2009 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback

Along with a four door sedan, the 2009 Mazda Mazda3 is offered as a five door hatchback.  This Mazda3 is more unique than its sedan sibling, and is really more like a stretched-out coupe than a five-door hatchback. The goal was to create a car that was extremely practical, yet still offers a thrilling driving experience. The five-door hatchback is only available in s trim levels and will likely appeal to the younger market, as the Mazda3 is sportier than many in its class. Overall, the Mazda 3 offers a nice practical choice for shoppers. The hatchback Mazda3 has an ample amount of standard equipment that comes with both trim levels, along with the luxury features available on the s Grand Touring. Few other compact economy cars offer such things as leather upholstery, heated power seats, xenon headlights and a seven-speaker stereo. The 2009 Mazda Mazda3 hatchback is one of the best values in its class, its got great styling, high performance and quality, and lots of comfort features all at a price way lower than similar cars. Overall, the 2009 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback offers you more for your money than its competition from Honda and Toyota. 

2009 Trim Levels

The s Sport sedan gets 16-inch alloy wheels (the hatchback has the 17s), but both body styles feature a bigger engine, slightly different front and rear fascias, different interior trim and electroluminescent gauges. The  s Touring adds 17-inch alloys on the sedan and body sill extensions. The s Grand Touring gains auto on/off xenon headlights, automatic rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, a six-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a trip computer.

Mazda3 Hatchback Power

The Mazda 3 hatchback uses a 2.3-liter four-cylinder good for 156 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual is standard, while a five-speed automatic with manual shift control is optional. The 3 s with the automatic goes from zero to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds. Fuel economy with the automatic is an estimated 22 city/28 highway and 24 combined, which is about equal for compact sedans with similar power output.

Driving the Mazda3

Overall, the Mazda 3 five door tends to drive like a much more expensive sport hatchback. Thanks to its performance-oriented chassis tuning, the Mazda3 offers quick and communicative steering, a lack of discernible body roll and always lots of grip. The 2.3-liter engine is smooth and zippy, feeling quicker than its 156 hp would suggest. The Mazda3 hatchback cruises down the highway smoothly and would work great for a commuter car. The 2009 Mazda 3 five door has refined road manners that are surprising for such an economy level vehicle.

Five Door Mazda3 Design

The five-door hatchback is like the high-fashion station wagons from European manufacturers, offering the practicality of the five-door configuration with an emphasis on a premium driving experience.  It has far more presence than the Chevrolet Malibu or other Japanese compacts. It appears bold and actually quite  aggressive.

Cabin Features

The Mazda 3, especially in the upper trims, features a distinctive and upscale interior design that looks far richer than its price would suggest. Controls are simple and work like they are supposed to, while good-quality materials and tight fitting pieces only suggest quality.  On the inside, it is made for convenience and cargo hauling ease. A huge glovebox is complimented by a deep storage box that separates the front seats. Even the rear passengers are treated with integrated cup holders on the armrests. There is plenty of room in the front seat, with generous headroom and legroom aided by a telescoping steering wheel. The rear seat is a bit cramped for taller people, but the hatchback excels at cargo space. Thanks to its design, the Mazda3 five-door will accommodate 43.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the front seats when the second seat is folded down.
 
Summary

The 2009 Mazda3 five door offers the handling abilities of a sedan with the extra cargo space and versatility of a hatchback.  Standard on every Mazda 3 are antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Stability and traction control are standard on the s Touring and Grand Touring models, but not available on anything else. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration frontal-impact crash tests, the 2009 Mazda 3 scored four stars (out of five). In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the 3 received a "Good" rating (the highest out of four) in frontal-offset crash tests. The 2009 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback gives drivers the feel of an efficiently-spaced European touring vehicle, along with a very moderate price.  The end result is a sporty, quick compact car that feels adventurous and simultaneously luxurious. Standard warranties cover the car for 36 months or 36,000 miles. Read another 2009 Mazda 3 Review for more research.