The sedan has a sweet, rounded shape and smooth, cohesive design. The five-door looks more aggressive, and provides a lot of utility with its hatchback design and folding rear seats.

Quick, nimble handling makes these cars fun to drive on twisty country roads. The Mazda 3s features a free-revving 2.3-liter engine that delivers spirited performance. The 2006 Mazda 3i benefits from increased power this year from its 2.0-liter engine. The five-speed manual transmission shifts beautifully and there's an automatic available with a manual-shift feature.

These are comfortable, friendly cars with terrific seats, big electroluminescent gauges (on 3s), a huge glove box and excellent attention to detail. Premium sound systems and luxury options, such as a sunroof and leather interior, are reasonably priced. A Mazda 3i Touring with leather, sunroof, and a CD changer stickers below $20,000.

Side-curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes are standard on some models and available on all, enhancing safety.