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.

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    The Drive
    The Mazda5's 2.3-liter four-cylinder has to rev pretty high to get the car moving quickly. Our car had the optional five-speed automatic transmission, which adds $1,440. The five-speed manual migh ...

    Rear Ventilation System
    * Some models. The rear ventilation system only blows cool air through the rear vents while the front climate control system is on. It does not blow air when the front climate control is off. The ...

    Cruise Control
    With cruise control, you can set and automatically maintain any speed of more than about 32 km/h (20 mph). WARNING: Do not use the cruise control under the following conditions: Using the cruise ...