RSS
Home
Comparison review: five compact sporty sedans (First place)
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The redesigned 2010 Mazda3 remains a class leader despite a high price and a few short-of-perfect touches. See more photos of the Mazda3 in today's slideshow.
That the Mazda3 wins this comparison says at least as much about the slim pickings among sporty, relatively inexpensive sedans as it does about Mazda’s recently redesigned compact car.
This win says that Mazda checks both the boxes that a compact car ought to in this price range – it should have a premium feel, and it should be fun to drive. The Mazda3 is agile and powerful, has a well-appointed interior, and isn’t too stiff-riding or noisy.
But while these boxes are both checked, Mazda certainly didn’t go above and beyond in comfort, luxury, or sportiness with this car. The steering is alert and accurate, which does make the 3 enjoyable to push around a corner, but it could still be quicker and sharper. The car is refined, but road noise booms over some pavement surfaces. The interior is nice but not luxurious.
“Good but not world-class” defines most of the 3’s abilities, inside the car and on the road. That is “good,” by the way, not “adequate” or “average.” The Mazda3 is an all-around good car. But there is plenty of room for an upstart competitor to either offer a better car, or provide a similar experience for a price below the steep $22,215 you would pay for a nicely-equipped 3 S Grand Touring.
But for now, nothing else is coming close even to “good but not world class,” making this Mazda the car to get in the sporty premium compact class.
Get inside the Mazda3, and you’ll find an interior that’s better than the economy car norm. The leather seats are high-quality – though not perforated like in the Kia Forte SX – moving parts function smoothly, the armrests are padded, and the dash styling is modern without being overdone. You wouldn’t mistake it for anything more expensive than it is, however; while nicely grained and without evident alignment issues, the plastic panels on the dash and doors are all hard. The front seats are very comfortable, with lateral support that lags just the exceptional Civic Si in this comparison and that do a fine job of keeping the driver from slipping around without feeling too hard or confining.
The rear seat, however, is very obviously shaped for just two passengers rather than three. And those two will only be marginally comfortable, with less leg and headroom and than in many other small sedans. The Mazda3’s trunk is also tight at under 12 cubic feet; a hatchback version is also available.
It’s definitely the Mazda3’s driving dynamics more than its interior that separate it from its competition. It’s both rewarding and easy to drive, with an impressive ride/handling balance and accurate, responsive steering. But as discussed earlier, there is no reason the steering couldn’t have been sharper. This is a fun car to drive on curvy roads, but it could have been more fun.
SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE MAZDA3 IN TODAY'S SLIDESHOW
Similarly, the powertrain is impressive but still not ideal. There’s good grunt from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder – shared with the larger Mazda6 midsize sedan – but throws are too long on the otherwise pleasant six-speed manual and acceleration isn't so swift that it necessarily justifies such low fuel economy ratings -- 21 mpg city / 29 highway.
A bigger issue is the engine’s noise, vibration, and harshness – while most sounds are muted, what you can hear says more “economy” than “premium.” Road noise could also be better-suppressed.
Looking at the photos of the Mazda3 – especially those that expose its front end – might suggest that this car’s styling is the elephant in the room. When the Mazda3 first went on sale earlier this year, it was slammed from all sides over its grinning grille. Even six months later, the furor has yet to subside. Whether the happy face grows on the automotive community still remains to be seen. But all these complaints may obscure a simple point: the Mazda3, especially with the extra power in this S version, is a fun car to drive. And unlike the Honda Civic Si, you can enjoy it pretty much however you’re driving it. It winds its way through back roads with ease without beating up drivers on cratered streets or lacking engine pep right off the line.
The Mazda3 deserves to be nitpicked, because even when it’s the best car in its class it’s too far from the best car it could be. Consumers looking for an enjoyable and acceptably practical vehicle should pay extra to buy this car over the other four sedans in this comparison – if mostly because everyone else’s mistakes are worse than this Mazda’s.
Vehicle tested: 2010 Mazda3
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $15,295
Version tested: S Grand Touring
Version base price (MSRP): $21,500
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $25,320
Estimated transaction price as tested: $23,281
Estimated transaction price as comparable:* $22,215
Test vehicle provided by: Fitzgerald Mazda of Frederick, Md.
Key specifications:
Length: 180.9 inches
Width: 69.1 inches
Height: 57.9 inches
Wheelbase: 103.9 inches
Weight: 2,963 pounds
Trunk room: 11.8 cubic feet
Turning radius: 17.1 feet
Engine: 2.5-liter I4 with 168 horsepower
Transmission: 6-speed manual
EPA city mileage: 21 miles per gallon
EPA highway mileage: 29 miles per gallon
EPA mixed driving: 24 miles per gallon
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $15,295
Version tested: S Grand Touring
Version base price (MSRP): $21,500
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $25,320
Estimated transaction price as tested: $23,281
Estimated transaction price as comparable:* $22,215
Test vehicle provided by: Fitzgerald Mazda of Frederick, Md.
Key specifications:
Length: 180.9 inches
Width: 69.1 inches
Height: 57.9 inches
Wheelbase: 103.9 inches
Weight: 2,963 pounds
Trunk room: 11.8 cubic feet
Turning radius: 17.1 feet
Engine: 2.5-liter I4 with 168 horsepower
Transmission: 6-speed manual
EPA city mileage: 21 miles per gallon
EPA highway mileage: 29 miles per gallon
EPA mixed driving: 24 miles per gallon
For more information: Mazda website
Coming up tomorrow: CONCLUSION
| Sunday, September 20: | Introduction |
| Monday, September 21: | Fifth place |
| Tuesday, September 22: | Fourth place |
| Wednesday, September 23: | Third place |
| Thursday, September 24: | Second place |
| Saturday, September 26: | First place |
| Sunday, September 27: | Conclusion |
*Note on pricing: when possible, the vehicles tested for this review were equipped comparably to the tested Forte SX, with leather interiors, sunroofs, and manual transmissions. It wasn't always possible. The five vehicles in this comparison are offered with most of the same features in the required price range, but the specific cars available to drive for this comparison ranged from base models with no options to fully optioned vehicles. These discrepancies will be noted in each review and corrected for as much as possible.
Related Articles:
Comments
It is well established that it never snows in D.C. This region closes its schools at the threat of a few inches; accumulations of two feet are an …
A sixth gear in a manual transmission holds great promise in an economy car that the engine will be able to settle down on the highway, reducing …
