On sale now, the all-new 2014 Mazda3 represents the third generation of Mazda’s best-selling vehicle worldwide. Available in four-door and five-door forms, Mazda3 is offered in four trim levels – SV (sedan only), Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. According to Mazda, pricing starts at less than $17,000 MSRP for sedans and less than $19,000 MSRP for five-door configurations.

“No doubt one of the most important launches for Mazda in recent memory, if not the most important, the all-new 2014 Mazda3 is as eye opening as it is door opening,” says Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “Mazda3 introduced SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY to North America with great success. Mazda3 again is the leader in new product technology with i-ACTIVSENSE and MAZDA CONNECT, two all-new technology suites to further push the envelope of expectations in vehicle safety and comfort.”

According to Mazda, new features include Active Driving Display (a clear pop-up panel that is vertically mounted behind the meter hood to provide vehicle speed, navigation directions and other pertinent driving information safely and directly within the driver’s line of sight); MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system (text-to-voice technology, Pandora Internet radio, Sirius Satellite Radio); and i-ACTIVSENSE safety systems (High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Obstruction Warning).

To signify engine size, the four trims – SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring – are preceded by an “i" or “s,” says Mazda. The SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine produces 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 150 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. For “s” designated models, the larger SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine will be standard and produces 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm.