Under the Hood

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Mazda3 i has variable valve timing and develops 148 horsepower (144 hp in PZEV form). The Mazda3 s uses a 2.3-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 156 hp. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, and a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift provision is optional for the Mazda3 i. The 2.3-liter engine can mate with a five-speed automatic.

    See also:

    A Winning Design
    I'll admit that I wasn't sold on the Mazda6's new look when I first saw photos of the car. I'd already been a fan of the first-generation's lithe shape, considering it one of the best-looking fami ...

    Vehicle Overview
    Mazda's midsize front-wheel-drive sedan benefits from a sportier nature than some of its competitors. Inline-four-cylinder (in "i" models) and V-6 ("s" models) engines are avai ...

    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 fl ...