Mazda is on a big of a hot streak right now, especially with the very well-received Mazda6, their midsize offering which has impressed many critics.
I recently got the chance to test-drive their one-size smaller Mazda3, a compact sedan redesigned for 2014 in a similar vein as the Mazda6, and I’m back with a full report. It’s got a lot of tough competition in this segment (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Dodge Dart, etc.), so how does it hold up?
LOOKS
The Mazda3 S 5-door Grand Touring model that I tested had a sharp design, modeled after the Mazda6. It comes in sedan and hatchback models.
And while it is a compact car, there is an impressive amount of room inside, especially in the back seat, where I could very comfortably seat three and even fit a child car seat without being cramped. I’m just over six feet tall, so when I get in back of compact cars it is usually uncomfortable; that wasn’t the case here.
There is also plenty of storage room in back for a compact car, plus you can fold down the seats to increase your storage area.
Also impressive on the inside is the quality of materials used; Just because this is a small car doesn’t mean it is built cheaply. It feels pretty upscale, actually.
ENGINE, PERFORMANCE
Among the most important things to consider when choosing a car is, well, how it drives.
The Mazda3 I tested came equipped with a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that provided 84 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission with sport mode. (some versions of the Mazda3 offer manual transmissions, too).
The translation to real life from those numbers is that the Mazda3 provides a very zippy drive when you hit the gas, along with handling that is responsive, and that means an overall fun drive.
The downside: It’s not going to knock your socks off in terms of power, so if that’s what you want you’re going to be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, because compared to the rest of the compact car segment these are really good numbers; but if you want real power under the hood you’re going to have to move up a segment.
MPG
I got about 32 mpg, right in line with the official numbers (28 city/38 highway/32 combined). That’s a very good number that is on par with the main competition the Mazda3 faces. Mazda’s SkyActiv approach to trimming weight from almost every part used in their cars contributes to this ability to stay competitive in the mpg category.
TECH, OTHER FEATURES
There were lots of cool touches on the Mazda3 I tested including uniique (but somewhat awkward) command dial and controls for your music, etc., in the center console area of the car. It took a while to get used to controlling the vehicle’s entertainment this way, but I eventually got used to it. It’s one of those unique features people will either love or hate.
The Grand Touring model I tested also had a strong, booming 9-speaker Bose sound system that is an optional feature.
Safety is on everyone’s mind on the roads, and there are many features offered on the Mazda3 in that realm which were very helpful during my test period. Those included the lane-departure warning system, blind spot monitoring (a feature that has probably saved many lives over the years), and a rear cross traffic alert system (which alerts you if someone is approaching as you back out of a parking space). There is also a feature that will brake the car for you if it senses you are about to hit something.
My test vehicle featured leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, push-button start, rearview camera, a 7-inch color touchscreen display, and Bluetooth connectivity with established links to Pandora and other popular apps.
PRICE, BOTTOM LINE
The 2014 Mazda3 S 5-door Grand Touring model I tested was on the high end of the Mazda3 offerings and starts out at $26,495, but with optional equipment (tech package, etc.) it came in just a hair over $29K.
Lower trim levels are available, with the 5-door base model starting at $18,945. A four-door model begins at $16,945. Of course, going that low will leave you without a large portion of the tech features I had in my test ride. The good thing is it’s up to you -- if you just want a good car and don’t care about any bells and whistles, you have some very likeable starting prices here.
Similar in style to the Mazda6, just in a smaller package, this ride has a lot of zip and will gain some fans among those who take it for a test drive. I won’t say it is head and shoulders above the Focus/Corolla/Civic and other competition in the compact segment, but I will say this: It’s definitely one of the better options you can find in this category and should be considered by anyone looking for a compact ride with strong gas mileage, enjoyable overall ride and a well-designed and roomy interior.
