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 21 through 30 of 201.00

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  Mazda 3 = BEST car for the buck. - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By zoom zoom guy - December 15 - 1:13 pm

  Hello to all possible car buyers. If you are looking for a car with style, interior and exterior beauty, performance and even good gas mileage for under 20,000 dollars look no further, this is the car you are going to get. Mazda compares this car to the honda civic and toyota corolla. First of all, bad comparison, the mazda3 surpasses both these cars by far. The mazda3 offers more bang for the buck in every single possible way. You get far more features then both other cars can offer, and these features are included standard, not for extra money. 22/29 is what they say, Ive been getting 24.5 miles per gallon,50/50 streets/highway. LOVE the car.

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  A great small car - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Love My Mazda3 - November 28 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car new last year after several years in an Audi A6 wagon. This Mazda3 made the step-down very easy to take. Very sporty car with lots of interior space. Surprisingly agile handling and a high fun to drive factor. Its not an Audi interior (what else is?), but its miles above the competition at this price point (and higher). No repair issues at all.

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  I upgraded and had some ups and downs - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Damian - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I like the way it handles now versus how it did when I bought it. Its a used car with only 17,700 miles on it so its a good deal. Of course I needed to fix some things before I could actually enjoy it like I now do. I like how it gets up there when I need it and when I out on a 1 to 2 hour drive I love the bose system. It helps to have soft tires greatly. This car corners nicely.

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  Money well spent! - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Spikeroo - November 1 - 6:36 am

  My first Mazda. I am very happy with the overall performance and the comfort considering the reasonable cost of the vehicle. I probably will step up to a larger model after I give this one to my granddaughter for college in 2 years. Mazda impresses me as a quality manufacturer.

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  A thrill to drive; wish MPG was better - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Chris - October 23 - 2:50 am

  A thrill to drive, but gas mileage not as good as Civic (I am getting 25 mpg combined). Engine performance suffers when A/C is on. Missing a few operation features such as auto headlights and auto door locks. Handling is great, looks great, love the snowflake wheels. 2008.5 models get updated interior, and choice of tan seating surfaces instead of all black interior with some paint colors.

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  Fun to drive hatchback - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By Steven Kim - October 17 - 6:56 am

  I bought an 08.5 Mazda3 Sport Hatchback after a dump truck trashed my 2006 Mazda3 I-Touring Sedan. They call it 08.5 because of a model change mid-year. I went to the dealer to buy another Mazda 3 I-Touring but the Copper Red color of the hatchback caught my attention. It steers and accelerates very nicely and definitely fun to drive. It makes my 100 mile daily commute bearable. As far as MPG, Ive gotten, 28, 29 and 30 MPG. Im not usually interested in a hatchback but the styling is sporty and far better than the Toyota Matrix and Honda Fit. I checked out the Honda Civic coup also and the roominess and interior didnt match the Mazda.

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  Fantastic car - better than expected MPG - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By archway - October 13 - 10:36 pm

  I switched from a very reliable and efficient S-10 after 15 years of daily use. Almost 2000 miles on the Mazda3 so time enough to review: really good interior comfort (Im 62), great acceleration with the 2.3 L engine from a stop (though not quite as eager when merging onto the highway), and stylish, masculine exterior. I like that this is close to the end of the production cycle so the bugs are mostly (hopefully) worked out -- learned this lesson from the 93 S-10. This is really 2004s best car with fewer trouble spots and 2008 technology and safety equipment. Best of all, I have averaged a better than expected 32 mpg with roughly 70% highway driving and heavy A/C use.

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  High Quality on a Budget - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By MTWnSTL - August 21 - 9:03 pm

  I just traded in my 2000 Eclipse GT V6 (loaded) for a brand new 2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring (even more fully loaded). The dealership checked every box, including navigation, sunroof, and the Bose multi-changer cd. The fit and finish in this car is hard to beat in the class and price range. Everything about this car is high quality. So far, in my first 500 miles, I havent found anything to dislike. I was worried about "trading down" from a sports car, but I think Ive really come out on the winning end with performance, economy, and an upscale interior with all of the amenities one could want.

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  Great Car - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By aiseop - August 21 - 8:05 am

  I bought it new and had to let it go when my son was born. Owned it for 56K miles. Never had any problems with it. I commuted from NJ to CT every three days and the car was very comfortable, excelled well on I-95 and the Merrit Pkwy, and had great fuel economy. No complaints. Would have kept it forever, however, the rear seats, once my son moved beyond the infant car-seat stage, became too small. Great for a couple or if you have older children in front-facing booster seats. Miss the car!

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  Great choice - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By mark - July 10 - 4:56 pm

  Bought new in 08 over a Civic and have been extremely pleased. Got rid of the performance rubber for some all- season tires which made the car a lot quieter and less nervous. Handling is still great. I have been getting 35 mpg in the summer and 32-33 in the winter ( I am some what of a feather foot). The 2.0 liter engine spins more easily with every mile, the chassis is still tight, and the car has not had a single issue. I also think it is better looking than the new model.