2004 - 2008 Mazda 3 review

2006 Mazda 3. Click for larger photo

Mazda 3 interior. Click for larger view

Mazda 3. Click for larger view

Mazda 3 engine. Click for larger view

Introduced for 2004 model year, Mazda 3 replaced the Protégé as a next compact model. Mazda 3 is a Driver's Car with sleek styling, peppy engines, great handling and rich-looking interior, loaded with many features commonly seen in more expensive cars. The 2004-2008 Mazda 3 comes as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback.

The 2004-2008 Mazda 3 has front-wheel drive with the choice of a 2.0L 4-cylinder or 2.3L 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC engines. Both engines have a timing chain.
The transmission choices include a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. From 2006, models with the 2.3L engine were offered with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The 2004-2008 Mazda 3 has disk brakes on all four wheels. The ABS system was available. Dynamic stability control (DSC), Traction control, side and side curtain airbags were available on late models. A high-performance version of Mazda3 hatchback is sold as Mazdaspeed3 (not covered in this review).

Inside, the 2004-2008 Mazda 3 is nothing like a regular compact car of this price range. The fit and finish is good. The red-lit instruments and center console controls look sharp. The sporty steering wheel has volume controls and mute button at your fingertips. It also tilts and has telescopic adjustment. The glove box is surprisingly large; it's big enough to hold a laptop computer. The available Bose audio system sounds great. Front seats are comfortable and supportive. The visibility is good all around. The rear seat space is sufficient. The 60/40 split rear seat folds flat.

On the road, Mazda 3 is fun to drive. The ride is firm but comfortable. The steering is very responsive and precise. The tight turning radius is great for city driving or parking maneuvers. Overall, the car feels solid on the road. The 2.3L 4-cylinder engine is very spirited and the 2.0L provides adequate power. On the downside, some road noise is noticeable at higher speed.

In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 2004 Mazda 3 received four stars for the driver (no passenger score available). The 2005-2008 Mazda 3 scored four stars for both the driver and the front passenger. In the side-impact crash tests, the 2004-2008 models without side airbags received three stars for both the front and the rear seat. The models with side airbags were not tested. For more details, visit Safercar.gov.