The 2011 Mazda3 is the closest thing to a sports car I could probably afford. It has a solid 168hp 2.5 L engine that you can feel as soon as you step heavily into the pedal. The exterior is nice, and it's as nice a hatchback as I've ever been in. Solid storage space in the back with a drop down hider for the back window so people can't peer in. Interior is all black cloth bucket seats in the front, and small seats with no one in the back. I wouldn't take this thing on a cross-country trip with friends, except if they were laying down. If you push the back seats down, the back automatically becomes roomy and provides even more storage than it is when the seats are up. The main downside is definitely the road noise, but that's to be expected with a sport model car that's low to the ground. All in all, the positives highly outweigh the negatives for a car that was this cheap.

I really like the mileage as it gets, 41 miles per gallon, and it does it so effortlessly. It is a comfortable ride and really doesn't reveal many bumps or shakes on the road. The interior is stylish. The black color is good to hide stains or spills. The radio is very good and has good bass in the speakers. I like how it will play any form of media and has all attachments for modern media devices. The design of the exterior and the rims are modern and sleek. It has a decent acceleration. The trunk is large and the seat folds-down to allow longer items to be carried.