"The Mazda 3 brings a superior level of performance and refinement to its class."
AutoWeek 4/5/04
The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering feels precise and quick. In fact, I think it's the best steering system in the segment."
Road & Track 7/04
"The ride at cruising speeds isn't compromised by the sporty suspension either, a tricky balancing act that Mazda seems to do better than anybody else."
Import Racer 4/04
"Throw in two of the most powerful engines in its class and it's easy to see why we're big fans of this new sedan."
Edmunds.com
"Inside the cabin, the 3 achieves a beautiful balance of sport and elegance; controls are stylish and easy to use."
automobilemag.com
(Automobile Magazine)
On the road, the 3 is composed, quiet, and unflappable. ."
Car and Driver, 1/04
"Rear-seat passengers have good knee room, unless someone like basketballer Yao Ming sits in front of you."
Road & Track 7/04
"With its distinctive snout, smooth flanks and shapely rear end, it looks more like a downsized European-bred machine than a Japanese car that starts well under $20,000."
Edmunds.com
"One of the longest, widest, and tallest vehicles in the class, the Mazda3 offers terrific space and comfort."
CanadianDriver.com
"A car this cheap has no business looking or performing this well."
Edmunds.com
"...the 3 handles quite well"
Road & Track 5/04
"A sleek yet functional design blends with high-quality materials and ample passenger room to give this new Mazda an upscale look and feel that few cars in the class can match."
Edmunds.com
"...a car that manages to be fun, versatile and good-looking while not costing you an arm and a leg."
AutoWeek 4/5/04
"
the noise/vibration/harshness level (NVH) is so low that you wonder if this car is really an entry-level compact and not a mid-priced sedan."
Road & Track 7/04
"The suspension setup is better than ever, and the interior still has a unique, upscale look that no other economy sedan can touch."
Edmunds.com
"Inside, a roomy cabin, premium materials, and lots of standard equipment surpass most expectations."
Motor Trend 6/04
"Mazda backs up the 3's sporty image with a pair of engines that places it at the top of the class when it comes to horsepower."
Edmunds.com
"The Mazda is rich in low end torque... acceleration is linear, there is no sense of the engine 'coming on the cam'...it never feels off the cam either"
Motor Trend 6/04
"Like the Protegι that it replaces, the 3 is a thrill behind the wheel thanks to a precisely tuned suspension, quick steering and strong brakes."
Edmunds.com
"Equipped with the five-5-speed manual and the 2.3 engine, our tester did the 0-60 dash in 7.4 seconds, covered the quarter mile in 16 seconds flat at 87 mph, and attained 100 mph in 22.8 seconds. Those are remarkable numbers for a car in this class."
Car and Driver 1/04
"...the Mazda 3's strong suit is value-minded performance."
Edmunds.com
"...the Electro Hydraulic Power Assist Steering (EHPAS)
provides just the right amount of steering effort at all times."
Road & Track 5/04
"Inside, the first thing that jumps out is the dash arrangement. The instrumentation looks upscale and the controls impart a real sense of quality whenever buttons and switches are engaged."
Edmunds.com
"Like most Mazdas the feeling of speed is accentuated by the car's sharp handling. Steering is quick, with action of the wheel smooth and firm."
Import Racer 4/04
"In real-world situations, the 2.3-liter is quite peppy and caught some of us by surprise with its delivery of ample and linear power. If anything, the engine is more torquey than expected (it's rated at 150 pound-feet), and the result is that the car feels quick off the line."
Edmunds.com
"It looks great, and drives even better."
Import Racer 4/04
"We found the 3's braking to be excellent as well and our editor in chief commented, "Like the rest of the vehicle, the 3's braking ability is beyond what most economy car buyers need."
Edmunds.com
"A stylish new body, wonderful driving dynamics and way more power - make this newcomer worthy of a new name."
CanadianDriver.com
"...the Mazda 3's strong suit is value-minded performance. This is a pretty sporty little car and the price is right in line with the competition."
Edmunds.com
"Now in 2004, Mazda is consistently making some of the most desirable cars in every segment in which it competes."
Edmunds.com[/quote]
Heck, the praise is so much that tsikot.com cant even handle the texts!
"The text that you have entered is too long (10344 characters). Please shorten it to 10000 characters long."
2005 America's Best
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