Overview & Reviews
Mazda has a tradition of building entertaining small cars, and the Mazda 3 fits right in with its sharp handling and engaging nature. But it's also a practical, affordable runabout that's available as either a sedan or a handy four-door hatchback. A Mazda 3 of any vintage is worth consideration, but the 3's interior quality has improved dramatically over time. Likewise, fuel economy has emerged as a real strength in recent years.
Introduced in 2004, the Mazda 3 has always been one of those cars that feels a little bit special when you get behind the wheel. Some shoppers might find the ride too firm, but if you like to drive, you'll probably take a shine to this compact Mazda. Passenger room is the same in the sedan and hatchback, but the latter offers more cargo room. If fuel economy is a priority, note that 2012 and later models benefit from updated engine technology that helps the car return significantly better mileage.
User Reviews:
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Body Integrity is poor - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
By DKM - November 14 - 12:43 amI have owned Mazda for 3 years. In three years, side molding had come off on its own and damaged the doors. I only have 18000 miles on it. Build quality is extremely poor. Mazda says it is not covered under warranty.
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Terrible! A huge regret! - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
By bumbieb - March 15 - 7:29 amMy mazda is 3 years old, has broken down on me 4 times, and I am now told by Mazda that my car needs a new engine. I regret buying this lemon. Terrible customer service too. Stay away!
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Piece OF CRAP - 2009 Mazda Mazda3
By ilya1313 - June 20 - 2:45 amSorry to say i made the biggest mistake of my life buying this pice of crap. It had 13 miles when i bought it, now its at 42k and this is what i had to fix.... tires were fully bald and chap after a year... power steering pump blew up on me not once but twice... brakes were shacking the steering wheel so i had to fix the roters then they pully blew up and i had to replace the whole brake system.... hydraulic motor mount blew up and spilled oil eveywhere... and now to the good part... brakes need full replacement again and brake flush... rear strut is going out .... so ya Mazda should be ashamed to make this car ... biggest regret of my life ... i should have bought impreza...
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Nightmare - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
By djfloyd23 - May 11 - 10:00 amThis beautiful new Mazda might as well be a trojan horse of horror in a pretty package. After 3 attempts to fix my car, I had to have it replaced for being a lemon. 4 days after acquiring my replacement I was being towed because my clutch broke. So as hot looking as this new Mazda is& as fun& exciting it is to drive; my question is, how long will the fun last for you?
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Over-Hyped - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
By Zack Harmon - November 29 - 11:23 amThese vehicles are not well-made. My paint on the hood and whole front clip is chipping off whenever anything hits it from a bug to a grain of sand. The gearshift knob spins. The tilt/telescope wheel doesnt stay where you set it. It is very hard for me (5-10" and 205 lbs) to get comfortable. There is no ergonomic way to use the armrest while you drive. It is really loud in terms of road noise transmitted up into the car. Now there is a shake in the front end at highway speed. It is simply an over-rated piece of junk. I hate this car more than any other I have ever had. It has 7,000 miles on it, I can only imagine how bad it will be at 20,000.
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Not Impressed - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
By Jake Christensen - February 26 - 6:26 pmI have not been very happy with this car. It does not get the gas mileage the sticker on the window said it would and I feel it is very poorly built. I believe they used cheap products to built this car. Everything from the paint on the outside to the carpet on the inside. Dont get me wrong; I think it is a very stylish car and it is fun to drive. But I would not recommend it to anyone.
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Zoom Zoom, then Break Down - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
By Buy a Honda Instead - February 14 - 4:23 amAt 24K, my Mazda3 needed a new bearing. The car is high strung like a German sports sedan, but lacks the quality engineering. Mazda is trying to build the poor mans BMW. They got the poor man part right. My 2006 Mazda replaced an 87 Honda Accord with 160K. Over 19 years, I had to replace the CV joints in the Honda and didnt have any other major problems. After 24K, the Mazda slipped a bearing. Here is another fun facts: In order to fit the "ZoomZoom" image, a supposed economy car requires V rated tires. My car ate up a set of Avon radials in 22K. Just be prepared to spend $600 plus on your tires.
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Mazda 3s Leak oil - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
By Vic Gallant - July 8 - 6:36 amMines a lemon. It has an oil leak that the dealer cant fix. Theyve tried to repair it three times already. Ive owned the car for less than three months. Its been in the shop 20% of the time. Stay away from this car and if you have one check it for oil leaks.
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Worst car Ive ever owned - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
By yagdoogie - June 10 - 4:06 pmReplaced the transmission. Twice. Motor "clicks," my mechanic thought it was going to throw a rod. Six months later, still clicking. Front end needed to be rebuilt at 102k. Roughest running four-cylinder Ive ever seen. Dealer said thats a characteristic of the motor. Hunh.
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catastrophic clutch failure at 14k miles - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
By natdallas - July 9 - 2:43 amIve really enjoyed driving this car. Ive driven two manual hondas, one subaru and an old datsun. Never any clutch problems. My 2010 Mazda 3 had a tight clutch one day, and then in the course of a day and a half, the clutch engaged the gear only partially--losing power--and finally, with a snapping sound, no power at all. Miriam Stevens (at Mazda North America Customer Care) gave the impression that Mazda does not care about premature clutch failures on this car. I mentioned the many web-postings about customers with similar clutch failures that appear out of nowhere, ending in sudden failure. This issue is not the result of wear and tear. Want to call lawyer.
