Or Hyundai Elantra ..... I feel the Camry would be a better buy than anything mentioned on this thread ... Non Hybrid Camry may be cheaper .. I have a feeling that Toyota would promote Prius as the Hybrid vehicle .

Congrats Febpreet ....

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Fido.

I think Matrix is hatchback. I am looking more for Sedan. Fido, Honda is just 2K more than Elantra and well proven in market to run for 3,00,000 kms. So keeping in mind reliability, resale and life , am bit skeptic on Elantra, though I know Elantra and Sonata are doing very well. I agree Toyota Camry has everything in it.
COngrats Febpreet for your car

Memory is too short for many of us.

Toyota had one of the biggest recalls in history very recent past.

Toyota CEO came to US and personally apologized to the people.

http://www.reuters.com/video/2010/02/05/toyotas-president-apologizes?videoId=38538860

Incidentally philipinos do not buy Toyota as it is their official taxi.

None of the Fast& Furious franchise movies have them on . It is all Honda Civic Si all the way. Just observe the hip youngsters in your area they will all drive a modified Honda Civic.

Desi's are the major group who drive Toyota.

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Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.

You forgot to mention one thing VM ... Toyota became the no. 1 car selling company in the world in 2007 and that Toyota Corolla has been the most sold car . The world around , it sells like a hot cake - Don't trust me -- check out the local market for good Corollas and let us know how long do you see them on the market .

Its not only desis who drive Toyota .. look around ... And because desis drive it , it means it is a smart choice .....

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Fido.

For some car is just a car for going point 1 to point 2. If you care more about resale, maintenance, mileage then corolla or civic are best option. If you like driving, good brake, more advance feature in higher model and handling then mazda3 is best. Mazda 3 is a BMW 3 series in own class. Some likes Jetta too.

My choice mazda3 or Subaru Impreza (AWD, safety).

Virk Paaji,

Your dilemma is answered.

You can count Mazda out.

http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/05/07/road-test-2012-mazda3-sport-gs-sky/


Road Test: 2012 Mazda3 Sport GS-Sky
Brian Harper  May 7, 2012 – 8:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 4, 2012 3:58 PM ET


Brian Harper for National Post
The Mazda3's tech doesn't live up to the hype.
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Frankly, I expected something more dramatic. Mazda has put its reputation — if not its existence — on the line promoting its fuel-saving and performance-enhancing SkyActiv technologies, but I wasn’t feeling it. For all intents and purposes, the Mazda3 Sport GS-Sky looked, felt and drove like every other 3 I’ve tested — the hairy-chested Mazdaspeed3 über-hatch notwithstanding.

Not that this was a particularly bad thing. Since Mazda replaced its well-known and well-regarded compact Protegé with the 3 for the 2004 model year, the latter became the very face of the Japanese automaker in North America, accounting for nearly half of its sales in Canada and the United States. For a few years, it was the second-best-selling car (behind the Honda Civic) in our country. It has been lauded for its good looks and sporty driving characteristics, copping many awards in numerous countries, including Canada. And, despite its  star fading slightly in the face of unrelenting competition, the second-generation version is still worthy of consideration for anyone shopping for  economical transportation.

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Still, no longer under the ownership of Ford, the newly liberated and much smaller Mazda finds itself lacking a presence in certain market segments, notably environmentally “responsible” hybrids and electric vehicles.

The company’s near-term solution is SkyActiv, involving a complete reworking of the internal-combustion engine and transmission among other things to deliver, in Mazda’s words, “the next generation of advanced vehicle performance and efficiency.” And all this high-tech trickery is being rolled out in the Mazda3, “one of the most exciting sport compact cars on the road,” according to Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations.

Bold words. So you’ll forgive me if I was expecting a little more fanfare, a bit more flair. After realizing my life was not about to be transformed, I took stock of what the hatchback GS-Sky was promising, starting with the direct-injection SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a SkyActiv-MT six-speed manual transmission. Unlike the 148-horsepower/135- pound-feet-of-torque MZR 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder found in the base GX model, the SkyActiv has a significantly higher compression ratio of 12:1 and delivers 155 hp at 6,000 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm.



I’m used to the added oomph provided by the larger 167-hp 2.5L four-banger, so the additional power gains of the SkyActiv 2.0L over the base engine went unnoticed. That said, it seems well suited to the 3, capable of hustling the Sport along at a good clip, eager to rev and reasonably quiet. The six-speed was equally up to the task, with a sporty, fluid shift feel and short throws. Those are additional benefits, though, with a direct correlation to Mazda’s mission of providing a sporty driving experience. The primary goal of this SkyActiv engine is to provide superior fuel economy. When equipped with the six-speed manual, the Sport hatchback is rated at 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 5.1 L/100 km on the highway (city fuel economy with the available six-speed automatic is better), giving the five-door a maximum driving range of 980 kilometres from the 55-litre gas tank. Yet, in a mix of suburban driving and highway use, I averaged a not particularly thrifty 9.1 L/100 km. I’ve gotten the same or better fuel economy from other compact cars — without all the supposed high-tech engine trickery. What a letdown!

More than its Japanese rivals, Mazda has developed a reputation for instilling fun and deft handling in its small cars beyond their price points. The 3 Sport is no exception, demonstrating a pronounced level of what I like to call “flingability.” The 2012 model sees the adoption of an electro-hydraulic power steering system and revised tuning of the front and rear shocks. The body has also been reinforced for greater rigidity. All enhance the flingability experience without negatively affecting the comfort level.

As part of its mid-cycle refreshening, the 3 sees subtle changes to its exterior, notably a new front fascia, new wheels and an updated five-point grille opening. Small improvements were made to the front bumper and underbody parts to more effectively streamline the flow of air travelling beneath the floor. Other aerodynamic aids include increasing the size of the floor under-covers and increasing the rigidity of the front tire deflectors to prevent deformation. The result is that the GS-Sky has a slippery 0.29 co-efficient of drag, which Mazda says is a 6% improvement over the 2011 model.

The 3’s cabin is also the recipient of an update. Black is used throughout the centre stack and shift gate, ostensibly to provide a bolder look. Satin polished trim was added to high-use areas, such as the outer rings of the climate control dial switches and the audio panel, as well as the ventilation louvres on the centre panel. Whether intentional or not, accentuating the location of these common controls and switches makes them easier to locate, reducing the amount of time one’s eyes are off the road. There’s still too much hard plastic throughout the dash area, though, and Mazda will have to step up its game in this area in the face of competition.

OK, so the Mazda 3’s SkyActiv technologies don’t come with a hallelujah chorus and its real-world fuel efficiency didn’t live up to the hype. That leaves the user friendliness of the hatchback layout, a sporty driving disposition and a price tag (slightly more than $20,000) that is not too hard on the wallet. In this regard, the Sport GS-Sky is still a pretty good car. Still, I would be lying if I didn’t say I am disappointed. Simply, I expected better.

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Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.

Thanks vandematram and Rahul. I think I will get back to Honda Civic or Corrolla. Not sure though how good Honda Civic 2012 model is doing. The dealer is offering 1,000 discount, tainted windows, all season mat and 200 Gas card for the sale. Have to look at Toyota Prius as well this weekend.