Too fast for its own good: 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 has too much horsepower

At $22,835, the 263 horsepower the Mazdaspeed 3 may sound appealing, but the 2.3 liter direct-injection turbocharged engine may be too much for the car to handle. Mark Phelan, of the Detroit Free Press, took the Mazdaspeed 3 out for a test drive and discovered that the 263 horsepower in the car undermines steering and handling.

The key features are definitely there. Mazda upgraded the brakes that result in smooth stopping even at high-speeds; the six-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly with a light clutch. The body kit along with 18-inch alloy wheels provide a sporty look along with a simple interior, with an option of a navigation system; but Mazda should’ve stopped adding horses around 220 or so to make it perfect.

Basically, Mazda left the Mazdaspeed 3 on the burner for a little too long and the engine outputs more power than the front-wheel drive car can handle; making it hard to keep the car planted on the road and making it harder to take curves at high-speeds. Even when Phelan was driving the Mazdaspeed 3 at low speeds, he felt it took a lot of effort to steer the car.

While the Mazdaspeed 3 may be the best car in its class and may offer the most bang for its buck, someone at Mazda should’ve stepped in and said “enough is enough.”
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jon21 - 4/23/2007 3:50:35 PM

+5 Boost

What???????? Give me more power! Just throw on better set of wheels/tires+LSD!

Alec - 4/23/2007 4:25:38 PM

+5 Boost

better yet give us the AWD drive train like the MS6!!

Sauceboy01 - 4/23/2007 5:51:10 PM

-5 Boost

thse are options the car should have had in stock form.

Another Mazdaspeed Failure!

MagnumOne - 4/24/2007 8:50:20 AM

+3 Boost

The Mazda 3 HAS LSD! That is what makes it such a (supposedly) great ride, at least for a FWD.

VinnyP - 4/24/2007 1:10:06 PM

-3 Boost

Death trap for my younger counterparts, This car is pretty much targeted to young people, such as 18-25.

The price point and the power alone will have enough people spinning of the road.

silverarrow2 - 4/23/2007 4:35:08 PM

+4 Boost

Yeah! but tires alone can't cure steering problem.

Would you want the power of the sun if you can contain it? May be they should be working on AWD system like Subaru.

Alec - 4/23/2007 4:55:36 PM

+1 Boost

back then when the mazdaspeed 3 was rumors and spy pics, people were hoping it to have AWD like the Mazdaspeed 6, which didnt happen and now this is reported.

BMW_DRVR - 4/23/2007 5:24:00 PM

+6 Boost

Every other review compliments the mazdaspeed3 for its grip and handling, then suddenly its not good enough for this idiot. I need to drive one of these things. Every other test says its a fun car to drive.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/23/2007 7:30:09 PM

0 Boost

I've seen it come in last in one or two comparisons... for exactly this reason. I'm sure it's very fast, but this is a 3100lb FWD car. That, and 260hp just don't mix well. Why do you think the A3 3.2 is only available with quattro?

trd1 - 4/23/2007 6:21:12 PM

0 Boost

i dont get why they didn't throw this engine in the rx8.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/23/2007 7:30:34 PM

+4 Boost

One word: rotary.

njshift - 4/26/2007 8:07:43 AM

+1 Boost

The RX-8 rotary is garbage.

Alec - 4/23/2007 8:23:18 PM

+3 Boost

you probably dont know that FORD owns Mazda.

Lexus - 4/23/2007 6:44:37 PM

-2 Boost

Give me break! to much hp for it own good? come on.........more is almost always better. The Toyota Camry SE V6 has 268 hp and is faster than the BMW 330i from 0-60. Now that fast, but I thought you Toyota hater say it boring? yeah, but it sure kick the BMW 330i A$$ from 0-60 time.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/23/2007 7:33:21 PM

+3 Boost

1. The Camry weighs 1,000lbs more than this car. Lighter weight + more power in a FWD car = sucky handling. Camry would be more secure than this. You should know that!

2. The 330i is just SO last year! Apparently, the only thing that matters to you is 0-60 times, and the 335i beats any Camry! However, Toyota was comparing it to BMW's stated time... don't be surprised that most mags get better times in the 3 Series than in the Camry, because BMW underestimates.

Bill - 4/24/2007 3:18:28 AM

+3 Boost

Wow these Toyota fanboys are really starting to get on my nerves. Who cares if the boring Camry is quicker than a 330i? You think someone shopping for a 330i is even going to consider the Camry? Of course not. There's a big difference between these two cars and I'll make it simple for you:

BMW = FUN

Camry = BORING

Got that?

Most Camry owners have all this power at their disposal, but trust me, they'll hardly use it. The car will be driven in a relaxed and boring manor from A to B without incident.

GX470guy - 4/24/2007 10:39:00 PM

+1 Boost

YES, SO TRUE!!! Reliability and Quality are ALL THAT MATTER!!!!! i am with you, my Lexus brother!

Mmm... Lexus...

maltbarley - 4/23/2007 6:45:58 PM

+6 Boost

Take it for a test drive. The power is managed very well but if Mark has an issue with it, maybe he shouldn't push the accelerator so hard.

