 I have a 35 mile commute one way. For years I drove a Chevy Tahoe, and I finally got fed up with the gas mileage and parked it. I was looking for a bottom line entry level car to use as a basic high MPG commuter, without any significant bells and whistles. I drove a Honda Fit and Civic, Kia Rio, and Hundai Elantra. Settled on the Mazda 3 i-Touring hatchback w/nav.  I won't repeat the same comments as others, but I completely agree with the positive reviews of this car. I have been amazingly surprised and happy with the choice. I'm a big guy, so leg room is very important. The Mazda 3 has plenty of legroom with the seat back, however, a negative is the entry. The rear pillar of the front door is ahead of the seat back, so I constantly rub against the weatherstripping getting in/out....wearing it out. Once inside, leg room and head room are great, but, I can't reach out the window to an ATM, without hitting my head on the top of the window. Otherwise, I'm really happy with this car, as it surprises me everyday with sportiness and comfort. Cloth seats are very tough and heavy duty, far more than any others I looked at, so no worries there. Basic bells and whistles are great for this price range. The center console control knob is just like a much more expensive German sedan, so you always feel like your driving something special. It truly has a German feel to the interior.....not Japanese at all. Interior finish (vinyl) is very heavy, and has a near-leather feel. The only complaint I have on the electronics is that the touch screen shows fingerprints too easily, very distracting in the sun, so I avoid touching it and just use the knob. The room in the hatchback is great....nearly as much as my Tahoe, plenty of room for groceries. With the seats down, it has an amazing amount of room inside. You would be surprised at what I have carried. Anti-collision warnings, blind spot warning lights, etc. are great but take some getting used to. They have saved me many times from changing lanes, or backing out of a parking space with a car coming at me. Overall, I couldn't have made a better choice.Update: A year later and still no problems. A completely trouble free automobile. Comfortable on long trips. Actually, the only thing that has caused a problem is the computer access hatch in the panel near your left foot. Occasionally, I'll kick it getting in/or and it pops open.....huge problem <snicker>.  I change the synth oil every 5K just as an easy reminder.