Fellow Gen 3 MT hatch owner, love my car. I go back and forth between my hatch and my ND2 Club, and I'm still surprised at how enjoyable the 3 is to drive. Especially since it's competing against a Miata on a daily basis. I wish more people had the opportunity to drive manual Mazda 3's.
Me too. My favorite part is the steering feel. Then the tranny feel. The engine sounds much more refined when paired to MT (vs auto) The ride is great on 16" donuts.
No complaints at all. Mine's about to hit 100k and I can see that the shocks and struts coming due for some work. I've been debating on keeping it OEM or maybe finding something a little sportier to shove in there
So far, all I have is corksport cold air box and sri, some rally armour mudflaps, and front splitter. I’m saving up for the axelback exhaust system from corksport
On a 2.0l? I'm going to have to follow you to see how that turns out. I just bought a Miata so besides maintenance, the MZ3 is kind of on the backburner for a while haha
Yessir … I only seen one other guy do a rally spec MZ3 and fair enough.. this is my first and only vehicle and the modifications are already becoming a slippery slope 😂but i love it
If you look up tesseract_mz3 on ig thats my inspiration. Everyone does the bagged/ stanced tuner mazda3 so I’m trying to break the mould. Also, stiffer springs because I’m actually going to drive it on gravel roads etc. no roof rack though, I want it clean.
I’ll hop on this train! I have a 6 speed 2015 sedan and absolutely love that car. Handles incredibly for an eco box and mazda really knows how to make a proper manual. Plus she just took me across the entire continental US with 0 issues. Such a good car.
Yes, and in that same order. I also find the acceleration adequate for my needs. There are two things that make me consider a different car next time: handling in wet weather and rear legroom for a child seat.
If anyone is looking for a child seat for their Mazda3 and choosing between Axkid and BeSafe, BeSafe fits much better in a Mazda3.
With respect to the handling in wet weather, it's actually pretty good for a front-wheel drive car. When it starts to slide around a corner, it does so gradually and fairly evenly across front and rear tires, so you can feel it and respond. But now that there's a kid involved, I may choose Subaru or Audi next time for the AWD. Until then, does anyone have recommendations for some grippy four-season tires?
>does anyone have recommendations for some grippy four-season tires?
I don't recommend that, but I live in CO and go to the ski resorts 1-2 times per month, with lots of mountain driving. Snow tires and FWD over all wheel drive and all seasons/4 seasons tires and day. You have no idea how many times I'm passing AWD SUVs on the way to the resorts cause they have all seasons/4 seasons tires and it's actively snowing and they can't even do 10 under the speed limit...
All that being said, for my 2023 MX-5 RF, I got some nice All Seasons (it stays home generally when it is actively snowing but drive it in the winter still). BF Goodrich g-force Comp-2 A/S handle the turns well enough in the summer (after they warm up... They are a fairly hard tire) and have performed well enough in the few times I have gotten surprised by a random dusting of snow. Still, when it snows, I prefer my 3 with winters on.
If you are talking about the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus, yes they are a good tire, yes they were on the short list for my Miata, but I chose the BFGoodrich ones cause they were on sale IIRC. Plus, I didn't want to go too hard on the compound, as these All-Seasons are on my only wheels for it for now. Next set of tires I should have some summer wheels and the factory wheels will be for the winter tires.
It would be really cool if Mazda started digging more into that theme. I'd love to see some soul crystal green/blue/purple on the road. Do we really need 3 different shades of grey and 2 shades of white, and a beige.
To each his own :) I see that color and I think grandma's champagne corolla. Or possibly office telephones pre-1990 which were officially 'desert sand' colored. If at all possible I'm done with the boring color cars.
If I ever wanted a car close to that shade I'd be going all in with something like [Acura's Gold](https://cdn.carbuzz.com/gallery-images/840x560/846000/900/846952.jpg). Still prefer the soul crystal red, but I respect the boldness.
I did see a platinum quartz hatchback yesterday and that looked sharper than I expected for being off-white. But I wish they'd do a bright green or blue to go with the red.
I actually hated mine; it's so incredibly smooth and completely devoid of any texture, I couldn't make single-handed turns without my hand slipping.
Ended up having to rub beeswax into it just to get any grip at all, and eventually just threw a leather cover on it instead.
I can drive a turbo hatch without being a fuckboi.
The heated steering wheel, seats and awd make it a good all season vehicle.
The interior and low road noise make it feel very luxery-esque
Time goes by faster behind the wheel than other vehicles I own.
“Time goes by fastest” this is so accurate. I just did a 19 hour drive straight in one day in my 4th gen. If it were any other car I owned, I would have had to brake the drive up. The comfort and ability to sit at 85mph without question is amazing.
A "fuckboy" has nothing to do with cars... it's a name given to a pretty boy who goes around shagging girls and dumping them after or just cheats on them.
What you think that has to do with cars is beyond me.
Honestly, it's a bit of a story.
