Hopefully, you are at a stage in your life where being considered “cool” just isn’t that big of a deal anymore. You know what I mean – we were all teenagers once, teenagers who freaked out if they didn’t have the right Jansport backpack or the coolest flip phone (I’m clearly aging myself here). But now as adults, being cool is doing your own thing, having your own hobbies and interest – being cool has morphed from being like others to being your own authentic self… and if you think about it, that’s actually pretty cool.
You’re probably wondering where I am going with this, but here it is: just as it used to be cool do the same thing as all the other kids and now it’s cool to stand out – the same holds true of cars. Particularly in the compact car class, which is just so dominated by ubiquitous models like the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagon Prius. If you’re looking for a “cool” compact car that stands out from the pack thanks to its incredible performance, awesomely appointed interiors, and reasonable prices, you need to check out the 2018 Mazda3. No – it’s not the most popular car on the market and no, not everyone you know owns one… and that’s part of the appeal of the 2018 Mazda3.
Performance that Didn’t Peak too Soon
First of all, you’re driving a compact car, not a minivan, so you better get some seriously impressive performance out of it. The 2018 Mazda3 does not disappoint on this front: you have your choice of two engine options – a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets up to 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque or a 2.5-liter engine that gets up to 184 horsepower and 185-pound-feet of torque. No matter which you choose, you’re guaranteed a fun drive – in fact, Car and Driver praises the Mazda3 for it’s “sublime driving dynamics” and states that while “neither powertrain will embarrass a competitor in a stoplight drag race, but the 3 is a star when charging curvy back roads. As a daily driver, it’s practical, comfortable, and stylish.” Regarding those drag races… don’t do that – you aren’t in high school anymore… or in a high school musical.
In fact, since we have now aged out of drag races and most likely out of snacks steeped in saturated fat, let’s talk about bathroom breaks – because that’s about the only reason you’re going to need to stop at a gas station. The 2018 Mazda3 gets super impressive gas mileage – we’re talking 28 miles to the gallon in the city and 37 miles to the gallon the highway (sit down Prius owners – no one is talking to you). You’ll be cruising past the pump and straight into the old high school parking lot to pick up your kids from school, all without ever having to worry about calling your parents because you ran out of gas along the way (come on, you know that happened to you as a teen driver too).
Beauty is on the Inside
So going fast for cheap is pretty darn cool, but so is riding in a car that feels like you won the lottery or landed that dream job right out of college. Available as both a hatchback and a sedan, the 2018 Mazda3 is also available in a choice of three trims – because being the same as everybody else is the opposite of cool. You can choose to drive your 2018 Mazda3 in either the Sport, Touring or Grand Touring trim – opt for the Sport and you’ll have a car that comes standard with a seven-inch touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, remote keyless entry, keyless ignition, two USB ports, a rearview camera, the Mazda Connect infotainment system and a six-speaker sound system so that you can blast all your favorite throwback hits. And because you aren’t the reckless kid you once were, you’ll love that the 2018 Mazda3 also comes standard with low speed forward collision warning, emergency telematics and automatic emergency braking. If you have actually managed to become a successful adult who can throw a few extra bones at your 2018 Mazda3, you should consider springing for the Preferred Equipment package, which will add great safety features such as automatic headlights, blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert along with heated mirrors, upgraded upholstery, and alloy wheels.
Even better, scope out the 2018 Mazda3 in Touring trim. Thanks to its heated front seats, faux-leather upholstery, and six-way power driver’s seat, you’ll be cruising in comfort, relaxed in the knowledge you don’t have to study for the SATs or worry about passing that calculus quiz.
Now, if you really want to announce to the world that you have made it as a successful adult, there is no better way do so than to pull up at your high school reunion in the 2018 Mazda3 in Grand Touring trim coupled with the Premium Equipment package. Replete with a sunroof, a nine-speaker premium Bose surround-sound stereo, a heated steering wheel, a navigation system, adaptive cruise control, a traffic sign reader, forward collision warning, a digital speedometer, leather upholstery and LED foglights, headlights and taillights, the 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring is the compact car that will make your high school nemesis jealous that you invented post-its.
Math Matters
But don’t worry! Even if you haven’t won the lottery, joined the Supreme Court or become a famous musician, the 2018 Mazda3 only looks and feels like it costs a fortune. In reality, the starting MSRP for the 2018 Mazda3 Sport is $18,095, while the 2018 Mazda3 Touring starts at $20,090. Even the ultra-luxe and super stylish 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring will only set you back $23,145. Don’t let your old high school insecurities trick you into buying a more expensive car in a foolish attempt to try to keep up with the Joneses. Make the Joneses jealous by whipping around town in your beautiful and surprisingly affordable 2018 Mazda3.
“Life Moves Pretty Fast”… and So Does the Mazda3
If you aren’t convinced by now that the 2018 Mazda3 is the coolest car on the market, well, all we can say is seeing is believing – so pull a Ferris Bueller, ditch your responsibilities for a day, and head to your local dealership to see the coolest compact car for yourself.
