If you’ve been keeping up with our adventures, then you know earlier this month we went on a holiday weekend adventure to experience both Fireside Christmas at Pocono Manor and Olde Time Christmas in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. It was a magical weekend for us as a family, and doing it all in a Soul Red Metallic 2017 Mazda3 s Grand Touring was the icing on the cake- or should we say Christmas cookies!
Like the other members of the Mazda family, the profile of the Mazda3 is impressive and by now we’re used to strangers coming up to us to ask questions. From Mazda owners looking to upgrade to folks just wanting to know general information, Mazda has definitely accomplished their design mission of capturing the essence of poise, energy and power.
The Mazda3 is available in 8 colors. While the red is beautiful, I must say my favorite is the Deep Crystal Blue Mica.
From left to right: Deep Blue Crystal Mica, Eternal Blue Mica, Jet Black Mica, Machine Gray Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Sonic Silver Metallic, Soul Red Metallic, Titanium Flash Mica.
More importantly than looks of course, is safety. The Mazda3 boasts many safety features like advanced front air bags (front side-impact air bags and side-impact air curtains), available Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) w/ Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), available i-ACTIVSENSE: Forward Obstruction Warning, High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning System, and more. Driving in big cities like NYC or on busy highways like the New Jersey turnpike, the blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning system definitely makes me feel safer with our children in the car.
Inside, drivers have four options for the interior- black cloth, sand cloth, black leatherette, or black leather. The attention to detail in the leather interior option gives the Mazda3 a sleek finish. Not to mention, the ease to wipe down and clean the seats- with two kids who are professional mess makers, the leather or leatherette upgrade make sense in the long run.
The Mazda3 is smaller than the other Mazda sedans, so the legroom in the backseat is also smaller. With the front seats positioned back, it can make for a tight fit. But for our 4 year old in her carseat and 10 year behind my husband, who tends to lean back- it was still a comfortable ride.
Speaking of the seats, my husband injured his back a few months ago, and driving can be pretty uncomfortable. But the Mazda3’s sport seats are designed to mold to your body, which he said was a huge help for his back. After a two hour car ride to the Poconos, he was pleasantly surprised that he wasn’t in pain.
As I always mention, the middle console is one of my favorite features of the Mazda family. The middle dial makes it easy to be co-pilot. Especially for those of us vertically challenged folks with shorter arms. It’s also simple to switch into sport mode, or quickly switch back to the navigation screen to see where to turn next.
The Bose® 9-Speaker Surround Sound System ensures that riders get the same audio experience no matter which seat they’re in. So whether it’s Christmas tunes while we drive around seeing the lights, or my husband showing off around the neighborhood as he blasts the speakers- it’s music to everyone’s ears.
The trunk space in the Mazda3 is pretty good- we were able to fit a small push cart towards the back with large bags during some Christmas shopping. And a cooler, two large duffel bags, and a few smaller totes during our drive to the Poconos.
The moonroof in the Mazda3 is a nice addition. Giving a more spacious feel, and something for the kids to stargaze out of, we are always sure to keep it open whenever possible.
What can I say? I have come to love the fleet of Mazda vehicles and each model is great for different family sizes and types. The Mazda3 is great for a family who can handle the smaller space. It’s still more spacious than the Mazda CX3 we reviewed earlier this year, but with smaller trunk/cargo space. For the price and MPG (37 MPG Est Highway), it’s a great combination of looks and performance- at a reasonable price.
For more information on the Mazda3 s Grand Touring, visit www.mazdausa.com.