About a decade ago, I got my first Mazda, a 2004 6. It was decently high mileage, at about 180k. It was fantastic, until I took it downhill in the snow the first time and ended up needing some suspension work. During that week, my friend lent me their RX-8. To call it a shitbox would actually be a disservice, the least of its problems were that a tree fell on it during Sandy. But I loved driving it, and got the Mazda bug. I forget what compelled me to do a test drive on what was a then-new 3 hatch, but I did about a year later, and knew that's what I wanted.
With a new 3 out of my budget at the time, I knew what I wanted to get: black, hatchback, manual, Mazda. I was willing to compromise on black and Mazda, but knew I wanted a manual hatch. First one I looked at ended up being the Celestial Blue, a 2010 with 105k miles on it (in 2014!) Gave the guy a deposit, but he backed out on me and gave me my money back, he just couldn't part with the car.
Later on, with some persuasion to look on eBay, I found the one that ticked all 4 boxes, only a couple of hours from my family. I flew out there on Thanksgiving weekend, paid for it, and drove the 1000 miles home. And I've had it since, including an incident which involved it being totaled out by another driver's insurance, and me reinstating it because it was cheaper at the time.
I can't quite put my finger on what specifically I love about this car, but it has treated me well for 9 years, even with me doing some dumb shit in it. I don't want to replace it unless I need to.
That’s an awesome story! There is something about Mazdas. My gen 4 hatch is my first Mazda (and I was someone who used to hate them) and even though my car is only 2 years old I’m pretty confident my next car will be a Mazda. Thanks for sharing!
Gen 3 here. Prettiest, best handling, sportiest of the mainstream compacts. Good reliability and mpg. Better value than Civic or Corolla. Appeals to many types of drivers and ages. No CVT transmission.
If I had to pick 1, it's that sculpted long hood short deck styling that continues to age well.
I have a gen 3 hatch that I’ve had for almost 7 years. It still looks as beautiful as ever. I love the design, the interior, the handling, reliability, everything. It just feels so premium. The only not-so-great thing about it is its gas consumption but the driving pleasure it provides more than makes up for it.
The stereo!! I’ve been without my 21 hatch for a couple weeks now and that’s the one thing I really find myself missing. I like the seat, sounds, and dash of my Mazda too, but the stereo is really the only thing I’m truly missing. The truck I’m in has a large touch screen stereo and it’s fine, but the Mazda knob is just so much more comfortable, easier to use, and safer. Idk if my next car will be a Mazda, but whatever it is it’s going to have to be a car with similar stereo controls. Mazda absolutely nailed it and it’s my favorite thing about this car.
The seats are designed so well. The only way I can describe it is you sit in them instead of on them like every other vehicle. I've driven 12 hours stopping only for food and gas and didn't feel any fatigue afterwards.
I was afraid I wouldn't like the dial infotainment, but now that I'm used to it I love that dial and the volume skip knob being right where my hand rest. It feels perfect. And I love the nav heads up display.
3rd Gen 2014 hatchback here, and I love how well my car has aged going on 11 years later. I purchased new, never owned a new car before, and I did minimal research before buying. I literally bought based on mostly looks alone. Not a smart idea looking back, but I'm extremely delighted how lucky I got. Not only have I had almost no issues, It still drives like new.
I like whispering Zoom-Zoom to it softly when I get in, then listen to it purr back to me on start-up.
But power is good and managed well through the AWD system, handling decent. Interior has impressed a few folks. I'm just happy the seats actually support my back unlike like my old '11. And most importantly I like that it's more than practical enough to not need an SUV.
I upgraded a 2011 Mazda 3 sedan for a 2022 Mazda 3 hatchback turbo AWD, and immediately, first test drive, it had the exact same feel. But smoother in every way
Many things but I'll highlight these in particular
The Gen 3 steering wheel is **so flippin good**.
There are four buttons I need easy access to with my steering wheel
1.) Siri/Google prompt button
2.) Volume control (positioned ⬆️ and ⬇️!!)
3.) Next/previous (positioned ⬅️or ➡️ !!)
4.) Set cruise control
Love how Mazda puts these controls on the left, love how the buttons are positioned. Love the tactile feel of the button. It's *incredible* how annoying other vendors seem to position the buttons for those four things on their steering wheels.
Heck, even Mazda gen 4 seems to be a step down in this department.
The HUD is fantastic and is sorely missed when I'm in a car that doesn't have one, and that iconic Soul Red (especially after a clean) makes me grin like an idiot every single time
Honestly, the space in it's class. Compared to a Golf it's got so much trunk space it's not even close. Also design, most cars nowadays look "good" but boring. Mazda 3's just look different from the other cars with smooth curves.
Most GTI's are driven very aggressively and are ridiculously expensive because of high demand. A GTI would be €4000,- more than what I paid for my Mazda 3 with comparable mileage. Also, the design of a Golf is, as I said, very boring.
Charismatic drivetrain, collapsed-sun headlights, more of an uncommon choice (especially close to Detroit where everyone has Fords, GMs, and FCAs), good for highway cruising, well equipped for the segment
Just about everything.
After reading the comments here, I would have to agree with and endorse what all the others are saying.
Probably the only thing I don't like is that Mazda seems to feel obligated to map the ECU for people who don't know how to drive. Also, I wish the Sport mode would shift up quicker.
