2014 Mazda3

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The 2014 Mazda3’s base engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. 2. The car’s optional powerplant is a 2.5-liter engine. It delivers 184 hp and 185 lb-ft. 3. An entry-level Mazda3 sedan stickers for less than $18,000, including shipping and handling fees, while five-door models start at a little less than 20 grand. 4. Four-door 2.0L models with the automatic transmission return up to 41 MPG on the highway.

PREVIEW

Since it went on sale in 2003 the Mazda3 has become a vital product for the Japanese automaker. In fact over the last decade they’ve delivered more than 3.5 million of these compact cars. It accounts for 30 percent of the brand’s sales around the world, which means nearly one out of three Mazdas sold is a 3.

But now the company is in a bit of a tough spot. How do you improve a wildly successful product without alienating existing customers or driving away other potential buyers? The answer is carefully, very carefully. The devil really is in the details.

EXTERIOR

Technical achievements aside, the first thing anyone notices about a car is its styling, and the 2014 Mazda3 is dressed in a striking body that looks more premium than should be allowed in the compact class. It wears the brand’s KODO design theme, which is Japanese for “soul of motion,” or so we’ve been told.

The most noticeable aspect of its styling is the way the car’s visual weight has been shifted back; designers call it “cab-rearward” styling. The new Mazda3 has a long hood and almost rear-wheel-drive proportions. It’s a very attractive small car and one that looks far more expensive than probably anything else in the C-Segment.

INTERIOR

The car’s interior has also been significantly redesigned. At first glance it looks rather plain, but spend a few minutes appraising the cabin and you’ll come away impressed.

The materials are very upscale, the assembly quality is unbeatable and the overall design is understated and elegant. This is a compact car that’s really grown up, as it should be. Mazda’s designers have not been benchmarking the competition; they’ve been much more ambitious than that.

Vehicles from companies like BMW and Audi have been their focus and it shows. There’s very little to complain about inside the 2014 Mazda3, with two exceptions.

The car’s navigation screen looks like a total afterthought, almost like they ran out of space and couldn’t properly integrate it into the dashboard so they just stuck the display on top of the center stack and called it a day. The whole arrangement looks like an iPad Mini propped up above the air vents.

UNDER THE HOOD

That standard powerplant is far from “entry level.” It produces 155 horsepower with 150 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are very close to what today’s Skyactiv-powered Mazda3 delivers but engineers have significantly fattened up the midrange output so it’s more pleasant in everyday driving.

But just because it delivers more torque doesn’t mean the engine can’t rev. It’s smooth running and isn’t afraid to spin at high RPM, especially when paired with the manual gearbox.

The 2014 Mazda3’s optional powerplant is again a 2.5-liter four-banger. Like its smaller sibling it too has been reinvigorated. Horsepower clocks in at 184 while torque one ups the ponies, literally. The engine delivers 185 lb-ft of twist.

Two transmissions are available, both of which have six forward speeds. A responsive automatic will undoubtedly serve as the go-to gearbox for North American customers, but a snappy-feeling manual is available for folks in the know. At launch the stick shift will not be available with the larger engine, though it will become available at a later date.