this may seem a serious disadvantage. However, among such pilots there are very few owners of Mazda 3 - this car is buying those who love to ride quickly, but without extreme.

By the way, about quick ride. We have repeatedly tested a treachery and always noted how much the drive was this car. New platform, new suspension (rear - multi-dimensional), new engines - all this allowed to turn a gray Japanese, as the eyes called Mazda competitors, in a magnificent and spectacular car. It is now quite seriously compared with thoroughbred European models like Alfa Romeo ...

I even like to say about the engine, it seems like nothing ... in the sense, nothing that could interest readers is just a good motor. Fuel injection, four valves per cylinder, gas distribution phase change system - in general, modern high-tech engine. And very convenient in management, because he, in contrast to many other engines, is missing inhibition - he reacts to gas without the slightest delay. Very, by the way, an important point - otherwise all the engines are boiled ...

Another distinctive feature of the 1.6-liter motor: good traction on low and medium turns. This is not particularly noticeable on the versions with a machine, because due to the specifics of the structure of the power unit on this car almost always operates in the range of 2000-3500 rpm. But thanks to the system of changing the phases of gas distribution, the torque is evenly distributed over the entire revolutions range, and this allows you to speed up the car from any revolutions and on any transmission.

In general, Mazda 3 Touring Autom. We liked no less than other versions - a modern, well-equipped car with automatic transmission. Safe. Comfortable. And we can tell about the infinity of the Mazda's running qualities to infinity - cool, drive car. And even despite the transmission, because the machine in this car is also very drive.

Pavel Kozlovsky
 

A source: Autogase / N 20 (459) of 01.06.04