The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 appears to be a viable family car since it comes with a backseat, but this compact hatchback should come with a disclaimer: must be at least 42 inches tall and 55 pounds to ride in this ride. This compact car works well for families with older kids who are out of bulky , rear-facing child-safety seats.
Driving the Speed3 felt like taming a wild beast, which isn’t a bad thing. The turbocharged engine was the most powerful turbo I’ve tested. Ever. An LED turbo-boost gauge on the dash showed when the turbo was winding up for its pitch; once it let loose, the car may as well have been launched from a catapult! Pair this power with the fuel-efficient six-speed manual transmission and you’ve got quite the machine.
I loved being seen in this performance version of the Mazda3, even though it moved so fast that it would’ve been hard for other drivers to get a good look at it. Slow down, you say? No can do, my friends. It’s just not possible to go less than 35 mph without the Speed3 feeling like it was about to explode. I was proud of myself for not getting a speeding ticket during my weeklong test drive. After a couple of days trying to keep the Speed3 within the speed limit, I simply gave up. Pick your battles.
The Mazdaspeed3 starts at $23,000. My test model, a Mazdaspeed3 Sport, had a navigation system, push-button start, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio, in-dash six CD changer, upgraded Bose surround-sound system, and that mind-blowing turbo four-cylinder for a mere $26,025. How’d they do that?
EXTERIOR
Three words: Velocity Red Mica. Even the Mazdaspeed3’s color name is speedy and ferocious. This is one good-looking car, with curves protruding from every angle. With a grille that looked more like the gills of shark than a smile and sharp headlights that reminded me of fangs, the Speed3’s aggressive looks were as attractive as that bad boy you adored when you were 17. Oh, and don’t get me started on the hood scoop.
Even loaded with four kids, the Mazdaspeed3 helped me forget about my mommy moniker and reminded me to live a little. What other car can do that? It was like the vehicular equivalent of the little devil on your shoulder, C’mon, just hit the gas a little more. It’s fun. What could it hurt?
The kids also adored this car thanks to its cool factor. I liked that they were able to get in and out of it and buckle up all by themselves.
However, loading items into the cargo space was difficult. Floor space is adequate in the trunk, but the height is limited due to a cargo cover that can’t easily be removed. Grocery bags fit fine, but awkwardly shaped items like strollers or small bikes will cause more headaches than they’re worth.
While enjoying the 263-horsepower, 2.3-liter inline-four-cylinder, it seemed like the Mazdaspeed3 didn’t use any gas at all. After doing a little math, however, it looks like I averaged 20.75 mpg. The EPA estimates the Speed3’s fuel economy at 18/25 mpg city/highway. Despite the fancy turbo engine, the Speed3 accepts regular gas.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Groove On
INTERIOR
Just as sassy inside as it is on the outside, I was relieved to find the Speed3’s interior was also ergonomic, intuitive and simple. There was no guesswork needed for changing the radio station or pumping up the air conditioning.
I was impressed that my $26,000 test car had a navigation system, which is optional and part of the Tech Package ($1,895). That and push-button start were both unexpected pluses to Speed3’s interior.
However, the seats were less than luxurious and allowed only slight manual adjustments. The gearshift was tall, skinny and awkward to use. I kept thinking it would’ve been easier to maneuver if it were shorter.
In the backseat, the kids had two cupholders in the center armrest. Many sport models are too cool for cupholders, so I was pleasantly surprised to see them in Speed3.
Legroom for both the first and second rows was decent and what I expected for a compact car. Nobody in the second row complained about being cramped even when we had three passengers buckled in back there. The Mazdaspeed3 has a seating capacity for five, which is how many we had in it during most of the test drive and everyone fit just fine. More importantly, nobody kicked my seat, so there was enough legroom in the backseat to let their little legs dangle.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
SAFETY
The Speed3 makes an excellent case for parents out there looking for affordable fun without sacrificing safety. My husband and I loved the feisty personality and hot looks the Speed3 brought to the table. The fact that it all came with a backseat seemed like an added bonus.
The Mazdaspeed3’s two sets of lower Latch anchors are easy to access. My boys’ booster seats fit well in the backseat, and a forward-facing convertible would fit well, too. However, parents using rear-facing car seats might have some difficulty fitting them in the rear seat, especially if the front passengers are on the tall side.
The Mazdaspeed3 comes with the following safety features standard: four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control, traction control and six airbags, including side-impact airbags in the front row and side curtains for both rows.
Get more safety information on the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 here.
