Mazdaspeed 3 – Review: Cheap thrills often produce moral conflict and can literally leave a bad taste in your mouth, but that’s not the case when it comes to the tasty, exciting, and inexpensive Mazdaspeed 3. What looks like an innocuous hatchback driven by some dorky computer geek with thick black-rimmed glasses and a pocket protector is actually a stealth missile, an urban assault vehicle with poise and finesse, the utter antithesis of, say, a Hummer H2 with glittering 24-inch spinners and garish chrome trim coating every possible exterior garnish. This is not a “look at me” kind of car. Rather, it is a “look at me go” kind of car. The Mazdaspeed 3 is an absolute delight to drive hard and fast, provides room for four adults when it’s your turn to be the D.D. (designated driver), and converts into a cargo-toting grocery getter with a single-handed flip of the back seats. Thrilling yet practical, the Mazdaspeed 3 is the best kind of cheap date – and you won’t want to kick it out of bed for quaffing an extra quart of oil.

What We Drove
Mazda loaned us a Sunlight Silver Mazdaspeed 3 Grand Touring wearing a window sticker of $26,400 including a $595 destination charge and a $1,750 navigation system. That may sound expensive, but you can get your jollies by spending as little as $22,935 on the standard Sport model. Every Mazdaspeed 3 comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch wheels, automatic climate control, and bolstered sport seats covered in sturdy fabric and black leather. What makes the $24,650 Grand Touring version special is adjustable Xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a 222-watt Bose audio system, and a theft deterrent system. Buying the Grand Touring also provides access to an optional navigation system. Unfortunately, a power sunroof is not offered on the Mazdaspeed 3.