The car’s not smiling anymore, but you sure will be
The new Mazda 3 is a more highly concentrated, industrial-strength version of the fun-to-drive formula that made the old one the darling of enthusiasts. In fact, aside from edgier (and pricier) performance compacts like the Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Si, or the VW Golf GTI, the new Mazda 3 just might be the most rewarding car to drive in the class.
At least some of the credit for this performance comes from lessons learned developing the Mazda 6 and CX-5. All three cars are now part of one highly flexible platform, sharing some parts, structures, and assembly procedures. In this particular case, the greasy bits have been optimized for small-car duty. Does that mean this new Mazda 3 is lighter than the old car? Yep. At 3002 pounds, the heaviest variant (the five-door S model) carries 67 fewer pounds than the old one. That’s not a big number, but the new car is wider, packs way more tech, and is 30 percent more resistant to twist.
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