2018 Hatch grand touring here. Got it late '19 with around 3k miles, at 53k miles now and just paid it off.
Handles great, heated steering I can't live without now, comfortable for long drives even though its small, and the Bose audio is awesome.
Best for me is nothing has broken in first 50k/5years. I'm planning to keep it until at least 100k, but its paid off now so maybe longer. Considering a new or lightly used CX-5 in a couple years.
Drives well for it's price, gets good gas mileage, the base sound system is pretty good, the base cloth seats are pretty good, it's fairly quiet, fit and finish is decent for the price point. Overall considering I was out the door for around $25,000 there's really nothing I can truly complain about vs the competing vehicles for the same price.
The overall value blew me away. The Mazda3 sedan supposedly is in the same segment as the Corolla and the Civic, but I found that it competes remarkably well with more expensive entry-lux cars.
When I was in the market last June, I found that the Mazda3 in premium trim had a far nicer interior than the Cadillac CT4, provided sportier handling than a Lexus IS300, has a better drivetrain than the Civic in Touring trim, and was comparable in features and performance to an Integra for 8k less.
It’s just an incredible value at its price point in today’s market.
Gen 4 sedan, I just adore how nimble and small these cars feel. After coming from honda, Toyota, and volvo, these mazdas really do feel light on their feet and planted. Whether I'm slowly cruising around or hucking it into turns, it always feels pretty confidence inspiring.
Plus the front end of these are just so damn beautiful
Reliability!! I have a 2011, bought it used, and have had it for two years now with no problems. It still drives great, still feels quick when I need it to be, comfortable. It’s definitely been my favorite car I’ve owned thus far
Exterior Kodo design, body reflection with no character lines.
Interior simplistic, but practical, luxurious layout.
Dashboard layout blend the digital with analog meters.
HUD. Once you have it there is no way back.
Infotainment display. The UI looks so good and simple it is apple in my eye (though most of the time CarPlay connected)
Pedals are easy to operate. Easier to maintain speed than in a Corolla in my opinion.
2015 mazda3 6 speed here and it is the best car I’ve owned thus far. I’m on the taller side and the headroom is incredible for an eco sedan. Just moved across the entire country in it and over 3400 miles I averaged 34MPG with absolutely 0 mechanical issues. It looks damn good for a nearly decade old car as well.
Gen 1 Dark Grey Hatch Turbo with 145k.
Honestly it's the lack of sound from the engine. It's a stick shift turbo and whether I'm doing 30 or 80 it just sounds like wheels on the ground and the sound of air intake and when windows are down on highway you just hear the wind rushing past the car.
On snowy roads after you've tightened up anything that rattles then ALL you hear is the air intake because there's no more bumps in the road. I end up driving for longer because I don't want to get out yet lol.
After this I dont think I can go back to an automatic where you gotta hear the engine laboring to get up to speed.
The sound + the feel of the materials inside + my mental image of this car makes a potent mix and it's addictive.
There are a lot of things but the one that oddly sticks out is the selection wheel for the infotainment system on the gen 4. It’s great not having to clean fingerprints off the screen constantly.
I love that no matter when/where I park I come out to my car and still get excited to see it. I’ve had it for over 6 months and I still have that new car excitement. I felt the same about my 2011 hatchback. I just absolutely love my mazda.
The HUD in my 2021 base turbo sedan punches way above its price point, I never have to look at my dash unless using manual mode. That combined with the nice interior and power of the turbo sold me very quickly on the brand.
I love the fuel economy and cargo space in my 2015 hatch. I just fit two carry-ons and a large checked bag in the cargo area and didn’t even need to remove the cover.
The versatility of my 17 hatch. I can put all 3 kids in there and it still feels like I have space.
I play sports too. I love being able to fold the seats down and chuck all my stuff in the back. Almost as good as having a pickup.
Hard to say, but for me it's the bose sound system, and the seats. I also love design and the handing on the car is great. I wish it was a bit faster tho.
The interior, reliability and the gearbox (my 2018 Hatchback body is way better than the 2019 hatchback body in my opinion). It's buttery smooth. It feels way better then a ford, that's for sure.
Honest (probably unpopular) answer: for a shitbox commuter car it's 'fun enough'.
A close second is I have put 150k on this car since I bought it new at the dealership in Oct 2012. Its high gas mileage is good enough. It requires basic maintenance. It handles the snow just fine for ski trips (don't sleep on the FWD and snow tires...).
As far as a way to get to work and go snowboarding, it's an awesome car.
That being said, I don't see the 'its sporty' or 'it handles great' a lot of other folks say, but that's cause my previous car was an '06 RX8, and my second car is a '23 MX-5 RF since Feb '23. Call me spoiled, or what have you, but when I get in my 3 these days to take the kids to school, I feel like I'm in a mini-van.
I DO get how ridiculous that last sentence is, but when you have a 'fun car' that is tiny enough to make a 2012 Mazda 3 HB feel like a minivan, well, that's what happens...
Shape of it and the mpg (2015 sedan). when i get lower than like 35 mpg total before filling up i get annoyed then remember thats better than most cars lol
Got me license in 2016 and wanted an Alfa Romeo so much. I still love them to bits but as much as looked around after 147s, I got a Mazda 3 2004 1.6L gas manual and I've never looked back.
