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2010 Mazda Mazda3 debuts at Los Angeles Auto Show: data, pictures and specs
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That Mazda’s Mazda3 is a favorite of automotive journalists is no secret, not to anyone who has picked up a car magazine or read an on-line review of Mazda’s compact sedan. Mazda also boasts that the first generation Mazda3 was the recipient of 90 major awards. It has been popular with car buyers too. In its five year run, Mazda sold 1.8 million of the things worldwide, one third of its . The Mazda3 remained a solid choice even at the end of its product lifecycle.
So of course Mazda was faced with that perpetual problem with a popular car facing replacement. If a company does nothing, popularity eventually wanes. There are too many examples of this to name one. It can perform mildly evolutionary development and build a safely boring car. Again, too many examples. Or, like Mazda, a company can go zoom-zoom at the problem and risk alienating a faithful clientele.
We don’t think Mazda has anything to worry about.The face of the Mazda3—its front fascia—is about as face-like as it can get. At least it’s happy and will make it easy to get a talking role in sequel to Cars. But the Mazda3 reinforces the Mazda family design theme with the huge 5-point grille and the pronounced flares on the fenders. Mazda’s general manager of design Lauren Van Den Acker says the styling of the Mazda3 was inspired by the Mazda Nagarre concept though we think it looks more like Mazda’s Kabura concept.
Headlamps are almond-shaped and there are large “cheek” grilles either side of the main opening. The overall design theme has a significant rake with a prominent beltline crease. The greenhouse is long, giving the Mazda3 a short rear deck. However, because of the body contours slope towards the front, the rear end is high. Loading the trunk won’t be a problem.
Because some complained that the first generation of Mazda3 was too small, Mazda claims it made Mazda3 number two larger. However, comparing measurements provided by Mazda suggest little difference:
| wh'l-base | length | width | h'ght | head front | leg front | hip front | head rear | leg rear | hip rear | |
| 2008 | 103.9 | 177.4 | 69.1 | 57.7 | 39.1 | 41.1 | 53.8 | 37.4 | 36.3 | 52.5 |
| 2009 | 103.9 | 180.7 | 69.1 | 57.9 | 38.8 | 42.0 | 53.7 | 37.5 | 36.0 | 52.2 |
But inside Mazda designers focused on the driver. The gauge cluster features two large bezels with deep-set dials and a data center between them. The dash flows into the center stack which dramatically sweeps down to the center console. In fact, nowhere is a place where the center stack ends and the console begins. If as someone once said design is free, Mazda got its money’s worth. And we mean that in a positive way.
The 2010 Mazda3 is available in either “i” or “s” trim. Within that, the i comes in base, Sport and Touring, and the s in Sport and Grand Touring. The Mazda3 i is powered by an all-aluminum 2.0-liter DOHC inline-four rated at 148 horsepower and 135 lb-ft of torque (144 and 132 respectively in PZEV emissions tune).The new 2.5-liter four pilfered from the new 2009 Mazda6 (Mazda’s mid-size sedan) defines the Mazda3 s. Both the 2.5 and the 2.0-liter four are members of Mazda’s MZR engine family, and in the Mazda3, the larger four is rated at 167 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque (165 and 167 respectively for PZEV).
A five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment in the Mazda3 i while the Mazda3 s gets a six-speed stick. A five-speed automatic with manual shifting is optional with both engines, replacing the four-speed automatic offered with the 2.0-liter last year. That change, along with other minor changes, improves the 2.0-liter automatic’s highway mileage by three miles per gallon, a ten percent increase in fuel efficiency. We don’t have real world experience with the Mazda3 of course, but the EPA estimates are:
| EPA mileage | city | hwy |
| i (2.0L) manual | 25 | 33 |
| i (2.0L) automatic | 24 | 33 |
| s (2.5L) manual | 21 | 29 |
| s (2.5L) automatic | 22 | 29 |
Mazda being Mazda tuned the engine not only for performance and efficiency but put particular effort into the aural quality of the intake and exhaust of both engines, as Mazda puts it, “to quiet certain sound frequencies while reinforcing others.” The 2.5-liter engine gets dual tailpipes and mufflers tuned “to reduce mid-range boom and objectionable high-frequency noise at high rpm.”
Mazda claims it used knowledge gained in developing the Mazda6, with one of the stiffest unibody structures of any Mazda vehicle, in developing the Mazda3. Metal gauges are increased in critical areas, and Mazda uses a combination of welding and structural adhesives to increase chassis rigidity as well.
Chassis stiffness aids not only handling and safety but also reduces unwanted sounds. Stiffer doorframes, Mazda notes, improve effectiveness of weather seals that keep not only moisture but also noise from the interior.
