Overview & Reviews

Front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are now standard on all 's' trim levels.

• Athletic handling, refined and zippy engines, sharp styling, top-notch build and materials quality, sharp styling, hatchback utility, luxury features and ambiance at a budget price.

• So-so fuel economy with 2.3-liter engine, top safety equipment is optional on lower trim levels, tight rear legroom.

User Reviews:

Showing 111 through 120 of 201.00

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  I love it - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By newowner - June 21 - 8:00 am

  I have recently purchased a Mazda 3 and love it. It is a fun and stylish car with excellent handling. It also is much roomier than you would expect. I am happy I choose it over simlar cars in its class. It delivers the most bang for its reasonable buck.

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  Great car - zoom zoom - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By parusianknight - April 3 - 10:26 pm

  Researched new 5-door for past 6 months. The Mazda3 beats every all others, hands down. The build quality is outstanding. The attention to detail and standard features in a "base model" are a lesson to other car builders. The Mazda3 automatic drives like a charm - be careful if you have other drivers in the house - it will quickly become a car of choice. The maintenance schedule is like no other - Sealed automatic transmission - no service required; 1st coolant flush - 100,000 miles; pretty much just oil changes. I recommend the Mazda extended warranty - very reasonably priced and gives you bumper to bumper coverage.

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  Fun to drive - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By RA - March 13 - 10:56 pm

  Needed something small and economical, without being a lame ride. Looked at corolla, and sentra. By far the Mazda 3 has the looks and the performance. Fun to drive, very quick. Not so fuel efficient only getting about 21 combined. Excellent handling.

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  Jack Rabbit 3i - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By PnBoo - March 9 - 9:40 pm

  Bought the car for my 25 mile (one way) trip to work. After 8,000 miles, could not be happier. Averages about 32 MPG on highway. Very agile and turning radius is incredible. I test drove a few other small cars; this is the only one I felt a smirk come across my face during the test. I wish I had purchased the manual transmission. Only initial complaint was the seats, I had to use a seat cushion to be comfortable (very minor).

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  Sweet Ride, Designed in 2004 - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By detroit1701 - February 26 - 6:46 pm

  The Mazda3 5-speed hatch is a great car to drive -- good handling and driving dynamics. Designed to compete with the VW Golf / Rabbit, it offers similar performance and fuel economy out of its 2.3L 156 hp engine. The only thing keeping this car from blowing out the competition is fuel economy. The next generation 3 should address these issues.

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  Almost Perfect! - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Jennifer - February 6 - 4:00 am

  I love love love my Mazda 3. I did a lot of research of the Honda Civic, Fit, Toyota Corolla and the Volks Jetta. I was almost going to buy the Corolla until I test drove the Mazda 3 Sedan. It was the handling that sold me and the expensive/sporty look of the trim. The Corolla was everything I expected it to be, but the Mazda 3 surpassed what I was looking for.

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  Engine Failure - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By jrl6 - December 31 - 10:11 am

  Beware of Mazda engine. Our story is like many others I am reading, and if only I were aware of the problems with Mazda engine, I would not have experienced such a financial loss. I bought the 2008 Mazda 3i for my graduate student daughter from a known party, well maintained at 61000 miles. We continued the routine service/small repairs for the last year. at 74000 the engine timing chain broke on the freeway, engine overheated and car is a total loss. Dont go near Mazda, we left the Mazda lot and walked into the Honda dealer, where I have many years of reliability. Never again Mazda! You can google the issue and we are not alone.

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  Best car Ive owned yet - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By koopzilla - December 13 - 1:40 pm

  I love my Mazda3 Hatchback, Great gas mileage fun to drive no complaints at all if havent driven one do so and if your serious about buying new car give it a chance they really give you a lot of car for your dollar

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  So wonderful I bought another one - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By teamsc10190 - October 15 - 3:44 am

  I had a 2006 Mazda 3 SGT that was my favorite car Id owned since the early 70s. I decided late in 2009 that I needed to have another one but the second generation 3 was already at Mazda dealerships, sporting a vapid grin that I hated. I needed to find another first generation 3. The search for a SGT variant took me four years to find a low mileage pristine example CA car. When a 5-sp manual, White Pearl with navigation surfaced I pounced on it. It was well worth the effort and the wait. This car consistently delivers in smiles per mile. With the third generation 3, Mazda recovered the sexy face in a more capable and complete package that will be on my short list in the future.

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  Many pros - one con - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Dairyland Purchaser - September 4 - 9:40 am

  Overall I am having a great experience driving the Mazda3s GT. It truly does want to zoom-zoom. I love the car. The only negative is that it is hard to read the instrument dials in bright sunshine. I cannot rate the reliability as I bought the car new, but I am counting on it lasting many years.