By FRANK A. AUKOFER
Scripps Howard News Service Over five years, the Mazda3 has insinuated itself into the affections of half a million budget-conscious American motorists who value decent performance and sharp handling.
Compared to most cars in the compact class, the 3 has been viewed more as an enthusiast's car than a family automobile, especially in the hatchback version. Mazda buttressed that perception with the high-performance Mazdaspeed3 model, which has a top speed of more than 150 miles an hour and a zero to 60 acceleration time of less than six seconds.
Now the 3 has received a makeover for the 2010 model year, with new front and rear styling, and a slightly stretched profile that makes it look bigger. The new "purposely polarizing" prow is a bold departure and likely will be the subject of debate among Mazda aficionados despite the fact that Mazda's North American chief Jim O'Sullivan described the new 3 as more evolution than revolution.
But the positive news is that Mazda's designers and engineers managed the do-over without altering the essence of the 3's driving experience.
As before, the 3 comes in two basic versions -- the sportier hatchback (called a five-door by Mazda) and the more sedate conventional notchback sedan. A new Mazdaspeed3 model is on track to follow the new 3.
The sedan offers the most choices -- a total of nine -- priced from $15,715 to $22,970. Five models at the lower end come with a 148-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission.
Along with four hatchback models, the other four sedans are powered by a 167-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or the five-speed automatic. The 2.5 engine, new to the 3, is essentially the same as the one in the new mid-size Mazda6.
All of the stick shift 3 models have smooth and positive shift linkages, regardless of whether you're puttering around to enhance fuel economy or tromping all-out on an acceleration run. Clutch action is light, with progressive engagement.
But most Americans prefer automatics, as well as lots of comfort and convenience features, so the subject here is the top-line Mazda3 S Grand Touring hatchback with the five-speed automatic.
It had a starting price of $22,970, which included leather upholstery and a power driver's seat. With two option packages, it had a bottom-line sticker of $25,760.
Basic equipment includes stability and traction control, side air bags and side-curtain air bags, antilock brakes with brake assist and brake-force distribution, side air bags and side-curtain air bags, tire-pressure monitoring, xenon self-leveling headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and outside mirrors, fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote central locking, cruise control, and tilt-and-telescoping steering.
Unfortunately, in order to get the $1,195 technology package, which includes a navigation system, satellite radio and pushbutton starting, you also have to buy the $1,395 package that contains a high-power Bose audio system, six-disc CD changer and a motorized glass sunroof.
The equipment also includes Bluetooth and music player connectivity, with the latter integrated into the navigation screen. One nice touch: the navigation system is contained in a tiny SD card, which will make it easy to upgrade in the future.
As with the exterior, the Mazda3's interior has been re-designed, but it flops in one key area. The instruments and radio readouts are done up in a Halloween orange on black motif that washes out and is difficult to read in bright light. Daytime illumination helps only slightly. Also, the radio readout is canted so far toward the driver that a front-seat passenger has difficulty seeing it to tune the radio.
Curiously, there is a multi-information display that uses white on black digits and letters that are highly visible. The setup should be extended to all the instruments. One other shortcoming: the sun visors do not slide on their support rods to block sunlight from the side.
On the positive side, the front bucket seats, especially those that are cloth covered, are comfortable and supportive for long-distance driving and have good grip for cornering. The driver's seat, even the manual version, is adjustable for height, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes.
On the road, the new 3 displays its perennially endearing performance qualities. It handles precisely on twisting mountain roads -- more sports sedan than urban cruiser. The 167-horsepower engine delivers plenty of power for passing and the ride is comfortable. City/highway fuel economy is rated at 22/29 miles to the gallon.
Although the 3 hatchback is three and one-half inches shorter than the sedan, it has 17 cubic feet of cargo space -- near that of a full-size sedan -- compared to less than 12 cubic feet of trunk space in the sedan. The two-thirds/one third split rear seatback folds down to more than double the cargo-carrying capability.
Mazda has been among the more innovative car companies, offering a variety of models and power plants, including a rotary engine in the RX-8 sports sedan. But the 3 is its most important car, accounting for about a third of Mazda's sales worldwide.
Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. For more columns, go to scrippsnews.com
