If you can get past the initial impression, you may just find a lot of things to like about the 2010 Mazda 3. This is truly an impressive compact sedan that has truly been a success since its introduction. In fact, it has been estimated that one third of Mazda's total sales currently come from this car alone. It is sporty, zippy, and fun in a small compact package. And you should be able to find a used Mazda at a competitive rate that you can appreciate.

As far as the attractiveness of the car, it all depends upon personal taste. The makers insist that it was created to be an exotic looking sports car. However, the grill is so large and open mouth that it makes one grin just to look at it. And you immediately feel that the car is giving you a cheesy smile in return. Still, as a best seller, with over 1.8 million already sold, people are finding quite a bit to like about it.

This car is available in either a four door sedan or a five door hatchback, both featuring updated interior and exterior from the previous models. The basic Mazda 3 has five speed automatic transmission and a 148 horsepower engine while a more pumped up version offers a beefed up 167 horsepower engine.

This is an engaging car that is perfect for those who are looking to downsize a little, yet still want the sophisticated features that were once considered too lavish for a small car. The Mazda 3 has combined compact with luxury and it seems to work.

No one is disappointed with the fuel economy that they receive with this car. It is often a key selling point for the car, receiving an average of 25 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. This may not be the best gas mileage offered in cars of the same class, but it is still quite competitive, offering enough other innovative features to attract buyers with its mid range fuel economy.

The previous version of the Mazda was highly criticized for being too noisy, but this seems to no longer be an issue. And who doesn't love doing business with a company who listeners to consumers? The Mazda 3 features a smooth quiet ride that makes one feel as if they were indeed riding in a larger vehicle.

The interior itself is stunning. All has been redesigned and controls has been placed in optimal positioning to best benefit the driver and make Human Machine Interface more practical. The only problem that is seem with the arrangement is that many of the controls are only on the drivers side, leaving an adult passenger feeling somewhat helpless and left out of the picture. But who can complain when they have a Bose ten speaker system, an iPod dock, Bluetooth connectivity, leather upholstery, heated seats, and even a push start button for engine starting?

There are five seats onboard, but more realistically, four will fit in comfortably, unless we are speaking of children. A couple could appreciate this car. The trunk is quite spacious, but the back seats also fold down, allowing a much larger trunk capacity so that one could haul slightly larger items when necessary.

For those who are are looking for a safe car that is compact and fuel efficient, yet offering updated technologies, the Mazda 3 might just be the car to consider. It offers all of this and much more.