But the newest member wasn't conceived where it was born - not entirely, anyway. Mazda's new 3, replacing 14 years of Protégés, was a joint effort between Ford, Mazda, and Volvo. "Joint effort" takes the usual meaning: the big corporate kahuna made the car, stuck it to the lowly affiliates, and told them to make it look like their own. After years of letting Ford use the Protégé as the Escort's basis, Mazda's 3 is now mostly a Ford Focus underneath.
Aside from having one less choice in the market, that's no criticism. Ford's Euro-designed compact is still wet from the four-year praise shower for its Euro ride and Euro handling. Better yet, this Mazda is based on the new Focus, while the the Ford Focus itself, in this country, still rides on the old platform. Wrapping up this package in one of Mazda's inspired shells may feel unnatural, but hardly unbearable.
At least Ford let everyone choose their own powertrains. The Mazda 3 arrives with last year's premium engine as this year's base powerplant: the familiar 2.0, up from 130 horsepower to 148. The optional 160-horse 2.3 engine found on the "3s" model (and mandatory on the wagon), taken from the Mazda 6, is an upgrade not only in size but also by adding valve timing and vibration-calming balance shafts. The 5-speed stick can be replaced by a 4-speed manumatic on both engines; Mazda's design remains unique as one that calls for pulling back to upshift, pushing forward to downshift. Two upgrades over the Protégé are a multilink rear suspension (struts remain in front) and all-disc brakes having spread to all models.
Wheels are a monstrous 17 inches on the wagon, 16 on the big-engined sedan (where 17s are optional). The base sedan ("3i") starts with 15s, but most cars on the dealer lot will have 16s since the big wheels come with a $1,190 option package that includes items many will demand - power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, keyless entry, and a 6-speaker sound system - all of which are standard on the 3s and wagon. Surprisingly, air conditioning is optional on the 3i. Equipped with everything mentioned, a manumatic 3i runs $17,940. Notable options on all models are the package of antilock brakes, front side air bags, and front-and-rear curtains ($800) and the moonroof/6-disc CD changer combo ($890).
The Protégé was the first car to offer MP3 audio, and the 3 is the only one in this group that does today. You'd better like Mazda's system and hope it never breaks, because the 3's stereo is integrated with the rest of the dashboard, so all bets for aftermarket swaps are off for anyone with aesthetic concerns.
The Protégé was the most hard-core sports car in its field. The 3's dimensions, increased in every way (length, width, wheelbase, front/rear track), work against that ideal, and the suspension is less stiff than before. Still, the spirit is there, the ingredients are improved, and it's faster than the Protégé ever was. The others may have caught up, but this Mazda still zooms along zealously.
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