What does the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus have in common?

[Alex]

I've been looking for a car, and I am currently considering the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic. Both cars seem to be well built and solid. The Mazda 3, however, does have an edge on looks and sportiness compared to the fuel efficient and reliable Civic. Both are decent in crash tests so thats not so much of a problem. I know that the Civic is 100% Honda, but I want to know what part of the Mazda's chassis/engine/body are actually Mazda's, and how much is Ford's. So far as I know, the Mazda uses a Ford Focus chassis and possibly the same suspension but with a more agressively tuned set up. Does the Mazda share the Focus' engine (2.0 or 2.3)? Does the Mazda share any electronic hardware or anything with corporate big brother Ford? Thanks in advance.

[TerrenceB]

The Mazda 3 does use the same powerplants as the Focus. I guess Ford has really improved with this new Global platform that they use on them. Mazda 3s are actually really reliable. This platform is also used on the Volvo V40. I know this because my wife used to work for Volvo. It's a good platform and Mazda still builds the car in Japan. You seem to know quite a bit about them. Anyway, you also know that the Civic is a sure bet even if it's not as fun to drive or as powerful.



**** In response to C7S answer, the Mazda 3 has the same engine as the Focus but built in Japan. The specs are identical. Also, Mazdas do use Ford engines and trannies. The B Series Trucks are Ford Rangers and my 1991 Protege LX and 1999 Protege ES both used Ford  automatic transmissions. All Mazda 626s from 1995- 2002 used Ford automatic transmissions and the 1993-2002 V6 626s used Ford engines. 2000-2006 Mazda MPVs used Ford Duratec V6 engines (it's even written on the engine). 1988-1989 Mazda 323s even used Ford automatic transmissions. Contrary to what you said, Mazdas do use Ford powerplants and drivetrains.

[emiller1998]

Assuming you are in the US not too much.  The Mazda3 shares its platform with the European Focus and the Volvo the 1st guy mentioned (American one is still the old platform).  The engines are the same Duratec 4 cylinders that are Mazda designed (Volvo has their own engines).  They are all good cars but the new platform is better than the old one.  That gives the Mazda an advantage.  It does cost a little more though.  I think its worth it but thats really up to the person buying it.

[KristianK]

Mazda 3 and Focus share some parts (some engines, chassis platform) but there are some important points about that.

The questions should be how much of Ford is actually a Mazda:-)



1. Chassis was developed by Volvo, suspension by Mazda.

2. Engines in question were actually developed by Mazda as MZR engines and are used by Ford since 2004 branded as Duratec.



It's important to realize that a engine is just a raw component and every company tweaks it to suit their own needs (it's like in motorsport where you have several teams using the same engine but sometimes they miles apart on the track).



Then there's thing how manufacturer utilizes an engine in a car and how it works with other components.



That gives the edge to Mazda by a landslide. If you look at TUV (German industrial Technical Monitoring Association) reliability report, the most reliable car in Europe is Mazda 3.



http://news.auto.cz/aktuality/auto-bild-tv-report-2008-vozy-stari-2-3-roky-lidove-mazdy-momentalne-vladnou.html

It's in Czech (I can't speak German to find it on the web) but if you scroll down you'll find a table based on percentage of cars with serious flaw. It's just numbers and cars' names.



TUV reports are highly reliable and respected. TUV is an independent body and data are gathered from more than 7 million vehicles in Germany. The minimum for each model is 10,000 cars.



As for electrics...

Electrical systems in my Mazda 3 (2007, 1.6 liter auto) were made by Mitsubishi... apparently, they work better with Japanese parts:-)

I know for sure that Ford wirings were partially made in Slovakia in the past in a plant belonging to Siemens subsidiary (factory in my native town). I don't think Focus and 3 share any electronics, from what I know Mazda is using their own ECU (electronics control unit)



Last but not leas... Focus is made in Mexico and USA, European models in Spain and Germany.



Mazda 3 is "Made in Japan". And that means a lot.



Mazda 3 has 8 airbags, ABS is standard, mid-level trims have DSC and TCS as standard... I had mine for a year now and I'm absolutely satisfied.



On more personal level, I found Mazda's driver's ergonomics superior to Focus. The layout of controls is much better, for example, the 2007 Focus I test-drove for my friend (Mazda 3 was out of her budget and Ford had some Christmas sale going on) had CD player controls not on the steering wheel but on the steering column, so I had to take my left hand off the wheel anyway to turn the volume up or down. Also, Mazda headlamps and lights are operated via indicator bar, in Ford you have to reach for bottom left corner of the dashboard. And the glovebox on Mazda was bigger :-)))



Hope that helps.

[C7S]

Don't beleive what anyone says. They only share the chassis. That is all.

Mazda uses its own engine, transmission, exhaust system, and suspension system. Their are no Fod made parts on any Mazda, but their are Mazda made parts on some Ford cars.



Ford uses their own engine, transmission, and exhaust system. They do share some suspension parts.



The cars have different performance, different weight, different engine sizes, and different gas mileage.



Ford does not own all of Mazda. They only own a small percentage and they cannot use designs from Mazda unless Mazda says it is okay. Mazda let them use the same chassis and some suspension parts. The chassis is what the car is laying down on.

The Mazda and Ford have similar handling because they have the same chassis and similar suspension systems.