2008 Mazda MAZDA3 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The Mazda3 has far more visual presence than you'd expect from a car with a Japanese nameplate. The designers worked hard to give this car the kind of character that will set it apart from other compact cars, and the result is a surprisingly bold look. A broad palette of color choices further distinguishes the Mazda3 from other compacts.

The sedan looks a little clumsy in its stripped-down i-model iteration, but bigger tires give it a more substantial stance.

Meanwhile, the five-door is unique, more like a stretched-out coupe than a five-door hatchback, and it's especially appealing in a radical color choice.

The facelift for 2007 defined the style even more clearly, with a body-color grille surround and new front bumper with square fog lights for both the 3s models plus brighter and more substantial-looking 16- and 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels.

There were no appearance changes for 2008.

The Mazaspeed3 looks especially tough with its oversized air intake in the front bumper and the mildly flared fenders. The whole front fascia is unique, and the rear taillights and chrome exhaust tips set it apart as well. Big 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels clearly identify this as a high-performance car.

Interior Features

When it comes to compact cars, the game is all about space efficiency. Just how much space can be devoted to the passengers? And is the space useful for all the other tasks that are demanded of a small car?

The Mazda3 sedan offers 94.3 cubic feet of passenger space, which compares favorably with the Honda Civic sedan's 90.9 cubic feet. The Mazda and the Honda are close in front-seat room, with Mazda providing a bit less leg room but a bit more width. In the rear seat, however, the Mazda is significantly larger, most notably in leg room and shoulder room. The Civic and Mazda3 are also close in trunk volume, with the Mazda rated at 11.5 cubic feet, the Honda 12.0.

The utility of the Mazda3's interior is enhanced by a standard folding 60/40 split back seat, which enables you to increase trunk room for large loads. The back of the rear seat doesn't quite fold flat, but it's close. Thanks to this design, the Mazda3 five-door will accommodate 43.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the front seats when the second seat is folded down.

The Mazda3 seats themselves are supportive without being confining, and the use of high-quality foam in the bolsters makes them very comfortable during long drives. Every version of the Mazda3 except for the entry-level sedan features a height adjuster for the driver's seat, and this works with the standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel to enable a wide range of drivers to get a good fit with the controls. Grand Touring editions feature seat warmer for their standard leather seats.

When it's well-equipped with trim and features, the interior of the Mazda3 looks good, although black interiors seem very dark. For 3s, a brushed aluminum surface lends some drama to the dashboard, as do red-orange electro-luminescent numerals with blue-tinted dials. Mazda 3i sedans feature wood trim for the dash and white-faced instruments.

The Mazda3 affords plenty of practical storage space, notably a cavernous glovebox. Two cupholders are integrated into the center console, while a small but deep box separates the seats. Rear-seat armrests have integrated cupholders.

The optional navigation display screen flips up from the top of the dash, and it offers a bright view, while the software logic for entering destinations and the like is straightforward. The navigation system's controls are located in the center console, however, and they're small and fussy enough (especially the joystick control) to be a chore to operate. But the Mazda3 is one of the very few cars in this price class to offer a navigation system.

The Mazdaspeed3's interior has the same overall look as its siblings, but red stitching in the steering wheel, shift knob and seats adds some motorsports style. The thick rim, leather-wrapped rim of the steering wheel feels substantial, while aluminum covers for the pedals enhance the presentation. The best thing about the Mazdaspeed3's interior is the high-bolstered sports seats, which cradle and support rather than confine. The strategic use of leather and cloth inserts in the Grand Touring version keeps you from inadvertently sliding around when you're driving at a quick pace. These are the kind of seats that will help you rack up a thousand miles of driving in a day.