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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  Easily the best sedan under $20k - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By TG - February 19 - 2:20 pm

  Drove a Mazda3 two years ago and my wife and I were blown away at the performance for the money. Our 14 year old Protege finally died and we considered the Rabbit and Mercury Milan. Drove the 3 again, and were struck again at the strong handling, decent torque, nice design, and safety features. This thing really handles well for an inexpensive front wheel drive car. If you dont want to spend the money for a 3 series, G Sedan, or even a Jetta GLI, the 3 provides a great fix. We took the sunroof package and the striking Phantom Blue color--which looks nothing like the web photo. Hopefully it will age well, because were keepin this baby!

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  Best Car Ive ever owned - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By r85david - February 18 - 4:11 pm

  I have owned my Mazda 3 2.3 Automatic since 2006 at 14,000 miles. It actually has a rebuilt title so it was cheap. I now have 162,000 miles on it!!! original engine, transmission, ETC. Only have done regular maintenance mostly myself. changed oil to synthetic when purchased, change every 5,000 miles. Still running like a Champ! I will drive this car until the wheels literally fall off!! This is also the base model, roll down windows, no cruise control, manual seats ETC, may have something to do with not having any electrical issues at all.

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  New Mazda Hatchback - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By jasonamurray - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Love the car. Sure there are a few things that bother me, such as the quality of the materials used in the interior of the car, but you get what you pay for. With leather, nav, and the moon roof, the car looks, feels, and acts like a much more expensive car. Acceleration, Handling, and Stopping are all top notch. Stock stereo is nice, too. I looked at every car in this class (and drove the Sentra Spec V w/ full Nismo mods) and this car blows them all away. It may not be the cheapest, and it may not be the fastest, but its the most well-rounded of the bunch.

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  Very close to loving it - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By tiredofmanual - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Mazda did a great job making this car feel quite German on the highway. Its a quality that is very hard to define, but those that have driven good German cars know what Im talking about. This car is composed, quiet, and confident at high speeds. I unfortunately cannot say that I wholeheartedly love it. I have rattles in my doors that the dealership "cant" hear. My brakes sound terrible in the morning, and I think the rear pads stick. At low RPMs the engine sounds like a 20 year old Toyota that hasnt been maintained well. Its not until you push it that it actually sounds nice.

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  Mazda 3 - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By ldymacbeth89 - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Ok, so Ive only had my 3 for a few days - I admit to being biased. But I traded in my 96 Protege for it and have no regrets. It is soooo much peppier and more fun to drive! This is the first car Ive ever driven that has made me understand adjectives like "nimble" and "agile" when applied to cars. And this might seem like a small thing, but it just seems so solid - I feel very safe and secure driving it. Only complaint is that the cloth interior choices arent all that attractive, but leather is almost $600 extra. Otherwise, Im loving this car!

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  No regrets! Love this car! - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By TM - February 14 - 9:10 am

  After much research, I bought a Mazda3 hatch, LOVE it, decided to write a review since reviews helped me pick the 3. Comfortable ride, though can hear/feel road more than in some cars. 28mpg mixed driving, 36mpg highway on a recent 1,300 mile trip. Engine labored a bit going thru mountains, cruise control liked to rev 5mph at top of hils. Cruise control and audio controls on the steering wheel are great! Some reviews complain about the A/C--comfortable for the front seat, airflow to rear not as good but tolerable. (Change cabin air filter since this keeps the A/C at peak performance.) Nice hatch for extra cargo. Super compromise for a racecar--sporty performance/handling, fun to drive!

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  The wow in zoom!! - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By The WOW in ZOOM!!! - February 13 - 6:23 pm

  When I started to research this car, I had no idea how awesome this car was. It looks like a very, very expensive car a la Lexus or BMW. I get wows all the time, and when my friends and family looked at the interior they where all impressed. This car really zooms, and looks great doing it. If you want a car that looks and feels very luxurious, than this is the car!

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  Copper-Hatch - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Copper-Hatch 06 - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought my 06 Mazda3 Hatchback in October 05. Thought about getting a Toyota Corolla S, but after trying with several Toyota dealerships they couldnt get the options that I wanted. So far the Mazda3 has been a fun, reliable, good looking car. This is my first Mazda and so far a good car, Im a Toyota kind of guy, but decided to give Mazda a chance.

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  Heart of a Sports Car - Sleek Looks - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By HorsySce - February 12 - 10:06 am

  I have 25,000 miles on my winning blue hatchback and am very satisified with my purchase. It accelerates fast and handles like a Porsche. It looks great on the road (especially with tint). It could use slightly better gas mileage, but its not too bad. One complaint is the tires - the Goodyear Eagle RSAs it comes with from the factory are pretty great in the summer but useless in the winter. The hard rubber freezes up and is dangerous with even an inch of snow on the ground. I frequently got stuck in the snow. After purchasing Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires for the winter, Im very satisfied. I recommend doing the same.

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  Bang for the Buck! - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By thebrakeman - February 10 - 2:13 am

  Purchased used with about 24k miles. Titanium Gray, black leather, 5-speed, ABS/airbag package, 6 CD/moonroof package, TPMS/Xenon package. Previous car was 89 Ford Probe GT, which was a Mazda clone. I really miss the low rpm torque from the Probes turbo (Mazdaspeed3 will be awesome!), but overall, I cant be happier. I could have purchased a new 05 Ford Focus ST (5-speed, same 2.3L Mazda motor) for about the same money, but the Focus interior and features STINK compared to the Mazda3. Also test drove several Dodge SRT-4s (TURBO!), but again, the interiors were not livable compared to the 3 (not to mention the race car open exhaust).