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2010 Mazda3 5-Door
Review: The redesigned Mazda3 looks very happy with its grinning
face, the way Mazda’s people must feel over the success of the previous
generation model. In 2008, the Mazda3 represented 44 percent of the
Mazda’s sold in North America. Combining the right size and features
with an affordable price and plenty of driving fun, it seems just about
perfect.
That doesn’t mean it
should, or can, remain the same. After five successful years, the 2010
model is significantly improved in many ways, from styling, to safety to
driving dynamics. Now there’s even more to love.
The 103.9-inch
wheelbase remains the same, but length is up by three inches. The highly
efficient and useful proportions remain. Americans are rediscovering the
joy of the 5-door hatchback, room for stuff, but no more car than you
need. With the dramatic restyling of this generation 3, based on its
stunning 2006 Nagare concept car, utility is not the focus, just a
benefit.
The first thing you’ll
notice about the 2010 is that smiley face. This isn’t just happy, but a
full-on grin. Is it pleasure or a little bit wicked? My first thought
was of Batman’s Joker, especially in the Crystal White Pearl Mica paint
my tester wore.
"Mazda has never been
afraid of taking design risks," says Carlos Salaff, a senior designer at
Mazda North American Operations. “We wanted the MAZDA3's dominant grille
design to be bold because that will separate this car further from the
blasé competitors and, by leaping ahead of the crowd, keep us looking
fresh even late in this product's life."
The overall body shape
remains, but numerous enhancements give the car an aggressive look, like
it’s about to pounce. Flow lines from the Nagare shimmer on the hood and
sides. This is both for looks and to reduce aerodynamic drag and lower
wind noise.
A Harley motorcyclist
admired my test car as we sat at a traffic light. It turns out he owns a
2005 model, and he really liked the upgrade.
Mazda3s come in
four-door and five-door versions, in i or s levels, with two engine
choices, and manual or automatic transmissions. The five-doors are
available as s levels only, in Sport or Grand Touring models, and
feature the larger of two four-cylinder powerplants. It boasts 2.5
liters of displacement, up from a 2.3 in the previous model, and puts
out 167 horsepower and 168 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s sufficient to move
the 3,000-pound car along with plenty of the famous “zoom zoom.”
California vehicles,
with a partial zero emission vehicle status (PZEV), lose two horsepower
and 1 lb.-ft of torque, but come up with exemplary EPA Green Vehicle
Guide numbers, 9.5 on the Air Pollution score and 7 on the Greenhouse
Gas score. Fuel economy is 22 City, 29 Highway with the automatic and,
surprisingly, 21/29 with the six-speed manual. I averaged 20.9 mpg with
the automatic.
Sitting behind the
wheel you feel like you’re ready to rock. Large gauges front and center
give you the details, while the sweep of the console and dash have you
feeling like you’re in motion before you release the parking brake.
Mazda aims for a mix of
serious driving attitude with a hint of a luxury that’s a level above
where the car sells in the marketplace. There’s some of the intentional
design language of a BMW in there, in serious black with silver accents.
This is a clever,
fascinating car, with things like the flickering blue line of light at
dash center when you make changes to the radio. While driving
information lives in the two large gauges, a slim strip along the dash
top contains other information, including the optional navigation system
screen. Although small, it’s up where you can see it without looking
away from the road, something Honda has introduced in its recent
vehicles as well.
Driving the Mazda3 is
as enjoyable as in the previous version, with only some minor tweaks to
an already fine platform. For example, there’s a third mounting point
for the rack-and-pinion steering to improve precision and feel (which
was already great). The rubber-isolated front and the rigidly mounted
rear subframes were enhanced to improve rigidity while saving weight. A
new weld bonding process for the unibody improves torsional rigidity. It
all adds up to a very satisfying driving experience.
Pricing for the Mazda3
5-door starts at just $19,980 for the Sport with manual transmission,
including shipping charges. The Grand Touring, like my tester, lists at
$23,050 with the automatic, also including shipping. The base Mazda3i
4-door sedan retails at just $15,795, as this is Mazda’s entry vehicle
in America.
I have enjoyed and
recommended the Mazda3 for years and this new one remains on my short
list. Appropriately sized and prized, highly reliable, and a blast to
drive, it should remain a hit for Mazda.
By Steve Schaefer
© AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
Byline: Routan Review provided by Tony
Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Mazda Home Page
Column Name: Now
there’s even more to love
Topic: The 2010 Mazda3
5-Door
Word Count: 873
Photo Caption: The
2010 Mazda3 5-Door
Photo Credits: Mazda3
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Series #: 2009 - 55
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