Mazda 3 vs Hyundai i30 vs Mitsi Lancer

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Mazda 3 vs Hyundai i30 vs Mitsi Lancer

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#1302272 11-May-2015 21:17

alasta: As others have said the Lancer is really aging - the current generation was launched here in 2007 and doesn't appear to have had a major update since. I hired one in Australia a couple of years ago and thought that it felt cheap - the switchgear almost seemed as if it was going to fall apart in my hands - but these vehicles are very affordable to buy new so they're obviously designed to meet the price point.

The Mazda 3 isn't entirely to my tastes because of a couple of minor issues that probably wouldn't bother most people. However it is widely regarded in the motoring press as being top of its class and consumers seem to consider it to be highly desirable.

The i30 improved markedly with the launch of the current generation back around 2013. It's a very good vehicle but some might consider it a bit dull compared with the Mazda.

There are issues with any car though. Would be interested in the issues you don't like. One of the things I don't like is istop, which stops the engine when you aren't moving, and starts it again when you need to move. You can't turn it off permanently either, although there are work arounds, such as tilting the wheel when you stop. The heads up display is also not the greatest, and it is a pain to adjust it each time a different driver drives the car. Although these things aren't just restricted to the 3.

alasta

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#1302282 11-May-2015 21:39

mattwnz: There are issues with any car though. Would be interested in the issues you don't like.

I was avoiding mentioning specifics for fear of "who cares" comments but since you asked I don't like the Bose audio in the SP25 variants and I don't like the lack of daytime running lights on all but the most expensive variant. It's just a personal thing, not a general critique of the car.

One of the things I don't like is istop, which stops the engine when you aren't moving, and starts it again when you need to move.

We have CX5s at work and I thought I heard one of my colleagues say that the ISG only activates when you apply extra pressure to the brake pedal, but I've never driven the thing myself so I may have misunderstood.

jonathan18

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#1302283 11-May-2015 21:40

Interested in knowing why you'd want to permanently switch off iStop, as I think it is probably a significant contribution to these cars' better fuel economy, especially in the urban environment.

My Mazda 6 has done something over 20k km yet according to iStop readings has between stopped at lights etc for over 15 hours over its two year life thus far. That's a lot of fuel saved...

I think it's also a matter of getting used to using it on a daily basis, as I have no issue ensuring iStop doesn't engage by simply not applying full pressure to the brakes, which is useful for situations like roundabouts.

richms

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#1302348 11-May-2015 22:35

How does it keep the aircon cool when it stops the engine? How long does it take to get moving? How fast is it to get going?

Could this be why I keep getting stuck behind people in new cars at lights that take 4-5 seconds to get moving from when the light goes green or is it prettymuch instant?

Richard rich.ms

mattwnz

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#1302355 11-May-2015 22:48

jonathan18: Interested in knowing why you'd want to permanently switch off iStop, as I think it is probably a significant contribution to these cars' better fuel economy, especially in the urban environment.

My Mazda 6 has done something over 20k km yet according to iStop readings has between stopped at lights etc for over 15 hours over its two year life thus far. That's a lot of fuel saved...

I think it's also a matter of getting used to using it on a daily basis, as I have no issue ensuring iStop doesn't engage by simply not applying full pressure to the brakes, which is useful for situations like roundabouts.

It is partly the fact that you can't turn it off, so the car company has made that decision for you. You can turn it off, but when you restart the car, by default it is on again. Also don't like the slight judder you get from the engine restarting. Interesting though that the dealer also told us the tricks to stop it activating as he said many people didn't like it. But I can imagine it would be good when driving in the city for saving fuel.

mattwnz

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#1302357 11-May-2015 22:50

richms: How does it keep the aircon cool when it stops the engine? How long does it take to get moving? How fast is it to get going?

Could this be why I keep getting stuck behind people in new cars at lights that take 4-5 seconds to get moving from when the light goes green or is it prettymuch instant?

Everything continues to work. It restarts in a fraction of a second. I believe some other brands have it too, but apparently the mazda system is one of the fastest at restarting.

mattwnz

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#1302359 11-May-2015 22:55

alasta:
mattwnz: There are issues with any car though. Would be interested in the issues you don't like.

I was avoiding mentioning specifics for fear of "who cares" comments but since you asked I don't like the Bose audio in the SP25 variants and I don't like the lack of daytime running lights on all but the most expensive variant. It's just a personal thing, not a general critique of the car.

One of the things I don't like is istop, which stops the engine when you aren't moving, and starts it again when you need to move.

We have CX5s at work and I thought I heard one of my colleagues say that the ISG only activates when you apply extra pressure to the brake pedal, but I've never driven the thing myself so I may have misunderstood.

In a similar vain, what I don't like is that mazda only put all their safety features in the top of the range models. So if you want all those safety features like lane departure correction, or radar cruise control, or low speed automatic braking, you have to get the fully loaded model with leather seats, sun roof, which are things I don't care for. But NZ is a smaller market so they have to limit the models.

