Exterior

The 2010 Mazda3's exterior styling builds on its predecessor's athletic proportions by emphasizing design features. One of them is the front grille, but Mazda may have gone a bit too far with it, as the gaping opening in the lower bumper looks like a sinister smile. It's a little much on the front of this car. The rest of the Mazda3 is stylish but much more toned down than the front, with smooth body panels.  Exterior features include:  

  • Hatchback or sedan body styles
  • Standard 16-inch wheels
  • Optional 17-inch wheels
  • Optional moonroof
  • Optional rear spoiler
  • Optional xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights and LED taillights
    See also:

    Satisfying Drivetrain
    What you get for your diminished mileage is respectable but not exceptional acceleration. Though the 2.3-liter four-cylinder (to be replaced in the 2010 by a 2.5-liter) is pretty robust, the Mazda ...

    Body Lubrication
    All moving points of the body, such as door and hood hinges and locks, should be lubricated each time the engine oil is changed. Use a nonfreezing lubricant on locks during cold weather. Make sur ...

    Cargo
    Larger dimensions also result in a larger trunk for the new Mazda6, which now measures 16.6 cubic feet. That's up from the old car's 15.2 cubic feet, and it's larger than key competitors like the ...