Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Hatchbacks, Mazda
Mazda3 cost of entry lowered with 2008 i Touring model
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2007 Mazda3
The Mazda3 has soldered on largely untouched since 2004, but the stylish econobox manages to win comparison tests against even its newest rivals. As a result, Mazda's top-selling vehicle worldwide has been a big-time favorite of tuners and enthusiasts. With a new i Touring Value model for 2008, even more buyers can now afford to experience Zoom-Zoom. For the very respectable price of $16,595, you get standard features like 17" alloy wheels, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and MP3 compatible CD player.
With a starting price under $14,000, the Mazda3 is one of the best small car values on the market, and the new Touring Value edition offers features that in the past were only offered with much pricier models. We find it amazing that even five years after its original introduction, the Mazda3 is still tough to beat. Unfortunately, pics of the 2008 model, specifically the i Touring Value and the updated interior across the entire Mazda3 line, have yet to be released, so the 2007 model is shown above and in the high-res gallery below.
Gallery: 2007 Mazda3
[Source: Mazda]
PRESS RELEASE
Mazda Announces Pricing on Updated MAZDA3; Adds New i Touring Value Model
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Offering European sophistication, exhilarating driving performance, advanced technology and best-in-class safety, the MAZDA3 is a leader in the compact sedan segment and continues to be Mazda's best-selling vehicle globally. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced updated pricing for the popular vehicle, as well as a number of enhancements. Continuing to tell its value story, the MAZDA3 offers a starting suggested retail price of $13,895 for the i Sport M/T, and tops out at $21,145 for the s Grand Touring A/T model.
MAZDA3 buyers will get more bang for the buck in 2008 with the addition of the i Touring Value model, which replaces the i Touring Model and features standard Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), side-impact air bags, side air curtains, 17" alloy wheels, fog lights, color-keyed grille bar, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, MP3 compatible CD player and a piano-black decoration panel. The i Touring Value model has an MSRP of $16,595 for the five-speed M/T and $17,495 for the four-speed A/T.
In addition, all Grand Touring models produced in 2008 come with a standard six-way power driver's seat, and all MAZDA3 2.3-liter models and MAZDASPEED3 models receive an interior freshening. A factory-installed Sirius satellite radio with six month subscription is now included at no extra cost with the optional navigation system (Grand Touring Model).
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts, accessories and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gooch 7:38AM (2/21/2008)
Is this an end-of-the-run special edition? That's my guess, since most of the costs of production have been amortized and it's not costing Mazda much to add these features.
Still, yeah, the 3 has been a great car for Mazda.
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sitruc 1:06PM (2/21/2008)
Does this mean Mazda is tweaking their 2008 model vehicles built in 2008 or are these changes for the 2009 model vehicles?
philbailey 7:41AM (2/21/2008)
Soldered? And here was silly old me thinking cars were welded together! No?
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FThorn 7:45AM (2/21/2008)
"soldered" on?
should be soldiered on, me thinks.
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Paul H. 7:50AM (2/21/2008)
The 3 is such a great car. I hope its replacement is as affordable and interesting as this one is.
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Allan 8:01AM (2/21/2008)
Damn you Mazda! That puts it at a price point with a few of the features I wanted to start shopping again. Namely that 17" alloys and the extra airbags. But I think I'd have to see a full list of specs to decide.
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Allen 8:24AM (2/21/2008)
Are you serious? If you won't buy it now, just don't don't don't. That car was screaming value in 2004.
Zane 10:13AM (2/21/2008)
You know you can always get a decent set of 17" rims and M+S (or even high perf summer) tires for under a grand. Looking at a trim level solely for the 17" heap of alloy doesn't make any sense.
Allan 9:28AM (2/21/2008)
It's more of a money thing. I realize what a value it is, but I don't know if I'm really in a spot to buy a new car right now.
Dave 8:25AM (2/21/2008)
It is the best looking car in it's compact class but after driving one for a day last week I would never buy one. The car has very poor visibility out the sides and back making an unsafe car to drive regardless of all the positives. One would have to live with the good looks and not be concerned with driver awareness. And yes, I do use side mirrors but again interior wise you can't see anything.
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Dude 9:02AM (2/21/2008)
Poor visibility? Maybe you needed to raise the seat and adjust your mirrors. There is no way an average height person can't see out the sides and back of a Mazda 3.
ello 9:17AM (2/21/2008)
While Mazda 3 is certainly a good looking car, I think the new Mitsu Lancer especially in the GTS trim definitely beats it when it comes to exterior aesthetics and the 2.0l Mitsu motor is more powerful and more fuel efficient than the 2.0l found in Mazda3. And so is the 2.4l Mitsu motor found in 2009 GTS vs the 2.3l Mazda3 variant.
Dave 9:21AM (2/21/2008)
Dude, I adjusted the mirrors but didn't raise the seat. Even so, because of the back seat the window is unusually high and would have to be mentioned in most write-ups as not user friendly. Looking out the sides is nothing but blind spots. Again sacrifice visibility for best in styling is how I see it. Incidently I spoke with an aquantence about the car and he surprisingly told me a friend of his had one for two years and recently sold it and the visibility issue was one of the reasons.
Jeff the Baptist 9:22AM (2/21/2008)
Sedan or Hatchback? I've driven the sedan and didn't have that problem, but I could see visibility on the rear corners dropping from the hatchback's additional pillars. You know, just like it does on the Dodge Caliber or any other short hatchback.
Dave 9:38AM (2/21/2008)
Jeff, the brand new rental car from Enterprise that I drove was a four-door sedan. I am 6' tall and a defensive driver. I have driven other cars in this class and again for looks this is a gem of a car, but bland looking cars like the Cobalt and Corolla seem to have more driver room and definately more visibility out the sides.
John B 10:55AM (2/21/2008)
We've had a Mazda3 for four years (and over 100,000 km.) and while I'll admit visibility isn't great when backing up, it's never been a problem when driving - city or highway. It's easily the best compact car I've ever owned or driven. It's also been completely reliable.
Clinton 11:31AM (2/21/2008)
I've had my 3 hatchback for over three years now and have had no visibility issues. I adjust my side mirrors to take over where the rear mirror leaves off and when adjusted like that there are no blind spots whatsoever. What exactly are you having a hard time seeing?
Rocketboy 1:06PM (2/21/2008)
Poor visibility? Wow, you must have never driven a MINI, huh?
Dave 1:34PM (2/21/2008)
One cannot completely rely on side mirrors alone in deciding when to switch lanes. The point I was making is that when glancing over to see who may be there, there is obstruction while looking across to the right because of the shape of the car. It is not a clean view like other cars in this class. But again as I said one has to give up a little of something to get something in return, and that return is the sporty styling.
Seoultrain 1:36PM (2/21/2008)
yeah, never any visibility problems in my sedan. My seat is down to the floor, and I'm not tall, only 5'8".