CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
OK
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 09/08/2005
Handling is great, thanks mainly to a large increase in body stiffness in comparison with the Protégé, the Mazda3's predecessor. The 160-horsepower engine pulls the front-wheel-drive car nicely out of corners, and steering is precise and not overpowered--perfect for either that energetic drive on the back roads or maneuvering in a parking lot. Fuel economy comes in at 25mpg in the city and 32mpg on the highway. Passengers are protected by a three-fork safety structure and standard front-passenger air bags. An antilock braking system (ABS), along with side and side-curtain air bags, is available as an option. The price of our test car was $18,850, including the $800 ABS/side-impact air-bag option and $890 moonroof and six-CD changer package.
Comfortable and nicely styled, the 2005 Mazda Mazda3 s presents a very youthful appearance, with looks that would be at home on a rally car. From the side, the Mazda3 looks remarkably like BMW's 3 Series sedan, especially its roofline and C-pillar. The similarities continue at the front, with the wrap-around headlamps and front-nose treatment--the most obvious difference being the grille. We particularly like the crystal-ball look of the high-beam lamps, which, combined with the other lighting elements, is a real eye-catcher. Unlike many sedans, the Mazda3 also looks good from the rear. Echoing the front lamps, the rear-light assembly wraps around with the indicator and brake lamps on the body, while the reverse light is split on the trunk door. The waistline kicks up at the trunk for added visual effect, as well as a bit more trunk space.Moving to the inside, the plastic and cloth interior trim doesn't feel cheap--everything seems solid and well put together. The driver is met with a manually adjustable telescopic/tilt steering wheel, complete with cruise control and stereo controls, and a fully adjustable seat, which is comfortable at first but could do with a bit more lumbar support for longer journeys. The passenger seat is the usual no-frills reclining/sliding affair. There is reasonable room in the back if the person in front is of moderate height, but when the seat goes back, legroom disappears fast. Rear passengers more than 6 feet tall may also find the headroom a bit restricted, but that might be the least of their worries on a hot day, since the air conditioner is rather weak--it can keep up with only two passengers in the car on a 90-degree day.
The stereo had adequate sound, and it remained fairly clean even when the listening volume got to an uncomfortable level; more bass at lower volumes would have been nice. There are few stereo upgrade options, and the nonstandard layout means an aftermarket unit would be an expensive custom job or a poorly integrated add-on. The six-disc changer does not support MP3 CDs, nor is there an auxiliary jack in which to plug an MP3 player. The lack of a pause button for the CD player was a real annoyance, especially since the Mute button on the steering wheel could have easily served this function. However, we really liked the stereo's ability to quickly find and store the six strongest radio signals, which are in a special set of memory locations separate from the programmable presets.
The amber instrument lights adjust well and have a nice blue accent at night. The only minor problem is the need to manually turn the brightness up if you're running the headlights during the day--the nighttime illumination setting is too low for daytime use, and the daytime setting seems too bright for nighttime. It's only a single button-push, but you need to reach through the steering wheel to do it. The lack of more than one intermittent setting on the windshield wipers is also a minus, as is the lack of a fuel-economy display.
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Where to buy
2005 Mazda Mazda3 s:
$14,240.00
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Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price From Edmunds.com
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$14,240.00 |
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