Up Close: 2010 Mazda3

Mazda usually brings a healthy dose of sportiness to the segments it competes in, and that’s the case with the redesigned 2010 Mazda3. If the current 3 is the automotive equivalent of Dr. Jekyll, then the redesigned 2010 model, with its gaping grille and angular vents in the front bumper, is Mr. Hyde. It’s a little creepy, actually. The lack of a conventional bumper may make the front more vulnerable to scrapes from inconsiderate parallel parkers, too.

The cabin features a new dashboard design that has more flowing lines than its predecessor. It can have a high-mounted navigation screen above the center dash vents that’s controlled by buttons on the right side of the steering wheel.

There’s a mix of premium and run-of-the-mill materials in the cabin.

The upper portion of the dashboard has high-grade trim, and there was nice stitching on the door armrests of the model I sat in. The available seat heaters also have five settings rather than the more common one or two. However, there was also pretty basic flat-black plastic trim surrounding the power-window switches, and a fuzzy headliner.

On the whole, the Mazda3 looks sharp and is nice enough on the inside to hold its own with the majority of compact cars available today. Let us know what you think of that front end in the comments.