New Mazda3 Gives Plenty Of Grins
Matt Degen Register Writer
As a car reviewer, I'm supposed to find the shortcomings in the vehicles I drive and relay all the good stuff regarding engine advances, improved fuel economy and the like.
When thinking about my past week behind the wheel of the newly redesigned Mazda3, I've been at a loss to find much – if anything – negative about this compact.
For 2010, Mazda has stretched the car by about 3 inches, upgraded the interior, improved fuel economy and made available a bigger engine.
My tester was the i Touring version with an MSRP of $18,350, which falls in the middle of the car's entry-level i SV ($15,795) and top-of-the-line s Grand Touring edition ($22,250).
The Mazda 3 could still be considered a budget car, but it in no way feels cheap. The cloth interior is comfortable for up to five, the trunk can easily swallow a few suitcases, and the dashboard controls feel like they were custom-made for your hands.
Then there's the 3's peppy engines and sporty tuning. Mazda touts that all its cars have the “soul of a sports car,” and that is abundantly true with the 3.
While this is no tarmac burner, the Mazda3, even with its base 2.0-liter, 148-horsepower in-line four-cylinder engine, always felt competent. Connected to a five-speed automatic transmission with optional manual-shift, the power plant happily revved to its 6,500 rpm limit, making for 0-60 times of about eight seconds and easy passing at freeway speeds.
For those who care more for luxury, upscale items such as heated seats, leather upholstery, navigation system, rain-sensing wipers and xenon headlamps are available.
Like the 2.5-liter engine, the 2.0 for this new model year has been made more fuel-efficient by calibrating the engine and decreasing drag. The result is an MPG rating of 24/33.
So what's not to like about the Mazda3? I'm still searching. Perhaps the biggest issue buyers will have is with the new front grille, which Mazda said is “purposely polarizing” with its smiling fascia.
I'm still undecided on that part. But the rest of the Mazda3 has left me with nothing but grins.
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