Mazda has always been the odd man out among Japanese auto manufacturers due to its insistence on pursuing Don Quixote-like automotive windmill tilting that has always met with decidedly mixed results. For every blockbuster like the Miata there is also the slow-selling oddball like the MX-3 coupe with its itsy-bitsy V6 engine or even the current RX-8 what with its suicide doors and a rotary engine that just loves to gobble up oil.
Due to this quirky nature, one can see that Mazda is the closest thing Japan has to an automaker like Alfa Romeo. As with Alfa, Mazda usually excels when it creates a simple car with style and substance that the masses can afford. In this sense, the 2010 Mazda3 is in reality a kind of spiritual successor to the hatchback Alfasud from the 1970’s. And it’s not just because the two deep set dials for the speedometer and tachometer are a classic Alfa Romeo interior homage, either. Mazda really does help keep the “sporty vehicle for the masses” flame alive. Only unlike an Alfa, a Mazda3 probably won’t break down on you.
The first generation Mazda3 (on which this new edition is based) was a huge blockbuster for Mazda. Legions of compact car drivers got turned on to the European-flavored hatchback and sedan not only for the sporty way it drove but also because it was so much more stylish than competitors like the Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla. But it did have a few things that kept it out of the big leagues sales-wise such as a bizarre dashboard that looked like something out of the TV show “Knight Rider” and a navigation option that was a joke at best.
The new 2010 Mazda3 hatchback and sedan address all of these concerns and more creating what is, in effect, the most stylish economy car on the road today. The Honda Civic may be well built and fun to drive but they are everywhere and that UFO-inspired dashboard doesn’t scream “classy.” The Mazda3, on the other hand, feels like a car from a higher price class.
On that note, here are five reasons the 2010 Mazda3 will make owners of the previous generation want to trade in their vehicle for a new one. Or even better, Corolla owners may become moved enough to want to abandon their “automotive appliance” at the side of the road and hitchhike to the nearest Mazda dealer.
The New Interior is a Revelation-The dash is swoopy and stylish but not over the top. It puts all controls at hand and includes a small integrated navigation screen (still a questionable buy at this price) that doesn’t require your eyes to ever leave the road. Yes, the new 2010 Mazda3 really has a much more “grown up” interior.
Soft touch plastics feature in the spots you touch most and brittle plastics are hard to find (although there are some if you look). Seat fabrics are also noticeably more upscale. It’s not like Neiman Marcus in there but the fabrics do feel more durable. This “feel-good factor” should be a boon to Mazda and will no doubt help bolster repeat business down the road (like when a 3 owners new triplets force them into a CX-9).
These newfound interior improvements also make you wonder how Mazda, under Ford ownership, could add such qualities to their economy model when the inside of the new Focus feels downright chintzy. And the best part of all? Mazda changed the design of the stereo controls so it now just has one stylish knob to control on/off and tuning functions. So no more turning the stereo off when you wanted to change the radio station! Or vice versa.
It Really Does “Zoom-Zoom”-While the previous edition wasn’t exactly underpowered, Mazda did bump up the engine displacement of the sportier s variants to 2.5 liters resulting 167 horsepower and 168 pound feet of torque. Can you say “class leading?”
The Mazda3i models still only come in sedan form and have 2.0 liter four cylinder engines rated at 148 horsepower and 135 pound feet of torque. But don’t think that if you can’t swing the s versions you won’t be getting a sporty car. The i still manages to beat the horsepower readings of the 2009 Honda Civic. But to be honest, the base model really does benefit from being attached to the standard five speed manual. What’s a little Zoom-Zoom without a stick shift?
You Can Get a Manual Transmission on Any 2010 Mazda3 Model-Mazda has made a name for itself around the world with its smooth manual transmissions and the new 3 continues the trend. Want a self shifter on a new Corolla? Well first of all good luck finding a manual Corolla on dealer lots. And second, the Corolla only offers the self shift option to buyers of their poverty spec edition.
While the majority of 2010 Mazda3 models will be sold with the perfectly capable 5 speed automatic, it is heartening to know that budget minded auto enthusiasts still have a manufacturer catering to their wants. Enjoy this while it lasts because when we are all forced to drive electric cars the concept of “shifting it yourself” will be a long since faded memory.
Reasonably Priced and Fuel Efficient-While you can go crazy on the options (leather, Bose audio, Navigation, Keyless start), the 2010 Mazda3 makes the most sense when equipped with a little more reserve. While a five door Mazda3 touring model with Bose audio, 6 disc CD changer and a moonroof can be had for about $21 grand, a fully loaded edition maxes out at nearly $26,000. That kind of coin gives you access to other automotive options that are faster and larger.
As the 2010 Mazda3 has fuel economy ratings of 25 city/33 highway for the 2.0 liter and 22 city/29 highway for the 2.5 it qualifies for the new Government “Cash for Clunkers” program. If you have an older vehicle that gets 18 miles per gallon or less you can get a rebate voucher for up to $4500 if you “trade” it in on a new, more fuel efficient model. Maybe a fully loaded 2010 Mazda3 isn’t such a bad idea after all?
It Will Restore Your Faith in Driving-As Mazda sold over 1.7 million units of the previous 3 you had to figure that one part of the formula was not going to change. This puppy still knows how to handle a twisty back road. The reason? The new 2010 Mazda3 returns with its complex “control-blade” rear suspension set-up that revolutionized the compact car arena when it was first introduced.
Back then the competition (what with their cheap “torsion-beam” rear suspensions) was left in the proverbial dust all the while desperately trying to come up with their own copycat versions. The latest Golf/Rabbit has such a near identical rear suspension design that Mazda really should look into copyright infringement. So if you long for a sporty car but you need more seats and storage space than a Miata allows, the 2010 Mazda3 might be just your ticket.
