2012 Mazda Mazda3 I Touring

The 2012 Mazda3 is Mazda's compact car, offered as a sedan or hatchback, and it's the one that makes the class feel a bit more fun than the rest. It's genuinely enjoyable to drive, with quick steering and a willing chassis that makes it feel zippy around town and on the highway. The cabin is well laid out and comfortable up front, though rear legroom is tight and the hatchback's cargo area is modest. Some owners mention the windshield cracking easily from small impacts and a tire pressure light that can act up, but these aren't widespread. The I Touring gives up the S trim's 2.5L engine and a few extras, but it keeps the same nimble chassis and adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel and upgraded audio over the base I Sport. Its 2.0L I4 makes 148 horsepower and pairs with a five-speed automatic, which is smooth enough for daily driving and returns 27 mpg combined. The I Touring is the only trim where you can get the moonroof and fog lights as a package without stepping up to the Grand Touring.