2004 Mazda 3 Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Mazda replaces its Protege subcompact for 2004 with a slightly larger new car called the Mazda 3. Mazda 3 comes in 4-dr sedan and hatchback body styles. The sedan is available in base "i" trim and uplevel "s" form. The hatchback comes only as an s model. Two 4-cyl engines are available: a 148-hp 2.0 liter for i models, a 160-hp 2.3 for s versions. With either engine, a 5-speed manual transmission is standard; a 4-speed automatic with manual shift gate is optional. The i model has 15-inch wheels or optional 16s. The s sedan comes with 16s; 17s are included in its Sport Package option. The hatchback uses 17s. Front side airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, and ABS are grouped in an $800 option package for all models. Options exclusive to s versions are leather upholstery, a navigation system, and a package that consists of a tire-pressure monitor and xenon headlights. Air conditioning is optional on the i model, standard on s versions.

News

A MazdaSpeed 3 sedan and/or hatchback seems just around the corner. Mazda officials hem-and-haw when asked about it, but don't exactly deny they're working on a follow-up to the MazdaSpeed Protege. The sporty limited edition should come with a firm handling-oriented suspension, various "hot car" styling add-ons, premium sound and, of course, extra power. The engine will likely be a tuned 2.0-liter rather than the 2.3 so the model can qualify for various racing and rally series. Turbocharging is a distinct possibility. Specifics should emerge soon, so keep checking back with us.

Meanwhile, Mazda is assessing U.S. reaction to a tall-body "space wagon" concept on a stretched 3 chassis. Called MX-Flexa, the ultra-clean design features six individual seats that can be folded in a variety of ways, and interior storage features like a built-in rack for four bicycles. Intended to take on the likes of Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, the MX-Flexa looks production ready. If American auto-show crowds approve, look for a showroom version--possibly badged Mazda 4--no later than 2007.

2004 Mazda 3 Road Test

Pros	Cons

Steering/handling	Cargo room (sedan)

Fuel economy

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
5	4	5	6	4

The 2.0 liter is adequate for most purposes, but lacks passing punch and is noticeably slower with automatic transmission than with manual. The 2.3 provides more pep, but passing on 2-lane roads still requires plenty of room with automatic transmission and some planning ahead with manual. Automatic smooth, responsive. Manual feels precise, has short, positive throws.

Fuel Economy

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
7	7	6	7	6.6

Test manual-transmission s version averaged 27.1 mpg in primarily highway driving. Expect slightly less with more city travel. No opportunity to measure with 2.0 yet.

Ride Quality

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
5	5	5	5	4.4

All 3s have a firm suspension for good composure over all but most-severe high-speed dips and swells. Impact harshness increases with wheel size, with 17-inch tires suffering mediocre absorption on some sharp bumps, but ride never feels punishing.

Steering/Handling/Braking

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
6	6	7	7	5.3

Among the best-handling subcompacts. Nimble, balanced, highlighted by precise, linear steering with good road feel and excellent directional stability. Braking is stable, though we highly recommend the option package that includes ABS among other important safety equipment.

Quietness

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
4	4	5	4	4

Road noise noticeable in hatchbacks, better muffled in sedans, but not intrusive for a subcompact. Same for highway wind rush. Engine note more ragged with 2.0 than 2.3.

Controls

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
7	7	7	7	5.6

Rich interior materials rival Volkswagen Golf/Jetta for tops in class. Controls generally easy to reach, though a few audio buttons are confusing and some test drivers had to stretch to reach the climate switches. Available navigation system fairly easy to use and a rare feature in this class.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
5	5	5	5	5.1

Fine 6-footer head and leg room, though taller drivers may want more of both. Standard tilt/telescope steering wheel aids positioning. Chairlike seats provide fine comfort, support.

Room/Comfort (rear)

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
4	4	4	4	3.9

Leg room cramped with front seats pushed more than halfway back. Fine toe room under front seats in both body styles. Head room ample in hatchbacks, but taller passengers will want more clearance in sedans.

Cargo Room

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
2	2	6	6	3.9

Sedan's trunk is small but has low liftover and is tall enough to provide usable space. More-versatile hatchback has standard rear cargo organizer. Both have 60/40 split rear seatbacks that fold almost flat. Sufficient interior storage highlighted by a glovebox big enough for a laptop computer.

