2008 L.A. Auto Show: 2010 Mazda3

• Competes with: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Fusion
• Looks like: Mazda will maintain its supremacy as the fun-to-drive economy car
• Drivetrain: 148-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a five-speed manual or automatic; 167-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: 2009

Mazda’s compact car has been a grand slam for the company since it debuted in 2004. It’s Mazda’s most popular car worldwide, and even the 2009 model holds up well against recently redesigned competition from Honda and Toyota.

The 2010 adds slightly more power and slightly better fuel economy, and it sports all-new looks inside and out. We really like the new shape of the front end, especially the flares on the front fenders, which resemble the new Mazda6 sedan. Even in profile and from the rear, the 2010 Mazda3 looks radically different while still being recognizable as a Mazda. That’s a tough task.

Inside, the Mazda3 looks to maintain its classy feel with a sloped center stack and a new scalloped gauge cluster that flows over the center stack and, on higher trim levels, also houses an integrated navigation screen.

Again, the Mazda3 is split into two trims, the Mazda3 i, with a smaller 148-hp four-cylinder, and the Mazda3 s, with a larger 167-hp engine. While power has been upped versus the 2009 model, so has fuel economy, but just slightly. The i gets 24/33 mpg city/highway with the automatic, and the s gets 22/29 mpg with the automatic. Neither engine beats the competition on the mileage front — the 2009 Toyota Corolla gets 27/35 with an automatic — but the Mazda3 has always been about the fun driving experience.

Unfortunately, base models will not come with standard stability control. It and ABS will be optional equipment. We’ll get more information on the features breakdown later this week.

We’re impressed with the looks, the interior and the power, if a bit concerned that the lower mileage numbers might turn off consumers.