2014 Mazda3 Shines as Driver’s Car

Since introducing as a new, third-generation model, Mazda’s right-sized, 5 seat sedan and hatchback are redesigned to look more costly than ever and even give Hyundai’s designers a run for the money.

The Mazda3 cars get more power from their 4-cylinder engines for 2014 but still earned a federal government fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon in city driving and 41mpg on the highway. This is with 2-liter four cylinder, smaller in size and automatic transmission.

Plus, the Mazda3 is assumed to have improved than average reliability, as per the Consumer Reports magazine.

Most of all, the front-wheel drive, 2014 Mazda3 impresses with its hard handling, nice body control and top-of-the-pack steering.

Noting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, as well as destination charge, of $17,740 for a Mazda3 sedan with six-speed manual transmission is higher than the $16,800 starting retail price for a 2014 Nissan Sentra sedan with a 6-speed manual.

The price difference grows with the addition of an automatic transmission: The starting retail price for a 2014 Mazda3 sedan rises to $18,790 compared with the 2014 Sentra’s starting price with automatic of $17,400.

The Mazda3 five-door hatchback has starting retail prices that are higher than the sedan’s. A base, 2014 Mazda3 hatchback starts at $19,740 with six-speed manual and $20,790 with automatic.

With over 3.5 million sales worldwide, the Mazda3 is the highest-selling model for Japan’s Mazda car company. U.S. sales of the Mazda3 last year were about 123,361, but sales have been lowered this year, possibly because of the changeover to the new-generation Mazda3.