Value within Class

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
7	7	7	7	5.6

With its solid build, pleasant interior, and sporty character, the Mazda 3 is a strong new subcompact entry. It's more fun than comparable Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla models, rivaling the Jetta, Golf, and Ford Focus for driving dynamics. Add in competitive pricing, and the 3 is worth a look.

Total Score

i w/16-in. wheels, man.	i w/16-in. wheels, auto.	s sdn w/Sport Package, auto.	s hatch, man.	Class Average
52	51	57	58	48.4

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		34
Average Score		48
High Score		64

2004 Mazda 3 Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 11/05/2003

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

i 4-door sedan	$13,680	$12,795	$520

s 4-door sedan	$16,405	$15,335	$520

s 4-door hatchback	$16,895	$15,793	$520

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes, emergency inside trunk release.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power steering, tilt/telescope steering wheel w/radio controls, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, map lights, intermittent wipers, visor mirrors, rear defogger, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

195/65HR15 tires, wheel covers.

s sedan adds to i:

Powertrain

2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Fog lights, 205/55HR16 tires, alloy wheels.

s hatchback adds to s sedan:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Cargo cover, intermittent rear wiper.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Deletes: emergency inside trunk release.

Rear spoiler, 205/50VR17 tires.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
ABS/SAB/SAC Pkg.
i, s hatchback, s sedan	$800	$688
Antilock brakes w/electronic brake-force distribution, front side airbags, curtain side airbags. i requires Power and Alloy Wheel Pkg., air conditioning.

Moonroof and 6-CD Pkg.
i, s hatchback, s sedan	$890	$765
Power sunroof, in-dash 6-disc CD changer. i requires Power and Alloy Wheel Pkg., air conditioning.

Power and Alloy Wheel Pkg.
i	$1,190	$1,023
Cruise control, power mirrors and windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, height-adjustable driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, illuminated entry, 205/55HR16 tires, alloy wheels. Requires air conditioning.

Sport Pkg.
s sedan	$490	$421
Side sill extensions, 205/50VR17 tires.

Xenon and TPMS Pkg.
s	$700	$602
Xenon headlights, tire-pressure monitor. Requires ABS/SAB/SAC Pkg. Sedan requires Sport Pkg.

Powertrain
4-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
i, s hatchback, s sedan	$900	$810
i requires air conditioning.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning
i	$850	$731


Navigation system
s	$1,750	$1,505
Requires ABS/SAB/SAC Pkg., Xenon and TPMS Pkg. Sedan requires Sport Pkg.

Leather upholstery
s	$590	$507
Sedan requires Sport Pkg.

Cargo net
i, s hatchback, s sedan	$40	$32


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Wheel locks
i, s hatchback, s sedan	$30	$24
i requires Power and Alloy Wheel Pkg. or alloy wheels.

Alloy wheels
i	$400	$344
Requires air conditioning.

2004 Mazda 3 Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Mazda 3 4-door hatchback	Mazda 3 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	103.9	103.9

Overall Length, in.	176.6	178.3

Overall Width, in.	69.1	69.1

Overall Height, in.	57.7	57.7

Curb Weight, lbs.	2762	2696

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	31.2	11.4

Standard Payload, lbs.	--	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	14.5	14.5

Seating Capacity	5	5

Front Head Room, in.	39.1	39.1

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	41.9	41.9

Rear Head Room, in.	38.4	37.4

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	36.3	36.3

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4	dohc I4

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.0 /122	2.3 /138

Horsepower @ rpm.	148 @ 6500	160 @ 6500

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	135 @ 4500	150 @ 4500

Availability	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	28/35	25/32

4-speed automatic	26/34	24/29

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Mazda 3 4-door hatchback	Mazda 3 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	4	NA

Front Impact, Passenger	4	NA

Rollover Resistance	4	NA

Side Impact, Driver	3	NA

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	3	NA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	--

Bumper-to-bumper	4/50,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	4/50,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Japan

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2004 Mazda 3 Photos

Also in the 2004 Mazda 3 Review:

Mazda 3

Mazda 3 Road Test

Mazda 3 Prices & Equipment

Mazda 3 Specs & Safety

Mazda 3 Photos

Mazda 3 Full Review

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