Visibility is good in every direction too, and I can't readily remember any plainly cooler looking interiors I've visited in the recent past, let alone one
in a car under $30,000. The color scheme of greys and metallics looks great against the black background. The controls are all handsome looking and easy to read, and so is the instrument cluster, and so is the main display unit which caps the centre stack. The stereo is decent, and pumps enough bass to rattle the mirrors when you throw on some Jay-Z. There is a hookup for your I-pod in the centre console, and the control unit even has action lights that react to your inputs when you play with the volume or station settings.
It's these little unexpected things that often help to make a car appealing, and the 3 is full of them.
Up front, the automatic HID lighting looks bling: the crisp blue-white discharge is synonymous with higher-end luxury vehicles. There is even a
leveling switch, handy to keep the beam pattern just where you need it if your hatch is loaded up with some furniture or heavy friends. I was in an Audi A3 a few months back, which is priced well above the 3, (to the tune of about fifteen grand) and it didn't even have xenon lights.
Also aiding in visibility are automatic wipers. Forget endlessly fiddling with the switch- just leave it in "auto" to let the sensor do the work for you. The climate control has an "auto" mode too, so after you choose your temperature, the system will compensate for any changes, (for instance rolling down a window or opening the sunroof) and keep occupants chilled or warmed as desired.
Seems like the 3 Sport takes care of the minor details for the driver, letting them concentrate on other things. Sure, most don't mind setting their own temperature, lights or wipers, but I think I've figured it out.
There's a point when you've got Xenon lights ahead of you, heated leather behind, the open sky overhead, and a little Knopfler on the stereo
that you suddenly realize something monumental. One doesn't need hundreds of horsepower, neck snapping looks and a machine-gun exhaust note to enjoy the open road and experience of driving. It's this realization that comes only from a truly focused approach to driving. It's the 3's overall attitude and execution that encourages the driver to forget about the little things and enjoy the experience. All of the tools are present for this purpose in the 3, and such is Mazda's Zoom Zoom philosophy at work.
Sometimes, just sitting back, taking it all in and enjoying the ride is all that's needed to re-ignite that thrill. But it's a thrill without a lot of compromise. It fits busy lifestyles and is exciting too, while being versatile and economical. I averaged about 11 litres / 100km in combined city and highway driving, though you could hit as low as 8 litres / 100km on the highway if you weren't in a rush.
For sensible, guilt-free Zoom-Zoom, this is all the Mazda you need.
What's Hot:
Great visibility, Xenon lighting, peppy yet economical engine, inclusion of higher-end features, versatile storage space in the rear
What's Not:
Limited driver side knee room, low-mounted hatch release requires bending, yucky orange dash lighting
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
It's these little unexpected things that often help to make a car appealing, and the 3 is full of them.
Up front, the automatic HID lighting looks bling: the crisp blue-white discharge is synonymous with higher-end luxury vehicles. There is even a
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Also aiding in visibility are automatic wipers. Forget endlessly fiddling with the switch- just leave it in "auto" to let the sensor do the work for you. The climate control has an "auto" mode too, so after you choose your temperature, the system will compensate for any changes, (for instance rolling down a window or opening the sunroof) and keep occupants chilled or warmed as desired.
Seems like the 3 Sport takes care of the minor details for the driver, letting them concentrate on other things. Sure, most don't mind setting their own temperature, lights or wipers, but I think I've figured it out.
There's a point when you've got Xenon lights ahead of you, heated leather behind, the open sky overhead, and a little Knopfler on the stereo
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Sometimes, just sitting back, taking it all in and enjoying the ride is all that's needed to re-ignite that thrill. But it's a thrill without a lot of compromise. It fits busy lifestyles and is exciting too, while being versatile and economical. I averaged about 11 litres / 100km in combined city and highway driving, though you could hit as low as 8 litres / 100km on the highway if you weren't in a rush.
For sensible, guilt-free Zoom-Zoom, this is all the Mazda you need.
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Great visibility, Xenon lighting, peppy yet economical engine, inclusion of higher-end features, versatile storage space in the rear
What's Not:
Limited driver side knee room, low-mounted hatch release requires bending, yucky orange dash lighting
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