Introduced in 2004, the Mazda 3 quickly earned a reputation as the most fun-to-drive car in the compact class. But 2007 brings a host of redesigned competitors, and class standards are moving up. How does the 2007 Mazda 3 compare to the competition? Read on. $14,390 base, $18,980 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 26 MPG city/33 MPG highway.
First Glance: Subtle changes for an old favorite
Larger exterior photos: Front side rearFor 2007 Mazda has updated the 3 both inside and out. Subtle styling updates include two new grilles (unique for "i" and "s" models) and squared-off fog light housings. Mazda's press release says the new bumpers offer "superior aerodynamics [that] contribute to better fuel economy." Indeed, the EPA's highway estimate for the 3s model with manual transmission is up one MPG, but estimates for other versions are unchanged. The 3's new alloy wheels (link goes to photo), and again I quote from the press release, "have been redesigned to both accentuate the aluminum alloy look and convey the image of stability." (I like last year's simple five-spoke alloy wheels better. Does that mean I prefer the image of instability?)
What hasn't changed is the lineup: Two body styles, 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback; two engines, a 148 horsepower 2-liter in the "i" model and 156 hp 2.3 liter for the "s"; and three trim levels, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, the latter only in "s" form.
Changes to the Mazda 3's body shell make it more rigid and the suspension has been tweaked for improved steering response and sharper handling. But the most important change is the addition of electronic stability control, standard on "s" Touring and Grand Touring. Electronic stability control can help keep the driver from losing control in a sudden panic maneuver or during over-aggressive driving. Antilock brakes, front-seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags remain standard on some models, optional on others.
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In the Driver's Seat: Vibrant but dated
The 3's interior has also been revised for 2007, with -- let me quote from the press release again, 'cause it's just so darn much fun -- "particular attention paid to revising interior quality on all models." Hey, I'm down with that. The "i" offers a choice of beige or black interior, the former with glare-cutting black dashboard topper, while the "s" is black-only. I'm not a huge fan of black interiors, but the 3s has grey and red plastic trim that spruces it up nicely. Even so, the interior looks dated compared to the more modern designs of the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra.
The 3s' gauges feature red numbers on a black background with blue floodlighting - a cool effect - while the 3i gets snazzy black-on-white gauges. The three-dial air conditioning controls are simple as can be, but the button-happy stereo takes some getting used to. The back seat is OK but the 11.5 cubic foot trunk is on the small side.
Base price for the Mazda 3i Sport is $14,390; it has a stereo with CD player, steering-wheel-mounted controls and a jack to plug in your MP3 player. A/C is optional, but power windows, locks and mirrors require stepping up to the 3i Touring. My 3s Touring included all of the above plus airbags galore, antilock brakes and electronic stability control. The price tag was nearly $19k -- when did small cars get so expensive? The top-of-the-line 3s Grand Touring adds leather seats (heated in front), automatic headlights, climate control, and rain-sensing wipers, breaking the $20k barrier. Its optional GPS navigation system is a rarity in this segment.
On the Road: Where the Mazda 3 shines
The Mazda 3's reputation as a driver's car is not undeserved. Its steering response is notably sharp, though the firm ride might put some buyers off. This year Mazda has retuned the suspension for less understeer. (Understeer is when the front wheels try to push towards the outside of a curve when cornered hard; the opposite condition is oversteer, when the rear wheels slide or fishtail. Most front-wheel-drive cars like the Mazda 3 are tuned for understeer.) Even so, don't expect the Mazda 3 to suddenly spin out in a hard corner. It's very well behaved -- agile, responsive, and a lot of fun through curvy roads.The 2.3 liter 156 horsepower four-cylinder engine in the "s" model is big by compact-car standards; most of the 3's competitors have engines in the 1.8 to 2.0 liter and 126 to 140 horsepower range. Transmission choices are a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. (The 3i gets a 2.0 liter engine and 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.) The 2.3 has lots of power, but you'll pay for it at the pumps: My manual-transmission test car's EPA estimates of 26 MPG city/33 MPG highway pale when compared to the Honda Civic's 30 MPG city/38 MPG highway.
One bright spot: Both 2.0 and 2.3 engines come in a clean-burning Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) version for cars sold in California, New York, Vermont, Masachusetts and Maine. Horsepower drops slightly, but while many cars only offer a PZEV engine with an automatic transmission, the Mazda 3 retains its PZEV rating with the stick-shift as well.
Journey's End: Still the compact of choice for those who love to drive
There's no denying that the Mazda 3 has a much sportier feel than its competitors. The big engine, sharp steering response and firm ride set it apart from cars like the Civic, Corolla and Sentra, where driving is a means to an end rather than an enjoyable activity in and of itself.
Part of the problem was the version I drove, the 3s sedan; I prefer the sleeker and more practical 5-door. As a hatchback, the Mazda 3 is unique; as a sedan it has to fight harder to stand out, a tall order against newer designs like the Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. My second choice would be the cheaper 3i model: It has less power but it's more frugal and just as much fun in the curves.
2007 brings more driver-oriented compacts into the fray, notably the Nissan Sentra SE-R, Honda Civic Si and Mazda's own Mazdaspeed 3, a phenomenally souped-up version of the Mazda 3 hatchback. But both carry heftier car payments and neither is available with an automatic transmission. VW's Rabbit is another sporty-themed hatchback; it has more power but uses more fuel, and reliability isn't as good as Mazda's. The 2008 Mitsubishi Galant -- particularly the GTS model -- is also worth checking out.
That leaves the Mazda 3 right where it started off -- it remains one of the best affordable driver's cars in the compact segment. -- Aaron Gold
