Mazda's entry into the late 80's/early 90's affordable sporty coupe segment, the MX-3, had two distinct personalities. On the one hand, it could be had with a basic 4-cylinder for affordable sporty driving. However, from 1992-1994 it could also be had in GS trim, equipped with the industry's smallest mass-production V6, a 1.8 liter unit with 130 hp. This is the one we have and for the most part, it's pretty nifty (and the one to get). Externally, I like only the GS. Its front and rear air dams, rear spoiler and 15-inch wheels give the car a spunky aggressiveness that base models completely lack (and look oddly froglike as a result). However, if you do want performance from this car, go with the 5 speed. We have the automatic and while it certainly performs adequately, it definitely dulls the car's acceleration somewhat. My wife thinks it's perfectly fine (and she's its principal driver), so it just depends on what you want out of it. In GS trim at least, the car has good brake feel (all discs) and very crisp, precise handling - it's pretty fun in the corners and stays well-planted. It also has a rather substantial feel for a small coupe and provides a good tradeoff between a relatively soft ride and firm handling. Inside, the MX-3 is remarkably practical, although the windowsills are high and blind areas wide, producing a slight sitting-in-a-bathtub feel to it. It has a rear seat that can be used by real people (for shorter trips at least) and an exceptionally roomy cargo hold, helped in part by the rear hatch and when needed, a fold-down rear seat. It even has a small glass section below the spoiler to aid in parking maneuvers. The controls and layout of the interior are generally good. Older models unfortunately have those awful automatic seatbelts while '94+ models get bags and a slightly revised interior (but by 1995, its last year, there was no GS). I must say that we had our share of small problems (such as odd noises, trim bits not holding up and annoying paint fade) and one or two more major ones (like an intermittently-working horn). Overall though, it has been generally reliable, but I would have wished for fewer annoyances. As an inexpensive, practical and fun sporty hatch, it's pretty cool and should hold up well enough, especially mechanically.

Recommended: Yes

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