2010 Mazda MAZDA3 Consumer Reviews

Really want to love it, but...

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

Review

2nd review on this vehicle. At first I couldn't say enough good things about it, but the good feeling is gone. Clutch completely destructed at 38K and warranty is only for 12K. I got over 100K on my pervious honda clutch and it was not a $1350 dealer quote to fix it. This is not an uncommon occurance with numerous postings on the web with an average malfunction mileage of 28K...on a year old car no less. Now, my driver side door and hatchback will not unlock with remote, key, or manually. Needless to say, I am not going to continue to climb into the car from the passanger side and lower the rear seats to gain access to the trunk. I just cannot recommend this vehicle anymore.
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Tired of reviews from people who don't realize the full capability of the Mazda 3 S

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)

Review

I had been researching new cars under $25 grand for two close friends for almost the past two years. I had owned four new Mazda products in my life and had enjoyed each and every one of them. I had traded in my last Mazda, a 2000 Protégé ES, for my dream car which was the new 2005 Ford Mustang. Running errands on a day off during the workweek, I ran across a local Mazda dealership rotating their inventory on their lot. Someone was pulling a Crystal White Pearl Mica 3 S hatchback out of the showroom onto the lot. It caught my eye due to already having had the windows tinted. After finishing my errands, I headed back to the dealership and was approached by the sales lady while texting and sending pictures of the vehicle and window sticker to my friends. It was equipped with the Moonroof/Bose package as well as the 5-speed Sport Automatic transmission and had the black cloth interior. She talked me into taking it for a test drive even though I was not purchasing , only looking for my friends. needless to say, the test drive lasted over thirty minutes and consisted of various types of roads as well as taking it up on the interstate. As much as I had coveted my Ford Mustang, I was thoroughly impressed with the 2010 Mazda 3 S hatchback. So much so, that I left the lot in my new Mazda 3 S on September 8th of 2010. I have had my Mazda for over a year and waited until now, October 10, 2011 to write an accurate review. I have read many mixed reviews with, in my honest opinion, inaccurate information that I do want to clear up. First off, this is a COMPACT car. You need to sit in it, front and back to see if it is right size for you. There is no logical reason to try to put 10 pounds of lard in a 5 pound jar or to put a 12 foot tree in a room with an 8 foot high ceiling. Enough said. Second, it's not going to break the speed barrier. It has a 2.5 liter 152 cubic inch front wheel drive motor that only produces 167 horsepower@ 6000rpm and 168 foot pounds of torque @ 4000 rpm. Its a peppy 4-cylinder motor without a turbo. It will do 0-60 mph in approximately 7.5 to 8.5 seconds depending on having the manual or automatic transmission. If you "need" something quicker the MAZDASPEED 3 is the version for what you want with a turbocharged 2.3 liter 263 hp @5500 rpm with a 6-speed manual. Mazda has this covered for you. Do you really need something quicker? My 2005 Mustang with the 4.0 liter V6 with cold air intake got 17 mpg to 25 mpg and it was running around 225 horsepower at a curb weight of 3300 lbs. On the interstate my Mustang could keep up with a new 2010 Shelby Mustang at twice the price to it's owners dislike. This isn't the Autobahn, so once you are at highway speed a quicker 0-60 and higher top end is irrelevant. It has more than enough power to merge with traffic both on and off the interstate. On an emergency trip to our local vet hospital, I was more than impressed with not only it's speed, but also it's stability and handling. Third, gas mileage is rated at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway for the automatic that I have. I only commute approximately 8 miles each way daily to work and the majority of the time I take the twisty back road where the trip is more "enjoyable". I average 25 mpg. I have gotten as high as 32 mpg on a trip with both interstate as well as bumper to bumper traffic to nearby Pigeon Forge in the Great Smoky Mountains. Curb weight for the Mazda 3 S hatchback with automatic is 3105 pounds. I am quite happy with my gas mileage with my Mazda. You can drive it like a miser or drive it like you stole it. Either way, I enjoy the ride. Fourth, complaints over the size of the NAVIGATION screen. Although mine does not have navigation, the Tom Tom as well as the Garmin have the same size screen. Mazda just places it in the dash for less glare. I can't see justifying the cost where it is included in a package. Fifth, speaking of electronic features in my Mazda 3 S and many car magazine editors reviews of those features, I just have to say this, you are totally unaware of just what all this car will do for you and you have too many cars to drive at one time. With the Bluetooth feature, it synced up perfectly and easily with my iPhone 3GS. Controls on the left side of the steering wheel will not only answer and disconnect the call for you, but it can initialize a call by voice commands by speaking the number or by programming in your favorite numbers to call. You can also increase or decrease the volume of calls as well as the audio system here. Criticisms over the USB being an extra cost option, with the iPhone it connects thru the stereo via the Bluetooth feature sounding as if it was hardwired into the stereo. There is also a button on the left side of the steering wheel to scroll thru your favorite channel settings next to the volume button. Sixth, winter traction in snow with the factory tires. I read so many negative reviews, I figured that someone, especially someone that worked for an automotive magazine would know how to effectively drive in the snow. Due to having 17 inch tires, snow tires in that size were not an option so I purchased a set of low profile tire chains for under $100. Needless to say, I did practice installing them so that I would be ready in case I needed them, which I do recommend. I did not have to use them when driving in 4 to 6 inches of snow. If you drive according to the weather and road conditions, you should have no problems getting to your destination in the Mazda 3.
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Great car but 2nd car kinda funky

