Great Fun Car
Gave my reliable '97 Ford Escort to a church and got a new Mazda3. It's lots of fun and feels great. I thought it was head and shoulders better than the 2006 Civic.
sporty econo car
I traded a 99 Mazda Protege with a Mazda 3 and although the review for the last generation Protege were great, the Mazda 3 is far greater car in handling and driveability. I think the switch to the 2 liter is the key. I can now zoom-zoom with the upscale midsize sedans like the Accord, Camry, and yes the Mazda 6. Great car driving experience for the money. Definitely test drive one; it drives like a big car.
- i SedanMSRP: $5,998149 mi away
- i SedanMSRP: $9,500256 mi away
- s Touring SedanMSRP: $3,995376 mi away
Excellent overall
The fit an finish on the car is outstanding. Both exterior and interior styling are top-notch. Car is sporty to drive even with the smaller 2.0. Very practical and reliable. Driving position is very comfortable. Visibility is excellent. I would highly recommend this car.
Poor Man's BMW
Have owned this car almost 3 yrs. No mechanical/quality problems. Routine service only. Handles similar to my drowned BMW 325i, despite that it is FWD (specs for size wt and interior dimensions close, but definitely not nearly as refined as BMW, but ok for ~1/2 the price. Excellent outward visibility. Mileage ~22 mpg city and high 20's hwy. Good looking, especially to the younger set. Lots of amenities, leather, rain-sensing wipers, 5 speed auto with manual mode, atuo on-off headlights, side air bags, CD, heated seats, and more. Would definitely recomend this model for someone who wants a fun to drive, economical, utilitarian and reliable car that runs on regular gas. It is a GLC as in great little car.
Very nice little car
I stepped down from a luxury make to purchase this car. It is a great compromise, with enough luxury features to make me happy, but is still a practical car. The handling is excellent, and the pickup is very good for a small car. The engine is much quieter than other 4-cylinder cars of its type. The gas mileage isn't stellar, but I am still breaking it in. If you want a reliable hatchback that is fun to drive, this car fits the bill. No regrets.