We really like our long-term Mazda 3 hatchback for its engaging driving dynamics and versatility, and it’s clear that we’re not the only ones who love this small car: Mazda claims the 3 makes up a third of the brand’s sales globally. For 2011, Mazda will grace the 3 and its performance-oriented brother, the Mazdaspeed 3—hey! We’ve got a long-term one of them, too—with some additional standard equipment. The cars are mechanically unchanged from last year.The Mazda 3 i SV and i Sport sedans gain standard stability control and power door locks, which were previously unavailable on those entry-level trims. Hatchback and sedan s Sport models equipped with an automatic transmission can now be equipped with rain-sensing wipers, LED taillights, and automatic, adaptive bi-xenon headlights. For s Grand Touring trims, a sunroof, a 265-watt Bose sound system, and a six-disc CD changer become standard; they were previously optional extras.
The high-performance Mazdaspeed 3 continues mostly unchanged. The car’s Technology package adds rain-sensing wipers; automatic, adaptive bi-xenon headlights; and LED taillights, which were all previously unavailable on the Speed 3. Carryover Tech package contents consists of a 242-watt Bose sound system, a navigation system, an alarm, and proximity-based keyless entry and ignition.
