Disclosure: I was provided with a 2015 Mazda3 for the duration of one week, to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.
Last month, I had the opportunity to drive the 2015 Mazda3 for a couple of weeks. I grew up driving a sporty sedan, so this was definitely a change from the van I’ve driven for the last 8 years. Though it was cold and rainy during my time with this vehicle, we still made it a fun week!
The Mazda3 is loaded with the safety features I am interested in:
- Adaptive Front-Lighting System
- Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) with brake assist
- 5-passenger 3-point safety belts
- Dynamic Stability Control
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Active front headrests
- Collapsible steering column
- Blind Spot Monitoring System
- LATCH Child Safety Seat Anchors
It also has a keyless ignition, which I fell in love with – especially on those cold, snowy mornings! It was convenient to stick the key fob in my pocket, and not have to pull out keys when I was out shopping! If the key fob is within close distance, you simply push a button on the door or trunk to open. To start the car, you step on the brake and push the ignition button. No “traditional” key is needed!
I loved the technology of the Mazda3 because it’s loaded with the features I must have!
The Mazda3 offers Bluetooth hands-free capabilities which allow drivers to access their smart phone through voice commands! I was even able to access the built in Tom Tom Navigation system and speak my directions, there was no typing necessary! (You can also read text messages through the audio system!)
The dual-zone climate controls allow you the flexibility to control separate temperatures than your passenger. If you are always cold (like me), set the temperature to a comfortable level and let your passenger find the setting that’s right for him! Because it was so cold, we both found that extra warmth in the dual seat warmers!
The safety and technology features are enough to make the Mazda3 a great competitor in it’s class, but let’s take note of the fuel economy: Combined with Skyactiv Technology, the Mazda 3 gets 40 Highway MPG and 29 City MPG! I averaged about 38 MPG, getting almost 400 miles to the tank over the course of the week!