With the 2017 Mazda3 Hatchback, Mazda seems to be really committed to their ‘Skyactiv’ engine campaign, and I can’t figure out why. I wish I could share Mazda’s passion for them, but to me, you just can’t be competitive in the ‘hatchback’ segment without a TURBO option. Not in 2017.
Well – correction: You CAN be competitive at the lower, entry-level end of the spectrum. But you can’t compete on the premium end… alongside the premium badges like ST, GTI, and Si. The Mazda3 runs out of breath as the price goes up, and that blemishes the image of the overall model/brand. If Mazda’s going to live up to their ‘Driving Matters’ mantra… they need an engine that ‘drivers’ can really get excited about.
Like all the current Mazdas, the chassis is impressive. The Mazda3 is attractively designed, it seems to be well built, it has an engaging interior, and it RESPONDS well. I really WANT to love it.
There’s just no… guts. No energy. No turbo.
The Mazda3 doesn’t flirt with you anymore. It doesn’t want to play. It doesn’t urge you to drive it. There’s no reason to dive into a corner… when there’s nothing to pull you out of that corner. I’d honestly just rather not ‘spill the grocery bag’.
Mazda is genuinely an exciting manufacturer in a lot of ways… and we’d love to see them come out with some exciting/exhilarating engines that do their cars justice.
