Driving from Hampshire to Cornwall really puts a car through its paces. I do this with the Mazda3 e-Skyactiv saloon.
Externally, it is a smart-looking saloon, noticeably lower to the ground than many, which does give it a sporty edge. This of course means that you are nearer the road, which somehow makes it feel faster. It’s a welcome return to driving a Mazda for me, reminding me a little of the Xedos 6 I once had the privilege of owning.
I am taken aback by the size of the boot – it easily swallows two suitcases, a week’s worth of food and my son’s scooter. This would be a struggle in an SUV! Previously, I have tested the Nissan Qashqai Design e-power, and was astounded by its efficiency, covering well over 500 miles on a single tank, which allowed me to drive to Cornwall and back (as well as do a little pottering around) and still have 55 miles left to play with. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the Mazda3, which I had expected, as I have always found Mazdas to like their juice.
This model is a 2-litre petrol hybrid, whereas the Nissan Qashqai was a 1.5-litre. That 500cc disparity does seem to make a difference in terms of fuel economy, but then it does have a slightly bigger fuel tank too, at 55 litres. The Qashqai had a neat little EV switch that you could press to ensure it was actually in EV mode., but you’re never quite sure what the Mazda is up to. This model is a six-speed manual, and the Nissan was an automatic. I love my manuals, and the Mazda is a joy to drive, despite its electric handbrake, but it is not as fast as I was expecting, although its performance is quite reasonable with a sub-nine-second 0 to 60 time. It is necessary to fill the 51-litre tank up to return home to Hampshire, and there remains a 50-mile range when we arrive.
The driving experience is good. The driver’s seat is comfortable, and all controls are close to hand. I do find though, that my preferred position of driving (with my arms outstretched) is just not possible. If I want to drive like that, I can’t reach the pedals! So, I end up adjusting the steering wheel so that it’s lower, and suffering slightly bent arms. Often, my right elbow rests on the door’s armrest, which isn’t all that comfortable.
Caroline falls asleep over the long journey, which shows that her seat must be comfortable, and my three not-so-little occupants in the rear (Harriett , 14, Heidi, 12, and Henry, 9) seem reasonably content.
The black cloth seating is hardwearing, and I must say I prefer this to the usual leather that you find these days. There’s also an electric tilt/slide sunroof, which I like.
The sat nav is annoying, because it can be slow to give commands and is even wrong on one occasion, when it fails to acknowledge a new road layout in Cornwall. Henry reckons it’s old technology, but that’s probably unfair. Unlike many, it is operated by a dial which is slower to set up than normal, but if there is time, it’s quite enjoyable to use. Speed limits are often wrong, for instance, I am advised that I can drive at 80mph in 10mph, 20mph and 30mph zones on three or four separate occasions. While I freely admit that I am grateful to the sat nav for getting us to Cornwall with minimal fuss, it goes to show that you cannot fully trust technology and that it is imperative to read road signs and use your common sense, or suffer the consequences! Even the cruise control cannot be relied upon to rigidly stick to 50mph on the M27; it fluctuates between 50mph and 54mph, which is no good when there are speed cameras, so I have to brake. I find the head-up display, which projects the speed onto the windscreen, helpful.
The roads in Cornwall can be extremely challenging; very narrow and steep on occasions. The auto hold is certainly helpful for hill starts, of which there are many. I am left open-mouthed at a moronic AO van driver, who is barely able to stop as we meet down a narrow country lane, but fortunately, my sensible speed allows me to stop quickly. Many heart-in-the-mouth moments occur, but the Mazda handles them with relative ease.
Facts at a glance
Engine: 2-litre petrol
Power: 186bhp
0 to 60mph: 8.9secs
Top speed: 130mph
Economy: 50mpg
Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz
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