Driving dynamics - The evolution to a more sophisticated sporty ride

The development theme for the all-new Mazda 3's dynamic performance was "exhilarating driving." It refers to the satisfaction derived when a car acts in perfect concert with the driver's intentions. It could also be described as the sense of accomplishment derived when the driver can handle the car easily and have it respond exactly as desired to their will.

Toward this end, the development team didn't settle for merely adding small changes to the already high levels of body rigidity and driving performance. Rather, they made every effort to completely eliminate all negative aspects, from the engine noise, vibration in the body and road noise. At the same time, the team retained all positive aspects including the sound of the engine, the feeling of acceleration, the quality of brake response and control and the road holding sensations.

    See also:

    Under the Hood
    The 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Mazda3 i has variable valve timing and develops 148 horsepower (144 hp in PZEV form). The Mazda3 s uses a 2.3-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 156 hp. A five-s ...

    Two Strikes Against
    The two strikes against the 2009 Mazda3 are its crash tests and its gas mileage. With the crash tests, the problem isn't the results, it's the lack thereof. The Insurance Institute for Highway Saf ...

    Door Locks
    WARNING: Always take all children and pets with you or leave a responsible person with them: Leaving a child or a pet unattended in a parked vehicle is dangerous. In hot weather, temperatures in ...