The black and white interior of the Mazda 3 is a classy combination. 
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FAST FACTS
› Model: 2017 Mazda3 Grand Touring› Exterior color: Eternal Blue Mica› Interior color: Parchment› Engine: 2.5-liter, four cylinder› Horsepower: 184 horsepower› Transmission: six-speed, manual› Fuel economy: 33 mpg highway, 25 mpg city› Local Dealer: Tim Short Mazda, 6015 International Drive› Price (as tested): $27,730
Some cars are made to be equipped with a manual transmission, and the Mazda3 Grand Touring five-door hatchback is one of them. The little compact is a joy to drive. Ticking through the gears while operating the clutch with your left foot is a sublime experience.
Unfortunately, some younger drivers in the Mazda3's target audience may not know a stick sift from a joy stick. It's not their fault, really; it's just that pure manual transmissions have fallen out of fashion. Consequently, many young adults don't grow up learning how to drive a stick. (I did hear of one Chattanooga family who purposely bought their child a car with manual transmission believing it would make texting and driving almost impossible. Good thinking. You just hope the kid doesn't take it as a challenge.)
Whether equipped with a manual or an automatic transmission, the Mazda3s are exceptional cars that offer performance, durability and more than a little charm. Sharing some DNA with the Mazda Miata MX-5 is not a bad thing either. Little Mazdas tend to be a bit pricier than some of their competitors, but it's money well spent. You get better build quality, thoughtful design and great durability.
Our well-equipped Mazda3 five-door is a handy little hatch that bases for $23,895. Our Grand Touring tester, with about $3,000 in upgrades, lists for $27,750 including a $835 delivery fee. You can expect fuel economy of about 33 miles per gallon highway and 25 miles per gallon city. The Mazda3 starts at $18,445 (four-door) and $18,545 (five-door).
Mazda sales in Chattanooga are in transition. The franchise has relocated from downtown to the new Tim Short Mazda store at 6015 International Drive off Shallowford Road.
DESIGN AND FEATURES
The 2017 model year has brought some mid-cycle design tweaks to the Mazda3, including a more defined front fascia and a reworked rear bumper. To our eyes, the five-door model is the most striking in the Mazda3 line. Most of the weight of the profile sits over the back wheels, which gives the hatch a laid-back vibe. Most of the mass has been pushed to the rear third of the car, like toothpaste in a tube. New, 18-inch alloy wheels shod with low-profile all-season tires dress up the look.
Inside, the Mazda3 is the embodiment of high style. The seat surfaces and door inserts are covered in parchment leather, while the dash and door panels are black. Like all modern Mazdas, the 3 features a 7-inch touch screen in the center of the dash. A three-spoke steering wheel is optimized for aggressive driving.
The "Grand Touring" trim is the top of the line and includes such standard equipment as a 2.5-liter, 184-horsepower engine; heated side mirrors; rain-sensing wipers; push-button start; blind-spot monitoring; rear-cross traffic alert; Bose nine-speaker audio system; SiriusXM radio; and a gloss-black trim.
Our tester adds a Premium Equipment Package ($1600) that includes an array of LED lights, a navigation system and heated steering wheel. Another $1,100 package groups several safety-tech features: lane departure warning, lane keep assist, smart brake support, and radar cruise control.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The best reason, in our view, to step up to the Mazda3 is pure driving enjoyment. If you simply need an appliance car to get you economically from Point A to Point B, there are plenty in the segment that will fit the bill. But if you enjoy balanced steering, maneuverability and enough power to quicken the pulse, the Mazda3 is a good choice.
From the moment we settled into the firm leather seats and pointed the Mazda3 down Market Street in downtown Chattanooga, we were impressed with its nearly effortless acceleration. The pinpoint steering is also a gift in heavy traffic as the little Mazda has both the will and the means to help you scoot to your destination.
Ergonomics are top-notch, although we wished for a little more lower-back support.
The Mazda3's light-weight, 2.5-liter Sky-active engine may be the best in the segment. This thing sings like a sewing machine. Off-the-mark power is available in abundance.
BOTTOM LINE
The Mazda3 has long been the benchmark in the compact market, and the car company continues to make the incremental improvements needed to keep it on top. Anyone who shops this segment without test driving the Mazda3 is doing himself or herself a disservice.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.