Ever since its debut for the 2004 model year, the Mazda3 has been a viable option for those who want sports car style at a compact car price. This year, for the 2010 model year, the car has had its first real re-design.
The 2010 Mazda3’s exterior is a variation on the previous design, one sporting several minor changes. Among the changes are a redesign of the front grille, which features a large gap in the lower bumper, something some critics have compared unfavorably to a “sinister smile.” 
Other exterior alterations include the optional adaptive high-intensity-discharge xenon headlights, and LED taillights, as well as upgraded 17-inch tires to replace the standard 16-inchers. Also optional are a moon roof and a rear spoiler.
Interior features of the 2010 Mazda3, which is still being offered in both four-door hatchback and sedan versions, include a much more contemporary design, featuring front bucket seats and a rear bench (seating for a total of five including the driver), with optional upgrades from cloth upholstery to leather, heated or not. The backseat folds down in a 60/40 split to expand the cargo area in both versions of the car.
Other interior updates include red illumination for the gauges, and a screen atop the dashboard that displays air-conditioning and radio settings. There’s also an optional navigational system, which is operated via a collection of buttons on the right side of the steering wheel. A CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack, power windows, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel are all standard across the line, with air conditioning standard on every trim level except the base iSV, and cruise control and remote keyless entry standard on every trim but the iSV and the iSport.
Under the hood of the 2010 Mazda3 there’s a 2.0 liter, 148 horsepower, four-cylinder engine that comes mated to either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission, but the s-models come with a 2.5 liter, 167 horsepower, four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission (though the five-speed automatic is still an option). The automatic transmission comes with a clutchless-manual mode that allows driver control of gear changes, via a console gear selector.
Not surprisingly, it’s the manual-transmission Mazda3i that nets the best results in EPA gas mileage, coming in at 25 mpg in the city / 33 mpg highway. The automatic transmission reduces the city rating by 1 mpg, while the s-models are rated at 21 city/29 highway when fitted with a manual transmission, and 22 city/29 highway with an automatic.
Standard safety features of the 2010 Mazda3 include side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, and an antilock braking system. All s-models and the iTouring model also come with an electronic stability system.
The starting MSRP for the 2010 Mazda3 ranges from US $15,045 – $21,500 depending on the trim level chosen.