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Very capable
This car has a solid feel, crisp handling and good seat comfort. I feel confident behind the wheel and there's plenty of back seat and hatchback utility in this fun package. I paid full boat retail and don't regret it. Our other car is a Miata and it's hard to compare these two but it is sporty enough that I don't jones to get back in the sports car. It's really great.
AXELA
I have had my 3S just over a month. I love it. It is the best sub-compact car I have looked at, priced, and driven. It handles like a BMW 3- series minus the rear drive. I see them all around town, but it never fails, people still stare at my car. It is very sexy, and great to drive.
- s 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,499346 mi away
- s SedanMSRP: $5,999350 mi away
- s SedanMSRP: $4,788440 mi away
Euro build style.. without the price tag
I used to own a VW Jetta VR6, and find a lot of similarities between the Jetta and the Mazda3. I was impressed on the first drive the pickup the 2.3l had. Its been awhile since I owned a 4cyl. Overall, the last 199 miles have been a pleasure. Its comfortable, sharp and nibble handling make quite a package. Driving is believing.
Powerful, Good Looking, and Economical!
I drove the Civic LX, and Corolla LE. Neither of them shifted smoothly, were underpowered, and weren't fun to drive or look at. Also drove the Subaru WRX, and I actually prefered driving the Mazda 3. The Mazda 3 is the most fun car that I've driven in years! It also happens to get great mileage and the base model comes loaded with more stuff than the Civic or Coirolla, and at 160 hp, it has plenty of power. It's also rock solid on the road, and handles great. I drove the Protege also, and this is a totally different car, much improved. Too early to judge reliability yet, but with the same engine and trans. as the Mazda 6, I'm expecting it to be good.
Love this car!
Factory ordered Jan04; picked Strato Blue out of the book. What a looker! Will never find another paint this beautiful; even Mazda changed it after 2004, probably because it scratches so easily. Still turning heads after 75,000 miles though. Absolute fun to drive on tight back roads, but really tough on tires. Easy to spin even from a stop sign. Gas mileage with aftermarket roof rack is around 23-25 mpg mixed, but 30-33 mpg on long trips using cruise control. Good reliability; only three unscheduled trips to dealer that was the car's fault...dash cracked, CD player fried, and transmission programming issue. Most difficult is thinking of trading it off! Might just have to buy another one!
Best car ever!
I bought this car brand new 8 years ago and I can honestly say it has been the best car I've ever owned! Thus far the only things we've had to change on it have been the brakes and of course the tires. Anyway, great first time car for anyone! I will be trading up soon for a small SUV.
GREAT CAR!
This car has it all. Its not expensive at all and has all the best features. The interior is absolutely beautiful. The exterior is flawless and sporty looking and performance is all I ask for. I got the automatic but the dealership didnt have manual yet. GO GET ONE!
The Class-Leader
I bought a 2.3 litre model with 4-Speed Sport AT automatic early this month and so far the car is excellent. The engine has great performance in low rpm range and you get greatly rewarded when traveling into the upper rpm range. The interior design and execution is almost perfect. The gauges are great to look at and easy to read. The dash is simple and offers unique immulating features. The only complaint is cheapish plastics scattered throughout the cabin, but for this price, who cares? The exterior looks are fabulous and the 17-inch wheel s and tyres make the car handle just like our BMW. Its a great car. Without a doubt, the class leader.
Zoom-Zoom-Zoom
Just like the commercials say this new Mazda 3 goes zoom zoom zoom. I Love my car. I test drove both engine types and found out that the 2.0L has a little drag so I decided to go with the 2.3L and was very pleased. The car has great suspension and great turning. The driver side has plenty of room but if youre tall like me (6'0ft) then it's difficult for a passenger to sit behind you. The interior is hi-tech and flashy. Overall the car is great and fun to drive. Expect to pay close to sticker price because this car is selling quicker then Starbucks coffee. Enjoy!
AMAZING CAR
Wonderful new sedan. Great gas mileage. Very comfortable and roomy in the front. Fun to drive and well equipped. A great car to sport around.
ZOOM ZOOM
I still walk backwards to look at my car in parking lots. This is by far the most fun to drive car Ive owned in ten years. Bang for the buck is an understatement when it comes to the Mazda3. Nothing can touch it!
Great Car
I just got this car about a week ago and I cannot wait to drive it some more. The exterior look surpasses anyting in its class as well as the interior look. For the driving part, it is a lot of fun. Great acceleration combine with tight steering make this car a joyride
After 5 years of ownership-Great Car!
This is a great car. Love making u turns, awesome handling, braking, steering. Keep good Michelin tires and have them rotated every 3,000 miles or you'll wear tires. So far my Michelin and rotations are keeping it in check. Have 68,000 miles on car.
Best bang for the buck
In Canada we have the top of the line GT with a GFX package. This car is so much fun to drive and the handling is just amazing as well as the brakes. Interior is beautifuly crafted with high quality materials which puts other cars in this class to a SHAME. This vehicle is by far of superior nature and quality. The 2.3 engine with a 160hp is fun and gives great gas mileage. I'd suggest to get the 5 speed manual to truly enjoy what this car can throw at you.
1 Week Old
I bought a black loaded 2.3L Mazda 3 sedan with auto, leather, mp3 player, 17" wheels, and aero package. Interior quality and design is comparable to much more luxurious (ie $$$) cars. The exterior with the aero package and the 17" wheels manages to be classy and racy from all angles. The 2.3L feels strong and relaxed if not racy. Leather seats are comfortable but don't have a seat warmer option. The dash looks great at night even though the instrument cluster is a little busy. Handling is top notch with the ride never being harsh. Highly recommended. The Mazda 3 is by a landslide the best in class.
