2009 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback

Pros: Sharp looks. Good mileage. Fast.
Cons: Storage is a little small. Rear legroom for tall people.

Just got one of the last 2009 Mazda3s in town... I love this car. It is very solid and handles much better than my 06 Corrolla did. The interior is well apointed, feels like a more expensive car. I must say buying it was a pain. The first dealer I went to here in Calgary would not budge a nickel on the price. The second dealer wanted to screw me on my trade. Ended up using Best Price Express car buying service. They got me a colour the first dealer said was sold out (black) and got me $950 off. Very pleased with the way they setup up the deal compared to haggling with salemen. I sold my car privately for $2,400 more than the dealer offered too. Anyways, I wasn't able to get navigation, none in the colour I wanted, but I am putting in an after-market system. Way cheaper. Looks like it may be even better feature wise. Will let you know how that goes.

Pros: Looks--sexy, distinctive. Practical, 25 mpg, hauls everything. Luxurious. Hauls a**.
Cons: Wish it had AWD. No roof rack option. Dumb. Can't work windows with fob.

This is a fun, practical little car that doesn't feel cheap, slow or too little--like so many of the competitors in this field (Corolla, Civic, Cobalt, Elantra, Sentra). I loaded my 2009 Grand Touring 5-door up with every option except the GPS and it still came in under $20k, which is great for a car with leather, power seat, auto xenon headlights, auto wipers, Bose stereo, moonroof, sports suspension and so much more. I like how the car looks fast and is very responsive to drive. Not as quick as the Speed3 version but I have no complaints. I'm a bit of a lead foot and drive 75% in city stop-and-go and I still get over 25 mpg! The back seat is very comfortable too--much bigger than my Audi A4 wagon. When you need to haul things, the hatch opens wide and the seats fold flat.