Recently test drove both. I’m looking for a potential replacement for an aging, full bolt on Mazdaspeed3 and a CX-30 (would be nice to consolidate down to one vehicle.)
Interior is the same on both (that lovely red leather). The N/A Skyactiv 2.5 pulls nicely from idle and is enough to push you back in the seat once the tach sweeps over 5 grand. It did not feel lacking in power and while it’s no sledgehammer like the DISI in the MS3, it’s more than adequate for public roads with 191hp. The shifter/clutch combo is fantastic and you can easily heel/toe this car just like the Speed. Handling is good, it rotates well, but not quite as good as the Speed (more body roll on a spirited back road drive), and the car is under-tired IMO, but the suspension is far more compliant over rough surfaces even with the torsion beam. The Speed is a hardcore car and kind of beats you up but as a guy who’s over 40 now, which is why I stopped dailying it, and the new 3 feels easier on the back.
The Turbo is great, I would totally rock one of them as a fast cruiser, but I have to give it a zonk for the SUV-like power delivery that falls off over 4k and artificial engine noise from the speakers (really, Mazda?) Also felt heavier over the front axle than the 3 manual, which is a given given a turbo, intercooler, plumbing, and heavier engine internals to take the boost. Finally, it’s an automatic, and not a particularly crisp shifting one, and as such, there’s just less to do, less engagement, less moment to moment fun outside of onramp blasts. You drive the 3 manual with all four limbs. My arm and hand, and left foot, are a piece of the powertrain.
Anyway, the N/A manual feels like an enthusiast gem that gets slept on more than it should. I had a buzz after driving it that I didn’t get off the Turbo.
Similar boat here, owned mine since new, so nearly 12 years now. Was deep into the old Mazdaspeedforums scene, with meetups with other owners, modding, etc. But now most of my driving is school dropoffs, grocery runs, and a short commute. Guess I got old. Barely even a chance to spool the turbo most days, and as you probably recall, the MS3 isn’t that great off boost. It’s not fast. And you’re still dealing with that heavy clutch and dual mass flywheel each shift. And stiff suspension, etc. They are hardcore cars.
There’s that, and the fact that these cars are now entering that netherworld of too old to be supported by the OEMs (got turned away by my dealer for a clutch job recently despite practically begging them) yet are not desirable, appreciating classics like, say, a Mitsubishi Evo. The ownership base for the Speeds has gone downmarket toward kids who are beating the hell out of half-dead examples of the cars, along with a tiny smattering a hardcore owners with built cars who’ll never sell (like over on Mazdaspeeds.org). I don’t have time to work on the car myself, so I take it to a quality independent, but as you know these cars are maintenance queens and just keeping them in good running order isn’t cheap when little things need attention and you’re paying shop rates of $165 an hour. The idea of a new 3 with a warranty that captures 90% of the MS3 experience during daily, responsible driving is awfully compelling.