Different stages of life require vehicles to fit one’s current lifestyle and budget. I recently had the opportunity to drive a Mazda3 i Grand Touring 4 Door, a zippy car whose compact size, great fuel efficiency, and price would make it perfect for a recent college grad, secondary car for a commuter, cool aunt and uncle with no kids, or family who wants to invest in a safe car now for a child who will inherit it in a few years when they reach driving age.
Geek Factor:
Kid Factor as tested by Little Miss Techie (age 8) and Captain Computer (age 5):
Dog Factor as tested by Oliver, our 4 year old 90 lb Yellow Labrador:
At first glance, one of the most impressive things to note is the Mazda3’s fuel economy estimates. With the cost of gas constantly rising, 28 MPG city and 40 highway is highly favorable. The estimated annual fuel cost is set to be $1,682 based on 15,000 miles at $3.70/gallon. During our test drive, I found that I averaged 33 MPG. While not as great as a hybrid vehicle, the sticker price of $24,970 for this model makes it highly affordable. Less tricked out models of Mazda3 4 doors start at $15,200.
Speaking of price, what does $24,970 include? Upon opening the door, I was impressed to find a leather interior and lots of extras like a moon roof, Bose stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, full color navigation, heated seats, and two 12V power outlets. It certainly includes a lot of nice features for the price. As someone who likes amenities like heated seats, a moonroof, a high quality audio system along with connectivity afforded by tech extras, I was pleased with what I found.
But how does it drive? It has a solid feel that makes one feel safe yet is quite stylish and sporty. Doors are solid and shut with a satisfying The kids found that it was a little bumpier in the back than our Volvo and Altima, most likely due to more rigid suspension that gives it a sports car feel, but it was a dream to drive and included a lot of nice safety features in additional to standard ones such as airbags, well designed headlights to increase visibility, and Mazda’s Active Safety Features.
Thoughtful design and placement of features in the interior of the car helps keep drivers safe while on the road. The position of the navigation system made it less of a distraction of other vehicles I’ve tested previously due to it being higher up on the dashboard than others that are located more in the middle.
I loved the blind spot monitoring system that alerted me to cars located in blind spots on either side of the vehicle. Sensors detect other cars located 12.5 feet from left to right and 26 feet behind the car and alert drivers in a helpful, but not jarring way. Upon detecting a car in a blind spot, the Mazda will illuminate an icon in the mirror. As a second method of monitoring, the car will beep when drivers attempt to turn on their turn signal when another vehicle is detected in the blind spot. While I was fortunate to not have to experience this feature, Mazda3i also features active front head restraints to reduce whiplash. The head restraints help minimize whiplash and neck injuries caused by rear end collisions by moving forward when passengers are pushed into the seatback.
Geek Factor:- Skyactiv technology, engine, and transmission
- Bose audio
- 2 12V outlets- one in the dash, the other in the console
- Auxilary in
- Bluetooth
- Blind spot monitoring
- Full color LCD screen for navigation provide turn by turn directions and can be operated with steering wheel controls
- Note: no powered USB outlets
- Optional: Sirius Radio
- For more information about the technology inside the Mazda 3i, visit this link.
Kid Factor as tested by Little Miss Techie (age 8) and Captain Computer (age 5):- Carseat considerations: An infant carrier can be placed in the middle or 2 booster seats can be placed behind the driver and passenger seats. Convertible car seats that start rear facing are most likely to be a tight fit. Buckling the seatbelt around a booster seat was sometimes tricky due to the placement of the buckle. The seating information says there is room for up to 5 adults but I think the 3 in the back seat, or 1 between the two car seats, would be very squished.
- LATCH
- Cupholders are located in the middle armrest
- Backseat riders have continuous audio even when the car’s navigation system is in use because the stereo system mutes the front speakers to provide directions. It’s definitely a nice touch for the kids to have uninterrupted music.
- For a compact car, the Mazda3 seemed to have a roomy trunk and plenty of storage.
Dog Factor as tested by Oliver, our 4 year old 90 lb Yellow Labrador:- Windows roll all the way down all the way. Oliver appreciated that this allowed for full head out and tongue flapping in the breeze moments. I thought that might make him more likely to jump out of the car in hot pursuit of a threatening squirrel but luckily he did not.
- Black leather interior, yellow haired Lab shedding for the season. You do the math on that one. I apologized profusely for the amount of dog hair left in the vehicle upon return.
The sporty, stylish and compact Mazda3 i Grand Touring 4 Door seems best for:
- Recent college grad on a budget
- Secondary car for a commuter
- Cool aunt and uncle with no kids
- Family with 1 child
- Family who wants to invest in a safe car now for a child who will inherit it in a few years when they reach driving age
In looking at other cars on the market, I think the Mazda3 i Grand Touring is worth looking at if you’re considering any of the following makes and models:
- Nissan Sentra
- Toyota Corolla
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Honda Civic
I received a Mazda M3 I Grand Touring 4 Door for the week as a loan along with a full tank of gas. All opinions are based on the experience of me, my family, and our dog during the time we had the vehicle and were not influenced by Mazda in any way. No compensation was received for this review.
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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