A sporty cockpit that improves functional beauty
The new "zone layout" approach focuses on improving visibility and more intuitive controls which provide "a sense of the car and driver as one" and "a reassuring sense of confidence that frees the driver to concentrate on driving." First, the Mazda 3 development team integrated the information display and positioned it towards the front in the optimal "zone." This placed the information necessary while driving where it can be seen with the least amount of eye movement. Next, the engineers placed all the controls and switches within a single "zone" closer to the driver's hands. Designing the cockpit with controls and information display in separate zones frees the driver to concentrate on driving.
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Competing for Space
The interior is well-engineered and well-executed, but there's no avoiding
the fact that there are six seats in a relatively small space. This isn't
uncommon, but many models sacrifice space in ju ...
Parking in an Emergency
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that t ...
Under the Hood
The 2.3-liter four-cylinder develops 156 hp while the 3.0-liter V-6 turns out
212 hp. Both engines can team with a five-speed manual transmission. A
five-speed automatic is available in models equ ...