- sedan 55,428
- Madison, NC
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 55,428 gasoline white automatic
2013 mazda mazda3 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Sporty compact sedan and hatch. introductionthe mazda3 is a sporty alternative to the honda civic and toyota corolla. Launched as a 2010 model, the current-generation mazda3 got a refresh for 2012, including mazda's skyactiv technology. the mazda3 looks smooth, pretty and aerodynamic. The sedan boasts a smooth 0. 27 coefficient of drag, while the five-door gets a 0. 29 cd, slippery for a hatchback. This reduces wind noise and improves fuel economy. Skyactiv is the most fuel-efficient of the lineup, with an epa-estimated 27/39 mpg with the standard 6-speed manual, and an impressive 28/40 mpg city/highway with the optional 6-speed automatic. A 6-speed manual is the only available transmission. It's fun to drive, but fuel economy suffers with a mediocre 18/25 mpg city/highway. the mazda3 models have nice interiors with terrific seats. Controls are intuitive and easy to reach and use. The center stack is clean, the gauges clear, and digital information accessed by a thumb scroll on the steering wheel. Both come with 60/40 split folding rear seats, and they fold nearly flat, so the cargo space can be expanded enormously. In a pinch, the sedan can carry most of what the hatchback can. ride quality is firmer on the mazda3 than on most competitors, and could be deemed harsh by someone used to driving a corolla. The suspension on all mazda3 models deliver a feel that's more european than japanese. Harsh patches and rough roads never made the ride uncomfortable, however. Mazda3 is front-wheel drive. the mazda3 is a great alternative for those who want a compact sedan with sporty driving dynamics. Mazda3 competes directly with honda civic and toyota corolla, chevrolet cruze, hyundai elantra. The hatchback also competes with the ford focus hatch or hyundai elantra gt. It's powered by a 263-hp turbocharged 2. 3-liter inline-4 that's mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, and uses a limited-slip differential. Exterior features include a unique front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, foglights and a unique rear roof spoiler. a variety of packages and stand-alone options are available for each trim level. safety equipment on all 2013 mazda3 models includes dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, active front head restraints, and anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution. The front fascia below the bumper looks great, even if the sporty black air intakes are more cosmetic than functional. front fenders are puffed out forward of the wheels. The sedan's coefficient of drag is 0. 27 cd, with the 5-door hatchback at 0. 29 cd. Those are great numbers for a hatchback that isn't also a fastback (like the audi a7). rear bumpers on mazda3i models are clean and body-colored. On upper trim levels, 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels are sporty and handsome. Thanks in part to those wheels, it looks like it's moving even when it's standing still. interiorevery control on the mazda3 instrument panel is intuitive and easy to reach and use. The center stack is clean, the gauges are clear, and digital information is accessed by a thumb scroll on the steering wheel. In fact, mazda3 is one of the only cars in its class with standard steering-wheel controls. The digital information is easy to read in the sun, at least in the skyactiv models, with blue meter illumination. Others have gray, and the mazdaspeed3 is red. we drove a mazda3 with terrific leather seats, and one with cloth seats, same padding and bolstering but firmer, maybe because cloth skin gets stretched more, and leather has inherent cushioning. the sedan's trunk has 11. 8 cubic feet of space, and the hatchback has 17 cubic feet behind the rear seat. The rear seats are split 60/40, and they fold nearly flat, so the cargo space can be expanded enormously. the 6-speed automatic transmission can be switched to manual mode and shifted with the gated lever. The shift action is another place where mazda logic rules: the lever goes back to upshift, forward to downshift, as in many race cars, because those directions flow with the g-forces on the body during acceleration and deceleration. It's a feel thing, not a think thing. driving impressionthe 2. 0-liter skyactiv powertrain performs ideally. We tested it hard, and it works. The engine makes 155 horsepower and 148 foot-pounds of torque, enough for plenty of acceleration.
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