The interior is plush with leather trim, power and heated seats, power windows and locks, and steering wheel controls. The upgraded radio is from Bose, which always sounds good.
The cabin is a comfortable place to be. Most of the road noise is blocked out and at idle it's extremely quiet—quiet enough that I double-checked the tach to make sure it was running.
I think the i moniker and Grand Touring trim make this one of the least sporty Mazda 3s, and you can really feel it in the steering. It seems lighter than the last 3 I was in. The suspension is a bit better, absorbing most of the blows while still giving a little feedback.
Mazda, like BMW, has its manual mode shifting in the up-is-downshift format, as it should be. And flicking the shifter left, then up for a downshift feels surprisingly rewarding. The downshifts come fast from the new Skyactiv transmission, but upshifts aren't nearly as quick. I'm sure it's for fuel mileage, and it returned almost 34 mpg on my fill-up, so I think it works.
The engine could use a little bump in power. The last Mazda 3 I drove had the more powerful and less fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 167 hp opposed to this 3's 155 hp from the Skyactiv engine. That car felt lighter on its feet, in my opinion.
If I was shopping for a Mazda 3, my advice would be to go for the Mazdaspeed 3. But for those looking for fuel economy and a decently entertaining small car, the 3 with the Skyactiv drivetrain is worth a look.
2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door
Base Price: $23,095As-Tested Price: $24,970
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 155 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 148 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,950 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 33/33.6 mpg
Options: Technology package including blind-spot monitoring, Sirius satellite radio, perimeter alarm, rain-sensing front wipers, bi-xenon headlights with auto leveling, pivoting adaptive front lighting and auto on/off headlights ($1,400); compass auto-dim mirror with homelink ($275); interior lighting kit ($200)