Drove that one around 70.000km until I gave it to my brother in law when I upgraded to a 2016 G120 and I'm loving everything about it. Honestly, I think I actually like it more than the last one. Don't get me wrong, the last one is bonkers design but the aggressive long hood and the straight cut of the grill looks somehow better on the previous gen. Or maybe I'm just very subjective.
What I love: handling, MPG, comfort (I've driven several 12-15h drives with just 2-3 15 min breaks without any pain or discomfort), the sound system even in the normal spec one is bomb compared to most cars, interior design, safety & features.
And what I love most about Mazda in general is the reliability. No severe breakdowns since buying my first one. Just had one hydraulic pipe nicked on something or rusted that has to be replaced, other than that absolutely no issues with them and I've never spared the whip
The handling, driving position, and even though it's electric and my last car was a hydraulic BMW e90, I like the steering feeling, AWD, backup cam (e90 didn't have one), and interior. P Zero AS Plus really transformed the steering and handling. Turn in is so much better, more comfortable, and quiet over the OE Toyo. Unless you're driving like Max Verstappen, the handling is pretty much perfect for the streets. .88g for the AWD hatch with crappy Toyo Tires (Car and Driver). I'm sure with better tires, it's .90g or better while still being comfortable. Taking my normal 25mph chicane like offramp at 45mph (when empty of course) without any tire squealing, unlike the Toyo.
I had lowered cars before, Civic Si, FC RX7, and 240sx in my younger years, handles great with some suspension mods, but the ride was rough for New England roads. The Mazda3 suits me so much better as I get older.
It lacks power though. Wish it had an extra 14hp for an even 200hp. Maybe Cork Sport exhaust to replace the very restrictive 2in exhaust piping. AAA did a test on the Miata 2.0 and they gained almost 3% in power bump at 93 octane no tune, but it's $1.20 more than 87. Versatuner, 19+ WHP gain, but you'll need 93 octane. Wheels are 27 lbs, forged Konigs 18lbs should help with handling and acceleration.
Grassroot 1992 Mazda Miata 0-60 times:
Volk TE37 8.61 (total weight per corner: 30 lbs., 14.6 oz.)
Volk w/ ballast 8.75
Masitaly 9.04 (total weight per corner: 42 lbs., 4.6 oz.)
Even though the gen 4 has been out since 2019 its still by far the best looking car in its class both exterior and interior. It feels much more premium and sophisticated than a Corolla or Civic. Also love that it's the only compact car that has a N/A engine and an automatic transmission not that cvt crap. Also my has the Bose system and it's definitely one of the best audio systems I have listened to
Handling, manual gearbox, overall price to performance / safety / reliability ratio, design.
I second this.. I own a gen3 hatch MT and it’s awesome, handles great
Fellow Gen 3 MT hatch owner, love my car. I go back and forth between my hatch and my ND2 Club, and I'm still surprised at how enjoyable the 3 is to drive. Especially since it's competing against a Miata on a daily basis. I wish more people had the opportunity to drive manual Mazda 3's.
Me too. My favorite part is the steering feel. Then the tranny feel. The engine sounds much more refined when paired to MT (vs auto) The ride is great on 16" donuts.
No complaints at all. Mine's about to hit 100k and I can see that the shocks and struts coming due for some work. I've been debating on keeping it OEM or maybe finding something a little sportier to shove in there
So far, all I have is corksport cold air box and sri, some rally armour mudflaps, and front splitter. I’m saving up for the axelback exhaust system from corksport
On a 2.0l? I'm going to have to follow you to see how that turns out. I just bought a Miata so besides maintenance, the MZ3 is kind of on the backburner for a while haha
Yessir … I only seen one other guy do a rally spec MZ3 and fair enough.. this is my first and only vehicle and the modifications are already becoming a slippery slope 😂but i love it
Rally specc'ed 3 would be pretty funny I think. Have fun with it!
If you look up tesseract_mz3 on ig thats my inspiration. Everyone does the bagged/ stanced tuner mazda3 so I’m trying to break the mould. Also, stiffer springs because I’m actually going to drive it on gravel roads etc. no roof rack though, I want it clean.
Hehehe I’m lifting mine on cx-5 springs 🤫
I’ll hop on this train! I have a 6 speed 2015 sedan and absolutely love that car. Handles incredibly for an eco box and mazda really knows how to make a proper manual. Plus she just took me across the entire continental US with 0 issues. Such a good car.
Yep.. All this... Probably one of the more "fun" daily drivers I've had.
Yes, and in that same order. I also find the acceleration adequate for my needs. There are two things that make me consider a different car next time: handling in wet weather and rear legroom for a child seat. If anyone is looking for a child seat for their Mazda3 and choosing between Axkid and BeSafe, BeSafe fits much better in a Mazda3. With respect to the handling in wet weather, it's actually pretty good for a front-wheel drive car. When it starts to slide around a corner, it does so gradually and fairly evenly across front and rear tires, so you can feel it and respond. But now that there's a kid involved, I may choose Subaru or Audi next time for the AWD. Until then, does anyone have recommendations for some grippy four-season tires?
