2010 Mazda3 Sport GT

All new for 2010 Mazda3 Sport (hatchback) is the first redesign of this popular compact car since it was introduced back in the winter of 2003. That first Mazda3, in both sedan and hatchback bodystyles, was an instant hit with Canadians, and over the past five years has been one of Canada's best-selling cars. One out of every four Mazda3s sold in Canada is the five-door model. Sedans outsell hatchbacks 3:1. Perhaps it's because the hatchback really stands out on our crowded highways that it's so memorable. And for 2010 the next generation of the car has lost none of that "hey-look-at-me" quality.

Mazda calls the redesign of the Mazda3 an evolution, not a revolution, and both sedans and hatchbacks are instantly recognizable as updates of the compact car that took the world by storm in 2004. The 2010 Mazda3 Sport is slightly longer and taller than the previous model, but for all practical purposes, it's about the same size, inside and out.

The new hatchback, again called Mazda3 Sport, began being shipped to dealers across the country on Jan. 27. What's new is its sportier demeanour: particularly its aggressive nose and large grille opening, racier profile, prominent wheel arches, sweeping lower door crease, redesigned rear roof spoiler, slimmer chrome-trimmed LED tail lights (GT only), and dual exhaust pipes (GS and GT).

The base Sport GX model, which is unique to the Canadian market, has a 148-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, now with a new air induction system for improved performance, teamed with a five-speed manual or revised five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. The big news is the new 167-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine (borrowed from the Mazda6) which replaces the 156-hp 2.3-litre four in the Sport GS and Sport GT models. This engine is teamed with a new six-speed manual transmission which replaces the previous five-speed manual. A five-speed automatic with manual shift capability is optional.

These are also quiet engines for inline fours, and the most extraneous sound entering the cabin is from road noise caused by the tires on bad surfaces.

The GX Sport starts at $16,995 - $1,000 more than the base GX sedan -- but is packed with standard features such as ABS, electro-hydraulic power steering and power windows and locks. The GT adds such standard items as Bi-Xenon headlamps with adaptive lighting, dynamic stability control (DSC) and 17-inch alloy wheels.

As with the sedan, the top Sport model is the GT with GT-E package for an MSRP of $22,595. It includes items not usually found on cars in this class -- push-button start, dual zone A/C, 8-way power driver's seat with two memory settings, a driver's multi information display (MID) with navigation system and Bose surround sound audio system with 10 speakers, among others. The only options for the Sport GT-E will be a power moonroof and the five-speed automatic.

The optional navigation screen is controlled by buttons on the steering wheel: an "Info" button lets the driver scroll between average fuel economy, instant fuel economy, average speed, compass with latitude and longitude, time, outside temperature, as well as navigation functions including the GPS map with scalable views. Although the nav system's screen is on the small side, its placement to the left of the steering wheel, above the main instrument panel, means it's extremely easy to read and you don't have to turn your head to see it.

The GT-trimmed test car included leather-covered front sport seats with oversized side bolsters and thigh bolsters for extra support when cornering briskly, and power height and tilt seat adjustments, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt/telescopic adjustments. Both front seats have seat heaters with five temperature settings, which is very useful on cold winter days.

The Sport's large rear window with intermittent wiper and washer also makes backing into a parking space much easier. The driver has good visibility in most directions -- the little triangular-shaped third side window on the passenger side does help when shoulder-checking.

Front, side and curtain airbags are standard on all Mazda3s, as are active front head restraints to help prevent whiplash, front pretensioners and load limiters, crash-resistant beams in the doors, rear outboard anchors for child seats, and rear door child locks.

Storage options include a deep bin under the centre armrest that includes an iPod jack and a 12-volt outlet, a glovebox with special slot for owner's manual, a small covered bin in front of the shift lever, a coin tray near the door, and large door pockets.

The beauty of the Mazda3 Sport model is its combination of sportiness and practicality: its rear cargo area provides extra room for bulky items that wouldn't fit in the sedan, particularly when the 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks are folded down. The Mazda3 Sport includes a rear privacy cover and a fully lined trunk area.

The optional GT-E package includes Mazda's "intelligent key" and "keyless start," which means that you can lock and unlock the front doors and trunk without inserting a key, and you can start the car without inserting a key in the ignition hole -- partly because there isn't one.

The new 2.5-litre four-cylinder powerplant with dual overhead cams and four-valves per cylinder produces 167 horsepower at 6,000 r.p.m. and 168 lb-ft torque at 4,000 r.p.m. -- that's 11 horsepower more and 18 lb-ft more than the previous 2.3-litre engine.

The engine uses Regular gas and published Energuide fuel economy figures (L/100 km) with the manual transmission are 10.1/6.9 city/hwy, compared to last year's 9.2/6.7 city/hwy with the manual five-speed transmission.

What's most impressive about the new Sport GT is its handling: it has the same MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension as last year's model, but Mazda engineers have improved roll control, suspension damping, and body rigidity to create flatter cornering, improved bump recovery, and less ride harshness over road imperfections. The new Mazda3 Sport GT a very lively, fun-to-drive compact hatchback.

In 2004, the first generation Mazda3 raised the standards by which all compact cars are judged and was named Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. It has raised those standards even higher for 2010.