All-New 2019 Mazda3 Looks Sleek Inside And Out In Best Photos Yet

[r0tor]

Amazing that such a universally sucky setup is so widely used.

I honestly don't know if the Juke I drove was AWD or FWD, but its handling was perhaps the best thing about it.

Mazda (supposedly) is about driving dynamics at its core. Yes, the setup is widely used and sucks in every single example for what is (supposedly) a core Mazda value.

As mentioned earlier, it's just Mazda being cheap and cashing in on its past brand equity (that came at the expense of unique and costly multilink rear suspensions for the last 15 years).  Nothing more, nothing less.

[CaminoRacer]

Strong words for a car you haven't driven.

[r0tor]

Strong words for a car you haven't driven.

This forum wouldn't exist if posters couldn't have an opinion on on cars we haven't driven.

[2o6]

You know what car also has a torsion beam?

The Cobalt SS.

The 500 abarth.

The fiesta ST.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You know what car also has a torsion beam?

The Cobalt SS.

The 500 abarth.

The fiesta ST.

Don't forget the Fiesta SFE 1.0 Ecobooost.

[FoMoJo]

ehh, semi-independent. Motion of one wheel causes motion in the other. No, its not a live axle (which Lotus used for both weight and handling advantages), but its not completely independent either.

It is however likely (gasp!)- right for the application.

This is the biggest impact on vigorous driving I would think; that both wheels are impacted when one wheel goes over a bump.  Not so good for rally driving or racing in general, but likely okay for the average romp around town.

[Eye of the Tiger]

This is the biggest impact on vigorous driving I would think; that both wheels are impacted when one wheel goes over a bump.  Not so good for rally driving or racing in general, but likely okay for the average romp around town.

And it's the same for any suspension with a sway bar.

[CaminoRacer]

And it's the same for any suspension with a sway bar.

Yeah, a torsion bar is basically just a trailing arm suspension with a built-in sway bar.

[Eye of the Tiger]

My only wish is that I could also have a torsion beam in the front.

[Soup DeVille]

This is the biggest impact on vigorous driving I would think; that both wheels are impacted when one wheel goes over a bump.  Not so good for rally driving or racing in general, but likely okay for the average romp around town.

It definitely handles rough stuff with more chop and bucking than a proper gravel spec suspension would; but nobody yet has mentioned rallycross or even dirt in any form. On pavement, even a well sorted live axle can produce good handling, and sometimes has advantages over IRS suspensions.

[2o6]

My sonic has a torsion beam and it drives great. The only tendency I've noticed is maybe a little more bump steer, but in the grand scheme of things I've driven "IRS" setups that feel significantly less secure.



It's just such a silly hill to die on. The internet has latched onto "IRS" as the new way to shit on cars they've never driven.

[r0tor]

 A go kart with no suspension is great until you hit a bump... Like what happens in the real world

[FoMoJo]

Yeah, a torsion bar is basically just a trailing arm suspension with a built-in sway bar.

I suspect that the stress factors are different.

[FoMoJo]

It definitely handles rough stuff with more chop and bucking than a proper gravel spec suspension would; but nobody yet has mentioned rallycross or even dirt in any form. On pavement, even a well sorted live axle can produce good handling, and sometimes has advantages over IRS suspensions.

Certainly terrain makes a big different.  We also need to consider unsprung weight. 

[MrH]

Mazda (supposedly) is about driving dynamics at its core. Yes, the setup is widely used and sucks in every single example for what is (supposedly) a core Mazda value.

As mentioned earlier, it's just Mazda being cheap and cashing in on its past brand equity (that came at the expense of unique and costly multilink rear suspensions for the last 15 years).  Nothing more, nothing less.

Ah yes.  When I think of automotive OEMs with massive brand equity that they can cash in on, Mazda is the first one that comes to mind

[r0tor]

Ah yes.  When I think of automotive OEMs with massive brand equity that they can cash in on, Mazda is the first one that comes to mind

Strip away the "zoom zoom" equity and your pretty much left with mediocre powered cars with nice interiors (as of late) and of have died a decade ago

[12,000 RPM]

Don't forget the Fiesta SFE 1.0 Ecobooost.

And the Chevy Sonic

My sonic has a torsion beam and it drives great. The only tendency I've noticed is maybe a little more bump steer, but in the grand scheme of things I've driven "IRS" setups that feel significantly less secure.



It's just such a silly hill to die on. The internet has latched onto "IRS" as the new way to shit on cars they've never driven.

Your Sonic is tiny and doesn't get too pricey

Lets put this way.... what other $30K hatch/sedan can you buy with a torsion beam?

[Laconian]

My mom just found out that the new 3 won't have IRS, so she's buying a current gen 3 as we speak.

[FoMoJo]

My mom just found out that the new 3 won't have IRS, so she's buying a current gen 3 as we speak.

Smart woman .

[Laconian]

Actually it's more to do with risk aversion for the new engine. My dad found it very upsetting how Honda badly biffed the CR-V Earth Dreams rollout.  He thought the Japanese manufacturers were above that. He's newly skeptical of "new engine tech" like forced induction, sigh.

[FoMoJo]

Actually it's more to do with risk aversion for the new engine. My dad found it very upsetting how Honda badly biffed the CR-V Earth Dreams rollout.  He thought the Japanese manufacturers were above that. He's newly skeptical of "new engine tech" like forced induction, sigh.

Small displacement twin scroll turbo engines are excellent at this stage.  Surprising how much performance is available when needed and, yet, with careful driving, mileage is exceptional.  This is what I've found.

[2o6]

And the Chevy Sonic
Your Sonic is tiny and doesn't get too pricey

Lets put this way.... what other $30K hatch/sedan can you buy with a torsion beam?

- A Class.

- Buick Verano (old)

[12,000 RPM]

- A Class.

- Buick Verano (old)

I mean...............................

The Verano doesn't even exist anymore...............................

[Galaxy]

What about cars which use use a watt linkage? Some of the Opel/Buicks employ that.

[Soup DeVille]

What about cars which use use a watt linkage? Some of the Opel/Buicks employ that.

A Watt's linkage is a way of locating an axle so it moves freely up and down, but will not shift laterally. Its an addition to a suspension, not the suspension geometry itself; usually a used on a live axle, but can also be used on a torsion beam and some trailing arm arrangements in which case it reduces side shift.

[12,000 RPM]

I'm gonna be blunt- I don't like the exterior. Hatch has too much C pillar sheet meat as someone else put it; both look bland and a little old? Real step back from the current gen

Interior looks great though and I'm really waiting to see what's up with the powertrain, and whether or not that's getting ported to the 6. Just like with the current 3/6, I think the 6 with this design language will look incredible. Though I do wish they added some more tension or variation to the surfaces

[2o6]

I love it.

[CALL_911]

As usual, looks fantastic. Mazda and Audi don't change much between gens but it works.

[MX793]

I have mixed feelings about all of the metal that is the C pillar on the hatch.  Especially since it's not broken up by any kind of character lines.  I feel like there needs to be some kind of crease or line from the corner of the tail light to break up that big slab of metal.

[r0tor]

That ass looks terrible