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<font size="2">We are very pleased with the new Mazda 3. The
downside is that the manual transmission only comes with the
premium trim version of the car in its 5-door iteration. The body
style is okay because my wife prefers that anyway. In another
oddity, there are limited color choices, but again, we got a
combination we like, a black car with red leather interior. <br>
<br>
This is the fourth Mazda 3 we have had, the last one being a 2014
5-door that we retired after 100,000 miles. Same deal, had to be a
premium trim level, with some features we wouldn't have picked if
given a choice, but they are nice to have. <br>
<br>
The car is responsive and enjoyable to drive. No turbo, and I see
no need for it. The naturally aspirated car has a 13:1 compression
ratio with effective valve timing adjustment, I think, what they
call "Sky Active". The transmission is very smooth, gearing well
spaced, and the suspension is firm but compliant. Mazda recently
ended the independent rear suspension in favor of something called
a torsion beam, but we don't notice any difference from the former
model. This newest version has more sound proofing so it's quieter
inside, so some of that visceral feel is diminished, but it's
still nice. One small complaint is that the steering has less
feedback than the 2014 did, but it's not significant. <br>
<br>
We were able to shut off the worst of the nanny controls, like
automatic braking and attempts to prevent you from changing
lanes. <br>
<br>
There are blind spots to be sure, but the radar warns you of cars
in the space near the rear quarters of the car. The 2014 had that,
too.<br>
<br>
Jim</font>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/21/2026 9:00 AM, Jim Franklin
wrote:<br>
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<pre wrap="" class="moz-quote-pre">How do you like the 3? I am car shopping after my boat (CX-5) was totalled. I had a CX-30 turbo as a loner a few years back and loved it, but test drove a '22 yesterday and it was not as I remembered. The Golf GTI I really want is super rare and I can't afford to wait. The normal 3 has way too many blind spots for me, but I might give in if the NA manual is fun enough. In Europe they get the manual with the turbo in the CX-30. All my dream cars (and bikes) live over there :-(
the other jim
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<pre wrap="" class="moz-quote-pre">On Jan 20, 2026, at 7:28 PM, Jim Juhas <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:james.f.juhas@snet.net"><james.f.juhas@snet.net></a> wrote:
Some approach technology better than others. We have a '24 Mazda 3 (because it's one of the few new cars that has a manual transmission) and it has not succumbed to the touch screen nonsense. There are switches and buttons to control most everything, although I'm sure they connect only to that big computer. It does have a touch screen for the navigation system (which you can also speak to) and audio systems, but remarkably, the touch function won't work if the car is in motion; you have to use a knob and pushbuttons on the console.
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