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nakedmolerat

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#1302360 11-May-2015 22:56

richms: How does it keep the aircon cool when it stops the engine? How long does it take to get moving? How fast is it to get going?

Could this be why I keep getting stuck behind people in new cars at lights that take 4-5 seconds to get moving from when the light goes green or is it prettymuch instant?

It takes milliseconds to start - you should not notice the difference at all.

benokobi

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#1302361 11-May-2015 22:56

mattwnz:
richms: How does it keep the aircon cool when it stops the engine? How long does it take to get moving? How fast is it to get going?

Could this be why I keep getting stuck behind people in new cars at lights that take 4-5 seconds to get moving from when the light goes green or is it prettymuch instant?

Everything continues to work. It restarts in a fraction of a second. I believe some other brands have it too, but apparently the mazda system is one of the fastest at restarting.

Most hybrids have the stop/start and most if not all of the new Mercedes car have this built in also. They keep the aircon cool by building in a larger than usual battery.

nakedmolerat

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#1302362 11-May-2015 22:59

mattwnz: .....
In a similar vain, what I don't like is that mazda only put all their safety features in the top of the range models. So if you want all those safety features like lane departure correction, or radar cruise control, or low speed automatic braking, you have to get the fully loaded model with leather seats, sun roof, which are things I don't care for. But NZ is a smaller market so they have to limit the models.

Agree, agree, agree.

It pisses me off when the top model *always* come with leather seats! I hate leather seats!

OP: Have you look at maybe mitsubishi outlander PHEV? I don't recommend diesel car if you are just going to use it around town.

Batman

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#1302412 12-May-2015 07:09

the last time I drove Mazdas you can hear every stone and every puddle the rear tyre rolls over. and I have bad hearing. admittedly that was a while ago. have they fixed their non existent sound insulation?

scuwp

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#1302419 12-May-2015 07:32

joker97: the last time I drove Mazdas you can hear every stone and every puddle the rear tyre rolls over. and I have bad hearing. admittedly that was a while ago. have they fixed their non existent sound insulation?

Yes. Anything from about 2006 onward has progressively got better.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

jonathan18

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#1302437 12-May-2015 08:12

mattwnz: In a similar vain, what I don't like is that mazda only put all their safety features in the top of the range models. So if you want all those safety features like lane departure correction, or radar cruise control, or low speed automatic braking, you have to get the fully loaded model with leather seats, sun roof, which are things I don't care for. But NZ is a smaller market so they have to limit the models.

Totally agree - it was solely for the safety/control features that we decided to purchase the Limited in the Mazda 6 range, because at that stage most of the best features were limited to that model . I've got used to the leather (helps with young kids!), but the sun roof is more a gimmick than anything useful (and simply adds weight).

The technology is starting to filter down, though; looking at the more recent models, including the revised 6, you'll see some of the features such as blind spot monitoring/rear traffic alert are now in the GSX. However, I'd still be willing to pay for the Limited if it was my main car for non-urban driving, given that's the only model with adaptive cruise control.

jonathan18

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#1302441 12-May-2015 08:21

richms: How does it keep the aircon cool when it stops the engine? How long does it take to get moving? How fast is it to get going?

Could this be why I keep getting stuck behind people in new cars at lights that take 4-5 seconds to get moving from when the light goes green or is it prettymuch instant?

No, as others have mentioned, the delay to start up the engine is so minimal this isn't a problem - one dealer I spoke to claimed it's faster than the time it takes to get your foot from the brake to the accelerator. The only time it causes a meaningful delay is when the system appears to get a bit confused when one releases the brake almost immediately after iStop has engaged - it can take quite a bit longer to start at that point. The trick here, as I mentioned earlier, is to simply apply the correct amount of pressure for the situation so the iStop doesn't engage in such circumstances. Honestly, I feel some of those who don't stop-start technology simply don't know how to use it properly. I don't find the 'juddering' of the engine re-starting an issue, and we've got a diesel.

Re aircon - that's a more tricky situation. Mazdas also use a form of regenerative braking, where the energy is stored in a capacitor (i-ELOOP). This is then used to power the electrics (including aircon), including when iStop is engaged. So, as long as the capacitor has some charge, the aircon will run fine without the engine. Upon the capacitor losing all charge, the engine kicks back in. I guess this will mean iStop has less impact on fuel economy in warm and/or muggy places like Akld.

MikeAqua

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#1302454 12-May-2015 08:48

With Mazda 3 the base model comes with front back and side airbags, reversing camera and of course ABS and stability control.

The mid range adds blind spot warning, parking sensors and rear cross traffic warning. Mid range also comes with GPS, and I guess easy navigation adds some safety. I'm dubious about how much value radar cruise control, auto-braking and lane departure warning add. I can see auto-braking being a hazard in some circumstances.

It is quiet and has comfy, supportive seats.

Will think about the 2.5, but obviously it adds to price, weight and fuel. The 2.0 is very nicely balanced, will the 2.5 be as nicely balanced with the heavier engine.

Mike

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