The Mazda3 has been highly acclaimed as a compact sport sedan for good reason. A combination of nimble handling and sporty looks ensures that owners need make no apologies for their choice. The 5-door Mazda3 adds extra room behind the folding rear seats, and the hatch provides easy accessibility to cargo. All 5-door models are powered by a 160-bhp 2.3L I-4, mated to a standard 5-speed manual or automatic. Mazda offers a 222-watt Bose® 6-disc CD audio system and Xenon HID lights as options. An available Appearance Package adds lip spoilers and rear aero flares.

A 5-speed automatic replaces last year's 4-speed automatic.