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2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Review

1,661 views · Published 1 November 2017 · 10:55 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: Shooting Cars · 2017 · Autos & Vehicles

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My thoughts on the 2013 Mazdaspeed 3 with a 2.3L turbocharged inline 4 cylinder engine, and 6 speed manual gearbox:

 Get any idea of the Ford Focus ST out of your head. Well, kinda. The Mazdaspeed 3, or Speed 3 for the rest of this review, shares roots with the Focus ST. At the time the Speed 3 was conceived, Ford had a controlling share in Mazda. So on paper, both cars look similar. They’re both engines turbo charged 4 cylinders, both only came manual, both are front wheel drive, and both are 5 door hatch backs. Sure the Speed 3 has a 2.3L over the 2.0L of the ST, what’s .3L ever done?

 That being said, I would take the speed3 over the ST any day of the week. There is no question in my mind, I can’t fathom a world in which I would want the ST more than the speed3. Why is that? Why does the speed 3 make the ST look like a dollar store toy, when both cars are nearly identical on paper? A few small reasons:

The first one is a small one: the shifter location. It just felt better and more natural. The ST’s shifter was further up on the dash, while the speed 3’s was in a more conventional location. While it’s not a make or break change, I just prefer having the shifter in a spot I’m used to. What can I say, I’m old school. 

 The second difference is the boost gauge. While both cars feature boost gauges somewhere on their dash board, the one in the mazda is real. No, the ST’s gauge isn’t fake, but it doesn’t measure negative pressure, or vacuum. Mazda’s gauge, while digital, does measure boost psi, as well as vacuum psi. It’s nice to know a gauge is giving me all of the available information, not just trying to show off that it has a turbo *cough cough, Focus ST*

 The last one is a personal one, and that’s the Mazda name. I’m a Mazda fanboy, I love mazdas. Yes I know Ford pretty much made the car, and that it’s basically a Ford product, but something in my head just likes the Mazda name better. I like that Mazda has always been the underdog of the Japanese automotive market. 

 So what did I take away from driving the 2nd gen mazdaspeed 3? That I want one. Really bad. Speed3s make amazing dailies, while also having the potential to keep up with tuned evos and STI’s when given the right bolt-ons and a solid tune. I would take the Speed3 over it’s more popular ST cousin.

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