DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: After driving the 2014 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 5-Door, I called it “perhaps the best affordable small car on the market today.” While the lower-powered i model may not inspire quite the same level of enthusiasm, the final verdict remains the same: This is an outstanding small car.
If you're going to copy an infotainment interface, you could do a lot worse than Mercedes' COMAND knob-based system -- and that appears to be exactly what Mazda's done. The controller is well placed and the screen floats in the same iPad afterthought manner as seen on modern Benz models. It's a vast improvement over Mazda's old orange three-line display.
Comparing options and pricing, it's apparent that Mazda has Honda Civic intenders in its crosshairs. This 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door comes in markedly higher than a comparably equipped Toyota Corolla or Nissan Sentra (it's also far more entertaining to drive than either), but lands within pocket change of the similar Civic EX-L, not to mention the Ford Focus Titanium. That places it at the premium end of the entry-compact segment, but buyers should note that there are several well-equipped trim levels that slot in thousands below our loaded tester -- in other words, don't assume the Mazda 3 that suits your needs is going to run $25K.
A couple of observations: Mazda has done an outstanding job making the 3 i, whose mission in life is to get good gas mileage, feel quick in normal driving. The way the Skyactiv transmission is programmed ensures the driver gets a satisfying shove when moving away from lights at part throttle and when performing average interstate passing moves. Mat the throttle from a standing start, though, and you quickly realize this is not a fast car -- the engine screams, the transmission shifts get sluggish and the sense of torque present in milder driving evaporates under pressure. Of course, no one is buying a 2.0-liter Mazda 3 to drag race, so this is fundamentally a compliment to Mazda for doing such a good job disguising the car's modest output in average driving.
Also, whether it was the winter tires our tester wore or an unavoidable characteristic of driving a small, lightweight car, the Mazda 3 sedan suffered on the highway in crosswinds and when passing semis and other large vehicles. The car was easily tossed around by gusts requiring a firm hand on the wheel and keen awareness of the situation. I didn't notice the issue on our earlier Mazda 3 s Grand Touring hatchback, so at this point I have to lay some of the blame on the squishy winter tires.
Minor quibbles, really, and there's not much else to complain about on the Mazda 3. It's not the cheapest option, but remains a benchmark compact car in my book -- light on its feet, comfortable, well-equipped and capable of delivering diesel-like fuel economy numbers while remaining fun to drive. There's a good-looking sedan for the traditionalists and a hot hatch for the kids, both with ample interior and cargo space. If you're in the market for a small car, the Mazda 3 is a must-drive before you make your choice.
The 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door has a base price of $24,590 with our tester topping off at $25,085.
The cabin is surprisingly roomy for a small car, though I'd bet a long road trip with four adults would get a little cramped. I like the rotary knob to control navigation and entertainment functions, and when both hands are on the wheel, the redundant controls are easy to use. Maybe it's because the Germans started doing it, but it feels like an upscale option.
The 155-hp, 2.0-liter is just enough to get this car around. For a nonenthusiast it would be perfectly adequate. You have to put your foot deep to get some thrust, but drivers will be thanking their lucky stars at the gas pump. The six-speed automatic shifts early and smoothly. As always, the 3 gets better than average steering and medium-stiff suspension setup. I can't wait for a new Mazdaspeed 3 model to get here.
I like the sheetmetal on the hatchback better, but this sedan has grown more handsome in this latest generation car. The five-sided grille is much better than the old face. The wheels also look good.
So, the base Mazda 3 sedan starts at about $17,000 and so does the Ford Focus sedan. The Nissan Sentra starts about a thousand bucks cheaper, so there's no dearth of options in the small-car realm. If you're looking for a basic car, the Mazda 3 is one of the best deals out there.
The 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door is equipped with a 2.0-liter I4.
To me, the Mazda 3 looks fantastic in both 4- and 5-door form. It's so much better looking than the outgoing car. Swoopy sheetmetal, long hood, the right proportions, and an upscale look. Though I personally prefer the five-door, a family member walked in the house last night and said “that car is hot.” How often does one hear that about an “entry-level” car?
Ditto the interior. Materials look high quality and are well assembled. The seats fit me perfectly. The switchgear feels and operates like a more expensive car. The only thing that bugged me about the infotainment system was that I couldn't figure out how to set stereo pre sets. I'm sure it can be done, and had I looked in the manual I'm sure I could have figured it out. An owner would take the time and do these things, and it wouldn't be an issue.
The suspension and rock-solid chassis are terrific. For commuting, the car drives darn near perfectly. It's a really comfortable small car. How many of those are on the market? The ride is compliant but firm and steering is precise. The car feels tight and alert and on the money in terms of balance. Is it the best-riding small car? I'd have to drive them all back-to-back, but it is darn fine.
The engine is zippy off the line, even with the automatic. In fact, I didn't mind the automatic at all. With my own money I'm not sure I'd bother with the bigger engine. No, it's not a pro-stock drag racer, but I didn't think it would be. Quality and NVH levels are impressive for this price.
The car is impressive and Mazda has a real winner on its hands. And again to me $25K is a sit-up-and-take-notice price, in a good way. Overall, it's a pretty and refined small car that is a hoot to drive. Plus, this particular car has a ton of stuff on it. I predict Mazda will sell all it can build.
The 2014 Mazda 3 is slightly reminiscent of a 1990s compact car: depending on how charitable you are, it's either “light on its feet” or “rough around the edges.” Anyone who went to high school last decade or has parents surely knows. It's sprightly, kind of slow, rolls a lot. Other compact cars like the Honda Civic are trying to impart a honed-from-iron solidity; the Mazda 3 rolls with the punches. No word on whether chief engineer Dave Coleman took inspiration from his Lemons team -- the most successful Lemons team in series history, we may add -- to tweak the Mazda 3's steering, as he claimed at the press launch, but it's one of the 3's strongest suits.
The all-black interior is dour, strangely discordant for a car that once wore a silly, sloppy grin on its face. That grin is gone, oh well. Inside are comfortable seats, good rear headroom, and a trunk of above-average size, accented by red bits that seem to draw their inspiration, across the screens and gauges.
On that aforementioned press drive, Mazda hadn't yet readied its Commander infotainment knob. Now, however, it worked, and works well: menu screens display without hesitation, and the black graphics are plain but legible. Only the navigation screen has been left behind, and operates at a turgid pace guaranteed to induce frustration. All the round knobs in the 3 feel like quality -- and they all have the same shape and knurling, which is a nice touch of consistency.
However, the Commander panel is supported on top, by the center console, and there is nothing below to prop it up in case it, say, is hit with a weighty force and falls into its hole, where it languishes awkwardly like any number of Chevy Corvettes.
But enough about knobs falling into holes. I'll echo the enthusiast-driven peanut gallery and declare the Mazda 3 to be an interesting alternative to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corollas of the world, lacking in solidity but making up for it with good design -- at least on the outside -- and certain verve to match its practicality.
2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door
Base Price: $24,590As-Tested Price: $25,085
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 155 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 150 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,848 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 30/41/34 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 36.8 mpg
Options: Soul red metallic paint ($300); scuff plates/door sill trim plates ($125); cargo mat ($70)
