Possession of a turbodiesel engine under the hood does not mean apathy or lack of character in a compact model when it comes to power in the vicinity of 150 hp. The arrival of the Mazda 3 has altered the landscape of this segment, not very generous in the number of players, but still interesting.

Market trends and the environment police have been tempering the desires of high-power models of medium size. Mazda, however, maintains its claims to get out of the trite and it offers compact 3 2.2 turbodiesel engine 150 hp. An engine this is unusual and in this segment, but if you clear your drive does not have gaps, yields, It is austere, fine performance and consume no more than necessary, it seems logical to remain until a new generation with smaller displacement and almost the same performance comes to replace it, as has been the case of the Honda Civic.

Vivacity

Our three protagonists assert, among its many virtues, agility as a cornerstone of its bid. And to this circumstance, and the increasingly risky business to try out cars on the open road, we have seen fit to take the rutero I.N.T.A. circuit, in addition to hundreds of kilometers corresponding to your steering wheel. And there, we have highlighted details of behavior, on the open road, require incompatible pace with peace of mind.

The first finding is good, because all three models allow us a safe, simple and quick movement on any type of road. However, uneven ground Mazda 3 suffers from insufficient retention rebound damping. What ?, you will say some. Well, simply that the crest of the car flush tends to lighten the pressure on the firm. Come on, get up. This means that we must increase our caution when following a highlight a curve appears, as its turning ability is reduced. This circumstance is amplified in driving the limit-in closed- circuit turns the rear axle because more nervous than their rivals, even in rectilinear heavy braking, which meanders something.

On the open road, the DS4 so it does not convey good feelings to feel comfortably winner. An address where the transition between the rectilinear and rotation does not translate the ideal progressivity makes us have to sharpen a lot when driving really fast. However, on the track, she has left us speechless. Its high ground clearance apparent instantly forgotten. With much more grip than its two rivals -a which is no stranger ridden by tyres-, the director sends train like no other and progressiveness rear, despite being a simple rigid axle makes it a delight to control changes support for. Citroen DS4 braking is another point where outpaces its rivals incontestably, with a power and superlative mordant.

Now comes the turn of the lion share in the MQB platform, in our view, a real success of design and commercial aggressiveness. Under the Seat Leon, does not lose its intrinsic virtues and allows excellent behavior, although in this particular case the entry into action of the ESP was the earliest of the three and the front suffered more than expected with the tires mounted. Despite this, stays near the DS4, outstrip Mazda.

Mechanics

Three models, three engines. We started with novelty, the Mazda 3, though the engine is already known. With two turbochargers and engine, the credit is cut, although the virtues remain intact. Almost 170 reais CV our dyno and more than seven mkg torque over the Lion, third in this competition performance. A difference as clear as that in Mazda have chosen a very long transmission developments, as well as 60 km / h at 1,000 rpm in sixth. This means that, at legal speeds, the motor moves between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm, achieving very low consumption. And in terms of benefits, it is sufficient to satisfy its users and not allow these two rivals who are placed at its height when it comes to pulling intermediate and long marches. Another motor qualities Mazda 3 is the regime stretch so very unusual, because it can rotate force until 5,200 rpm, safely, thanks to sequential operation of the two turbochargers.

Is Seat Leon who is closer to the performance of the Mazda 3, and that your engine is less powerful and generous torque of the three. However, its lightness -there Hats off to the MQB of Volkswagen-, estimated at nearly a hundred kilos less than the Mazda, make, against the stopwatch, is really a tie, the outcome of the battle. Also its developments have been updated on the ideas of the past and pulls almost 60 km / h in sixth gear at 1,000 rpm. So, their combined consumption is as low as the Mazda, although it is configured differently, being more austere in town and slightly less on the road. Its torque curve shows that it is, perhaps, the most docile of the three, with an extraordinary escalation in accelerating away from the old brutal sensations of supercharging. Of course, as is almost standard in the Volkswagen Group, playing in medium and long marches idling can do that with surprise, the engine stalling, even though the car maintains a speed of 20 or 30 km / h, rather than automatically a push to wake us from our slumber occurs.

Citroen DS4 shows that should soon incorporate the new engine BlueHDI brand, and with automatic stop arrests and lower consumption. Today, a liter more on average consumption and also lower benefits, indicate the need for change. There will also be lengthened development, but that involves a motor with less “punch” -in this almost sobra- but better torque delivery in the range of 1,000 to 1,500 rpm. We do not want anyone to be teachers because, surely, all this is already in the chamber of Citroën DS4 for that must also undergo a slimming cure in the future.

Manor

In the end, we got to the analysis of what closer to us is driving any of the three. Mazda 3 in search of sensations that could adorn an average saloon is perceived. visual and tactile packaging, especially the direction and the shift lever, one result satisfaction by the driver. Feeling good seats and generous breadth in the front seats. Behind, the size limit for passengers are 1.80 meters high so no we are forced to shrink legs. A generous equipment with an adjusted price shows us that Mazda has been taken very seriously to reach many potential customers with this 3. Incidentally, the noise from tires is excessive when the firm is not first.

The Seat León has fineness in the equipment matched in price with Mazda, what seems paradoxical to us. Inside, the design is book, so rational and dogmatic as only a Teuton is capable of being. Comfortable, well finished and with everything in place. However, the visual quality of some materials do not support matching their specific rivals. Finally, the DS4 continues to show that its exterior beauty conditioned many practical parameters of the car: driving position, rear space, rear side windows, doors, etc. Overall, the front half is more than acceptable. From the middle, you can make reproaches their designers. Perhaps for this reason, Citroën turns in visual quality and equipment. Of course, at the expense of higher price of three.