The 2014 Mazda3

Posted on April 18, 2014 by mesquitemazda — Leave a comment

The all-new Mazda3 rolled into the crowded compact-car sweepstakes as something of a game-changer, achieving top-notch fuel economy without sacrificing driving enjoyment.

The key is the company’s Skyactiv technology, which sounds a little mysterious but boils down to improved powertrain efficiency and reduced weight. Both the Mazda3’s available 2.0- and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines boast the latest enhancements, including direct fuel injection with a 13.0:1 compression ratio, and the engineering team has painstakingly pared weight in just about every conceivable area—suspension, engines, and transmissions—while beefing up the car’s unitized body structure to handle more-stringent offset frontal collision requirements.

Surprisingly, the new six-speed automatic contributes to the Mazda’s high fun-to-drive score. We still prefer a manual gearbox, particularly when dealing with the limitations of modest power, but the brain governing the 3’s auto-shifter is beautifully programmed to keep the engine at optimum rpm. Shifts are smooth, up or down, and the responses to throttle demands are right-now prompt. Manual shifting can be achieved by toggling the shifter fore and aft, and the response times using this method are above average. But most automatics in this class are driven in automatic mode most of the time, and assessed on that basis, the Mazda3’s six-speed gets high marks.

While dynamics put the 3 at the top of the compact heap, Mazda hasn’t neglected the niceties. Interior materials exude quality—even in the mid-level Touring model we tested, the front seats are well bolstered and the comfort levels are high. Standard equipment is comprehensive, with a long list of safety features that includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic-alert systems. The design team has achieved something few others have managed—a practical compact sedan that actually looks good.