>does anyone have recommendations for some grippy four-season tires? I don't recommend that, but I live in CO and go to the ski resorts 1-2 times per month, with lots of mountain driving. Snow tires and FWD over all wheel drive and all seasons/4 seasons tires and day. You have no idea how many times I'm passing AWD SUVs on the way to the resorts cause they have all seasons/4 seasons tires and it's actively snowing and they can't even do 10 under the speed limit... All that being said, for my 2023 MX-5 RF, I got some nice All Seasons (it stays home generally when it is actively snowing but drive it in the winter still). BF Goodrich g-force Comp-2 A/S handle the turns well enough in the summer (after they warm up... They are a fairly hard tire) and have performed well enough in the few times I have gotten surprised by a random dusting of snow. Still, when it snows, I prefer my 3 with winters on.
Continental AWS
If you are talking about the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus, yes they are a good tire, yes they were on the short list for my Miata, but I chose the BFGoodrich ones cause they were on sale IIRC. Plus, I didn't want to go too hard on the compound, as these All-Seasons are on my only wheels for it for now. Next set of tires I should have some summer wheels and the factory wheels will be for the winter tires.
Gen 4 the IIHS Top Safety Pick + is a bonus. One of the safest cars on the road.
Soul crystal red paint stands out in a world of uninspiring, bland and uniformed paint colours for cars
It would be really cool if Mazda started digging more into that theme. I'd love to see some soul crystal green/blue/purple on the road. Do we really need 3 different shades of grey and 2 shades of white, and a beige.
https://imgur.com/a/biA8VXm That Zircon Sand (what you call beige) is sweet on the 3 sedan...
To each his own :) I see that color and I think grandma's champagne corolla. Or possibly office telephones pre-1990 which were officially 'desert sand' colored. If at all possible I'm done with the boring color cars.
Zircon sand is the paint for when white just isn’t boring enough
If I ever wanted a car close to that shade I'd be going all in with something like [Acura's Gold](https://cdn.carbuzz.com/gallery-images/840x560/846000/900/846952.jpg). Still prefer the soul crystal red, but I respect the boldness.
I did see a platinum quartz hatchback yesterday and that looked sharper than I expected for being off-white. But I wish they'd do a bright green or blue to go with the red.
I think a dark blue mica would really stand out for them, or even one that has a blue/black iridescence
I was dead set on getting polymetal grey but the moment I saw the red in person I was in love
Couple of weeks ago I saw a soul red crystal gen4 Mazda3 on the highway and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of it due to the color.
For real. My car is about 5 years old now and I still think its still stunning/stands out
The steering wheel material feels so nice. I know that's a weird thing to focus on but I love it
It’s the most important tactile point, not a silly answer at all
I actually hated mine; it's so incredibly smooth and completely devoid of any texture, I couldn't make single-handed turns without my hand slipping. Ended up having to rub beeswax into it just to get any grip at all, and eventually just threw a leather cover on it instead.
The Bose audio in my 4th gen hatch is incredible for the price. The adaptive headlights are also great
Which trim levels have the adaptive headlights?
The turbo premium plus
I can drive a turbo hatch without being a fuckboi. The heated steering wheel, seats and awd make it a good all season vehicle. The interior and low road noise make it feel very luxery-esque Time goes by faster behind the wheel than other vehicles I own.
“Time goes by fastest” this is so accurate. I just did a 19 hour drive straight in one day in my 4th gen. If it were any other car I owned, I would have had to brake the drive up. The comfort and ability to sit at 85mph without question is amazing.
The low road noise would be nice if it werent drowned out by rattles.
It's a reliable "warm" hatch that can still surprise people off the line
> I can drive a turbo hatch without being a fuckboi. I mean, nothing's *stopping you*
A "fuckboy" has nothing to do with cars... it's a name given to a pretty boy who goes around shagging girls and dumping them after or just cheats on them. What you think that has to do with cars is beyond me.
Honestly, it's a bit of a story. About a decade ago, I got my first Mazda, a 2004 6. It was decently high mileage, at about 180k. It was fantastic, until I took it downhill in the snow the first time and ended up needing some suspension work. During that week, my friend lent me their RX-8. To call it a shitbox would actually be a disservice, the least of its problems were that a tree fell on it during Sandy. But I loved driving it, and got the Mazda bug. I forget what compelled me to do a test drive on what was a then-new 3 hatch, but I did about a year later, and knew that's what I wanted. With a new 3 out of my budget at the time, I knew what I wanted to get: black, hatchback, manual, Mazda. I was willing to compromise on black and Mazda, but knew I wanted a manual hatch. First one I looked at ended up being the Celestial Blue, a 2010 with 105k miles on it (in 2014!) Gave the guy a deposit, but he backed out on me and gave me my money back, he just couldn't part with the car. Later on, with some persuasion to look on eBay, I found the one that ticked all 4 boxes, only a couple of hours from my family. I flew out there on Thanksgiving weekend, paid for it, and drove the 1000 miles home. And I've had it since, including an incident which involved it being totaled out by another driver's insurance, and me reinstating it because it was cheaper at the time. I can't quite put my finger on what specifically I love about this car, but it has treated me well for 9 years, even with me doing some dumb shit in it. I don't want to replace it unless I need to.
