On paper, the Mazda3 doesn't seem like anything more than just another decent economy car. The i Touring edition has a 2.0L, 148 hp, inline four cynlinder engine, five speed manual transmisson, 16-inch alloy wheels and few option packages to dress the car up a bit. Opt for the moonroof/Bose package and you get a 10-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system, 6 CD changer and a moonroof/sunroof. But this is all standard compact car fare - nothing special, right?
And then you drive it. It only takes about 30 seconds behind the wheel to figure out that this is no ordinary economy car.Everything is so precise - the steering, the clutch uptake, the handling all feel as if their components were built with the precision of a Swiss watch or an American rifle. The Mazda3's cabin also remains quiet even on the highway - this is one of main drawbacks to small cars. Even the interior is nicer that competitors like the Ford Focus and Honda Civic.
Fuel economy is 25 city / 33 highway. That's a few ticks below other small cars like the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Kia Forte and the upcoming Chevy Cruze.
The 2010 Mazda3 i Touring has a base price of $17,875 - add a few options like the moonroof package and satellite radio and you're in the $20,000 range. The Kia Forte is one of our favorite small cars and now the Mazda3 is too. Compared to the Forte, the 3 is a little tighter and a little more fun to drive.
-Brian Moody for Car Concerns Radio
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