Mazda follows the introduction of its spacious, sporty 2009 Mazda6 mid-size sedan with an equally impressive compact sedan, the 2010 Mazda3.

The Mazda3 has been a success for Mazda since its introduction. It represents one-third of Mazda’s sales, and it’s easy to understand why after spending time with one. It’s a fit, frugal, and fun compact car.

The 2010 Mazda3 is available in either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback, both with front-wheel drive and a choice of two engines. Both feature updated exterior and interior styling with a prominent new five-point grille that is the new “global face” of Mazda. It’s a handsome, upscale look with some sportscar wedge to its profile and a “happy” face in front (look at the nose and headlights and maybe you’ll see its smile, too). Inside, the cockpit is more sophisticated and plusher than before.

The entry-level 2010 Mazda Mazda3 “i” is equipped with a 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The sportier “s” model comes with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine from the Mazda6 that pumps out 167 horsepower. The larger engine gets a six-speed manual transmission as standard and the same optional five-speed automatic as the base car.

Fuel economy is one of the key purchase reasons for compact car owners, and the 2010 Mazda3 won’t disappoint when equipped with the 2.0-liter engine. It is rated at 25/33 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 24/33 mpg with the automatic. While not class-leading, it is competitive for the segment. You pay the price for the additional 19 horsepower from the larger 2.5-liter engine in the form of lower fuel economy. In “s” trim, the 2010 Mazda Mazda3 is rated at 21/29 mpg city/highway with the six-speed manual and 22/29 mpg with the automatic. Competitors such as the Honda Civic rank much higher, and even the older-tech 2009 Ford Focus offers a 35-mpg edition.

Under way, the 2010 Mazda3 impresses, though. Both engines are smooth and quiet and, combined with the athletic suspension, deliver the promise of “zoom, zoom” every time you get behind the wheel. The previous version was criticized for a stiff and noisy ride at times. The engineers seem to have remedied that in the 2010 Mazda3; it is a quiet and composed driving experience that may alienate the more youthful buyers—but an upcoming Mazdaspeed3 will fix that.

The interior of the 2010 Mazda3 has been redesigned with a focus on Human Machine Interface (HMI). All the controls are placed optimally so that the driver can interact with them easily, and the Multi-Information Display and optional navigation are placed high on the console to minimize distraction. The optional Sirius radio interface has been vastly improved, although it is not as easy to use as in some competitors. The driver-oriented controls are welcome when you are behind the wheel, but it does leave the passenger out of the equation a bit. For example, the controls for the optional navigation are on the steering wheel only.

Like other compact sedans, the 2010 Mazda3 is rated as a five-passenger vehicle, but in reality, it is more comfortable with only four onboard. The materials are high-quality and would be at home in vehicles costing considerably more. Ingress and egress are good, and with fold-down rear seats, the trunk capacity grows considerably. The lift-over height is high, though, and the opening to the trunk is a bit narrow.

Mazda’s approach to safety is to design a vehicle that can avoid a crash first, while equipping it with the safety systems to survive an incident if it occurs. Its crisp, responsive handling and standard anti-lock brakes go a long way toward avoiding a crash. Six standard airbags, active head restraints, and carefully engineered crush zones help you survive an accident. Optional dynamic stability control and traction control are standard on higher-end models of the 2010 Mazda Mazda3 but not offered on base versions.

The original Mazda3 sets itself apart from its competitors in many ways, one being the availability of features that you can’t find in other compact vehicles. The 2010 Mazda3 continues this trend with first-in-class bi-xenon adaptive lighting standard on the Grand Touring model. A three-position memory function has been added to cars equipped with power seats—another first for the segment and not offered on any competitor’s compact car.

Other available features include a Bose 10-speaker premium surround sound system, Bluetooth connectivity for cell phones and portable media players, a dock for iPods, and Sirius Satellite Radio. An advanced keyless entry system includes push-button engine starting. The Mazda3 options list also includes rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, leather upholstery, and heated seats and side mirrors.

Source: The Car Connection