I think the first gen (batch) of Mazda 3's used the same tranny from the Protege... Read...
http://www.protegefaq.net/transmission.html
It's the "FN4A-EL" used on the FS-DE, ZL-DE, ZL-VE, ZM-DE...... (4AT, FWD)
Hearing those higher revs...........
G15M-R 3rd generation 2.0 liter Proteg
G35M-R Mazda3
G66M-R 2007+ European/Australian Mazda3 and 2010+ Mazda3
A26M-R MazdaSpeed3/Mazda3 MPS/Mazda3 2.0 diesel
G5M-R 1990-1991 1st generation 1.8 liter DOHC 2WD Proteg
G25M-R 1992-1994 1st generation and 1995 2nd generation 1.8 liter
DOHC 2WD Proteg
G5MX-R 1990-1991 1st generation 4WD Proteg and 323/Familia GT-X
G25MX-R 1992-1993 323/Familia GT-R/GT-Ae and 4WD BJ Familia's
F5M-R 1990-1991 1st generation 1.6 liter DOHC and 1.8 liter SOHC
2WD Proteg
F25M-R 1992-1994 1st generation 1.6 liter DOHC and 1.8 liter SOHC,
2nd generation 1.5 liter, 1996-1998 2nd generation 1.8 liter, and 3rd
generation Proteg
FS5A-EL automatic used in 2006+ 2.3l Mazda3's and 2010+ Mazda3's
FN4A-EL automatic used in all 3rd generation Proteg's and Mazda3's
FA4A-EL automatic used in MY95 2nd generation Proteg's
FB4A-EL automatic used in MY96+ 2nd generation Proteg's
F4A-EL automatic used in all 2WD 1st generation Proteg's
G4AX-EL automatic used in 4WD 1st generation Proteg's
GF4AX-EL automatic used in 4WD BG/BHA/BJ Familia's
These transmissions are also used in various other Mazda vehicles, but their
bell housings are different. Also, there are different variations of gear
ratios even though they are the "same" transmission.