The MAZDA3 is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, or wagon, available in 8 trims, ranging from the i
The MAZDA3 is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, or wagon, available in 8 trims, ranging from the i Sport 4-Door to the s Grand Touring 5-Door.
The i Sport 4-Door is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 148-horsepower engine that achieves 24-mpg in the city and 32-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The s Grand Touring 5-Door is equipped with a standard 2.3-liter, I4, 156-horsepower engine that achieves 22-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.
"The MAZDA3 family, which includes the sedan, the hatchback and of course the rubber-melting Mazdaspeed3, performs in every category with remarkable success. It has attractive styling both inside and out..."
Strengths: Very nice car, except it acts like a Toyota!! It's got a ton of gimmicks and it's a ball to drive (most of the time). If it wasn't for one major complaint, this car is a jewel.
Weaknesses: Does any body remember the "Toyota effect" with the runaway engine? Well, I bought a Mazda with a very similar problem. Here's what happens- (sometimes) when coming to a stop, instead of the engine idling down, instead it revs up to over 5,000 RPM. My foot is on the brake pedal, not the gas. The solution, throw the shifter into neutral and shut the engine off. Like I said, the "Toyota Effect". This happened at 666 iles and 1867 miles. A trip to the dealer was futile. There was no error code generated so they couldn't (after 4 hours) find anything wrong with the car. Yesterday I drove into Boston for a concert and after 1 1/2 hours in stop and go traffic, the engine "ran awaay" 5 times in a row within 2 miles on Commonwealth Avenue. This kind of behavior from a car that is so highly rated is nerve rattling to say the least. I have owned 3 Toyotas and I have had serious problems with all 3. I bought a Mazda so I wouldn't have a Toyota and what do I get? A Toyota Effect mystery that is lethal if I didn't know how to kll the engine. I wonder how Mazda will rectify this problem. Also, the car is incosistand with idle. Sometimes it idles down to 650 RPM. sometimes down to 800. I've watched the tach and I've seen the RPM rise from 800 to 1200 RPM before it settles down to idle. When idling at any of these higher RPM's it is possible to feel the engine "tugging" at the transmission. I don't have any confidance in this car. I've been driving since 1963 and I have never had a problem like this before
Summary: I guess every car has a potential for being a lemon. Mazda has a great reputation. They don't "own" the market with "rubber stamped" production cars, but they are every bit as reliable as a Toyota or any of the other cars it has been compared to.
Similar Products Used: 2004 Toyota Camry (alignment and handling problems)
2006 Toyota Solara Convertible (engine won't respond to throttle, dead spot in throttle body?)
2007 Toyota Avalon (real bad transmission slipping problems)
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Summary: I also have a mazda 2008, both of them have warp rotors. Replaced twice already, still the same problem. this car will break down if really used very hard in driving. like a cheap toy. This car is ok just for showing off. But if you want a real CAR, definitely not this one.
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Rating Reviewed by: Ron Larock(Unregistered User)
Review Date October 11, 2009
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 4 of 5
Used product for Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review 3.75 of 5,
24.00 votes
Review 3 of 122
Price Paid:
$25000.00
from O'Hara Mazda
Year / Model Reviewed: 2010 Mazda 3
Strengths: headlights turn with a turn. Handling, good road feel and hold the lane nicely. Looking the car over, I was amazed with the fit and finish.
Weaknesses: I didn't notice much difference between the 2.5 and the 2.0. Radio controls and way too many buttons. We like a portable satellite radio we can use in other cars and the house, portable satellite radio setup for this car is ackward and almost has to be in the console.
Summary: We have the 3 with the 2.5 engine, heated leather,and all options, but not the satellite radio or navigation.
Similar Products Used: Hyundai elantra,Tried a Honda Civic, but the seats were terrible.
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Year / Model Reviewed: 2009 Mazda 3- sport package
Strengths: Great style, sporty, great interior, easy radio controls, awesome sound system. Drives great, and has 4 speed auto stick shift, lets you act like your driving a standard.
Weaknesses: slow acceleration, other than that nothing else.
Summary: At 21 bought my first brand new car, traded my piece of crap 01 dodge stratus in for a 2004 mazda 3, but wasnt able to get it for sum reason but was able to get a brand new blk mazda 3 with only 8 miles on it. Got the cars windows tinted and looks great, looks even better than bmw 3 series. Love this car, all black interior with a great sound system (great color combo on the gauges) and does great for my wife and new baby girl. I know everything about this car from top to bottom, and havent had any problems with it what so ever. With having it for 15 months and 20000 miles on it, drives like brand new, i get the oil change every 3000 miles and everytime i wash this car looks like it came off the show room floor. would recommend this car to anyone, and also warn never buy a dodge, bought my stratus not a week later had it in the shop, every 3 months seem like, it was in the shop for something else.
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Rating Reviewed by: RM(Unregistered User)
Review Date July 10, 2010
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 2.33 of 5,
3.00 votes
Review 5 of 122
Price Paid:
$22000.00
from Royal Motors, San Fr
Year / Model Reviewed: 2009 Mazda 3 5-door automatic
Strengths: Very zippy, even at freeway speeds, I can always get another boost of speed if needed. Almost bigger inside than out! I've amazed people with how much I can fit inside this car. In addition, the seats are very comfortable, especially the back seats. Loaded with features typically found on luxury cars, but at a reasonable price.
Weaknesses: A few problems came up in year 1: part of skid plate came loose and needed to be reattached; tire pressure sensor needed to be replaced (lighted up randomly, even when tires were properly inflated); something came loose on the sway bar and required tightening. No other issues or problems with this car.
Summary: I really love my car. It's perfect for the city because of it's small size - easy to park & maneuver. It has great capacity for hauling loads of all sorts, which has come in handy for weekend trips to the wine country when the trunk area is loaded with cases of wine AND luggage! Not only is the Mazda 3 a good-looking, sporty car, but it's comfortable, great for commuting, with 4 doors and really comfy back seats.
When I totaled my 2005, I sought out different vehicles to try something new, but nothing else compared, so ordered a new 2009 from the same dealer. I'm leasing this one, and have been looking at other vehicles to replace it once my lease is up. Once again, there's really nothing else out there that's catching my eye, so I'm going to purchase this car when my lease runs out.
I can't recommend this car more.
Similar Products Used: 2005 Mazda 3
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