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What it is: The Mazda 3 is one of the sportier compacts on the market.
Base prices range from $15,200 to $22,900
Mileage ranges from 20 miles per gallon in the city to 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
Whats worth knowing: Mazda is a niche player in the U.S. market, with cars known for more style and verve than competing models. Like most automakers, Mazda is now pushing hard to ramp up fuel efficiency, without compromising the sporty vibe of its vehicles. Its new SkyActiv system uses technology such as direct injection to boost mileage and power both, though it costs a bit more than the basic powertrain.
Who its for: Drivers with a modest budget who still want a fun ride. The 3 is economical enough to serve as a commuter car, yet you can fancy it up without spending a fortune.
Whats good: Its street cred. The 3 is light on its feetwell, tireswith quick acceleration and joyful handling on curves and swerves. Average mileage with the optional SkyActiv system and an automatic transmission is about 33 MPG, which is 22 percent better than the four-cylinder base enginewith a bit more horsepower. A manual transmission is standard on most trim linesa plus for motoring puristswith an automatic available for $850 more. A hatchback model enhances versatility and cargo space.
Whats bad: The dashboard and cabin controls rely on hard plastics that dont convey much warmth. The rear seat has limited legroom.
How it stacks up: A few years ago, the Mazda 3 was a standout when it came to fun cars under $20,000. But other automakers have caught on, and now competitors like the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Golf offer a similar zesty ride, in some cases with a more comfortable interior.
What to do if you want one: When test-driving the Mazda 3, do some aggressive (though legal) driving to get a feel for its performance, since thats the cars strong point. Use Mazdas Web site to study the six different trim lines on two different models (the sedan and the hatchback) to make sure you know what youre negotiating over when youre at the dealer.
Rick Newman is the Chief Business Correspondent for U.S. News & World Report and a longtime car buff. He covers corporate and consumer trends from the magazine's New York bureau. Rick is also the magazine's car reviewer and writer his "micro-reviews" here on a regular basis.
Follow Rick on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
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