Mazda has added yet another variant to its most popular model, the Mazda3, this time a turbo-diesel engine. The mainstream models in the latest Mazda3 have only been on sale in Australia since April, but are already the number-one selling car to private buyers in this country.

The high-performance Mazda3 MPS hit Aussie roads in July and is proving to be a superior vehicle to the first-generation model, particularly in the area of refinement and outright performance.

Now a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is on the import list. This 110 kW engine not only trims fuel bills, but also provides plenty of performance. Such are the high-tech features in the latest generation of common-rail diesel engines that the latest Mazda powerplant can shift the ‘3 from rest to 100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds. More importantly in real life situations, it has the grunt to get you out and around a slow vehicle in an overtaking situation. For example it accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in third gear in only 6.1 seconds.

The engine is fitted with a smaller turbo than was used in the superseded model and this should result in reduced lag and a greater willingness to rev. At this stage we have only participated in an extensive technical presentation of the new Mazda3 turbo-diesel. We will borrow one for our usual one week road test soon and advise you on our findings shortly afterwards.

Japanese car buyers really aren’t into diesel engines, regarding them as powerplants for commercial vehicles rather than passenger models. That may change later as the Japanese become ever more serious about the European market. But in the meantime the new MZR-CD comes only with a six-speed manual gearbox, with no automatic option in sight.