This front-drive hatchback delivers steering feel and chassis balance that embarrass cars costing twice as much, paired with a manual gearbox so satisfying you'll downshift just to feel it snick into third. The FL5 generation nails the daily-driver brief too, haul groceries, commute in traffic, then carve canyon roads on the way home without breaking a sweat. The tradeoffs are real: firm ride, road noise, a Civic-grade cabin at $50k, and a fuel tank that'll have you stopping for gas more than you'd like. But owners who sold BMWs and Porsches to buy this thing aren't looking back, because the driving engagement is that good. Buy it if you prioritize how a car feels over how it looks on paper; skip it if you need luxury refinement or can't justify the price without the prestige badge.
You'll grin at 35 mph on a twisty backroad in this thing, which tells you everything about what it is and isn't. The current ND generation nails the formula: more power than the original NA, better build quality than the unloved NC, and still light enough that momentum beats horsepower every time. The ND2 (2019+) brought a higher redline and sharper throttle response, though owners still wish Mazda would just turbocharge it already. But here's the deal, it's loud on the highway, the trunk fits two soft bags if you're optimistic, and rough pavement will rattle your fillings loose. Buy it as a second car or weekend toy and you'll love every mile. Try to make it your only vehicle and you'll spend six months explaining why you can't help anyone move.