بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
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Review: 2010 Mazda3 Grand Touring:
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Review: 2010 Mazda3 Grand Touring:
Specifications
Engine: 2.5L MZR DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinde with VVT – 167-hp/168 lb-ft.
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode
Curb Weight: 2,868 lbs.
0 to 60 mph: 7.9 seconds.
Fuel-Economy: 22/29 mpg (city/highway).
Exterior
The exterior styling of the Mazda3 offers a love it or hate it design, though it definitely offers a more dramatic design than the Corolla, Civic, or Focus. The car looks almost cartoonish with its big smiling front end grill, though this feature is not merely an aesthetic one, as it provides a large opening to keep air flowing to the engine.
The vehicle we tested was a 2010 Grand Touring edition that sported 17” alloy wheels, automatic on/off auto leveling bi-xenon headlights/fog lights, adaptive front-lighting system, and clear lens LED tail lights
Interior
When trying to determine quality when purchasing a new car, most attention is naturally given to the interior, and the Mazda3 does not disappoint there. Our test-vehicle was outfitted with leather trimmed seats, and leather door panel inserts. While these features may add a bit to the price of the car, they combine to create a very luxurious look and feel inside the car.
As with any automaker today, Mazda offers enough options to make the car totally one’s own. Our test-vehicle came equipped with a few such options; an 8-way adjustable power driver’s seat with 3-position memory, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, am/fm/cd/mp3 10-speaker Bose audio package with Bluetooth compatibility, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a rear arm rest with 2 cup holders, and a beautiful leather wrapped steering wheel outfitted with audio, Bluetooth, and cruise controls..
Mazda offers two options packages:
The first package runs approximately $1,400 and offers a 242 watt Bose CenterPoint 10-speaker surround sound system, one-touch open moon roof, and in-dash 6-cd changer with mp3 compatibility.
The Technology Package, which runs approximately $1,195 adds a full-color compact navigation (without which the screen displays climate control and other vehicle information on a screen reminiscent of MS-DOS), advanced keyless entry, push button start, perimeter alarm system, and SIRIUS satellite radio with 6-month sub******ion
Performance
Power on the base model comes courtesy of a peppy 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that puts out 148-hp and peaks at 135 lb-ft of torque, all while increasing fuel economy by 10% over the last generation with 33 mpg highway rating.
The Grand Touring model however, boasts a little more pep with its 2.5L MZR DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with VVT putting out 167-hp and a maximum torque of 168 lb-ft. Though larger and more powerful than its 2.3L predecessor, the Mazda3 Grand Touring manages an estimated fuel-economy of 22/29 mpg (city/highway).
Though the Mazda3 is hardly a high-performance compact car – it’s not the Speed3 after all – its still has decent pick-up, going from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. Throttle response and acceleration are also commendable considering the compact design of the car.
Both models come standard-equipped with automatic transmissions; 5-speed for the base model and 6-speed for the Grand Touring. A 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode is also available as standard equipment on the Grand Touring. The same is available on the base model but as optional-equipment.
