Compact Car Review: The Mazda3

Today, the market for compact cars is one of the most contested markets for automotive manufactures. This leads to a variety of choices. Today we will review the Mazda3, a very sporty looking car

Size of vehicle

The Mazda3 is one of the Mazda Motor Corporation of Japan's entries into the compact car market. Like all vehicle's of the compact class, the car size is somewhat represented by the name of the class. Competing in a class typically dominated by the major imports, such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and others, the Mazda3 brings some refreshment to this sometimes stale class. The Mazda3 will allow for relatively tall adults to comfortably sit in the front seats without dealing without worrying about hitting their head on the roof. Legroom is also a positive in the front of the Mazda3; however, the back is even better for accommodating passengers.

Cost

The manufacturer's suggested retail price for a base model 4 door of the Mazda3 is just over $14,000. Well equipped 4 doors can run as high as $21,000, which isn't overly economic for this size of car. The 5 door hatchback starts as low as $18,000 and well equipped models will run to just over $21,000. The Mazdaspeed 3, a performance model of the Mazda3 starts over $22,000 and can run as high as nearly $25,000. Low mileage used Mazda3's can be as high as $18,000 and high mileage used cars can be as low as $13,500. In general, the Mazda3, like many import cars, holds its resale value significantly better than domestic cars of the same size.

Fuel Consumption

The Mazda3 is accommodated with a 4 cylinder engine, which is very small in size. This allows for low fuel consumption, and thus less expense on gas than larger cars on the road. EPA estimates for the Mazda3 are roughly 26 miles per gallon during city driving, and up to 33 miles per gallon on the highway. Remember, based on your style of driving, this may go up or down significantly

Safety

The Mazda3 features some features not found in all compact cars that make it a fairly safe car. Vehicle stability control comes standard from the factory. Front driver and passenger airbags are standard, as well as front side curtain airbags. The Mazda3 also features anti-lock brakes, increasing the safety of the car significantly. Remember, small cars like the Mazda3 sit very close to the ground; so many trucks will look as if they tower over the small car.

Creature Comforts

Like nearly every car in production today, the base Madza3 is nearly barebones, featuring no power features. Certain upgrades, such as power windows and locks, are nearly necessary today. The Mazda3 features cruise control, as well as a tilting telescoping steering wheel. This allows for many more comfortable positions for drivers on long distance trips. The Mazda3 is a very nice vehicle for the four adults that can be comfortably held in cities, but long distance trips may become slightly uncomfortable. If you're looking for speed, the Mazdaspeed3 may be up your road. The very fast and sporty Mazdaspeed3 will allow you to turn heads all over the road. Overall, if you're looking for an economical car that will hold its value relatively well, the Madza3 may be worth taking a look at.