ZOOM IN TO LUXURY
Mazda3 Sport GT 6MT has all the bells and whistles found on expensive cars
The Mazda3 Sport GT offers drivers upper-tier features, without the status-symbol price tag,
Rich people don’t stay rich by spending money, so the saying goes.
On the other hand, there are plenty of people who get hung up about things — like status symbols.
So, what if you could have a car that didn’t scream success but offered luxury-tier interior appointments and features for an affordable price? Would you take it?
If so, and if it’s a compact you’re in the market for, the Mazda3 Sport GT 6MT with its $28,795 price tag just might be the car for you.
The interior of this car is thought out in ways that typically aren’t found south of the luxury segment.
One key feature is Mazda’s active driving display (more commonly known as a head-up display), which projects speed, navigation information and more onto a small translucent panel to allow you to keep your eyes on the road while in motion.
Another is what Mazda calls the HMI commander, a fancy name for a large, easy-to use-panel with a dial and series of buttons that lets you control the infotainment system from the centre console.
The infotainment system itself is also excellent, displaying detail such as cross-street names and amenities available at various highway exits.
And then there are things like the comfortable, six-way adjustable, lumbar-supportive, leatherwrapped seats that come with the $1,500 luxury package.
On this specific tester, though, there were a few things missing such as blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.
Those features are part of the technology package, which can only be paired with an automatic transmission.
But it was a sacrifice I was more than happy to make to get to drive the manual, which hasn’t been available previously at this trim level and the larger, 2.5 L I4 engine that comes with it.
Mazda’s stick shifts are lovely with their quick, crisp, and short strokes. The gates could be a little bit better defined, but this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it. Those who still enjoy being masters of their transmission domains will be very happy with this one.
It’s when we get to discussing the engine that things get a bit murky and compari- sons to luxury cars begin to drop off. This largest of offerings in the Mazda3 is stout, and throttle response is good, but there are a number of other cars in this class housing smaller displacement engines that offer a similar feel when you put the power down.
The others are less thirsty, too.
Though the Natural Resources Canada rating for this car puts it at 9.2 L/100 km in city driving, I averaged a more dismal 11.5 over the course of my week. That said, the result likely has more to do with my having fun with that manual transmission and throttle response than anything else.
This hatch is a bit snug in the back, though not uncomfortably so. Space limitations continue into the trunk, though, where its 572 L with the rear seats up puts it below most of its most prominent competitors.
If you can live with these things, the Mazda3 will make it up to you in drive feel. It’s surprisingly nimble, and its steering is tight. Though you may wish for a bit more get-up-and-go sometimes, this is still about as practical a driver’s car as they come. And since that practicality and usability carries right on through to the price tag, you won’t look rich for picking this one up. But you’ll look pretty smart.