Under the Hood
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Mazda3 i has variable valve timing and develops 148 horsepower (144 hp in PZEV form). The Mazda3 s uses a 2.3-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 156 hp. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, and a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift provision is optional for the Mazda3 i. The 2.3-liter engine can mate with a five-speed automatic.
See also:
Vehicle Overview
Ford owns a controlling interest in Mazda, so there's a close kinship between
the popular Ford Escape sport utility vehicle and the related Mazda Tribute.
Both SUVs were introduced for the 2001 mo ...
Two Strikes Against
The two strikes against the 2009 Mazda3 are its crash tests and its gas
mileage. With the crash tests, the problem isn't the results, it's the lack
thereof. The Insurance Institute for Highway Saf ...
Third-Row Seat
WARNING.
Do not stack cargo higher than the
seatbacks:
Stacking luggage or other cargo
higher than the seatbacks is
dangerous. During a sudden stop or
collision, objects can fly around and
beco ...