Mazda 3 Grand Touring Part 1: Design Review

Truly a world car, the new Mazda 3 represents a collaborative effort between Mazda's engineering and design departments in Japan, Europe and the United States. We introduced you to the new 3 in our coverage of the car's debut at the L.A. Autoshow late last year. Now, we'll take a closer look at this most-important model from the folks at Mazda.

When you first glance at this new Mazda 3, what jumps out at you? The RX-8-like fender flares? The good-looking, almond-shaped headlights? Maybe the dual exhausts of our Grand Touring model?

Okay, we're joking a little here. The first thing you'll notice has got to be that huge smile-of-a-grille opening. But the rest of the Mazda 3's styling is less polarizing and quite successful, with shapes and surfaces that provide it with a sense of motion and a sporty feel that is consistent with the car's hard-to-ignore cheerful, lighthearted and blissful attitude.

So it's got a happy face, to put it mildly. But man, is that a big mouth! An evolution of Mazda's five-point grille, the opening attempts to mimic that of the Miata and RX-8, but perhaps takes it a step too far, looking slightly out of proportion at first glance. Upon closer inspection, there is some nice detailing toward the top of the opening where smaller intake slots align visually with the headlights above, but it's still far too big overall.

I understand how this happens. I've been there. It starts as a hot sketch, with everything exaggerated: huge wheels, low ride-height, impossible width and intakes everywhere - BIG intakes! Forget that the car doesn't actually need them, it makes for a sexy, fast looking sketch. The end result however - if it's not toned down - is a big graphic that's not even an actual intake, but is largely blocked off.

Moving above that mouth, the Mazda logo rests nicely within a raised surface that is bisected by a gentle crease that runs the length of the hood and reappears on the trunk lid, allowing light to play dramatically on those large surfaces.

Along the sides we see prominent fenders that have become part of Mazda's design DNA, along with a rising belt line that lends the car its sense of impending motion. The roofline attempts to impersonate that of a coupe - much like that of the Mazda 6 we recently tested - with a single, flowing line that trades a bit of interior headroom for its stylish look.

The car's wedge shape ends on the small, elevated trunk lid which wraps around the base of the C-pillar, creating an optical illusion designed to make the back of the car appear less truncated. Below the trunk's trailing edge, the Mazda 3 leaves us with nicely shaped and detailed taillights, and on our Grand Touring model, a set of exhaust outlets poking through gently highlighted openings on either side of the base of the bumper.

As its global sales leader, the design of the Mazda 3 is clearly pivotal to the company's continued success. The fact that Mazda has defied convention by delivering a fresh - if slightly controversial - design speaks to the confidence of the Zoom-Zoom folks at Mazda.

If potential buyers find themselves smiling back at the new 3, the company will surely have another hit on its hands.

Watch the video
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience
Read Part 3: Performance

2010 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring

Performance
- Acceleration: Large, four-cylinder endowed with flat torque curve resulting in peppy pick-up - six ratios in the gearbox help
- Handling: Great ride and handling balance - much more fun that you'd expect, with adjustable attitude - Mazdaspeed version should be incredibly good!
- Braking: Huge front weight bias makes for an entertaining panic stopper! Stability control system keeps any fears at bay

Design
- Exterior: Happy to see me much? MASSIVE grin is only contagious once you've driven the car, but at least it doesn't look boring - five-door hatchback is much, much better
- Interior: Not as big a departure as the exterior, but still nice - Honda Civic does the two-tier design theme better, though

Utility
- Comfort: Excellent ride and every convenience feature you wouldn't expect in this class! - seats lack lumbar support, but have loads of lateral support
- Space: Great up front, decent in back and in trunk - again, the hatchback does it better

Safety
- Dynamics: Perhaps playful character is too much for evasive maneuvering - but then again, stability control system allows both fun and safety... way to go Mazda!
- Technology: Everything you'd expect and then some

Value
- Price: Hard to believe you get this much car and content for this little money - truly one of the new-car bargains on the market
- Mileage: Quite decent, but big displacement (relatively speaking, of course) means you gotta keep your foot out of it... actually, that's always the case, isn't it?

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: As good as it is, we'll reserve that for the Mazdaspeed version
- Fun to spank: Surprisingly fun to drive, if not flat out spank - bring on the Mazdaspeed3!

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Front-wheel drive
Engine: 2.5-liter, Inline-4
Power (SAE): 167 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 168 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3005 lbs.
0-60 mph: 7.5 sec.
Top Speed: 117 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 21 city / 29 highway
Base Price: $22,170
Competitors: Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cobalt