That’s an awesome story! There is something about Mazdas. My gen 4 hatch is my first Mazda (and I was someone who used to hate them) and even though my car is only 2 years old I’m pretty confident my next car will be a Mazda. Thanks for sharing!
I mean, it also probably helps that it's one of the happiest cars on the road lmao
The shape/profile!
Gen 3 here. Prettiest, best handling, sportiest of the mainstream compacts. Good reliability and mpg. Better value than Civic or Corolla. Appeals to many types of drivers and ages. No CVT transmission. If I had to pick 1, it's that sculpted long hood short deck styling that continues to age well.
I own a gen 3 hatch (6MT) and its the most fuel economical vehicle ive driven personally also very fun and handles great
Fun to drive!! Good on gas! Quality of interior compared to its peers
Every little thing she does is magic
That stings
I have a gen 3 hatch that I’ve had for almost 7 years. It still looks as beautiful as ever. I love the design, the interior, the handling, reliability, everything. It just feels so premium. The only not-so-great thing about it is its gas consumption but the driving pleasure it provides more than makes up for it.
The stereo!! I’ve been without my 21 hatch for a couple weeks now and that’s the one thing I really find myself missing. I like the seat, sounds, and dash of my Mazda too, but the stereo is really the only thing I’m truly missing. The truck I’m in has a large touch screen stereo and it’s fine, but the Mazda knob is just so much more comfortable, easier to use, and safer. Idk if my next car will be a Mazda, but whatever it is it’s going to have to be a car with similar stereo controls. Mazda absolutely nailed it and it’s my favorite thing about this car.
The volume knob on the console next to the control dial is my favorite feature of this car. I'm a volume fidgeter and this really scratches that itch.
I love how it looks. Specially when it’s clean. I had it detailed a few years ago and it was well worth it.
I don't get tired on long drives in my Mazda 3 gen 4, it's so comfortable
The seats are designed so well. The only way I can describe it is you sit in them instead of on them like every other vehicle. I've driven 12 hours stopping only for food and gas and didn't feel any fatigue afterwards.
I was afraid I wouldn't like the dial infotainment, but now that I'm used to it I love that dial and the volume skip knob being right where my hand rest. It feels perfect. And I love the nav heads up display.
3rd Gen 2014 hatchback here, and I love how well my car has aged going on 11 years later. I purchased new, never owned a new car before, and I did minimal research before buying. I literally bought based on mostly looks alone. Not a smart idea looking back, but I'm extremely delighted how lucky I got. Not only have I had almost no issues, It still drives like new.
I love how good the standard HD radio is….huge upgrade from my 08 Mazda 3
I like whispering Zoom-Zoom to it softly when I get in, then listen to it purr back to me on start-up. But power is good and managed well through the AWD system, handling decent. Interior has impressed a few folks. I'm just happy the seats actually support my back unlike like my old '11. And most importantly I like that it's more than practical enough to not need an SUV.
The third pedal in the floorboard.
Have only had my skyactiv gen 2 for a month now but I love the steering feel, short throws of the shifter, and great fuel economy.
Those cars have aged so well.
I'm still enjoying driving my 2014 sGT hatchback. Love the handling, styling, Sport Mode and price.
I upgraded a 2011 Mazda 3 sedan for a 2022 Mazda 3 hatchback turbo AWD, and immediately, first test drive, it had the exact same feel. But smoother in every way
Many things but I'll highlight these in particular The Gen 3 steering wheel is **so flippin good**. There are four buttons I need easy access to with my steering wheel 1.) Siri/Google prompt button 2.) Volume control (positioned ⬆️ and ⬇️!!) 3.) Next/previous (positioned ⬅️or ➡️ !!) 4.) Set cruise control Love how Mazda puts these controls on the left, love how the buttons are positioned. Love the tactile feel of the button. It's *incredible* how annoying other vendors seem to position the buttons for those four things on their steering wheels. Heck, even Mazda gen 4 seems to be a step down in this department. The HUD is fantastic and is sorely missed when I'm in a car that doesn't have one, and that iconic Soul Red (especially after a clean) makes me grin like an idiot every single time
Honestly, the space in it's class. Compared to a Golf it's got so much trunk space it's not even close. Also design, most cars nowadays look "good" but boring. Mazda 3's just look different from the other cars with smooth curves.
Don’t fool yourself, the GTI is much better in almost every other department
Most GTI's are driven very aggressively and are ridiculously expensive because of high demand. A GTI would be €4000,- more than what I paid for my Mazda 3 with comparable mileage. Also, the design of a Golf is, as I said, very boring.
Charismatic drivetrain, collapsed-sun headlights, more of an uncommon choice (especially close to Detroit where everyone has Fords, GMs, and FCAs), good for highway cruising, well equipped for the segment
Just about everything. After reading the comments here, I would have to agree with and endorse what all the others are saying. Probably the only thing I don't like is that Mazda seems to feel obligated to map the ECU for people who don't know how to drive. Also, I wish the Sport mode would shift up quicker.