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 i SV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I had this car for a year and really liked it. I took it on a trip to Louisana and Alabama and was comfortable the entire way. Shifting to 2nd gear has to be precise but I haven't had any problems otherwise. It looks great, has nice room and is fun to drive and park.
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Will never purchase a mazda again.

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

Review

words cannot explain how horrible my experience with mazda was. first my clutch failed(due to pressure plate wearing unevenly) with no warning at 19500 miles, after only owning since november, and then the service department treated me like crap, ignored their mechanics who said it was defective, screamed at me to the point i was in tears in the middle of the floor, and refused to cover the repairs, corporate was not much a better experience as they didnt care and wouldnt give me any answers. i contacted the local news stations and everyone in PITTSBURGH PA will know what has happened.
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Worst car ever.

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)

Review

This is my first car. I've had it for about 2 years and 2 months. I loved it at first, then things started to break. My window almost fell out on a highway, all my tires have been changed at least twice, and they went bald after a year and 6 months. I've had my breaks changed after a year. My passenger has stopped working, twice. So many more things have gone wrong with this car, I don't have enough room to type it all. I never should have gotten this car. It is horrible in the snow, and just starts failing after a year. I'm never getting another Mazda, and I'm ending my lease as early as possible. The driving is pretty decent, but it's definitely not worth the money.
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catastrophic clutch failure at 14k miles

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

Review

I've really enjoyed driving this car. I've driven two manual hondas, one subaru and an old datsun. Never any clutch problems. My 2010 Mazda 3 had a tight clutch one day, and then in the course of a day and a half, the clutch engaged the gear only partially--losing power--and finally, with a snapping sound, no power at all. Miriam Stevens (at Mazda North America Customer Care) gave the impression that Mazda does not care about premature clutch failures on this car. I mentioned the many web-postings about customers with similar clutch failures that appear out of nowhere, ending in sudden failure. This issue is not the result of wear and tear. Want to call lawyer.
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Put This on Your Short List

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 i Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)

Review

In short, it's a lot of fun to drive. There are definitely other cars that have more power and finer materials. However, you'll have to pay more money to reach into that pot of gold. And, regardless of price range, few cars can handle the nimbleness of a Mazda 3. If you don't care about your driving experience, a Civic or a Corolla might be better. But, for anyone who likes to drive for fun, this car should definitely be on your list.
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Very happy with the lovely 3

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

Review

I leased this mazda 3 August 2010. I really love the brilliant handling and the comfort seat and ride. Steering is very fast and precise. I guess for the price, you can't find other car in the class with better driving experience. I did do some autocross with this car. Even on all season tire, it can still shine. I also did a few 800 mile journey, it is comfortable enough that I can drive 13 hrs straight in the car. The down side would be so so fuel economy, I normally average 23-24 mpg in town, barely 30 mpg driving on highway. Also the build quality could be slightly improved. My car did develop a slight rattle at the back of the car at around 5000 miles. Overall, i am very happy.
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It's fun to be 3!

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)

Review

Traded in our Mazda 5 in order to pass this car on to my kids, now 12. Now at about 14,000 miles, I am just as happy with it as I was with our 5. It's a great looking car and I really enjoy the bluetooth feature. Love using the manual shift and it is nice and sporty with alot of get up and go. Not thrilled about the gas mileage, but if I keep my speed under control, mileage does become better. Got Pearl White with beige interior and tinted the windows. Pay close attention, it looks exactly like the new Lexus 200CTH at half the price! Would buy it again in a heartbeat!
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Great car recommend to all

Vehicle

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

Review

I have this car for a little over a year and it has been a great car. My previous car was a 99 Honda Accord and this has alot more power and handles a lot better. everything is still running like new. One of my biggest gripes is that the original tires burned out extremely fast. Around 20K. It has plenty of power for passing and get up to the top speed, well the limiter. The shfit gear has loosen up a bit over the 28k I have had it but still good.. Love that all i have to do is change the oil which is great for a college student minus the tire issue. It scratches easily by the under the door handle.
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