American drivers abandoned hatchbacks faster than ticket holders deserted Amy WinehouseHatchbacks are often efficiently spacious without the excess bulk of SUVs. And so, some automakers have responded by making their hatches hot and sort of wagon-esque -- or even doing away with the existence of the hatch altogether.
When you see the subtle MAZDASPEED badging on a car, you know the factory tuners have dialed in tasty performance enhancements. This time, we’re featuring the MAZDASPEED3
On the other hand, MINI keeps brand interest alive with yet another twist on a classic with the extended Clubman, stretching into showrooms February 2008. Though it won’t feature the wood trim of some past MINI wagons, it will draw enthusiasts who want a little more cargo room without sacrificing the standard Cooper’s agility. On that note, it will be offered in naturally aspirated and turbocharged S models.
So, even though buyers already have the hatchback MINI to consider against the Mazda3 (not to mention the Audi A3 and VW GTI), the Clubman aims to tip the scales decisively in its maker’s favor. We’ll see if that happens with an evaluation of the MAZDASPEED3 and MINI Cooper S Clubman. Each ride is rated with our standard fixed and weighted criteria, relative to its class, with a possible 100 points on the line.
concerts. And that's too bad -- about the cars, anyway. five-door. This car, as we know it, debuted in 2007, and with little left to be desired, it’s more or less the same car for 2008.
MAZDASPEED3
MSRP (base): $22,975Engine: 2.3-liter turbo I4
Horsepower: 263 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 280 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm
MPG: City: 18; Highway: 26
Performance - 17/20
Quick, confidence-inspiring and with only a tiny hint of lag, the turbocharged MAZDASPEED3 dashes from 0-60 mph in about 5.5 seconds -- and that’s with two shifts of the six-speed manual (no automatic is available) transmission. Given enough straight track, you’ll shake hands with the top speed limiter at 155 mph. Steering and braking feedback fall short of BMW precision, but in this price class, they’re still commendable. Handling feels sharp and neutral, with understeer only creeping in toward the limit. It’s obvious this hot version of the MAZDASPEED3 has been tuned by real enthusiasts. And some of them must have defected from Saab, because the torque steer is clear and present.
Exterior design - 16/20
You don’t really stand out from the crowd in this car, and that’s a mixed blessing. Since it’s a bit of a sleeper it doesn’t draw undue attention through ridiculous aero wings and such. It has a hint of attitude, but that won’t be enough for some.
Interior design - 7/10
Mazda gets the ergonomics right. The MAZDASPEED3's interior is a nice blend of upscale and sporting touches; it doesn’t feel cheap at all. The sculpted front seats hold well without overdoing it, so tight cornering and comfortable road tripping are equally possible. There’s reasonable room for a pair of average-sized folks in the back seat and 16.5 cubic feet of space behind them, or 43.4 with the second row folded down.
Sound system/goodies - 7/10
You’ll have to squeeze out another $1,710 over the already well-equipped Sport trim if you want the Grand Touring package. With that you’ll get treated to things like a merely OK seven-speaker, 222-Watt Bose sound system, Xenon headlights and LED taillights. That package opens the door to another, in which a pop-up DVD navigation system can be had -- which is always a cool gadget to show off.
Bang for your buck - 18/20
Even with a couple goodies only reserved for the upper tier, it’s tough to spend smarter on a small car that performs so well, yet is so refined. If you can live peacefully without the keys to a European car, the MAZDASPEED3 deserves a serious look.
Driving experience - 18/20
Quite simply; there isn’t much not to like. There’s the confounded torque steer, yes, but in the end it does little to devalue the willing engine, well-balanced handling, agreeable ride quality, and versatility of the MAZDASPEED3.
Overall Score - 83/100
If you like the performance of a hot hatch but don’t necessarily want to telegraph it to every last driver on the road, the MAZDASPEED3 is a great drive with few faults.
MINI Cooper S Clubman
MSRP: $24,100Engine: 1.6-liter turbocharged I4
Horsepower: 172 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 177 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
MPG: City: 26; Highway: 34
Performance - 16/20
The good news is that the Clubman body doesn’t have a big impact on the performance versus a regular MINI Cooper. Give them both six-speed manuals (a six-speed automatic can be ordered) with a turbocharged S trim and the bigger car accomplishes 0-60 mph runs in 7.0 seconds, compared to the hatchback’s 6.7 seconds. Top speed remains unaltered at 139 mph. What’s more, the Clubman is still fun to throw around, with little to no appreciable differences in responsiveness or tractability. It’s almost always composed and neutral, without torque steer threatening to yank you aside, and adaptive steering to respond to speed and cornering. The bad news is that it still lags behind the MAZDASPEED3 overall. If you care about performance more than character, this is a fatal shortcoming for the MINI.
Exterior design - 13/20
The visual impact of the Clubman modification will probably polarize enthusiasts. Earlier, we hinted toward the absence of a hatch, and we weren’t kidding. Aft access is had via a double barn-door setup, like a full-size van, with cutouts for the taillights -- clever at first glance, yet shrugworthy after five minutes. The small, third “club door” on the passenger side doesn’t look like much, though it does enable slightly easier access to the slightly more commodious rear seats. Overall, the Clubman design is more novelty than novel. In other words, it’s like the bulldog has been crossed with a dachshund. And we're not sure if the result is so ugly it's cute or just plain ugly.
Interior design - 8/10
When BMW freshened up the 2007 MINI Cooper, the cabin wasn’t ignored. Curiously, the center-mount multifunction speedo continues to grow like the head of a baseballer on steroids. It looks good anyway, even if the annexed audio buttons and adjacent HVAC controls are a little counterintuitive and plastic-y. On the subject of little; shimmying through the passenger-side club door lands you in a rear seat with a bit more space, though transcontinental jaunts still aren’t advisable. Of course, cargo room benefits from the Clubman treatment. As the song goes; that’s what it’s all about. Second-row seating up means 9.2 cubic feet of space and 32.8 with the seat folded down.
Sound system/goodies - 7/10
The 10-speaker audio system upgrade is $500 well spent (though the controls of either system require practice before you can fiddle without looking). Otherwise, the Clubman carries on the MINI tradition of being well-equipped out of the box, with many paint and trim options for personalization.
Bang for your buck - 16/20
A long list of standard features largely negates the Clubman’s price of entry. It’s not the cheapest on the block, but it’s solid. As with regular MINIs you’ll likely catch a lot of eyes and the resale value should be favorable too.
Driving experience - 17/20
From the driver’s seat, this is still a Cooper S. You can still make tight, nimble moves that will affix a grin that’s hard to shake. Only now, three friends can comfortably share in the experience on longer drives.
Overall score - 77/100
Not everyone has a lifestyle that fits the standard MINI Cooper. So for anyone who feels left out because of their space needs, they owe themselves a drive in the Clubman -- if they really, really love the way the hindquarters are rendered.
and the winner is…
Considering the visual length added to the Clubman, you’d expect a better payoff in space. As a result it falls short visually without making up for it in utility. The whole cool MINI character is still there and it’s a fun drive, but it’s just not enough to fully satisfy. The MAZDASPEED3 is also spacious, but the extra measures of power and prowess take it to another level. That level trades personality for performance, but if you’re willing to make that sacrifice, the Mazda is outstanding.83/100
Resources:http://autos.aol.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.mazdausa.com/
http://www.miniusa.com/
0 comments:
Publicar un comentario