Wind noise was tackled by working on the flow of air around and through the Mazda3’s body openings. The front grille is actually 20 percent smaller, even though it looks bigger than its predecessor’s, to reduce airflow needed for cooling and feeding the engine to a minimum. A bypass flap opens to minimize cooling fan drag at high speeds.Wind tunnel testing suggested placing air deflectors near the tires and tuning the upper-forward corners of the cabin. Mazda claims a six percent reduction in wind noise by massaging A-pillar, exterior mirrors, windshield wipers and even taillamps. The Mazda3’s impressive 0.29 drag coefficient is one of the lowest in the compact class.
From experience with the previous generation of Mazda3 we know that the suspension didn’t need drastic attention, though Mazda found several nudges. Steering feel was improved by securing the electro-hydraulic-assist rack-and-pinion steering gear in three places instead of two. With the extra mounting points, softer bushings could be used, reducing road vibrations transmitted through the steering column without using losing the Mazda3’s crisp steering.
The front and rear anti-roll bars have sturdier mounts, new lower control arms and the front subframe are more rigid and the bushings firmer. The rear suspension crossmember was made lighter and significantly lightened to sharpen steering response and stickitude in corners. Roll resistance was increased by recalibration of the rear shocks.
The changes to the chassis also sharpened brake feel and effectiveness. A new vacuum booster improves responsiveness in light braking and the electronic brake force distribution was recalibrated for better vehicle stability when braking during cornering.
A new option on the Mazda3 Grand Touring trim level is adaptive lighting. This feature, which subtly turns headlights in the direction the wheels are steered, aids cornering illumination. It’s one of those things one doesn’t know to miss until it’s been experienced and gone, and the 2010 Mazda3 is the only car in the compact class to offer it. The Grand Touring is also the only car its class to have self-leveling bi-xenon headlight as standard equipment.
The Mazda3 picks up green points by reducing the use of toxic materials, eliminating lead in its fuel tank, wiring harness and undercoating and hexavalent chromium and cadmium elsewhere. A new joint sealing compound reduces toluene emissions by 90 percent. And of course, when it’s time for a Mazda3 to finally shuffle off Shakespeare’s mortal coil the Mazda3 will have increased recyclable components from 80 to 90 percent (though of course that’s true of all car models sold in Europe, thanks to new EU regulations). Mazda began using recycled materials to manufacture moldings four years ago.The Mazda3 was introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show as a four-door sedan only. A five-door hatchback will arrive later. We’ve not put foot in the 2010 Mazda Mazda3 yet, though if it lives up to its billing and based on the previous generation, we think the 2010 is a can’t miss. It’s certainly a car we don’t want to miss driving.
| Engine type | 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder | 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 148/144 @ 6500 rpm | 167/165 @ 6000 rpm |
| Torque, lb-ft* | 135/132 @ 4500 rpm | 168/167 @ 4000 rpm |
| Disp., ci/cc | 122/1999 | 151.9/2488 |
| Comp. ratio | 10.0:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Rec. fuel | Regular unleaded | |
| Valvetrain | 4 valves per cylinder, variable valve time | |
| Drivetrain | Front wheel drive | |
| Transmisson (MT) | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
| Body type | 5-passenger, 4-door sedan | |
| Front suspension | Indpendent, MacPherson strut | |
| Rear suspension | Independent, multi-link | |
| Steering type | Rack and pinion, electro-hydralic power assist | |
| Braking system | ABS, elec.brakeforce dist, brake assist | |
| Front brakes, vent disc | 10.94 in. dia. | 11.81 in. dia. |
| Rear braks, solid disc | 10.43 in. dia. | 11.02 in. dia. |
| Wheels | 16 x 6.5, steel | 17 x 7.0, alum. |
| Tires | 205/55R16 | 205/25R17 |
| Curb wt, MT, lbs* | 2868 / 2870 | 2963 / 2963 |
| Curb wt, AT, lbs* | 2928 / 2932 | 3025 / 3025 |
| EPA mpg, city/hwy, MT | 25/33 | 21/29 |
| EPA mpg, city/hwy, AT | 24/33 | 22/29 |
| Fuel tank, US gal. | 14.5 | 15.9 |
| Wheelbase, in. | 103.9 | |
| Track, front, in. | 16" - 60.4 | 17" - 60.2 |
| Track, rear, in. | 16" - 59.8 | 17" - 59.6 |
| Length, in. | 180.7 | 180.9 |
| Width, in. | 69.1 | |
| Height, in. | 57.9 | |
| Weight dist, % front/rear | 60/40 | |
| *Standard emissions/PZEV | ||
Prices not available at this time.
Illustrations, top to bottom: 2010 Mazda Mazda3 s; 2010 Mazda Mazda3, interior; 2010 Mazda Mazda3, gauge cluster; 2010 Mazda Mazda3 s; 2010 Mazda Mazda3 s. All photographs courtesy Mazda North American Operations.
More Los Angeles Auto Show introductions: 2090 Lamborghini Gallardo 560-4 Spyder, 2010 Ford Mustang; 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, 2009 Nissan 370Z, 2009 Nissan Cube, Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid
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