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.

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    Everyday Driving Fun
    The rear-wheel-drive Miata is one of those cars where you don't have to break any speed limits to have a lot of fun. Driving 55 mph in the Miata is comparable to going 110 mph in, say, a BMW M3 — ...

    Driving Impressions
    The easy-to-drive Mazda3 handles more adeptly than most rivals. The automatic transmission delivers quick, smooth responses. Performance with the larger engine falls short of some sporty compacts, ...

    Revised Six-Speed Manual Transmission
    This is particularly true when this engine is combined with the revised six-speed manual transmission. Its optimised synchronisation allows shifting gears even more quickly and smoothly than befor ...