AZCentral.com's view

Mazda3 could be my favorite among the current batch of compact cars. Its combination of sporty styling, responsiveness and modest price tag add up to a slick little package.

I particularly like the cool hatchback I recently drove, which looks sleek and has a decent cargo hold. It’s fun and practical, two things that don’t always go together.

What I like best is Mazda3’s sharp-edged drivability, its firm suspension and quick steering, feeling more sports car than compact wagon. Not all drivers desire these qualities, finding Mazda3 too stiff and somewhat harsh, preferring the smoother ride of leading competitors Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

So that’s where Mazda has drawn the line for this and other products, including the newly revamped Mazda6 midsize car. The Japanese automaker, closely affiliated with Ford, tries to put a sporty spin on all its vehicles, from the MX-5 Miata roadster to the CX-9 SUV.

This is that zoom-zoom thing that Mazda touts, the idea that even regular family craft channels the spirit of the RX-8 rotary-engine performance car. The tradeoff is in ride quality, with Mazda3 also channeling road imperfections that some occupants could find objectionable.

Not me. I like a car that rides stiffly and handles well. I think it’s a good tradeoff. It’s not like you’re bouncing all over the road, just a bit of buffeting and harshness on bumps and rough surfaces.

Mazda3 shows its economy-car position in such things as engine noise and torque steer under moderately hard acceleration. The five-speed manual transmission shifts well enough but is nothing special.

Mazda has worked to carve out this niche for itself, with some success, with prices starting out at a modest $14,490 for the base Mazda3 sedan.

Mazda Mazda3 s Grand Touring

Vehicle type: Five-passenger four-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.

Engine: 2.3-liter inline-4, 156 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 150 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm.

Transmission: Five-speed manual.

Wheelbase: 103.9 inches.

Overall length: 176.8 inches.

Curb weight: 2,930 pounds.

EPA rating: 22 city, 29 highway.

HIGHS: Handling finesse, upscale interior, sporty styling.

LOWS: Stiff seats, some ride harshness, audio confusion.

PERFORMANCE: The 2.3-liter four-banger in this upgraded model has decent power though not very impressive, losing some of its punch at mid-rpm. Standard engine is a 2-liter four with 148 horsepower, just 8 horsepower less than the 2.3.

There’s a Mazdaspeed3 performance version with a 250-horsepower turbo four, as well as tuned suspension, sport interior and a heftier price tag.

DRIVABILITY: Mazda3 is an agile beast, especially when you consider its affordability. On the same platform as the S40 compact from Volvo, another Ford affiliate, the Mazda feels stable and secure at higher speeds, while cutting sharply though corners on back roads.

Standard for 2009 on all Mazda3s is are antilock brakes and brake assist, full-coverage side airbags and electronic stability control on the Touring and Grand Touring models.

STYLING: Both the sedan and hatchback versions look low and aggressive with a sporty stance. The corporate grille styling works well. The roofline on the hatchback slopes gently rearward, which gives it a nice profile but compromises cargo height.

INTERIOR: The style and materials look richer than the price tag would indicate, with a full boat of features in the top-drawer Grand Touring version that I drove.

The front-seat space is fairly roomy, but I thought the seats themselves were hard and unpleasant. The integrated audio/navigation system was hard to master. BOTTOM LINE: A responsive little car for those who like to drive.

Base price: $20,595

Price as tested: $22,650

OPTIONS

Moonroof, Bose audio upgrade, $1,335.

Rear bumper guard, $50.

Shipping, $670.