As in my other thread, I've been on a few business trips back to back and this time, I had the privilege to spend four days with the 2010 Mazda3 sedan. This time, I was in Madison, Wisconsin and between me and my co-worker, I drove this car about 90% of the time and clocked in about 150+ miles during our trip.
First Impressions:
I knew right away that this was the 2010 Mazda3 and I was immediately excited. The car's trunk space is incredibly spacious for an economy compact car and I found the seats very comfortable--good legroom, good headroom, good visibility, and it didn't take me long to understand the numerous dash controls in the vehicle. The car's turning circle is one of the smallest I've ever encountered and the 2.0L VVT transmission packs good power from zero, but the car seems to labor a bit when reaching higher speeds.
Pros:
This car is a lot of fun. It has nice exterior design, sure-footed at high speeds and sharp turns, has a decent sound system, and has a lot of room. It is a lively driving car for commuting and I'm sure the 2.5L engine even improves on its liveliness.
Cons:
The car is absorbs bumps adequately and the new front-end styling looks best in black where it's a bit more subtle and not so poignant. During hard stops, the brakes tend to jitter and my co-worker and I both felt that the A/C in the car takes quite a while to get going.
Bottom Line:
If I ever had to choose a compact car within its class, the Mazda3 would be my first choice. It's quick, fun, darty, spacious, and has a lot of optional features that can compare with any of its competitors. I truly enjoyed driving this little car!