Mazda has been on a winning streak with a reputation
for producing high quality small, but affordable
vehicles. The Miata has been a favorite in the
affordable sports car category since it was introduced
over a decade ago. Then came the Mazda 6 and
in 2004 the excellent Mazda3 replaced the fading
Protégé in
the entry-level category.
The 3 is available as a sedan in two trim levels (the base "i" and
the upgraded "s") or a four-door hatchback, available only in the "s." A
performance-oriented Mazda3Speed is also available for 2007. The trims are further
broken down to Sport, Touring and Grand Touring (only on the s).
Base i Sport
sedans have basic features like a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and AM/FM
CD stereo. Options include air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof
and a six-disc CD changer. Upgrading to the i Touring is recommended, and well
worth the $2400 it will cost for standard air conditioning, power accessories,
cruise control, keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with satellite
audio and cruise controls, and higher-grade cloth upholstery. Truthfully, we
strongly advise avoiding any model without safety features like anti-lock brakes,
side-impact and side-curtain airbags (a $395 option package all models except
for the s Touring and Grand Touring sedans, where they come as standard equipment).
Traction and stability control are available only on the s Touring and Grand
Touring editions of both the sedan and hatchback. These safety omissions are
serious oversights, in our opinion. In fact, models without side airbags scored
a lowest rating of "Poor" from the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety, and received three out of five stars in government crash tests.
But, equip the Mazda3 with airbags, and you have an exceptional vehicle for a
great value. All Mazda3s come standard with a five-speed manual transmission,
with four-speed automatic as an option on i versions and five-speed automatic
optional on s models. Upgrade to the s and you'll get 160 horsepower from
the four-cylinder engine, up from 150 on the i.
The upgraded engine in the s
provides great power, but even the base model produces more power than competitors
Toyota Matrix and Ford Focus, which eke out about 130 and 136, respectively.
My tester for the week was the hatchback, a sporty little car that, at first
glance, can easily be mistaken for Matrix or the Pontiac Vibe. Inside, however,
drivers expecting typical "economy" styling will be pleasantly surprised.
Features like redundant audio controls on the steering wheel are a nice touch.
And I found the running console lights that respond when the audio system is
powered off or on, or when the volume is adjusted, to be a cool touch. But if
you disagree, you can always turn them off.
The seats were bolstered for support, but comfortable, and legroom for both front
and rear passengers is reasonable for a car in this class. On the downside,
in my opinion carmakers should abolish seat adjustment mechanisms that involve
manually turning a dial. Just put in a lever that I can use to adjust the
seat back.
Well-mannered and smooth on the road, the 3 pleases again. The suspension is
surprisingly firm and the 3 is genuinely fun to drive.
Overall, there's not much negative to say about the Mazda3. Again, side-curtain
airbags are options worth the investment on all models, but it's refreshing
to discover a car that's both affordable and fun to drive. This car is
a hidden gem that just might make you think about downsizing rather than upgrading.
