2005 Mazda 3 Driving Impressions
European leanings are also evident in the 3's interior. First, let's talk class. The s model of the 3 comes with a thick leather wheel containing cruise controls on one spoke and, like on pricier cars, radio controls on the other. The materials and fabrics are high-quality, leather's optional, and this is the first compact car with the ambition to offer DVD navigation technology. The 3's stereo sounds great to these ears, and since the custom-tailored head unit can't be replaced, it had better. MP3 compatibility is a frustrating $325 dealer-installed option.
Now let's talk ambience. The all-black interior means business, and every switch and lever takes a firm twist or push. The passionate red gauges (tri-colored on the s) adjust for brightness. The three-barreled instrument panel and Mazda's jet-engine air vents set it apart. Japanese packaging efficiency shows itself in the glovebox, which has no problem swallowing entire hands and arms, much less gloves. One possible gaffe is the zig-zag shiftgate, which had several drivers stumbling out of the blocks in manual mode by accident. |