Vehicle Overview

The Mazda3 has been a sporty alternative for compact-car buyers since it debuted for the 2004 model year. It undergoes its first redesign for the 2010 model year and is still offered in sedan and four-door hatchback forms. The 2010 Mazda3 has all-new exterior and interior styling and is now available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that offers more power than the four-cylinder it replaces. Competitors include the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra.

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    Ride & Handling
    In keeping with Mazda's tagline of offering "Zoom-Zoom" cars, the Mazda6's suspension tuning is on the firm side for a midsize sedan; if you've driven some of its competitors, it's much ...

    Under the Hood
    A 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 100 horsepower and 98 pounds-feet of torque. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. ...

    Driving dynamics - The evolution to a more sophisticated sporty ride
    The development theme for the all-new Mazda 3's dynamic performance was "exhilarating driving." It refers to the satisfaction derived when a car acts in perfect concert with the driver's ...