A 2.0-litre petrol engine with 148bhp in a small hatch should make for a decently swift driving experience. However, the Mazda is curiously devoid of interest, even though this –stop model now comes with a six-speed manual where previously this engine has only been available with an automatic gearbox. This improves acceleration to 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds and top speed to 128mph. The engine itself revs keenly, if a little noisily, and the gearbox slides from one gear to the next easily. The i-stop element comes into play when the car is at a standstill. With the gearbox in neutral and the clutch pedal raised, the engine switches off to save fuel. Mazda says its system allows the engine to restart in half the time of any competitor stop-start system and it certainly works quickly.
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The 2.0-litre Sport version of the Mazda 3 is the car we’d least likely recommend in this particular range. The addition of i-stop to this model should help, but the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is not enough to help out here, even if we prefer the six-speed manual to the auto ’box. At 159g/km for the 2.0 Sport i-stop, buyers conscious of emissions will still find more financial comfort in the diesel-powered models from the 3 range that come in under the 120g/km mark. There’s also the combined economy of 41.5mpg that is reasonable for a petrol but still way off what we’d like to see from a stop-start model. Mazda reckons the 2.0 Sport i-stop will appeal to company buyers, but with a list price of £18,025 there are too many other appealing options out there to warrant more than a cursory glance at this Mazda. If you do spend this amount on the 2.0 Sport i-stop, you’ll be luck to see back more than 40% of your spend when you sell in three years’ and 36,000 miles’ time.
Read the full Mazda 3 2.0 Sport i-stop road test
