The Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Hatchback is a tantalizing alternative to the Volkswagen GTI, offering a luxurious driving experience that's hard to resist. While the GTI is undoubtedly the more dialed-in driver's car, the Mazda 3 Hatchback is a softer, gentler, and more luxurious car that's still plenty of fun to drive. The moment you step inside, you're enveloped in a world of premium materials. The soft, faux leather seats, chocolate-brown inserts, and French seams in contrasting color create a tastefully restrained yet richly detailed interior. The instrument cluster, with its round tach and speedo gauges in traditional white-on-black, adds a touch of classic sophistication. The 2.5-liter inline-four engine is a highlight, emitting a quiet, buttered-rum hum that sounds expensive. The six-speed manual gearbox is a sweet complement to the engine, with effortless clutch action and a smooth, well-isolated shift. The shifter slides through the gears with a soft, ...
The Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Hatchback is a tantalizing alternative to the Volkswagen GTI, offering a luxurious driving experience that’s hard to resist. While the GTI is undoubtedly the more dialed-in driver’s car, the Mazda 3 Hatchback is a softer, gentler, and more luxurious car that’s still plenty of fun to drive.
The moment you step inside, you’re enveloped in a world of premium materials. The soft, faux leather seats, chocolate-brown inserts, and French seams in contrasting color create a tastefully restrained yet richly detailed interior. The instrument cluster, with its round tach and speedo gauges in traditional white-on-black, adds a touch of classic sophistication.
The 2.5-liter inline-four engine is a highlight, emitting a quiet, buttered-rum hum that sounds expensive. The six-speed manual gearbox is a sweet complement to the engine, with effortless clutch action and a smooth, well-isolated shift. The shifter slides through the gears with a soft, satisfying click, making it a joy to use.
While the Mazda 3 Hatchback can’t match the performance of the GTI, it makes up for it with a more comfortable and refined driving experience. The steering is precise and progressive, with a light feel that’s easy to get used to. The suspension is on the soft, compliant side of “sporty,” but it still registers the sharp impacts of pavement seams and blemishes with a crisp “thunk.”
The Mazda 3 Hatchback’s braking performance is impressive, stopping from 70 mph in 164 feet – five feet sooner than the GTI. The car also handles well, with a 0.88-g skidpad result that’s on par with the GTI.
In terms of pricing, the Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Hatchback is a steal. With a base price of $32,685 and a test price of $34,045, it undercuts the GTI by several thousand dollars.
In conclusion, the Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Hatchback is a luxurious alternative to the VW GTI that’s hard to resist. With its premium interior, smooth manual gearbox, and refined driving experience, it’s a car that’s sure to please even the most discerning driver.
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