If you are only considering an automatic transmission - then stay away from a Toyota. Their matic trannys for their entry-level vehicles is just so old school compared to the manumatic & cvt offerings of their competitors. A traditional matic is not bad generally but Toyota's does sap out a lot of the punch of the VVTi engine. :evillaugh

Though it isn't a bed of roses either for the Mazda3 - but at least here you'll get topnotch steering, roomier backseats and a better interior (Toyota entry-level plastic is just teh suck). All-in-all, the Mazda3 offers a better ownership experience if you can get past the not-so-zoom-zoom acceleration & mediocre fuel consumption.