Mazda’s new math involves taking some economy and reducing the “zoom, zoom” spin but keeping the fun driving characteristics. Add four doors plus a convenient hatch, throw in some new equipment and the sum of all these parts is a car that’s flexible, decent on gas but not boring to drive.
During the summer, driving excitement was not a prime consideration for many vehicle owners -- especially those who were seeking to dump their behemoth SUVs for whatever economy cars they could find on dealer’s lots.
For those of you that didn’t or couldn’t unload a thirsty SUV and are looking for a small car with decent fuel mileage, flexibility and some driving fun, the Mazda3 five-door is worth checking out.
Mazda has really prolonged the life of the compact 3 line of cars as they have been around for almost six years and still look relatively fresh. The Mazda3 is the company's best-selling vehicle worldwide, and one in three Mazdas sold is a Mazda3. A new 2010 sedan model was just introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week (a five-door hatch will arrive later), but right now the 2009 model year is upon us. I had not driven a Mazda3 in a while so during the evaluation period, I felt like I was reacquainting myself with an old friend.
The Mazda3 line received many new and upgraded features this past summer that carryover into the 2009 model. Most of the changes are under the skin with new options and packages now available. My old friend greeted me in the form of an “s” Touring five-door model.
The “zoom, zoom” for the Mazda3 line includes the four-cylinder MZR 2.0-liter for “i” models and four-cylinder MZR 2.3-liter on “s” models. The 2.3-liter engine produces 156 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 150 pound-feet at 4,500 rpm. Both 2.0- and 2.3-liter engines continue to employ a high-accuracy electronic throttle control, along with sequential valve timing (S VT). The test car came with the 2.3-liter engine and a five speed manual transmission. This combo is rated at 22 city mpg and 29 highway mpg. I pulled down a respectable 28 mpg in combined driving. Yes, 28 mpg is nothing to do cartwheels over, but this vehicle can also hold five passengers and burn up a corner if called upon to do so. Typically when the mpg goes up the fun/flexibility goes down.
Mazda tried to jazz up the interior with a design that slants more toward the sporty RX-8 than an economy car. The test car came with a black interior, and while Mazda boasts that “attention was paid to the interior quality on all models,” you can’t help but zero-in on the glossy black center insert on the dash that looks like inexpensive shiny black plastic that will scratch easily. I also did not like the door panels with their textured plastic surfaces and some of the hard plastic surfaces throughout. The “s” Touring models feature standard cloth seating, along with adjustable height and lumbar driver’s seat. The seats lean toward the sporty side with decent bolstering and good adjustment.
Standard interior features include a three-spoke steering wheel with audio controls, four-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, Sirius Satellite Radio compatibility, auxiliary audio input jack and tilt-and-telescoping steering column. Additional standard features include, cruise control, air conditioning, trip computer, power windows/door mirrors, rear defogger and keyless entry. The electroluminescent gauges are a nice upscale feature and I liked the center armrest and the leather covered steering wheel.
The five-door will hold four or five in a pinch in tight confines. For two adults upfront with two or three small children in the rear, the Mazda3 still has plenty of front and rear head room and leg room. With the second row 60/40 split rear seats up there is 17.1 cubic-feet of rear storage space. A handy, standard cargo management system helps to secure items.
Driving excitement in a car aiming for fuel economy would appear to be a mismatch but the 3 can deliver. The five-door does not have neck snapping acceleration, nor will it take on a curvy road like its Miata cousin. However, it does provide good feedback, has some power and keeps you in touch with the road.
Mazda3’s suspension combines front independent MacPherson struts with a rear multi-link design with front and rear stabilizer bar. The 3 is a front-wheel drive vehicle, so you do get yanked around a bit but not as severe as other competitive compacts.
Working the stick I squeezed as much power out of the engine as I could. Acceleration was good and the gear spacing is engineered to take advantage of low-end torque. The manual is very fluid with quick shifts. The engine whines a bit in the top gears, but doesn’t gasp and has enough power in reserve to pass.
The test car was surprisingly nimble and evenly balanced. The standard 17-inch tires have some bite and standard dynamic stability control (DSC) along with standard traction control help keep wheel spin and direction in check. During my time with this car, I was able to feel comfortable tossing it progressively deeper into corners and easing off the brakes in the twisties. Anti-lock brakes are optional, so if you’re on a budget, skip options like the stereo upgrade and get ABS. You can always add a better stereo later. The steering is very communicative and suffers zero lag time or “dull” spots. This car felt very solid and doesn’t twitch or flex while cornering hard.
Around town the ride is comfortable with a bit of firmness dialed in. Mazda engineers turned the wick up a bit and weeded out the “mush” that a lot of standard compact class cars suffer from.
The pricing structure is also tight with an “s” Touring model starting at around $19K. The test car added satellite radio for $430 and a moonroof and six-CD changer for $890. Toss in the destination charge, and you’re looking at roughly $21K for a compact five-door with a sporty angle and better fuel economy than an SUV.
Other competitive cars for consideration include the excellent Scion xB, proven Honda Civic, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Elantra and retro Chevrolet HHR.
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