BBC Topgear Road Test - August 01 1997 Mazda - 323 Saloon

They say power corrupts. Well, flashy motors corrupt too – take my word for it. It might be deeply annoying to see some git cruising along with his arm hanging out the window, posing in the latest bit of expensive kit; but it’s really rather difficult not to do exactly the same when you’re handed the keys to an equally flash and pose-worthy motor.

In this case, however, the windows were firmly shut, my arms were held straight ahead and I avoided town centres just for fear of being seen when I took the 323 Saloon out for a trundle. I fear that the only place my deeply dull looking transport would have been appreciated would have been with the false teeth brigade on Worthing promenade, but today I was sticking only to uninhabited areas.

The boot is reasonably spacious – witness admittedly tasteless shot, bottom right – but that’s about the nicest thing I can find to say about the four-door 323. It felt as though I was trapped in a Quantum Leap-style blast back to the past and was, in fact, testing the spanking new ’79 Mazda 323 rather than a car that’s only been in the showrooms for a couple of months. Even the seat fabrics looked like they were borrowed from a pair of ’70s style nylon underpants, while the dashboard had a similarly dated, unadventurous look to it. At least the switches are simply laid out, there’s a decent amount of leg, head and elbow room up front and the steering wheel tilts up and down to give a comfortable driving position on long drives down nice, deserted country lanes. Space for passengers in the back is rather more restricted, but passengers weren’t on the agenda for me anyway.

The 1.5-litre engine makes a high-pitched whizzy sound which gets a little grating at around 70mph, although the 90bhp on offer is enough to hustle you along at a reasonable lick giving 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds and a 109mph top trundle. Behaviour through the twisties is as unexciting as the exterior and the 323 offers up plenty of body roll – there’s no bonus points for comfort either, with a lumpy ride over ruts, recently deceased hedgehogs, etc.

Oh, I’ve found something else that’s nice to say about the Mazda – it’s got plenty of equipment as standard. In GXi spec Mazda’s generosity stretches to airbags for the driver and passenger, central locking, (light) power-assisted steering, electric front windows and a sunroof. The only problem is that for the £12,960 asking price you could buy any VW Polo Saloon you want – and even that ugly-bug is a better pose than the 323.