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I really did enjoy my week behind the wheel of the new 2010 Mazda3. It is a joy to drive, handles amazingly well and the steering response is second-to-none in the class. The chassis stiffness and braking feel give you confidence in all situations; driving the Mazda3 is a true joy with only one exception.
That exception is the cost of fuel. My tester was not broken in yet; it only had 500km on the odometer when I received it. But to blame the fuel consumption solely on that fact would be irresponsible. The 2.5L engine follows in the footsteps of the previous generation’s 2.3L engine. It is peppy, fun to rev and has great torque response. But forget great fuel economy — I averaged 10.5L/100km over the course of the week with more highway driving than normal. A real disappointment.
Watching the instantaneous computer readouts on the highway is disheartening as you rarely see it dip below 8L/100km unless coasting down hill. For a compact / economy type vehicle it falls short with today’s high fuel prices. But there is the 2.0L version which is rated by Natural Resources Canada at 8.1/5.9 (L/100km city/highway).
*Rating out of 5:
| 2010 Mazda3 GT | |
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2010 Mazda3 GT
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $23,795
For more information on Mazda and the mazda3 visit Mazda Canada
