Turning Heads with the New Mazda3 Turbo AWD

“I was getting compliments everywhere I went. Is this your car? Is this a Mazda? It was a great experience all round.”

This was the verdict of 30-year-old Tommie Cross who drove a brand new Mazda3 Turbo AWD as part of a nationwide drive program marking the model’s launch.

Tommie, who is based in Los Angeles, was spending time at his parent’s home in Houston, Texas, when the special delivery arrived. “I’d been waiting for the release of the Turbo and here it was, right in the driveway!”

“People were a little surprised it was a Mazda — they have a look and see all the bells and whistles and they were just blown away. It’s so sleek and the tech features, like the 360-degree camera views, are great. And then when you get on the highway, you just barely press the gas and you’re already going 60 plus — I love that.”

Tommie was one of a number of current Mazda owners and enthusiasts who were chosen to take part in the program. As a long-term Mazda fan, he is the proud owner of a 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring sedan, but this five-day test drive gave him a whole new experience.

“I’d recommend the Mazda3 Turbo’s driving experience to anyone. It’s what I’d call a ‘daily driver’ but it’s so fun to drive, from the highway driving to the country roads near my dad’s house in Texas,” says Tommie. “With the country roads, I didn’t really test the limits but as far as driving and cornering goes, it was pristine.”

And as a content creator, Tommie appreciated the inspiration the driving experience gave him. “I’m always looking for new ideas but there are days when I hit a roadblock with my creativity and I just go for a drive. It really does make a difference.”

You can follow more of Tommie’s Mazda story on Instagram, @zoomzoom3gt. To share your own Mazda story, visit Discover Mazda or use #DiscoverMazda.