Performance Review: Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed - [2011]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mazda 3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.This particular Mazda 3 has a 2261cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 3 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 3's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1488 kgs (3280 lbs) this makes the Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed in the same weight category as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Mazda 3 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp)

In terms of power the 2261cc 16V St4 engine produces 263 bhp (196 kW) @ 5500 rpm similar to the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 280 lb-ft (379.6 Nm) @ 3000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mazda 3 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2017 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive (201.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mazda 3.

The Mazda 3 has a Power to weight ratio of 176.7 bhp per ton and 188.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2011 3 competing with the 2017 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive (201.6 bhp per ton) or the 2016 Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 V6 Supercharged (201.5 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mazda 3 generating around 188.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1961 Jaguar E Type 3.8L Roadster (213.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 2008 Aston-Martin Vantage V8 (212.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.0 secs, this made the Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed as fast as the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (5.80 secs) the or the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs). This Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 3 and the 1999 Subaru Impreza RB5 - Classic

When talking about the performance of the Mazda 3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.29 secs @ 95.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1999 Subaru Impreza RB5 - Classic (14.22 secs), the 2020 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo (14.22 secs), and the 2020 KIA Stinger GT2 3.3 V6 Turbo (14.22 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2011 version of the Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 3 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2011 Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2011 3 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mazda

Car Comparison