MookGmbH - 4/23/2007 6:53:17 PM

+7 Boost

I thought that one of the requirements to be an automotive journalist was to a) be able to write subjectively about cars and show very minimal bias and b) BE ABLE TO DRIVE! Thank you [jon21] for stating the obvious. I am almost sad that you beat me to the punch. So wait wait wait, Mr Phelan, stop the presses. You are telling me that I should be alarmed that a high horsepower FF car understeers! Your next story should be that the bigger fan symbol on the A/C controls mean that more cold air comes out! Please if this is the standard for automotive journalism in Detroit, I can't wait for the Big Two point five to join the afterlife with British Leyland, Pan Am, and Standard Oil.

zorbeeze - 4/23/2007 7:33:06 PM

-1 Boost

The problem is most buyers of this car have no clue how to drive it, and i'll assume the writer is among them. To many little kids have gotten their hands on this car. It is an amazing car and puts the RX8 to shame when driven well. Good job Mazda

Threepoint1415926 - 4/24/2007 8:08:58 PM

+1 Boost

The problem with cars is that most buyers have no clue how to drive them, period. The assumption that younger drivers are automatically worse drivers is a bit irritating. What is the average age of F1 drivers again?

zorbeeze - 4/25/2007 8:32:34 PM

-1 Boost

I should have made myself a little more clearer. By younger drivers i meant teenagers, 16-19. And no, your average teenager, more like 99% of them, don't know how to drive. I thought i was an amazing driver when i was 19 but boy was i wrong. You just don't know how to fully control a vehicle at high speeds at that age. There's no experience. Those who have gone in the profesional circuit it's a different story. But most teens think that street racing their cars has made them the greatest drivers. If you're a teenager you won't understand right now but when you're pushing 30 you'll realise you were a dumbass and not a good driver by any standard.

Threepoint1415926 - 4/30/2007 3:31:15 AM

+1 Boost

I've actually noticed that my driving capabilities have declined with age. I'm just not as sharp as I was in my early twenties. I dont think as fast, I dont have as good of vision, I dont have the same reaction time. Driving at high speed is not hard, and it's easier when you're young. I'll give you experience makes you a more comprehensive driver but I just dont buy that it makes you a better one. I just find that the majority of particularly irritating drivers on the road are old, not young. Nevermind that few 16 to 19 year olds are going to afford this car.

indoctrin8ed - 4/23/2007 8:14:03 PM

-1 Boost

One word: Torquesteer.

You give the front wheels too much to do and this is what you get. Taurus SHO had the same problem.

Why not go rear wheel drive? Answer: it would be too good, so good that it might embarras the RX-8.

jolietjake - 4/24/2007 1:04:02 AM

+2 Boost

Muppet!!!! 263 HP is too much for a front wheel drive car? Tell that to the thousands of kids who've put superchargers and turbochargers on Honda's the last ten years. Some ham-fisted gear crunching reporter has said it has too much power. I think that's just about all the market Mazda needs to increase it's position in the import tuner market.

firwood6516 - 4/24/2007 10:29:17 AM

0 Boost

I have always loved RX7s. Driven several including RX8. Never owned one. I do not like rotarys. Please somebody come out with an adapter plate & kit to put the speed3 motor in an RX8. Then you would hanve something. Decent power, near perfect handling, no FWD. No rotary.

GX470guy - 4/24/2007 10:40:22 PM

0 Boost

the 884hp lexus is-f will blast this POS unreliable "mazda" from a light!!!!! 0-60 times, Reliability, and Quality are all that matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mmm... Lexus...

nembogt - 4/25/2007 12:18:10 AM

-1 Boost

they need a diff in there, which is why the Neon srt/4 is actually the best pocket rocket

BMWBuddy - 4/25/2007 9:35:40 PM

+3 Boost

anybody who complains about too much horsepower is a wuss. Would have been better if it was AWD but oh well, i think it looks like a great value, and I wish that engine was in the RX8, thats a beautiful car

GX470guy - 4/25/2007 11:25:33 PM

-1 Boost

the 884hp lexus is-f will blast this POS unreliable "mazda" from a light!!!!! 0-60 times, Reliability, and Quality are all that matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BMWs suck!!!!!

Mmm... Lexus...

MS3Luvr - 6/6/2007 5:37:39 PM

+1 Boost

This is so dumb. I've had my MS3 since October and love it. The Torque Steer is half the fun and easily controlled. It is easy to spin the tires if you don't know how to drive it. If you're riding with me you better not have a weak heart that's for sure. This baby can really haul.

trarex - 1/7/2009 6:00:55 PM

+1 Boost

I am a 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 GT owner. I have been very pleased with the performance and price aspects that make this car a true pleasure to drive. There is always the underlying torque steer that plagues these cars but that is indeed half of the fun of racing thru the gears.. Very controllable.. Unless.. You can’t drive!! With my current mods I have surpassed the 300hp and 320 TQ mark and still find the ability to handle this beast thru a tight corner.. Maybe the best action to solve this issue it to put a mandatory drive rating on all vehicles levels 1 - 10 and all drivers must qualify to drive vehicles rated in that category. If you are going to compare the performance aspects of this car please compare to vehicles in the same price range.