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 flow through the headlamps and mold with the front bumper.

Exterior features include:

* Standard body-colored grille, front and rear bumpers, door handles and moldings
* 16-inch steel wheels with full covers * Optional 17-inch alloy wheels * Optional 18-inch alloy wheels * Optional LED taillamps * Single (four-cylinder models) or dual exhaust outlets (V-6 models)

    See also:

    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, ...

    Safety
    Standard safety features include: * All-disc antilock brakes * Side-impact airbags for the front seats * Three-row side curtain airbags * Electronic stability system with Roll Stability Control r ...

    Recreational Towing
    An example of “recreational towing” is towing your vehicle behind a motorhome. The transaxle is not designed for towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels. When doing recreational towing refer to “Towi ...