Mazda 3 would be my pick.
There are pros and cons to the sp varient.
pro:
climate control(as opposed to a/c)
Full Bose audio
2.3 has slightly more power
different interior finish
cons:
slightly worse fuel economy(than the 2l)
suspension and brakes are the same as the lower models, so no handling improvements for the extra coin
your budget is going to buy lower standard compared to the maxx sport variant
Bluetooth wasn't a factory option(I believe you can get from genuine parts though)
my wife has an 07 maxx, gets great economy, rides well, very reliable, good sound system.
I went through my apprenticeship at Mazda, one of the much better constructed cars(model dependent).