2006 Mazda MAZDA3

In a world of mainstream imports, there have always been a few brands for those who want to take the road less traveled. Two come to mind: Subaru and Mazda. While Subaru kind of did its own thing with all-wheel drive and a little bit of quirkiness, Mazda has always seemed to value performance over everything else.


Mazda really caught the attention of the car buying public in 1979 with its revolutionary rotary-powered RX-7 sports car, offering Porsche-like performance at an affordable price. Later, the Mazda Miata brought back the world of small, open roadster motoring and became one of the best-selling sports cars of all time.

Styling

So it's no surprise to us that when Mazda decided to replace its aging Protége line—one that had a reputation for being stylish, fun and affordable—the new vehicle would have upgraded sport/performance credentials. Introduced in 2004, the MAZDA3 made a big splash with drivers with more enthusiasm than cash. For 2006, Mazda makes a good a thing better, with improved performance, enhanced styling and even more bang for the buck.


The 2006 MAZDA3 continues to be offered in two body styles—4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback. Both 4- and 5-door are offered in an upscale "s" trim with a more powerful 160-hp 2.3-liter engine, along with added performance and luxury goodies. Those wishing to spend less may want to consider the nicely equipped MAZDA3i sedan with fewer frills. Powered by a, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that now features variable valve timing that bumps up power to 150 hp, it not only gives more responsive performance, but adds the kind of clean emissions any environmentalist would love. To make ordering simpler, new Touring and Grand Touring packages thoughtfully bundle together desirable features. To take in the full effect, we tested the MAZDA3s Grand Touring 5-door hatchback.


While the previous Protége was a handsome looking vehicle in a contemporary Japanese sort of way, the new MAZDA3 has true European flair. The sedan has a rounded, muscular look, much like a small Volvo, while the 5-door could easily be mistaken for one of those smart-looking Alfa Romeo hatches selling like crazy in Europe right now.