2010 Mazda MAZDA3

Price Range: $15,345 - $22,945

The Mazda3's interior is reason alone to put this car on your list; its appointments are like no other car in its class, featuring Mazda's flair for details and materials that are fashionably different. That being said, the Mazda3 can be equipped either as a basic, economical sedan (3i) or a sporty-feeling sedan or hatch (3s); base Mazda3i models are a great value considering their low base price, while top-of-the-line 3s Grand Touring models feel like rivals to the entry models from luxury brands and offer some exclusive tech features. Mazda says that the 3 is the first car in its compact class to offer Adaptive Front Lighting and self-leveling bi-xenon headlamps.