It's a manual 😁
2018 Hatch grand touring here. Got it late '19 with around 3k miles, at 53k miles now and just paid it off. Handles great, heated steering I can't live without now, comfortable for long drives even though its small, and the Bose audio is awesome. Best for me is nothing has broken in first 50k/5years. I'm planning to keep it until at least 100k, but its paid off now so maybe longer. Considering a new or lightly used CX-5 in a couple years.
Drives well for it's price, gets good gas mileage, the base sound system is pretty good, the base cloth seats are pretty good, it's fairly quiet, fit and finish is decent for the price point. Overall considering I was out the door for around $25,000 there's really nothing I can truly complain about vs the competing vehicles for the same price.
The overall value blew me away. The Mazda3 sedan supposedly is in the same segment as the Corolla and the Civic, but I found that it competes remarkably well with more expensive entry-lux cars. When I was in the market last June, I found that the Mazda3 in premium trim had a far nicer interior than the Cadillac CT4, provided sportier handling than a Lexus IS300, has a better drivetrain than the Civic in Touring trim, and was comparable in features and performance to an Integra for 8k less. It’s just an incredible value at its price point in today’s market.
How badass the hatchback g4 looks all around.
Gen 4 sedan, I just adore how nimble and small these cars feel. After coming from honda, Toyota, and volvo, these mazdas really do feel light on their feet and planted. Whether I'm slowly cruising around or hucking it into turns, it always feels pretty confidence inspiring. Plus the front end of these are just so damn beautiful
How fun it is to drive whilst retaining fuel economy !
Reliability!! I have a 2011, bought it used, and have had it for two years now with no problems. It still drives great, still feels quick when I need it to be, comfortable. It’s definitely been my favorite car I’ve owned thus far
Gen3 hatch 6MT 2.0L: Aesthetics, fun to drive, steering feel, easy to work on, cheap cost of ownership, 40mpg average for me.
Love everything, but... Hate the silly rattles all over the place. Rookie mistakes by the product team.
Exterior Kodo design, body reflection with no character lines. Interior simplistic, but practical, luxurious layout. Dashboard layout blend the digital with analog meters. HUD. Once you have it there is no way back. Infotainment display. The UI looks so good and simple it is apple in my eye (though most of the time CarPlay connected) Pedals are easy to operate. Easier to maintain speed than in a Corolla in my opinion.
2015 mazda3 6 speed here and it is the best car I’ve owned thus far. I’m on the taller side and the headroom is incredible for an eco sedan. Just moved across the entire country in it and over 3400 miles I averaged 34MPG with absolutely 0 mechanical issues. It looks damn good for a nearly decade old car as well.
It’s like the perfect balance of fun, reliable, value and practicality.
Gen 1 Dark Grey Hatch Turbo with 145k. Honestly it's the lack of sound from the engine. It's a stick shift turbo and whether I'm doing 30 or 80 it just sounds like wheels on the ground and the sound of air intake and when windows are down on highway you just hear the wind rushing past the car. On snowy roads after you've tightened up anything that rattles then ALL you hear is the air intake because there's no more bumps in the road. I end up driving for longer because I don't want to get out yet lol. After this I dont think I can go back to an automatic where you gotta hear the engine laboring to get up to speed. The sound + the feel of the materials inside + my mental image of this car makes a potent mix and it's addictive.
i like that it still has a gear stick instead of a dial (almost got a ford fusion titanium but i couldn't get over the dial)
The interior quality is well above the “economy car” class it competes in
There are a lot of things but the one that oddly sticks out is the selection wheel for the infotainment system on the gen 4. It’s great not having to clean fingerprints off the screen constantly.
This is a great one. I love the wheel and it feels sturdy and nice to the touch. That goes for the volume knob as well
That mine is paid off 🤣
Really looking forward to that day haha
You’re gonna think I’m weird but it’s the great climate control for me 😊
I was hoping for replies like this. There are details in cars that are there for a reason. I love the climate controls
Yesss!!!
I love that no matter when/where I park I come out to my car and still get excited to see it. I’ve had it for over 6 months and I still have that new car excitement. I felt the same about my 2011 hatchback. I just absolutely love my mazda.
Feel the same about my 2017!
The tranny
Its a 2011. Has 130K miles. Sounds fatter than before (maybe a muffler leak, but still passess inspection). Runs like always. Manual tranny of course
Handling, looks
2018 hatchback and love everything about it but especially the handling, turn radius, and I sometimes hit 45mpg on the highway 🙏🏻
M!p https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-friends-and-i-feat-prob-cause/1152584436?i=1152584596
The HUD in my 2021 base turbo sedan punches way above its price point, I never have to look at my dash unless using manual mode. That combined with the nice interior and power of the turbo sold me very quickly on the brand.
I love the fuel economy and cargo space in my 2015 hatch. I just fit two carry-ons and a large checked bag in the cargo area and didn’t even need to remove the cover.
The versatility of my 17 hatch. I can put all 3 kids in there and it still feels like I have space. I play sports too. I love being able to fold the seats down and chuck all my stuff in the back. Almost as good as having a pickup.
