Consumer Reports Tested the Mazda Speed 3

[Raymo853]

Next time you are at the store, pick up the October 2007 Consumer Reports. They test the Speed 3, Mini Cooper S and Saturn Sky starting on page 58.

Basically they already loved the normal Mazda 3 and still love the Speed 3, calling it the best of those and their best overall sporty car they have tested to date.

 

[shamrock]

What no article(uhm)

 

[Wuz Ranger]

All great minds think alike. This is why we all drive Mazda 3's

 

[SwampAss]

What no article(uhm)

They are a subscription based web magazine.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Here are a couple of screenshots.

Next time you are at the store, pick up the October 2007 Consumer Reports. They test the Speed 3, Mini Cooper S and Saturn Sky starting on page 58.

Basically they already loved the normal Mazda 3 and still love the Speed 3, calling it the best of those and their best overall sporty car they have tested to date.

I can't post the whole article but here are a couple of B&W Bitmapped screenshots. I'm actually pretty surprised they liked it so much. They usually poo-poo anything that doesn't have "Camry" sensibilities aka: boring as hell.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

I just watched the video

Next time you are at the store, pick up the October 2007 Consumer Reports. They test the Speed 3, Mini Cooper S and Saturn Sky starting on page 58.

Basically they already loved the normal Mazda 3 and still love the Speed 3, calling it the best of those and their best overall sporty car they have tested to date.

The guys was jacked about the Speed 3. His biggest compliment was Mazda's ability to increase performance and still retain a very practical easy to drive car. Very surprising. It seems like everyone who drives this car is put under a spell. The energy of the CR guy really made it apparent that he totally loved driving the Speed 3.

 

[jcrystal]

Even with poor launch

The strangest thing is the high rating even thought the best they could do 0-60 was 6.8 seconds!

 

[///M Compact]

The strangest thing is the high rating even thought the best they could do 0-60 was 6.8 seconds!

CR has stated in the past that they start all their acceleration runs with the engine at idle, which explains the somewhat slow 0-60 number.

 

[Wuz Ranger]

"CR Model Summary
The Mazda3 is a very pleasant, practical, fun-to-drive small car. The 2.0-liter engine is relatively quick, refined, and sparing with fuel. The 2.3-liter is punchy. Handling is precise and responsive, and the ride is firm and comfortable, though road noise is pronounced. Interior quality is very good. The rear-seat room is competitive in this class, but the sedan's trunk is a bit small. The hatchback increases versatility. The sportier Mazdaspeed version has a 263-hp engine. Electronic stability control is included on some trim lines. The Mazda3 sedan received a poor rating in the IIHS side-crash test when tested without the optional curtain air bags." CR.com

 

[SSMS3]

The strangest thing is the high rating even thought the best they could do 0-60 was 6.8 seconds!

quarter mile listed at 15.0 (smoke)

 

[P5w3kids]

The MS3 scored so high in their system that they had to readjust the scale for the whole category.

I've been very critical of CR's reliability research, but IMHO their road test evaluations are thorough and generally well-done. The main problem is that they don't disclose their scoring system.

They have liked other cars like the MS3. The WRX was their favorite car in this category for years, and they also like the Miata.

 

[Young Roids]

I have never liked Consumer Reports for car ratings. They always seemed way off the mark most of the stuff I saw from them.

 

[Max Freed]

Consumer reports is good for researching reliability and safety ratings about cars, that is about it. They are not about specs or getting great 1/4 mile times and really don't wax poetic like the other car magazines do.

I am pleased, however, to see that they gave the MS3 a very high rating. It only confirms what most of the MS3 owners here already know!

 

[P5w3kids]

Their process is much better with the road tests than the reliability ratings:

Consumer Reports critique

 

[Mocoso]

Consumer reports is good for researching reliability and safety ratings about cars, that is about it. They are not about specs or getting great 1/4 mile times and really don't wax poetic like the other car magazines do.

I am pleased, however, to see that they gave the MS3 a very high rating. It only confirms what most of the MS3 owners here already know!

Hey it will work wonders on our resale value down the line - good rap can never hurt

 

[HAVOC]

Consumer reports is good for researching reliability and safety ratings about cars, that is about it.

Actually they do next to Zero research into reliability the let the paying customers do that. Almost all of the reliability data comes from subscribers reporting problems.

 

[Max Freed]

Actually they do next to Zero research into reliability the let the paying customers do that. Almost all of the reliability data comes from subscribers reporting problems.

I am aware of how they gather their reliability data, perhaps I should have said "Consumer Reports is a good resource to research reliability and safety ratings..."

Better?

 

[Falconx84]

eh, I take consumer reports with a grain of salt....

The only time someone is going to write to them is if they absolutely love their car or absolutely hate it. They have to be passionate about something in order to get off their asses and say something to someone.

I lost ALL faith in them when one year they rated the Chevy Avalanche as being more capable off-road than the Land Rover Discovery.... I'd like to see an avalanche get back some of the paths I took my disco through
www.discoweb.org

 

[P5w3kids]

It's important to know the specific testing procedures. Which they don't always disclose.