| Pros: Sporty yet classy styling that will age | | | | Something that has plagued the Mazda 3's design |
| gracefully, minimal overhang in front and back, | | | | since 2004 is Mazda's choice to use a long |
| impressive stance (especially with headlights on), | | | | antenna at the rear center of the car to give it a |
| 17 inch alloy wheels on GT models. | | | | more European look. While we agree that the |
| Cons: Stock antenna is huge, 17 inch wheel styling | | | | antenna's placement does look sporty and very |
| is mediocre. | | | | Euro, it's also way too big. In fact, the stock |
| When ordering our long term 2008.5 Mazda 3 s | | | | antenna measures more than a few inches tall |
| GT model we were sure to spec it out with | | | | and sticks out of the Mazda 3 like Elroy Jetson's |
| almost every option available with the sole | | | | hat. |
| exception being factory navigation (We went with | | | | Our first mod for our Mazda 3 was to swap out |
| a Garmin Nuvi 760 instead). | | | | the antenna with a shark fin. |
| On top end 2008.5 Mazda 3 s GT models the car | | | | Other notable exterior features include turn in |
| is outfitted with more aggressive styling cues like | | | | (folding) power mirrors, auto on/off headlights |
| a body colored split grille, sportier bumper design, | | | | that come on automatically at dusk, fog lights, rain |
| clear LED taillights and all-season tires wrapped | | | | sensing wipers and adjustable HID headlights that |
| around 17-inch alloy wheels. With a combination of | | | | can be adjusted to one of four levels (Level zero |
| sharp edges and flowing body lines typically found | | | | is when the lights are pointed at their highest and |
| on entry level luxury cars, the Mazda3 is a real | | | | level three aims the lights lower towards the |
| head turner and is often mistaken as a car that | | | | ground which is ideal for fog). |
| cost $30,000 or more. | | | | Overall the 2008.5 Mazda 3 is very well built with |
| On the topic of appearance, the design of the | | | | striking exterior design features and significant |
| 17-inch alloy wheels left us a little confused. Mazda | | | | luxury oriented options that not only make driving |
| freshened the wheels with a new design but the | | | | safer but vastly more convenient. Whether lighting |
| newer, snowflake style of the 17-inch wheels | | | | your path amidst thick fog or automatically |
| looks out of place on a car with such clear | | | | sensing and keeping rain off the windshield at |
| sporting intentions. In spite of the snowflakes, the | | | | varying speeds, the Mazda 3 makes driving more |
| 2008.5 Mazda 3 has a very dominant stance and | | | | user friendly and fun. |
| shows very strongly in photos. | | | | |