Mazda3 adds appeal

Mazda has taken a pair of automotive scissors to its existing Mazda3 range and cut it from 19 models to 14 for 2008.

Not stopping the slashing there, the new Mazda3 C-segment line-up – in both hatchback and saloon form – has had prices chopped too. UK car buyers now have a more streamlined spectrum - complete with a host of new features - which should prove a masterstroke in terms of the manufacturers continued retail and fleet buying ambitions too.

The entry-level Mazda3 S – priced at £11,440 OTR - is a five-door hatch in 1.4-litre petrol guise or 1.6-litre diesel form. Not being quite as physically endowed as its bigger brothers, the Mazda3 S still manages to fit in some audio to keep its end up.

The Mazda3 TS has dropped the 'S' and turned the 'T' into a brand new noun all of its own – Takara.

As a four-door saloon or a five-door hatch, the word on the street is that it gives the Mazda3 buyer a whole lot more to get their mouths around when explaining what they've now got for £13,495.

The 1.6-litre petrol or diesel gets a sporty front bumper, rear spoiler, front fogs, 16” rims on the outside, a lot of music, some leather-clad driving apparatus, a trip computer and some snazzy two-tone colours on the inside. Throw another £1k at the Mazda dealer and collect an automatic.

The Mazda3 1.6-litre Sport has the one self-announced power source but makes up for this by being offered in both saloon and hatchback body forms and costing £15,205. Again, the same styling kit as the Takari - only adding a chrome exhaust and 17” alloys- as well as xenons, rear combo lamps and LED and rain sensitive wipers, whilst housekeeping on the insides sees a tidy Bose ghetto-blaster and funky black and red seating dusted down and ready to go.

The Mazda3 2.0-litre Sport comes in petrol (four or five-door ) and oil-burning version, (five-door) and gets leather seats as standard. £235-quid's-worth of hide according to the newly-priced £16,605 model.

The Mazda3 MPS is the range-topper – and most powerful car in its class – and costs £18,995 OTR. For this UK buyers will note brand new 18” alloys with a unique dark finish. As well as acknowledging how heavy-handed the Mazda seamstress has been around the seats by sewing-in some red MPS letters and piping effect.

The acceleration-happy MPS also gets a sports aero kit for its £19,495 OTR asking price; one that by fixing together side-skirting boards, a grander rear spoiler and Eibach's unique brand of low-slung suspension makes the MPS a youngsters model project.

A glut of airbags, ABS, EBD and EBA will hopefully avoid A + E for Mazda3 drivers.