2009 Mazda3 Gets a Thumbs-Up

Considering a small car? As you make the rounds at Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai dealers, don't forget to swing by a Mazda store. Mazda's compact entry, the Mazda3, is a serious contender that's worth a look and test drive.

The Mazda3 is offered in two body styles - a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Both models make good use of available space, though the hatchback is sportier than the family oriented sedan. If you are a driving enthusiast, the Mazda Speed3 version of the hatch is a little hot rod that will cover ground at an adrenalin pumping rate.

In states that have adopted California emissions standards, the Mazda3 sedan comes with a choice of either 2.0- or 2.3-liter four-cylinder engines that allow the vehicle to be certified as a partial zero emission vehicle (PZEV). The five door hatch is only offered with the 2.3-liter. In states where stringent California standards don't apply, federal Tier 2 Bin 5 versions of the same engines are offered. The 2.0-liter produces 148 horsepower (144 for the PZEV) at a lofty 6,500 rpm and 135 lbs-ft (132 PZEV) of torque at 4,500 rpm. The larger 2.3-liter offers 156 horsepower (151 PZEV) at 6,500 rpm and 150 lbs-ft (149 PZEV) of torque at 4,500 rpm. For the power-hungry, the higher performance Speed3 variant uses turbo charging and direct injection to boost the 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine to 263 horsepower and 280 lbs-ft of torque. That's enough punch to do 0-60 mph in just five and a half seconds. The regular Mazda3 is no slouch, accelerating to 60 mph from a stop in 8.1 seconds.

The 2009 Mazda3 is offered with either a five speed manual or five speed automatic that allows manual control when you feel the need to shift. Fuel economy isn't the highest in the class, but both offer very thrifty operation. EPA numbers for the 2.0-liter engine are 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The 2.3 is rated at 22 city and 29 highway. The Mazda3 is, however, one of those cars that seems to consistently beat EPA estimates. Green Car recent drove a Mazda Speed3 - which the EPA lists at only 25 mpg on the highway - and managed 31 mpg at a conservative pace. With the less powerful, naturally aspirated 2.3 in the regular Mazda3, we've been able to consistently average above 30 mpg with a high of 35 mpg on one leg of easy highway cruising.

Mazda designed the Mazda3 with a very stiff body structure that allowed chassis engineers to tune the suspension for precise and predictable handling. Ride quality in both the hatchback and sedan is quite good thanks to MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. The sport edition Speed3, however, has much more aggressive suspension tuning for serious road prowess. As you might expect, the ride is very firm, but the driver is rewarded with handling that makes anticipating the next corner a pleasure.

The Mazda3 is a five passenger vehicle with great overall utility. This car is more small wagon than traditional hatchback. The five-door hatchback has an impressive 105.8 cubic feet of interior room, which is evident in the generous head and legroom provided. You never feel cramped in the Mazda3 and interior access is great through four cabin doors and a large rear hatch.

Breaking the mold in our increasingly me-too world is another reason to take a serious look at the Mazda3. You simply don't see them on every corner like the mainstream competition. Mazda is planning a major redesign of the sedan version of the Mazda3 for 2010, scheduled to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

The Good: Great utility, sporty, and spirited
The Bad: Moderate fuel economy
The Rating: 8 (out of 10)