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, but it will satisfy most drivers. That engine is generally quiet, but it emits a fair amount of blare when pushed. With an easy-shifting manual gearbox and a well-behaved clutch, even the Mazda3 i with the smaller engine feels more spirited than an upper-level model with the automatic.
Although the front seats are nicely shaped, their seatbacks are on the hard side. Rear legroom is limited, but foot space is good. Headroom is average in the rear but meager in the center position. Visibility is good. The Mazda3 instruments are difficult to see on dark days but are lit nicely at night.
See also:
Interior
The CX-9 has front bucket seats, and the 60/40-split second-row seat has room
for three. The second row's backrest can recline or fold flat, and the seat can
also slide fore and aft to optimize le ...
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Important consumer information including warranties and add-on equipment. ...
Interior
Inside, I can see fewer people loving the two-tone color scheme and
sport-oriented layout of the dashboard. It screams more tech-geek-friendly than
family-friendly, but the quality is certainly on ...


