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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Exterior
For 2009, designers ditched the previous design for what Mazda calls a
"Japanese aesthetic" in the current car. The vehicle sports a long hood with
pronounced front fender flares that fl ...
Ride & Handling
The Mazda5's steering response is designed to engage the driver. A turn of
the wheel delivers a quick change of direction, and there's a fair amount of
feedback. The suspension is on the firm side ...
Highway Driving
On the highway is where you'll notice you're driving a small, light car, and
that's not always a great thing. Right off, there was fair amount of road noise,
and passengers noticed a lot of wind n ...