Mazda 3 Sport Black 2016 review ~ station of gear

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11 Apr, 2016 9:00am Lawrence Allan

Limited-edition Mazda 3 Sport Black hatch is packed with kit, but how does it drive?

Mazda has increased the desirability of its small hatchback range with a couple of Sport Black limited editions. We've already tried the new trim on the Mazda 2 supermini, and now the same treatment has been applied to the larger 3 family hatch.

• Mazda 2 Sport Black review

Given that the 3 is aimed at a more mature market than the 2, there’s no sign of the smaller car’s garish optional decals. Instead, the 3 comes with a gloss black bodykit that includes a front splitter, side skirts, rear bumper, mirrors and a roof spoiler. Black 18-inch alloy wheels are thrown in as well.

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Unusually, given the ‘Black’ in the name, your only two colour choices are metallic red or the pearlescent Snowflake white we have here. Inside, the sole addition you’ll find is smart leather and suede seat upholstery. The add-ons improve the appearance of the great-looking hatch for a reasonable £550 over Sport Nav spec.

• Best hatchbacks to buy right now

Unfortunately, Mazda has restricted the trim to just one engine: the 118bhp 2.0-litre petrol. It’s both efficient for a non-turbo petrol and reasonably peppy, taking care of the 0-62mph sprint in 8.9 seconds.

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It does require lots of revs to get going, however, which will leave keen drivers yearning after the brisker 163bhp version or the excellent 2.2-litre diesel. That’s a shame, because the 3 is still one of the most fun family cars to drive, and feels truly agile and sporty on the road. Only the firm ride and road noise detract from the experience.

Still, for those not interested in outright speed the Mazda 3 remains a competitive car, with a solid and driver-focused cabin, decent practicality and a strong equipment list.

For those more bothered about style than performance, the Mazda 3 Sport Black looks fantastic and doesn’t command a big premium over a standard Sport Nav version. Only 800 examples will be made, though, so if you want one, you’ll have to move quickly. That said, we’d prefer to spend a bit extra for the more powerful diesel engine, or indeed step up to the quicker SEAT Leon FR for just £500 more.

Model: Mazda 3 Sport Black
Price: £20,995
Engine : 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol
Power/torque: 118bhp/210Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive

0-62mph: 8.9 seconds
Top speed: 121mph
Economy/CO2: 55.4mpg/119g/km
On sale: Now

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