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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  Sexy Car for a Sexy Person - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Neo - November 5 - 11:46 am

  I loved the mazdas ever since they came out and made it my goal to purchase one. On 10/06, I bought one and became a proud owner. I love the exterior, interior could use some work but I am quite content with my car. I dont need all those extra features - just have an A/C and a CD player and Im content. So far so good, the car is very reliable but the real test will come in a few years from now to see just how reliable it is.

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  Good for what you pay - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By AJ - November 4 - 9:20 pm

  This car for me, right off the test drive, no matter how much you try to abuse it, it wont let up. It will adjust to your driving style. I suspect that maybe if I have driven the manual version, then I could have done some real damage, but I didnt get the chance. Anyways, the car handling is exact and precise. The performance isnt anything spectacular, but it should be sufficient for anyone driving aggressively, kind of...Luckily, the car comes with a tremendous amount of features and interior design and layout to make it exciting, or fun in the least. You wont be disappointed if you just want a base car to mess around with, but if you want a true sports car, go for better models!

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  LOVE this car!! - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By kachok - November 2 - 3:05 am

  I got my Mazda 3 hatchback a few days ago and I absolutely love it! Crazy good mpg in town and on the highway (52.9mpg@55mph and 44.0mpg @70mph) all the power I ever wanted, fantastic handling and plenty of room for me and all my gear. I work at another brand dealership, and am willing to deal with the ridicule of my boss and co-workers to drive my 3, it is the perfect car for me. I drive all kinds of cars every day, and the Jetta/Civic/Corolla/Elantra just dont stack up. Only the Focus SE and Dart Ralley compare, the Dart is not offered in a hatch and I have had bad luck with Fords so it was an easy choice for me.

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  Great car, poor MPG - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By Slick26 - November 1 - 7:56 am

  All things considered, I think this has so far been a great car. Build quality and reliability have been superb. As has handling and over-all general performance. My main concerns about this car have been fuel economy and room. Now I knew I was buying a compact car, so I cant complain too much about room. But just take note, if you have kids, especially small kids in car seats, this car gets extremely small in a hurry. Put two car seats in the back and you have no room for anything, and driver and front passenger become very uncomfortable. Now, where I am most disappointed is fuel economy. I cannot get better than 23 mpg hwy/20 city no matter how hard I try. And I drive very conservatively.

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  Enjoying my Mazda 3 GT! - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Mark - November 1 - 7:46 am

  Ive owned this car for 4 months now and continue to be impressed. After coming out of a BMW I wanted something "fun" to drive with good handling and the 3 has delivered. The GT comes with a long list of features in a car of this price range. The 5 door hatch has proven to be very versatile yet with the seats up can carry 4 adults in comfort. I wish my wife knew how to drive a stick as it would be even more fun with the manual tranny. At times the automatic hesitates a little between gears and can be somewhat difficult to drive smoothly. Also, on days over 90 degrees the A/C can seem a little weak unless you put on recirculate. Ive already taken it on a 1500 mile trip - comfortable road car!

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  If youre tired of Hondas Get the Mazda3 - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By barrettdp - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Just bought it!! I love the way it handles. Has great get up and go! Interior is awesome! If you are tired of seeing the same old Honda on the street...this is the car for you! I love Mazdas so I may be a bit impartial. I would give it a nine out of ten on an overall scale.

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  My First "NEW" Car - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By MattLeeGee - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Loved it at first site, test drove a automatic and signed the papers 10 mins later for a 5speed and all the options (except navi) I have never owned a new car but fully loaded for a little over $20k seems right for how fun this car is, i also bought a 100K warrenty. It made me broke but its better then owning a older car!

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  Great...for the first two years - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By fzyltlsquirrel - October 26 - 2:09 pm

  I was in love with this car. Frankly, in many ways I still am. I have the standard tranny and love the handling. The car really is fun to drive. Except when the gear synchro does not function properly from first to second. I drive 300+ miles a week, and have since I got the car. We live in northern CA and go snowboarding and backpacking often, so this car gets driven a lot. Even so, it is only 2 1/2 years old, and the tranny is clearly going bad. The worst part is that it is an intermittent problem that the dealer has yet to duplicate. I have 5,000 miles left on my warranty so, sadly, Im trading her in for a CX 5 - which doesnt come with as many features on the manual. Disappointing

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  Mazda 3, 5 door 2.3 liter - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By Thom - October 26 - 12:33 am

  We have owned for approximately 1 year and have had no trouble with it at all. We traded from a large SUV to this car and my wife loves it. Mileage is obviously much better. She loves handling and fun factor. SUV was larger and I thought safer, but in truth Montero SUV would have possibly rolled in emergency situation. This car handles like a slot car and I think would be safer under an unexpected situation and my wife could avoid a potential accident.

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  Best Car Out There - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By gegpdx - October 21 - 10:48 am

  I bought my 2006 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback new when it first came out in 05 and drove it for about 78,000 miles before a guy lost control of his car on a highway, hit the driver side of my car causing the airbags to deploy and spinning us into a ditch. Because of the high safety standards, we were all able to walk away from the accident with minor injuries, when looking at my car, we should have been on stretchers. My car saved our lives. I loved this car and will be buying a new one just as soon as I can find one. They are so great that no one wants to part with theirs. I recommend this car to everyone. Fun to drive, safe, and reliable.