The more comprehensive equipment translates into a $3,000 premium for the GS model, leaving the base GX as "a poor man's Mazda3."
Nice comfort up front
The interior layout hasn't changed either. The front buckets still offer adjustable seat lifter and lumbar support (thank God because the cushions are fairly low). The seatbacks are nicely bolstered, providing adequate side support in corners. It's a shame, however, that the heated seats are exclusive to the top-of-the-line GT sedan. Oh well...
On the plus side, the tilt/telescopic steering wheel allows you to fine-tune your driving position -- a privilege not many compact cars are offering. Likewise, young music lovers will appreciate the 4-speaker stereo which features an auxiliary input for MP3 players.
It's no secret that young passengers will often sit in the back. After all, the available room for your legs and feet is relatively limited, especially when a tall adult takes place in the driver's seat.
The 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback allows you to extend the cargo area -- and you should be forever thankful. Among compact sedans, the Mazda3 boasts the lowest trunk capacity along with the Mitsubishi Lancer (325 and 328 liters, respectively). The Cobalt, Focus, Elantra and Versa all offer 25-percent more cargo room in the trunk.
What's more, the short, narrow opening means you can't load large items (41+ centimeters). So, if you plan on buying a big plasma TV, you'd better have it delivered to your house!
To top it all off, the raised configuration of the trunk affects rearward visibility, which sometimes makes parking maneuvers harder.
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| The 4-speed automatic transmission features a convenient manual mode. |
Nice comfort up front
The interior layout hasn't changed either. The front buckets still offer adjustable seat lifter and lumbar support (thank God because the cushions are fairly low). The seatbacks are nicely bolstered, providing adequate side support in corners. It's a shame, however, that the heated seats are exclusive to the top-of-the-line GT sedan. Oh well...
On the plus side, the tilt/telescopic steering wheel allows you to fine-tune your driving position -- a privilege not many compact cars are offering. Likewise, young music lovers will appreciate the 4-speaker stereo which features an auxiliary input for MP3 players.
It's no secret that young passengers will often sit in the back. After all, the available room for your legs and feet is relatively limited, especially when a tall adult takes place in the driver's seat.
The 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback allows you to extend the cargo area -- and you should be forever thankful. Among compact sedans, the Mazda3 boasts the lowest trunk capacity along with the Mitsubishi Lancer (325 and 328 liters, respectively). The Cobalt, Focus, Elantra and Versa all offer 25-percent more cargo room in the trunk.
What's more, the short, narrow opening means you can't load large items (41+ centimeters). So, if you plan on buying a big plasma TV, you'd better have it delivered to your house!
To top it all off, the raised configuration of the trunk affects rearward visibility, which sometimes makes parking maneuvers harder.
 |
| The Mazda3 has the smallest trunk among all compact sedans. The short, narrow opening doesn't help either. |