2016 Mazda 3: The Ideal Adventure Buddy

Life is all about new adventures. So when I had the chance to take the 2016 Mazda 3 out for a spin, I said why not go the extra mile and head somewhere fun and exciting. Somewhere out in the open air where I can let the roof back and let my hair fly in the wind (kinda like this one time but without the squirrels). 😛 And just where is this place of excitement? The Grand Canyon of course! Well, not quite THE Grand Canyon, but just as amazing no less. I’m talking about the “Little Grand Canyon” of course. So, me and my two daughters hopped in the 2016 Mazda 3 and headed for the hills. Literally! And with a fantastic fuel efficiency of about 40 mpg and a starting cost of $17,845, the 2016 Mazda 3 would not only get us to our destination in style but we’d have more than a few coins left for a gift shop run. But before we headed out on our “girls get-away” adventure, I couldn’t resist snapping a few pics with this compact cutie. 😀

For those who don’t know, the “Little Grand Canyon” is the gorgeous gully at the Providence Canyon State Park in Lumpkin, Ga. A definite must-see if you live in Georgia or you are visiting, this place is truly stunning! The soil is pink, orange, red, and purple — a fantastic photo opportunity for those who love capturing the beauty of natural landscapes. And speaking of beauty…

The 2016 Mazda 3 is a sleek yet sassy sedan that makes driving way more fun than it should be. A smooth cruise to the canyon was the ideal way to arrive… Our adventure buddy was the Grand Touring model that comes fully equipped with enough luxuries to spoil any driver like Leather-Trimmed Sport Seats, One-Touch Open Moonroof, Active Driving Display, SMS Text & Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone and Audio. As chic and convenient as the interior is, the Mazda 3 is a head-turner on the outside also courtesy of BI-XENON Headlights, 18-inch Alloy Wheels, and a bold gloss black grille that let’s everyone know that this baby is all about fun!

We couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend our trip to and from the canyon. There really is something to be said about the vehicle you travel in. Our experience was that much better riding in the 2016 Mazda 3 — the wind blowing in our hair on a lovely Georgia day. The easy-to-use Mazda Navigation System and SiriusXM Satellite Radio proved to be extra useful at keeping the girls happy and also keeping us on the right path to our adventure. No questionable detours here! Another great feature was the cruise control with close proximity warnings, which alerts you when obstacles or other drivers are a little too close for comfort…think jealous onlookers here. 😉 Voted 2015 IIHS Top Safety Pick, the 2016 Mazda 3 helped us stay safe along the way courtesy of Blind Spot Monitoring, Rearview Camera, and 24-Hour Roadside Assistance. And just in case we wanted to take our adventure off the beaten path, Mazda’s Dynamic Stability & Traction Control Systems were at the ready. :-D.

They say that it’s about the journey, not the destination. And although our destination was a high point, the journey was definitely something to write home about, too! A fabulous car that’s down for some adventure? Now that’s a sight to see!

Hey, if you’re looking for an adventurous ride that will look fab wherever the road takes you, the 2016 Mazda 3 is the perfect car adventure buddy!

Disclaimer: Mazda USA and Drive Shop USA provided me with a vehicle to test drive, however all opinions are my own.