Convertible Commentary

As mentioned, our test car had the retractable-hardtop roof, and Mazda's implementation of this type of roof has a few advantages over those from other manufacturers.

First of all, it's fast; it only takes around 15 seconds to lower the roof. You have to manually release a lever in the center of the windshield frame to release the top, but after that you only have to press a button on the dashboard and it powers down, stowing beneath a hard tonneau cover. Raising the roof takes the same amount of time.

The hardtop is also compact. When lowered, it fits in the same well as the soft-top behind the seats. With this setup, the top doesn't intrude on the 5.3-cubic-foot trunk, which is decently large for a car this size.

It's pretty breezy in the cabin with the top down, even when driving at city speeds. On the highway, taller people will feel the air buffeting the top of their head and rushing around them.

The retractable hardtop doesn't restrict visibility that much when up. Checking your left-side blind spot means leaning forward a little to see around the roof support, but you get a good view when checking the right-side one; the roof pillar isn't big enough to completely obscure another car.

    See also:

    Interior
    The previous Mazda3's cabin was starting to show its age, but the redesigned interior for 2010 features significant revisions that result in a contemporary cabin. The gauges have red illumination, ...

    Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
    WARNING: When removing the fuel cap, loosen the cap slightly and wait for any hissing to stop. Then remove it: Fuel spray is dangerous. Fuel can burn skin and eyes and cause illness if ingested. ...

    Outside the United States
    Government regulations in the United States require that automobiles meet specific emission regulations and safety standards. Therefore, vehicles built for use in the United States may differ fr ...