If you haven't noticed, the world of hot hatchbacks is continuously shrinking on a yearly basis (at least in America). The reason for this is that automotive companies have been progressively weeding out poor performers within their car lineups and replacing them with SUVs/crossovers.
Sadly for enthusiasts, this has appeared to be the right decision, as SUVs just can't seem to stay on dealership parking lots. Unfortunately, if SUVs are moving and making money, it is unlikely that auto manufacturers will revert back to selling us our beloved hot hatches.
Now, some people may interject and say that we already get hot versions of these SUVs/crossovers; so, why the need for hot hatches? Well, first of all, hot SUVs tend to be significantly more expensive than their hatchback counterparts. They are bigger, have a higher center of gravity, and typically serve as the highest trim level. In many cases, this means that you will have to pay top dollar to even get the performance that you want. Just take a look at the Ford Explorer ST, for instance, which starts at a whopping $54,000!
Its prices like these that make some of us wish that we could go back to the days where you could get cars like that of the Mazdaspeed 3 at a new car dealership. Back then (in 2013), you could get one of these little pocket rockets for as little as $25,000. And in exchange for your money, you were given a very capable yet affordable sports car. So, why not bring it back?
Here's a couple of reasons why Mazda should bring back the Mazdaspeed 3.
The Mazdaspeed 3 Is Affordable
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Yes, we did already tell you how much money the Mazdaspeed 3 used to cost, but we didn't really get into how affordable it was when compared to competitors. Back in 2013, you had a few options when it came to purchasing a hot hatchback, including the Golf GTI, the Focus ST, and the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG. Now while all of these were arguably fantastic choices, the Mazdaspeed 3 did have an ace up its sleeve: It was the cheapest of the bunch!
That Mercedes mentioned earlier would set you back $48,000 for a base model (which is probably not very surprising to you). As for the Focus ST and Golf GTI, those would cost you around $25,000 (which really isn't bad at all for what you get). However, despite those alluring figures, the Mazda could be had for only 24,000 of your hard-earned dollars. Better yet, if you haggled, you could probably get one for significantly less than that.
It Looks Good
One of the hallmarks of any hot hatchback is that it looks like a proper sportscar. Thankfully, the Mazdaspeed 3 was no exception, as the design of the car was funky and exciting. It had a large spoiler that hovered over the rear windshield, as well as a hood that proudly displayed a massive scoop. Additionally, the car came out of the box with very wide and very sporty 18 inch rims and tires.
Inside of the Mazdaspeed 3, you'd find the specially designed bolstered cloth 'Mazdaspeed seats', that are adorned with a dotted red and black pattern. The inside of the doors were also garnished with this design. If you continued to look around, you would have also likely noticed that there were plenty of silver trim accents throughout the cabin. Additionally, as with most sports cars of this era, the pedals were fashioned out of stainless steel.
The Mazdaspeed 3 Feels Like A Proper Sports Car
Fortunately, all of the Mazdaspeed 3's sporty looks are backed up by its performance figures. Like most hot hatches, the Mazdaspeed was fitted with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Specifically, the Mazda came from the factory with a very spunky 2.3 DISI turbo engine that produced around 263 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the little sports car was also fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission and large 12.6 inch ventilated brakes.
Despite only being front-wheel drive, all of these factors worked together in harmony to make the Mazdaspeed 3 a rather capable sports/track day car. In the straights, the car could accomplish a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds (which was .1 seconds faster than that of the Focus ST).
When taken to a circuit, the car could hold its own in the bends, as it was fitted with a torque-sensing conical limited-slip differential (LSD) and stiffer sportier suspension. In fact, it was so capable around a track that it was able to bag a lap record of 8 minutes and 35.02 seconds around the Nürburgring!
Mazda Needs Another Sportscar In Their Lineup
Currently, Mazda only really has one sportscar, and that's the MX-5. While yes, the MX-5 (or Miata) is near and dear to many of our hearts; the fact is that it's not exactly for everyone. For starters, the car only has two seats and very limited cargo space. As a result of this, it is hard to justify purchasing one if you only have enough money/space for one vehicle.
If they brought back the Mazdaspeed 3, however, they would have a sports car in their lineup that would be more useful to the average motorists. Because of the geometry and layouts of most small hot hatches, they are typically built with small families in mind; the Mazdaspeed 3 was no different.
It could be a grocery getter, it could tackle the school run, and it could be a track day allstar whenever you wanted it to be. So the answer is yes, without question, Mazda should definitely bring back the Mazdaspeed 3.