> 2015 MAZDA3 SPORT GT
Price: $25,995-$30,995; As tested $28,795 Add-ons: Freight/PDI: $1,695; A/C: $100 Type: Five-door compact hatchback Propulsion: Front-engine, front-wheel drive Cargo: 572 L (rear seats up); 1,334 L (rear seats down) Engine: 2.5-litre I4, direct-injection Transmission: 6-speed manual as tested (6-speed automatic available) Power/torque: 184 hp (137 kW) at 5,700 rpm; 251 Nm of torque at 3,250 rpm Fuel consumption: 9.2 L/100 km city, 6.6 hwy; 11.5 as tested (regular fuel) Brakes: Power-assisted with dual diagonal hydraulic circuits Tires: 215/45R18 Standard features: 18” alloy wheels; intelligent key system; voice-activated navigation; BOSE premium audio system with nine speakers; active driving display; dual-zone automatic climate control; rear-view camera; 7” touchscreen with HMI commander; heated seats Accessibility: On par with competition in class. Competition: Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Volkswagen Golf What’s best: Interior offers luxury-grade features at a lower price. What’s worst: Some features can’t be paired with the manual transmission, such as blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning. Most interesting: The shift stroke on Mazda’s Skyactiv manual transmission is the shortest in its class. Looks: The undulating curves are attractive. But apart from Soul Red Mica (shown), paint options are fairly drab. Interior: Very ergonomic and nicely appointed. Features such as the active driving display (Mazda’s head-up display) and HMI commander (Mazda’s easy-to-reach dial that lets you control the infotainment system with one hand) are more typical of luxury brands. Performance: Acceptable, though the engine is a little thirsty and feels underpowered for its size. Several competitors achieve similar or better performance with smaller-displacement engines. Technology: Minimal on this tester. To get features like blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, high beam control, and more, you’ll need to choose the automatic transmission and the technology package ($30,995). Rating: Dynamic, feature-loaded, yet practical. This one checks my important boxes. I’d buy one for my family without a second thought. Website: mazda.ca Score: 8/10.