Once upon a time in my driveway were three almost identical cars.
They were similar yet very different versions of the new 2010 Mazda3.
And guess what…I needed to run to the store to buy some more porridge?
So I grabbed the keys to the first car.
This was the key to the $20,825 (price as tested) cherry red sedan with the 2.0-liter inline-4 that pumps out 148 hp and 135 pound-feet of torque with a 5-speed manual that gets a combine EPA number of 28 MPG.
I drove around the block and immediately I turned the car around and drove back home.
“This Mazda3 is too slow,” I explained!
“Plus the controls are too busy, the 16-inch wheels look like they belong on a rental car, and I’m not fond of the silly grin on the car’s face.”
So I grabbed the next set of keys.
These belonged to the racy screaming red MazdaSpeed3 five door hatchback. This pocket rocket comes with the 2.3 liter Turbo-charged engine that puts out 263 horsepower and goes for $25,640 and goes from 0 to 60 mph is just under 6 seconds.
BTW: You can see a shootout between the MazdaSpeed3 and Golf GTI HERE.
I drove around the block and I immediately turned the car around and drove back home.
“This car rides like a skateboard on steel wheels and it wants to rip the steering wheel from my hands every time I floor it,” I explained.
“Plus it screams give me a ticket ’cause look at me I’m a Speed Racer wannabe, plus I’m not fond of the silly grin on the car’s face.”
So I grabbed the next set of keys.
These belong to the sporty silver grayish Mazda3 five door hatchback. This one has the 2.5-liter inline-4 good for 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque and comes equipped with a five-speed automatic and it goes for $23,110.
I drove it around the block and I immediately turned left and headed for the store.
Ahhh…the Mazda3 is just right,” I happily proclaimed and pushed the pedal to the floor.
“Not only is it fun and delightful to drive, but it seats five happily in a pinch and sips gas at a combined EPA of 25 MPG. Plus I can get a lot of porridge in the back, and still have room left over for Goldilocks and her bear buddies.”
“However, I’m still not fond of the silly grin on the car’s face,” I added as I lived happily ever after.
On the TFLcar recommendation scale of
– Buy it
– Lease it
– Rent it or
– Forget it
I give the Mazda3 2.0 and the MazdaSpeed 3 a “Lease it“.
But I give the Mazda3 2.5 a
Roman Mica is a columnist, journalist, and author, who spent his early years driving fast on the German autobahn. When he’s not reviewing cars for the active set, you can find him training for triathlons and writing about endurance sports for, EverymanTri.com.
Follow on twitter @TFLcar or watch latest car
review videos on YouTube.
