2005 Mazda 3 Unknown

Sporty, roomy, and fun!! Our adventurous five door looks aggressive and offers a lot of utility with its hatchback design and folding rear seats. Quick, nimble handling makes this Mazda3 fun to drive on twisty roads, and the free-revving 2.3-liter engine delivers spirited performance. It's also sharp, true and steady in emergency lane-change maneuvers. Mazda3 is a global car, sharing technology and components with the Volvo S40 (and the European-market Ford Focus). It's like a talent co-op. People say component sharing makes cars all the same but it's not so. Mazda developed the engine and transmission, Volvo did the chassis and safety, and Ford of Europe did the basic suspension design. The tuning of the suspension was in Mazda's hands, worked out at its Hiroshima test track. Each manufacturer did what it does best, and the result is the best of three worlds. The back seats in this five-door hatchback are surprisingly roomy and supportive, even when relatively tall people are sitting in front. There's acres of rear headroom and decent legroom with room for big feet to slide under the front seats. Cargo space with the seats folded flat in is 31.2 cubic feet. It can't carry as much cargo as a Toyota Matrix, but it's a heck of a lot more fun to drive. Our versatile Mazda3 is solidly executed, with a strong engine, transmission, handling, brakes, comfort, packaging, AND looks. It's a keeper!