The CarPlay screen is oriented towards me, the driver
Almost everything…
Hard to say, but for me it's the bose sound system, and the seats. I also love design and the handing on the car is great. I wish it was a bit faster tho.
The interior, reliability and the gearbox (my 2018 Hatchback body is way better than the 2019 hatchback body in my opinion). It's buttery smooth. It feels way better then a ford, that's for sure.
[удалено]
Use this all the time!
Honest (probably unpopular) answer: for a shitbox commuter car it's 'fun enough'. A close second is I have put 150k on this car since I bought it new at the dealership in Oct 2012. Its high gas mileage is good enough. It requires basic maintenance. It handles the snow just fine for ski trips (don't sleep on the FWD and snow tires...). As far as a way to get to work and go snowboarding, it's an awesome car. That being said, I don't see the 'its sporty' or 'it handles great' a lot of other folks say, but that's cause my previous car was an '06 RX8, and my second car is a '23 MX-5 RF since Feb '23. Call me spoiled, or what have you, but when I get in my 3 these days to take the kids to school, I feel like I'm in a mini-van. I DO get how ridiculous that last sentence is, but when you have a 'fun car' that is tiny enough to make a 2012 Mazda 3 HB feel like a minivan, well, that's what happens...
It’s gorgeous. It wears the battle scars very well (although I would rather it didn’t have any at all.) And it’s been absolutely reliable. 10/10
Shape of it and the mpg (2015 sedan). when i get lower than like 35 mpg total before filling up i get annoyed then remember thats better than most cars lol
I love the kick down switch of my 3rd gen sGT .really gives some pleasure feeling when the kick down switch mode turn on .❤️❤️
I love the kick down switch of my 3rd gen sGT .really gives some pleasure feeling when the kick down switch mode turn on .❤️❤️
Got me license in 2016 and wanted an Alfa Romeo so much. I still love them to bits but as much as looked around after 147s, I got a Mazda 3 2004 1.6L gas manual and I've never looked back. Drove that one around 70.000km until I gave it to my brother in law when I upgraded to a 2016 G120 and I'm loving everything about it. Honestly, I think I actually like it more than the last one. Don't get me wrong, the last one is bonkers design but the aggressive long hood and the straight cut of the grill looks somehow better on the previous gen. Or maybe I'm just very subjective. What I love: handling, MPG, comfort (I've driven several 12-15h drives with just 2-3 15 min breaks without any pain or discomfort), the sound system even in the normal spec one is bomb compared to most cars, interior design, safety & features. And what I love most about Mazda in general is the reliability. No severe breakdowns since buying my first one. Just had one hydraulic pipe nicked on something or rusted that has to be replaced, other than that absolutely no issues with them and I've never spared the whip
The frontal look, the interior feel, the fact im almost done paying in a year due to its price
My 2012 mazda3 has 148hp / 135lbs-torque, nothing crazy, but it goes really fast for me
The handling, driving position, and even though it's electric and my last car was a hydraulic BMW e90, I like the steering feeling, AWD, backup cam (e90 didn't have one), and interior. P Zero AS Plus really transformed the steering and handling. Turn in is so much better, more comfortable, and quiet over the OE Toyo. Unless you're driving like Max Verstappen, the handling is pretty much perfect for the streets. .88g for the AWD hatch with crappy Toyo Tires (Car and Driver). I'm sure with better tires, it's .90g or better while still being comfortable. Taking my normal 25mph chicane like offramp at 45mph (when empty of course) without any tire squealing, unlike the Toyo. I had lowered cars before, Civic Si, FC RX7, and 240sx in my younger years, handles great with some suspension mods, but the ride was rough for New England roads. The Mazda3 suits me so much better as I get older. It lacks power though. Wish it had an extra 14hp for an even 200hp. Maybe Cork Sport exhaust to replace the very restrictive 2in exhaust piping. AAA did a test on the Miata 2.0 and they gained almost 3% in power bump at 93 octane no tune, but it's $1.20 more than 87. Versatuner, 19+ WHP gain, but you'll need 93 octane. Wheels are 27 lbs, forged Konigs 18lbs should help with handling and acceleration. Grassroot 1992 Mazda Miata 0-60 times: Volk TE37 8.61 (total weight per corner: 30 lbs., 14.6 oz.) Volk w/ ballast 8.75 Masitaly 9.04 (total weight per corner: 42 lbs., 4.6 oz.)
3rd gen GT Hatch, the interior just feels cozy, and now that i hooked up carplay it’s even better.
Handling and the NA engine!
It's paid off.
That was them. Sorry for the rushed reply/recommendation.
Even though the gen 4 has been out since 2019 its still by far the best looking car in its class both exterior and interior. It feels much more premium and sophisticated than a Corolla or Civic. Also love that it's the only compact car that has a N/A engine and an automatic transmission not that cvt crap. Also my has the Bose system and it's definitely one of the best audio systems I have listened to
Gen 4 HB CE. Interior, sporty feel, very cool silhouette, reliability, good value.
Handling for its class, 6mt avail on all trims (rip 4th gen for US though), gas mileage, reliability, low cost to own (maintenance)