Recently test drove both. I’m looking for a potential replacement for an aging, full bolt on Mazdaspeed3 and a CX-30 (would be nice to consolidate down to one vehicle.)
Interior is the same on both (that lovely red leather). The N/A Skyactiv 2.5 pulls nicely from idle and is enough to push you back in the seat once the tach sweeps over 5 grand. It did not feel lacking in power and while it’s no sledgehammer like the DISI in the MS3, it’s more than adequate for public roads with 191hp. The shifter/clutch combo is fantastic and you can easily heel/toe this car just like the Speed. Handling is good, it rotates well, but not quite as good as the Speed (more body roll on a spirited back road drive), and the car is under-tired IMO, but the suspension is far more compliant over rough surfaces even with the torsion beam. The Speed is a hardcore car and kind of beats you up but as a guy who’s over 40 now, which is why I stopped dailying it, and the new 3 feels easier on the back.
The Turbo is great, I would totally rock one of them as a fast cruiser, but I have to give it a zonk for the SUV-like power delivery that falls off over 4k and artificial engine noise from the speakers (really, Mazda?) Also felt heavier over the front axle than the 3 manual, which is a given given a turbo, intercooler, plumbing, and heavier engine internals to take the boost. Finally, it’s an automatic, and not a particularly crisp shifting one, and as such, there’s just less to do, less engagement, less moment to moment fun outside of onramp blasts. You drive the 3 manual with all four limbs. My arm and hand, and left foot, are a piece of the powertrain.
Anyway, the N/A manual feels like an enthusiast gem that gets slept on more than it should. I had a buzz after driving it that I didn’t get off the Turbo.
My last car was a CX-5 with the turbo and while the low end with that motor torque is phenomenal it has no sporting aspirations whatsoever. I really wish they would have tuned in differently for the 3. I considered a turbo 3 but I’m much happier a 3 with a manual transmission. I added the Corksport intake with air box and front strut brace and that really sharpened the throttle response and chassis flex both on turn in and when putting the power down out of a corner. Also, that shifter and clutch combo is very easy to live with, even in stop and go traffic. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a sporty car but it’s well composed and every input comes with a predictable and natural reaction. It just feels good to drive. Plus, it’s fantastic on gas; I’m averaging 35.8 mpg over the 7800 miles I’ve put on it so far.