Mazda 3 I Grand Touring Vs. Ford Focus SE (Part 2)

Mazda 3 I Grand Touring

To understand just how serious Mazda is about the compact segment, note that the Japanese automaker has wiped the anime smirk off the 3's face. The long hood, bulging fenders, and windswept sheetmetal suggest a car with more class and ambition than the outgoing car – and your typical compact. It's a design that Infiniti or Lexus would be fortunate to claim.

The long hood, bulging fenders, and windswept sheetmetal suggest a car with more class and ambition than the outgoing car – and your typical compact

The 3 lives up to its billing inside, with one staffer calling the cabin "Audi-like". No one will confuse this Mazda for a $60,000 car, but the 3's interior is characterized by the same attributes seen in the best luxury sedans: understated styling, high-end materials, and impressive fit quality.

The Grand Touring trim contributes to the upscale aura with dual-zone climate control, blind-spot monitoring, and leatherette seats that could pass for the real thing. The included infotainment system mimics BMW's iDrive and Audi's MMI with the screen perched atop the dash and a single oversized knob to handle audio, navigation, and Bluetooth. It’s arguably more intuitive and attractive than its inspirations, except that the volume knob is the only dedicated audio control on the center console. Without a tuning knob or seek buttons (other than those on the steering wheel), switching radio stations sometimes requires navigating to the correct screen first.

Beautifully finished inside and out, the new Mazda3 also delivers unbeatable ride-and-handling balance in the compact-car segment

Midway through our drive, as the3's lead becomes clear, C/D technical director Don Sherman points to a lonely cloud he claims has spelled out the Mazda tagline, "Zoom-Zoom." Mazda's SkyActiv technology, branded on the 3's rear hatch, is not a weather-control machine, though. Rather, it's an amalgam of engineering approaches and hardware optimizing the engine, transmission, and body structure to conjure up the 3's 29/40-mpg fuel-economy ratings.

The tangible bits are under the hood, where the four-cylinder employs direct injection, variable valve timing, and a 13:1 compression ratio. Over 750 miles, the 3's 2.0-liter outscored the Focus's by one mpg with 32. The efficiency-minded tech isn't as beneficial to straight-line performance. Even when the gas pedal is pressed to the floor, there's not much active about this SkyActiv powertrain. While the specs suggest that the 3 has the torque advantage, the engine lacks low-end urgency. The Mazda clears the quarter-mile in 16.3 seconds, just one tick behind the Ford, yet it's 0.4 second off the Focus's pace to 60 mph. It doesn't help that the Mazda's lower three gears are taller than the Focus's, despite the gearbox having one more cog.

Supple damping massages the transition between compression and rebound, setting the 3's ride apart from that of the Focus

The 155-hp four-cylinder offers redeeming qualities when revved. It is smoother and quieter than the Ford's engine and the need to shift frequently is no penalty, thanks to the six-speed's light and delightful action. A 184-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder is also available (but only with an auto, for now).

As with the Focus, the 3's finest attributes are its suspension and chassis. It weighs in at 2982 pounds, or 107 pounds less than the Ford, an advantage evident in curves. Turn off the stability control and you'll find that Mazda doesn't have anything to hide. The 3 delivers handling that's more neutral and better attuned to driver input. Its lighter steering is just as precise and alert on-center as the Focus's, and its firm, pressure-sensitive brake pedal inspires confidence. Supple damping massages the transition between compression and rebound, setting the 3's ride apart from that of the Focus. The suspension tune is compliant without compromising handling, a masterful balance that is rare for a car of this size and price.

Turn off the stability control and you'll find that Mazda doesn't have anything to hide

Back in May 2011, the old Mazda 3 handed first place to the Ford Focus because it was thirstier, short on features, and lacked the interior quality and style of the Ford. With the new 3, each of those criticisms could now be leveled at the Focus. Of course, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Mazda knew exactly where to plunge its knife. Keep your competition close, learn its faults, and strike when it's least expected - that's what frenemies do.