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Our new long-term 2020 Mazda3 hatchback proves we’re not quite ready to accept the automaker’s change of course. In case you’ve missed the news, Mazda is looking to focus less on its sporty and fun image and more on its brand-new course to becoming a legit luxury brand. The new Mazda3 is the first official endeavor from the automaker’s pivot. That said, we’re having a tough time completely deleting away Mazda’s fun, zoom-zoomy image. Which is why we ordered our Polymetal Gray Metallic hatchback with the imagination Premium package–and a six-speed manual transmission. We think it’s a fair compromise.

The manual gearbox’s take rate will be low–about three percent, by Mazda’s approximations. But those brave few will be rewarded with a much more engaging driving suffer that only 3 pedals can provide. A 2.5 -liter four-cylinder rated at 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque is the sole engine choice for the Mazda3, and it feels much peppier with the manual( and its taller first gear) in comparison with the optional six-speed automatic. The leather gear shifter is satisfying to operate, and the brake and accelerator pedals are spaced well enough to execute your frisky heel-toe recommends. Overall, it’s a solid manual gearbox.

Some staffers lament that the brand-new Mazda3 has lost some of its sporty bite we’ve admired in the previous-gen version. And although that might be true at restriction treat, I’m quite happy with how the new 3 carries itself around city and through the twisties. And besides, most Mazda3 owners aren’t aspiring to reach 1.0 g lateral acceleration on their mode to Church’s Chicken.

So with that in psyche, my year with the brand-new 3 will focus on how well it gets me though my daily slog on Interstate 405 and weekend road trip-ups. A long index of features should maintain me busy and entertained. When it comes to tech, our Mazda3 packs adaptive sail restraint, path continue assistance, a head-up display, a large and clear 8.8 -inch infotainment screen, and Apple CarPlay. Other standout features include LED headlights that swivel in the direction you’re turning, a powerful Bose sound system, sunroof, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Meanwhile, the interior is a sharp-worded mingle of red leather benches, knurled switchgear, and metal speaker covers that wouldn’t look out of place in a Mercedes-Benz. With all these goodies, our Mazda3 somehow manages to come in below $30,000 –$ 28,420, to be exact. A base modeling Mazda3 hatchback is about $4,000 cheaper and is also impressively equipped; oddly enough, though, it can’t be working together with a manual transmission( same proceeds for the midlevel Preferred package ). If we were to cross-shop our long-termer, we’d be looking at a Volkswagen GTI and perhaps the 2020 Honda Civic Sport Touring hatchback, which is now available with a manual transmission.

I’ll have plenty of other things to observe in future updates. Since this is a hatchback, I’m eager to see how practical and spacious the rear passenger and cargo areas will be. Can the 3 coddle me like a indulgence vehicle should on a long drive to San Francisco? And with gas costs on the rise in California, we’ll observe how close it can get to the EPA’s rating of 25/35 mpg metropolitan/ highway.

2020 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback

BASE PRICE $24,520 PRICE AS TESTED $28,420 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door hatchback

ENGINE 2.5L/186-hp/186-lb-ft DOHC 16 -valve I-4

TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual

CURB WEIGHT( F/ R DIST) 3,027 lb( 61/39%)

WHEELBASE 107.3 in

LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 175.6 x 70.7 x 56.7 in

0-60 MPH 7.4 sec

QUARTER MILE 15.7 sec@ 90.6 mph

BRAKING, 60 -0 MPH 115 ft

LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.85 g( avg)

MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.8 sec@ 0.63 g( avg)

EPA CITY/ HWY/ COMB FUEL ECON 25/35/29 mpg

ENERGY CONS, CITY/ HWY 135/96 kW-hrs/ 100 miles

CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.68 lb/ mile

The post 2020 Mazda3 Long-Term Arrival: Kind of Grown-Up showed first on MotorTrend.

Read more: motortrend.com