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Sedans Volkswagen Jetta Jetta 2006 vs Mazda3 SP23
55 messages, Last post on Feb 09, 2007 at 3:05 PM
You are in the Volkswagen Jetta Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Any so-called "institute" for public safety that conducts a side-impact test where some of the subject vehicles are equipped with optional side-impact and curtain air bags, and others do not even though they, too, can be equipped with them as options, is about as laughable as a "consumer-oriented" magazine that puts so much emphasis on the results of such a "test". My understanding is that the choice of model tested is made by the auto manufacturer not by IIHS. In other words, Mazda submitted a Mazda3 without side air bags to IIHS and not surprisingly failed the test. Any bets that they will not do this again? IIHS admitted that side crash testing is a relatively new form of testing for compacts. When the news broke it was not only a wake-up call to consumers but also to manufacturers to include side crashes as part of their safety testing. How would we feel as consumers if a publication devoted to consumer protection were to ignore IIHS test results? I think CR did the right thing in rating the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus overall as two of the top models but could not recommend these vehicles knowing that they failed an important safety test. Better that a dummy be smashed in a test than have a live passenger fail a real side crash. Personally, I hope there are more not fewer tests by the industry and others. |
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b/c the lack of side airbags... You want fun, get a motorcycle, Mazda3, or even Focus, which got even more steering feel than the Mazda3 & rides better than any Mazda3 or S40 w/ AWD or sport suspension (per CR). Only the Jetta can trump the Focus in ride comfort. I believe the 2WD S40 w/o optional sport suspension is comfy, but CR didn't test one like that despite the sedan in the picture w/ std alloys looks like the non-sport model. Nevertheless, I do intense test drives over speed bumps at relatively high speed, both cruising & braking! Unfortunately, the only comfy S40 (w/ std suspension) bottoms out the front suspension too easily, but not my more firmly dampened '05 Focus ST, & hence neither should the 3. The comfy Jetta is most likely gonna pass this test, too,
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Replying to: curiousg (Apr 26, 2005 5:51 am) Indeed, a compact car, consider its 32.2ft curb-to-curb turning circle. Oh, darn, the main thing I like about the 240 is the front passenger's long foot well, so a 5'11" frame like me can sit comfortably w/ the seat slided all the way forward to clear a limo-like leg room for the person sitting behind me. I guess it's not the most safe design after all. No wonder almost every new Volvo doesn't come w/ stretch-able leg room anymore -- excuses, excuses. Back to passive safety. A Mazda3 w/ curtain airbags shouldn't be able to withstand "T-boned by SUV" any better than its brother S40 w/ curtain airbags, which already trailed one category behind the 9-3 (champ), Galant, TL & ES330. |
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Replying to: creakid1 (Apr 27, 2005 9:08 pm) What Focus are we talking about, here, the US version or the new European Focus? I have had the opportunity to drive three different brand-new US Foci for a total of 2 months a few weeks ago. While I liked the handling compared to other or older econoboxes, I did not notice any significant difference compared to the models from 3 years ago or so. I haven't driven a Mazda3 yet, but can't believe it is worse than the Focus. I mean, they are OK, but if the Mazda is worse, what is all the buzz about? The drives I had handled surprisingly predictable but not composed; the ride had the typical choppy and bouncy feel of a light-weight car with a more European-oriented suspension. Kind-of like shoot-and-hope-for-the-best, definitely not what I would call confidence-inspiring. I don't know if there is an adequate engine available in the US, but from my experience I wouldn't trust more than 150hp in this car without suspension modifications. But then, I am used to much heavier cars with sporty aspirations... |
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Replying to: creakid1 (Apr 27, 2005 9:08 pm) Having checked your profile, I'll now warn all the car dealers in the Torrance, CA area to forbid you from test-driving any more of their cars -- for the sake of the cars, pedestrians and future owners of these abused vehicles. Meade |
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Folks, we're getting kinda far from our subject which is comparing the new Jetta to the SP23 ...
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Creakid asked me to reopen the Focus vs. Mazda3 discussion since that's one of the places we've wandered. I have done so (didn't even realize it had archived itself) and invite anyone interested in that comparo to carry on at that link. Thanks creakid! |
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| creakid1, "Ford Focus vs. Mazda3" #193, 28 Apr 2005 5:46 pm | |
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Replying to: pat (Apr 28, 2005 8:40 am) *New Jetta* Most of you probably know the new Jetta moves upmarket from the previous version - bigger, heavier, a bit more lux and more $. I have been shopping for a car to be shared with my wife, who drives only automatics, so I drove the 6-speed auto version with the 2.5L 5-cylinder, currently the only engine available. The good news: =Interior= Definitely upscale, a diametric departure from the early Jettas' economy car roots, and a notch above most other cars likely to be cross-shopped vs. the new Jetta. =Exterior= This is embarassing for a Car Guy to admit, but at a distracted first glance, side view, in the car in the showroom, I thought it was the Phaeton. Even after coming to my senses, I still saw serious hints of Phaeton toward the back half of the car, mostly the C-pillar I think. =Suspension= The ride and handling are good, sporty but not harsh. The bad news: =Drivetrain= With a 6-speed automatic, I expected smooth, refined driving dynamics. Instead, the lack of refinement was striking, with a raspy engine, not particularly strong, and a transmission completely lacking in sporting behavior and feel. I'm certain VW will improve on this, perhaps through programming tweaks and other engine options. *Mazda3 sp23* The sp23 is the optioned-out model, with a few unique features like the Bose stereo (actually just a Bose-tuned amp and Bose speakers; the head unit is the same 6-CD changer unit used in other non-sp23 models), heated seats, clear tailights (under the clear covers found on all other "S" models), minor trim items and a few other things I can't remember. If you need the fine detail, download the 15-page specs pdf from the mazdausa website. The Mazda3 gets excellent reviews from the car magazines, for interior design and features as well as driving performance and character. Even so, I was surprised, nearly shocked, when I first drove the car. Even with the 4-speed automatic, the drivetrain is amazingly refined, particularly for an economy car. Performance is more than acceptable (although I definitely look at quarter mile stats, I no longer fixate on them as in my earlier years). Handling and steering feel are excellent. The only potential negative is the small-car ride, not intrusive at this point, but occasionally noticed. This is not the same as sport-tuned stiffness, just the roughness inherent with the shorter wheelbase. Overall, the Mazda3 is a very impressive piece! *Others cross-shopped* In addition to the new Jetta and Mazda3, my short list included the Acura TSX, Volvo S40, Saab 9-2x, and Audi A3. Of all of these, the Mazda3 and A3 stood out from the others, way out. I'll see if there is somewhere to post on the A3; I labored long and hard over rationalizing the $8k - $9k premium over the Mazda3, in the end without success. Nevertheless, I am very happy with our new Mazda3 sp23! 
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TSX, S40 & Golf/Jetta w/ more leg room, but badge snobs don't agree. I don't even think the Mazda3's steering feel is that great (far from the excellent Protege's), but the other guys' simply suck. I'm not sure if the new Golf/Jetta V has more stretch-out rear leg room than the Mazda3. Does it? So congrats carguy4life, does it come w/ brown leather? Maybe I should go collect one & keep it in mint condition for years. So someone might pay high $ for it in the future, as it's discontinued in this country. It's Mazda's fault to tune this "Focus II" into "small-car ride". It's not the wheelbase, which is already longer than my Camry's. I solved that problem on my '90 Protege LX by replacing the shocks w/ Gabriels. I'm you can have a calm ride on the Mazda3 by using S40' std shocks, as CR also found "abrupt ride motion" on the Mazda3.
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