Features

When you test cars for a living, it's easy to fall for them from the driver's seat. Testing a new Mercedes or even a new Toyota can be great — until you see the price. Yes, we get sticker shock, too, especially because the test cars we get are often loaded with every option.

The i Touring Plus trim is interesting because it's not offered with any options. For $23,750, you get an automatic transmission, a moonroof, a power driver's seat, 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth, a backup camera, a USB port, and a blind spot monitoring system. That's a heavy dose of features, especially the blind spot system, which can be a $1,500-plus option on other cars — and they're usually of the luxury variety.

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    After Getting In
    l Are all doors closed and locked? - Is the seat adjusted properly? - Are the inside and outside mirrors adjusted? - Is everyone's seat belt fastened? - Check all gauges. - Check all warning lig ...

    Under the Hood
    The 2.3-liter four-cylinder develops 156 horsepower (146 hp for PZEV-emissions-compliant models) while the 3.0-liter V-6 turns out 212 hp. Both engines can team with a five-speed manual transmissi ...

    Engine Oil
    NOTE. Changing the engine oil should be done by an Authorized Mazda Dealer. Recommended Oil Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil. Oil container labels provide important information. A chief contribution th ...