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Editors' Choice: 2004 Mazda Mazda3
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| Choice for New Drivers |
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| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 881 ( -120 -13.62% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
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Editors' Choice, for New Drivers: 2004 Mazda Mazda3
Vehicles of the Year
Purchase and spec information:
Car of the Year: 2004 Toyota Prius
Truck of the Year:
2004 Ford F-150
SUV of the Year: 2004 Lexus RX 330
Hybrid of the Year: 2004 Toyota Prius
Fun under 50k:2004 Mazda RX-8
Family Vehicle: 2004 Toyota Sienna
New Drivers: 2004 Mazda3
Dream Car: 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
Most Improved: 2004 Dodge Durango
Next New Star: 2006 Solstice/Kappa
Young Professionals: 2004 Acura TL
Choice for the Environment: 2004 Ford Focus PZEV
Editors' Choice for New Drivers: 2004 Mazda3
Best combination of value and excitement for first-time car buyers.
Times have changed and with time so have compacts and the cars young drivers buy. Take the all-new Mazda3, our choice for new drivers because it offers what young drivers want at an affordable price. Those things are innovation, style inside and out, enough performance to feel fun and, really, something a little different than the boring tripe Mom and Dad drive. Available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, it's bigger, more powerful, safer and better-looking than most any compact on the road. Available in two trims, the i and the s, the Mazda3 comes well-equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 148-horsepower engine that gets 28-mpg in the city and 35-mpg on the highway. The s is equipped with a standard 2.3-liter, I4, 160-horsepower engine with slightly lower fuel efficiency. Manual 5-speed transmissions are standard on both cars, though there's a 4 speed auto option. And -- it's cheaper, once you match up features and compare it to the competition. At a starting price of $13,600, what's not to like?
Honorable Mention: 2004 Scion xB, 2004 Mazda6 Sportwagon, 2004 Ford Focus ZX3
Review: 2004 Mazda3
Related story: First-time Buyer's Guide |
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