Vehicle Overview

The Mazda3 has been a sporty alternative for compact-car buyers since it debuted for the 2004 model year. It undergoes its first redesign for the 2010 model year and is still offered in sedan and four-door hatchback forms. The 2010 Mazda3 has all-new exterior and interior styling and is now available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that offers more power than the four-cylinder it replaces. Competitors include the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra.

    See also:

    Knowing Your Mazda
    Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and adjustment of various parts. ...

    SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria
    This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type of collision. (The illustrations are the representative case of collisions.) X: The SRS air bag equipment ...

    Driving Sideways and Other Assets
    As always, the MX-5 has rear-wheel drive with excellent front/rear weight distribution. At roughly 52/48 (51/49 with the hardtop), its bias is toward slight understeer, which keeps things safe. An ...