2010 Mazda3 Review
Mazda's had a good thing going with the 3. One out of every three Mazdas sold worldwide is a 3, and sales have increased every year for the past five years, although they are down recently, like everything else.
We got a chance to check out the new 2010 Mazda 3 to see if they messed up a good thing. You can screw up a good sport-compact car by:
a) Adding too many features thereby driving up the price
b) Adding dumb features, thereby hurting small-car performance
c) Making it ugly, thereby making it, you know, ugly.
Consider the 2010 model an improved version of the last generation. It's the same wheelbase, the bigger engine choice moves from 2.3 to 2.5 liters, and gas mileage is up. Our 2.5 liter test model's EPA numbers are 21 city 29 highway, but if you go for the 2.0 liter engine, look for 25/33.
Mazda claims aerodynamic improvements all over the car. Besides being able to use a five-syllable word to tell your friends what's better about your car than last years', they'll be able to hear you better as wind noise is decreased.
Inside, we really appreciated the designers attention to keeping our eyes on the road. The optional "compact navigation" system is mounted at the top of the center dash, making eye travel from road to screen a very short trip. A second screen to the right gives more info. Why don't all cars put the most looked-at features the highest?
The steering wheel has more controls on it than any other sport compact we've seen. Or in this case, felt, as young tech-type people today can use their thumbs adroitly without looking.
Handling is a treat. The 3 retains its small-car feel-tight feel, without riding hard. If you're a passenger, make sure you call "shotgun" before any long trips. The back seat reminds you that this is a small car.
So did Mazda mess up the previously-thriving 3? Let's evaluate:
a) Features driving up price: Mazda brags about being the only car in the class with optional adaptive headlights (they go up and down and side-to-side). There is also optional dual-zone climate control (he's hot, she's cold), and power seat. Power seat? With memory, no less!?! Mazda claims its youthful, tech-savvy buyers want youthful, tech features in their small cars. The 3 starts at $15,045, but can be optioned up past 27 grand, so we're OK on this criterion.
b) Dumb, cumbersome features: There is no denying the extra weight of power heated seats, and whatever motors make the headlights move. However, Mazda has countered with pretty cool rigidity, engine smoothness, and aerodynamical (that's not a word, but we got up to SIX syllables!) improvements. Jury still out.
c) Ugly. We don't think so, but we are but a few beholders. Check one out yourself. We dig. MSRP $22,000 as tested.
