2010 Mazdaspeed 3: Get Rid of This Red Dot Trim

Ugly. This would put me off more than the stupid smile upfront. This DEFINITELY looks tacky, cheap & frankly silly.

No wonder Mazda's sales are Zoom-Zooming since this debuted.

The interior looks cheap and tacky -- just like the rest of the car.

The optional Alcantara in the old Mazdaspeed3 was much nicer, but then the fabrics in the old 3i and 3s were also nicer than the 2010 car. Mazda claims that they're more expensive, but that doesn't equate to higher quality. Even the 2010 leather is a step down, since the seating surfaces are no longer perforated. Mazda made many significant mechanical improvements to the 2010 Mazda3, but aesthetically and ergonomically the car is a disaster inside and out.

I thought the dot matrix on the dash was lame, this is a joke! It's still a cool little car though just have to have the seats re done.

It looks like something you would have seen in a 1993 Ford Probe or some other early 90's youth aimed auto. Horrible. I think that the rest of the interior looks good though for the price point.

I recently bought a '10 MS3. I was initially turned off by the "dot matrix" interior, but when you sit down in the driver's seat you really don't notice it. Also, the weird pattern tends to look better in person than in photographs. Still, if there was an option to remove it, I would.

The first time anyone rides in my car, it usually is the first thing they comment on. Most seem to think it's weird looking, but some people actually like it.

Other than that, I think the interior is otherwise very well done and nicely laid out.

The seats were always a bright spot for me on the old car, but these just aren't doing it for me. That dot trim is pretty terrible...What was wrong with piano black? I get trying to do something a bit different, but there are good ways to be different (GTI seats) and there are bad ways to be different (this).

They are blindingly ugly. They need to add the option of alcantara like on the old model. For the record, I hate the plaid in the GTI too.

I don't mind it, though I think I'd be annoyed if I got an exterior color that didn't match it or complement it (and my favorite color on the new MS3 is the bright blue...which IMO doesn't match or complement these seats!). I was surprised at the lack of an upgrade option though, to deal with the sort of people who wouldn't like it.

The Nissan Cube called...it wants it's seats back!

Yeah, I would hate if my blue MS3 had a red accented interior!!??? WTF?

I would like it if I could keep it for a day or two, and then get rid of it.

The old seats looked much better. In fact, i think the older MS3 as a whole looked better.

The old seats do look much better than these ones, which look tacky. I like the black leather, alcantara inserts, and a red mazdaspeed logo of thethe last one. The interior looks a lot better at night when you can't see the red dot trim. I think Mazda is assuming that the target market for the MS3 likes stuff like this. I'm 23 and I hate it.

"Mazda made many significant mechanical improvements to the 2010 Mazda3, but aesthetically and ergonomically the car is a disaster inside and out"

Clearly you have never sat in a 2010 Mazda3. The dashboard is a model of ergonomic excellence. Please tell me how this http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2009/11/2010-mazdaspeed-3-nighttime-mood.html doesn't look ergonomic or aesthetic. And I'm not quite sure yet how a car can fail to be ergonomic on the outside....do ergonomics apply to the outside of a car?

Problem is Japan has been hit with the rice trend... and its obvious that Mazda is trying to appeal to young buyers. Sad...

Trim, lighting, and steering wheel buttons were the biggest turn-offs for me as well when I drove one of those.

The seats are the only sore spot for me. The 2010 Mz3GT leather interior is much more upscale looking. Those leather seats with red stitching would be nice as well as the aluminum dash trim. The red dot pattern has to go. I love the seats in my 08. Firm, high quality and good-looking. I wonder if they would match up with the 2010 mounting points?

I for one didn't like the piano black 08.5 update or the Alacantra. I like the gray weave pattern much better per James Riswick's picture.

Is it a trick of the photography that it looks all wavy? I have a 2004 with the red dot seats and when i just look at it it doesn't look wavy. Most people comment on how nice the interior is in my car, especially the red scheme. Then again, the exterior is silver, and the red gauges go well with the red seats.

that said, as i was shopping for my car, i was close to buying a 2003 protege5. it was red on the outside, with nice perforated black leather seats on the inside. the 3 had a better engine though, and when ti comes down to it, you can't see the seats when you're flooring the gas pedal.

Awe, com'on man! That stuff is the shiznit!!! All you need now is a mini lava lamp and you are all set.

P.s. I actually like it in the seat trim, but it is overdone to carry it onto the door panels and such.

huyracing: The rice trend in Japan has been going strong for about 2,000 years now, and shows no signs of ending soon.

"It looks like something you would have seen in a 1993 Ford Probe or some other early 90's youth aimed auto." -- audisport

The Probes did not have seats like these. Maybe other sport coupes of the day, but I don't recall that. I had two PGTs -- a 94 manual that I loved (and with leather seats) and a 96 automatic (which my wife loved, with cloth).

I don't care for the seats either. previous generation MS3 (especially 2008.5 MY) had much better looking seats and looked more supportive.

My goodness, what the hell is that for? How come this car offers such an ugly interior trim and color? FUGLY.....so much I wouldnt, couldnt buy this car with this.
What a turnoff!!!!!!!!!!!!