User Reviews

1.6 TS Petrol

Brian

Overall Rating

Only had the car a few days but so far it is an excellent choice. The car is very comfortable and drives like a dream. Also the 3 year g'tee with roadside assistance and 0% finance thrown in makes this car a very attractive deal.

1.6 Automatic

Howie Bott

Overall Rating

Problem with automatic jerky change. Although Mazda UK had a fix (re-programming gearbox), the dealers didn't know about it and blamed each other - thoroughly disillusioned with Mazda after 10 years as an owner.

1.6 Petrol TS 5 door hatchback

John D.

Overall Rating

DRIVE: Excellent on motorways, torquier than expected between 70 - 100. All day driving position. Slightly choppy ride in town or on fast windy B roads. Effective brakes. Cabin slightly noisier than average at speed. ECONOMY: Very good on long journeys especially at motorway+ speeds, disappointing (for a 1.6) in town or on short runs. INTERIOR: Roomy front and back. Good leg room for 5 average sized adults. Seats don't fold quite flat but still plenty of space - seats up or down. Takes two mountainbikes and holiday luggage for two, easily! LOOKS: Better than most, especially front, although looks slight odd from rear, shape is being copied by others. e.g. Subaru, Kia. Blue metallic best colour for showing off lines (Never seen a white one!). Interior slightly plain but effective. Reasonable storage. Good controls, especially on steering wheel. Drivers view good, although pillars slightly thick and rear window view somewhat restricted. RUNNING COSTS: should really be in a lower emissions tax bracket for a 1.6 petrol. Can be hard on front tyres (Front Wheel Drive). Original Yokohama tyres best but fronts wear quickly. Servicing costs slightly higher than average compared with equivalent models e.g. Astra. RELIABILITY: CD player replaced under warranty, otherwise bullet-proof. Paintwork solid, fairly resistant to chips/scratches. GRIPES: All round set of airbags cost extra - should really be standard. Cupholders positioned between gear stick and dashboard - awkward to get to. SUMMARY: Recommended buy. Air-con worth paying for as its effective but costs 3 or 5 mpg to run. Mazda rub strips worth buying for colour coded bumpers.