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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  Zoom-Zoom to Putt-Putt - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By Paul - April 5 - 1:20 pm

  I got my Mazda 3 in March of 04, brand new, with only 4 miles on it. I shopped around for several months, and knowing I couldnt afford an Audi, I went with something as comparative and fun to drive. The first couple of years were great. It turned heads and drove like a cat. It had a few small annoying features, like no finger pace to open the trunk, poor cabin sound and a mediocre stereo. But then the transmission and clutch started having problems. It gave a little trouble at first, and then the third gear just went along with the warranty.

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  2008 Mazda 3 S Touring 5dr 2.3L Manual - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By jfahl - April 4 - 3:03 pm

  I traded my beloved 04 Toyota 4Runner SR (V8 4WD) for the Mazda 3 and really though I would miss it. Its only been a short-time but so far the 3 has been so much fun to drive that I havent missed the big SUV. With 31 Cu Ft of cargo space (seats folded down) I should be able to transport my kids back and forth to college with ease. So far I have been saving ($4.20 per gallon) $36 per week on fuel.

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  Youll never want to buy another car! - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By hmarie23 - March 29 - 12:50 pm

  I owned my 2005 Mazda3i for just over a year before it was totaled. Im still mourning the loss of this car & with any luck will purchase another soon. I bought my mazdda3 used with 100,000 miles and drove it for 22,000 more. This car is extremely reliable, never had any problems with it (which is great since it had been in 2 minor accidents before I got it). Gas mileage was excellent -mostly highway driving usually got around 30 mpg which is great for a college students budget! My only complaint (aside from the lack of any real space needed when I was moving) was that around 110,000 miles it began to shake when it idled, before that it was smooth sailing. You cant go wrong buying this car

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  Excellent Car at a great price - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By doru31 - March 27 - 12:43 pm

  Excellent handling and suspension. Good braking with all disk brakes. Power and torque is a little low; could use more power like 180hp and 180lbs. torque. Interior and exterior styling is great with good quality. I like the side turn indicators which many cars dont have. Fully loaded for $21K (sunroof, leather, xenon, heated seats, clear led tail lights, 17 inch rims, 6-CD BOSE). Great car at a great price. I highly recommend it.

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  Best Bang for Your Buck - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Scott - March 26 - 5:10 pm

  This car has it all. Most luxuries are included in this car. The stereo kicks, the dashboard and gauges look awesome, and the car looks AMAZING from the outside. Ive got the Purple Phantom color and it is mean looking. Highly recommended. A+++

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  love it! - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By fatco - March 25 - 11:46 am

  Wife purchased 3 years ago and we both love this car. Very reliable trouble free 3 years. Has the options usually found on cars costing much more. 2.3 L engine very strong. Blizzaks for winter are awesome - they handle snow/ice better than my pathfinder. Lease about to end and will definitely buy it!

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  Review - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By L-Dub - March 24 - 7:33 am

  I dont think you can beat the performance of this car for the price. I have to agree with other people, that after driving this car I have a big smile on my face. The car handles great (it was better than I expected.) The quality interior is a great value and you cant beat a 6 speed manual. Another surprising trait was the lack of road and wind noise inside the cabin. The A/C is cold and the fan speed is sufficient.

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  Best Bang for your Buck! Fun to drive! - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By DEDM308 - March 19 - 3:56 pm

  I just bought a brand new silver 2008 Mazda3. I got the i Touring Value package with the 2.0 liter engine. This is an awesome car. The ride is smooth, and its really fun to drive! It gets average fuel economy for its class, but the power from the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine is much better than you would expect! This car can definitely take off, and the manumatic shifting on the 4 speed automatic transmission is a nice touch. Kudos to the people responsible for this design! It just goes to show you that you dont have to sacrifice style for your money! This car is beautiful! From the halogen headlights, to the black-out tail lights, and the optional 17-inch alloys - this is a sporty car!

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  Almost perfect - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Alberto - March 19 - 1:16 pm

  The 3 is an excellent blend of performance, economy, space, quality and style. On paper, comparisons to the Civic and Matrix seemed appropriate, but behind the wheel the 3 proved itself to have no peer in this price range. It seems more BMW 3 than Mazda 3, with the thoughtful blend of speed and comfort, the Teutonic feel of its controls and apertures, the wily blend of family-car and naughty-car. No, its not perfect. Some things, I suspect, may be blamed on the marketing department, e.g. gouging us on the cost of the navigation system and the MP3 player. And a few things might be blamed on the engineers, such as the small sunroof and the lack of a 6th gear. But overall, outstanding!

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  Great Car for the Price - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By Ever15 - March 19 - 4:00 am

  Ive always wanted a Lexus IS but am currently not in the income bracket to own one yet. I love the features and the look it has. The new Mazda3 was like a dream come true. While I was looking at the Civic on YouTube, I stumbled upon the Mazda3. Although its not a Lexus, it has a lot of features that are similar to it, for less the price! This is my first Mazda. Im not that big on cars, but I defintely like the new Mazda3s. My previous car was a 2003 Toyota Corolla S. Although, in my opinion, the exterior body of the car could be better (the front grill), to me the interior is what matters. I spend more time driving the car than looking at it.