Mark Phelan, of the Detroit Free Press, took the Mazda speed 3 for a drive and, to be kind, he felt it was a bit overcooked. He thought the body kit ruined the car’s elegant lines, but his real qualms with the car lie in the powertrain department.
Phelan believes the Mazda speed 3 engine is too powerful for the small FWD car. The turbocharged 2.3L puts out 263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque put this engine within 10% of the power produced by GM’s hulking Northstar V8 (in its FWD applications). As a result, fierce torque steer negates any fun one might have punching this car through the turns.
“The 3′s powerful, free-revving four-cylinder engine simply puts out more power than the front wheels can manage,” writes Phelan. “The result was that when I nailed the accelerator, I found myself more intent on keeping it aimed straight than looking for curves to carve.”
[Full story: OVER POWERING: Mazdaspeed 3's horses are too much for steering and handling - Detroit Free Press]
