2009 Mazda3 S 5-Door Grand Touring
A Right-size Family Van Reviewed
by Susan Frissell |
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Our Stormy Blue Mica Mazda3 5-door arrived on a cold, windy Chicago day. Lucky for us the heating system and heated seats worked very well as we settled into driving this fun, sporty little wagon. It’s just the right size vehicle for small families, vacationers and anyone wanting extra space while tooling around town.
Realizing that the average price of a car today is hovering in the $28,000-dollar range, it’s refreshing to discover there are still some great cars to be bought for a lot less; namely, the Mazda3. Not only will you have the dependability of Mazda, but you’ll also have all the amenities you could want in a small 5-door vehicle.
The Mazda3 5-door comes equipped with much that is standard, including 17-inch alloy wheels, and 17-inch tires, cruise, tilt/telescopic steering column, automatic climate control, power windows/doors, locks, trip computer, Sirius satellite radio compatibility, rear window defogger and wiper, ABS, Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control, 8-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar support, leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear center armrest with two cupholders and 6-p/40 folding rear seats with center armrest/cupholders, automatic on/off Xenon headlights and fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, AM/FM/CD w/MP3 player and six-speakers, among other things.
The new Stormy Blue Mica is smashing and accented well with black interior. The Mazda3’s electroluminescent gauges light up nicely at night and can be dimmed if the red hits your eyes too hard. As with all vehicles today, the Mazda3 is equipped with the latest in safety and includes side-impact airbags and curtains, theft-deterrent security system, anti-theft engine immobilizer and remote keyless illuminated entry.
The only option on our 5-door Mazda3 was moonroof and in-dash 6-CD Bose package with seven speakers ($1,335). Pricing is about right for the 5-door Mazda3, and less-than-average for most vehicles today. Reliability is better-than-average for the Mazda3, a fact worth considering.
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| SPECS MSRP: $20,595; total vehicle price $22,650; destination $670; options $1,335
Engine: 2.3-liter DOHC, 16-valve, 14 VVT
Transmission: 5-speed manual, FWD
_WD Wheelbase: 108.3 in. Weight: 3,417 lbs.
Length: 181.5 in. EPA Fuel Economy: 22/29 mpg. Wheels: 17-inch alloy
Warranty: 36 months/36,000-miles bumper-to-bumper, 60-months/60,000-miles powertrain, 24-hour roadside assistance Location of Final Assembly: Hiroshima, Japan |
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