Mazda3 five-door is a civilized hot hatchback
The Mazda3 design and style have always been one of my favorite five-door daily drivers. They are rock solid while also being 100 percent forgiving if you hit that pothole you tried to miss last week or enter a corner a little too fast.
While not having a turbo like some of the competition, the Mazda3 keeps up and still manages 28-32 mpg. The newly redesigned Mazda3 improves interior luxury, and adds more driving fun with the SKYACTIV 4-cylinder under the hood.
Starting there, the Mazda3 produces 184 horsepower from a 2.5L inline 4-cylinder and puts the power down through front-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission. Shifts are crisp into each gear. with the clutch pedal a little heavier than normal.
On the outside, the Mazda3 has a new, sleeker design with a larger front grill and thin angled headlamps. The stance is where it really looks solid. The wheels and tires are pushed to the edges and allow for a wider appearance. LED taillights and dual exhaust pipes round off the exterior.
Inside is a very comfortable and luxurious place to spend time. Leather seats and other quality materials blanket the interior surfaces, while a digital heads-up display unfolds at start-up to assist monitoring your speed. There is no clutter to the interior and the car feels heavy and sturdy from the moment you slam the door. All of the interior entertainment can be controlled from a rotary dial below the shifter. This system is very easy to navigate. Once you learn the screen layout, snapping through menus is a breeze while your eyes never leave the road. In fact, compared to some of the top-notch luxury brands, I prefer this infotainment system design.
Interior space is average, if not a bit tight, for rear passengers. Installing two car seats was easy, but also compromised front passenger leg room. The rear cargo area was barely able to store two hockey bags. If I was able to fold the rear seats, the cargo volume would almost double and hold those bags with no problem.
On road the Mazda3 performs very well in most situations and has good power. The manual transmission is very easy to engage and the suspension system silences rough road. Overall, handling could be improved, but for daily commutes and driving around Beaver County, the Mazda3 performs very well. What sets it apart from a Ford Focus or VW Golf is the true Grand Touring feel you get from the interior, and the overall drive quality is enjoyable day after day.
Mazda claims 29 mpg average and I was able to manage 28-30 mpg during my road test. Total MSRP for the Mazda3 S five-door GT is $28,385.
Will Chamberlain is a local freelance automotive journalist and can be reached at wchamberlain@pghcarguys.com.