Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Mazda3 I Touring

When we named the Mazda3 the AutoGuide.com Car of the Year, its flexibility helped eke out the win.

There are two body styles (hatch or sedan) available with two engines each (a 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter). You can have a fully loaded hatchback model that stickers at $32,390, or you can opt for a basic sedan for $17,740.

We recently had the chance to pilot one of those affordable sedan models, the Mazda3 i Touring that costs just $20,390. Equipped with just the bare necessities, we set out to see if the Hiroshima-based automaker has made a car that is recommendable at any price point. Here’s what we learned:

This was my first taste of the Mazda3’s responsive, rev-happy 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. On the other hand, with just 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, the engine does take its time to get the car moving at highway speeds. Even dropping to fourth gear to make a pass is unrewarding in terms of thrust, so it’s safe to say if you’re hungry for speed, the 2.0-liter isn’t enough.

But there’s an upside. Instead of focusing on quick acceleration, the 2.0-liter is smooth and especially fuel friendly. Averaging 35 mpg during our week of testing its clear that saving money is one of the main priorities with this car.

Not only will you find the Mazda3 easy on your wallet, but it’s easy on the eyes too. An affordable Mazda3 is a pretty one as our Touring model featured 16-inch alloys, a decklid spoiler and power mirrors with integrated turn signals. That’s all in addition to the modern and sleek styling that the Mazda3 comes with by default.

The story is similar inside, as the cabin is both well designed and comfortable. The sporty cloth seats are supportive and comfortable and may just be better suited for long trips than the firm leather and leathette trimmed seats found in more expensive models.

Are the visual trinkets found in the more expensive models worth it? Look at the model and see if you even notice the LED accents, shark fin antenna and 18-inch wheels that are found on the more expensive models. It’s up to you to decide what’s sexier: saving money or having LEDs.

While the styling of this basic Mazda3 is excellent, the sound-system is most certainly not. The first complaint about the sound setup is that the car frequently struggled to get a strong radio signal, resulting in frequent static and varying levels of sound quality. Even when switched to Bluetooth streaming, the tunes pumping out of the speakers sounded flat and unimpressive. It seems like the only way to rectify this issue is to pony up $1,600 for the Technology package which includes a nine-speaker Bose stereo and the new Mazda Connect infotainment and navigation system. Past tests found this infotainment system to be very easy to use thanks to a touch screen and control knob interface.

Also included in that package is a dual-zone automatic climate control system and rear-view camera making the bundle especially appealing.

In addition to prioritizing solid value in the new 3, Mazda also gave the car a hint of sportiness, thanks to its absolutely perfect manual transmission. While not all drivers out there know how to pilot a car with a stick-shift, the Mazda3 has to be one of the easiest to approach for newbies thanks to its effortless engagement and clearly defined gates.

Pairing it with the responsive 2-liter engine, the Mazda3 delivered excellent fuel economy and a fun drive. There have been rumblings about the 2.5 model getting a manual transmission option, and we can’t wait to try that combo.

While 2.5-liter equipped models are arguably the benchmark in the compact car segment, Mazda’s less powerful models still feature amazing value in a fun-to-drive package. It’s hard not to recommend the Mazda3 to anyone who is considering a Corolla or Civic, as the new 3 can really hang with the top-dogs in its price-point.

For example, the similarly equipped Honda Civic EX can only be had with a CVT and costs $1,490 more than the Mazda and while the Toyota Corolla LE is $880 cheaper, it features a less powerful engine and none of the fun-to-drive elements of the Mazda3.

It’s clear that Mazda’s latest compact is a winner no matter how you take it.

Interested in buying a 2014 Mazda 3? Head to our new car buying page to take a look at the Mazda lineup, or head right to the 3 by clicking here.