GO MAZDA!
I love the new Mazda3 5 door. I think the regular sedan looks like it had its back cut off. Beyond that it is an awesome car!
Forget about Honda and Toyota
This is a great car. If your considering a Honda Civic or a Toyota, even a Jetta, take a look at the Mazda3. For the money I dont think anything compares! I have been car shopping for 3 months, was going to make the "typical" purchase of the Honda Civic. Toyota just had no appeal and the Jetta was a little pricy for everything thing I wanted, sunroof, CD changer, pwr everything, etc. Once I heard about the Mazda3 coming out I thought I would hold off. I sure am glad I held out for the Mazda3 to arrive. 2 days with this car and I know I made the right decision. Great Warranty too. The dealership in Hagerstown MD was great to work with as well!
GRRREAT!!! ;)
I TRADED IN MY 2003 PROTEGE 5 FOR THE NEW 2004 4 DOOR MAZDA 3S NICE RIDE;) THE BIGGER ENGINE IS WORTH THE DRIVE&PURCHASE ALONE, NO COMPARISON TO THE PROTEGE 5 OR PROTEGE. IVE DONE ALOT OF WORK BORING OUT THE ENGINE IN THAT CAR!! AND STILL DOESN'T COMPARE TO THE 2.3 160 HP BESIDES ALL THE GOODIES YOU GET IN THE S MODEL FOR THE PRICE, IS GRRREAT!!! SPORT SUSPENSION, 17" ALLOY WHEELS, SUNROOF, XENON LIGHTS ETC ITS DEFINATELY WORTH THE PURCHASE!!!
White Mazda 3s 5 door
Bought my Mazda3 5 door after I got into a major highway accident. Forced into shopping for a new car in 3 days but luckily my wife already owned a 3 4 door. Very good car for the price and size. Excellent fit and finish, build quality and ergonomics. A bit snug for me in the drivers seat since I am 6'2", 210 but very good commuter and short distance car. Put over 9,000 miles on it and it is performing well with no complaints. Shows all the other manufacturers how to design and execute a top quality car instead of the junk they try to pass off on consumers. Well done, Mazda!
Wonderful
This has been a great family vehicle, it's reliable and extremely fun to drive. We've moved twice since we've owned it and could not believe how much we could cram inside. The interior cleans up nicely with a vacuum or carpet cleaning. The only issue we've had with the interior is that the cloth on one of the doors wasn't glued well.
Must See, Must Buy
The Mazda3 is an awesome car. They look very aggresive and even have a little growl from the factory. I rate the safety very well since I wrecked mine doing rolls at 75+mph. My friend and I were okay and walked about 5 miles to my friends house for the night. I had a sore shoulder for about 2 months after but by judging by the car its a miracle we made it out alive. It's a clean, and stylish car with good performance and mileage all in one. I wouls recommend this to tuners, youngerr crowd, and parents with no more than 2 kids. The trunk is BIG so I cant figure why the back seat is small.
What more could you ask for.
I just purchased the 5-speed 4s with the sports package about 48 hours ago. Purchase price $16,300 -- What more can you ask for from an entry level car as far as performance, style, and functionality are concerned. This car looks like a bigger souped up jetta, performs like the matrix Xrs, feels like an eclipse spyder on the turns, but costs a few thousands less! All my assessment for the vehicle is based on the buying price and the fact that this car is an entry level model.
ALOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK!
Mazda could have priced this car several thousand dollars higher and the would still sell...I compared this car to the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe and the Honda Civic...Way more fun and for my money a tighter car. Handles great, pick up in automatic is good but if you want more you can throw it into the clutchless mode and control the shifting yourself.
best car out there
very Sporty, great looks and and awsome price
Best Compact
So far I have 900 miles on the car. I don't have a single complaint yet. I chose this car out of the usual compact shopping list of Civic, Jetta, Corolla. The handling of the car is great. Even with the AT, the throttle is very responsive. Braking is equally responsive. Interior and exterior design is very attractive. Build of the car is very sound. I find the profile, and car in general, to be similar in comparison to the IS300 except 10k cheaper. Take it for a test drive and you'll see what you can get for sub 20k. My options include ABS/SAB/EBD, Xenon & TPMS, Sunroof & 6-CD, Sport, and Sportmatic AT.
Mazda has just about did it
Engine is a 2.3L with 160 crank HP. With this displacement, you could produce at least 200 crank HP by reworking the head and remapping the ECU. Exterior is unique and modern. The tire selection is the only drawback as they do not perform well on any vehicle. Interior is clean and easy to view. Material seems to be of high quality. Driver cockpit is a little tight. Performance is a little lacking. Though cornering is nice, the rear slips at high speeds. This is due to the tires and maybe the small rear sway bar. Power to the wheels is a bit hesitant while already moving at normal speeds, but on the other hand, speed does increase without even noticing.
Poor Man's Luxury Sedan
Hot little vehicle with a decent price tag.
Wow
I love this car! It's the best looking car that I have seen in a long time, and everywhere I go, people are saying great things about it. Many of them have begged for a ride, and love it. It's the most fun to drive, and since I've gotten it, 2 of my friends have now purchased one as well. It's a luxury car without the luxury price. The controls are easy to use, within reach, and the navi system is a breeze to use. I went out of state the weekend I purchased the car, had no problems using it. I feel like I got a steal when I purchased this car...people think it's a 30K car, when I tell them 20K they flip out.
Zoom zoom.....no rust.....rust....rust
A fun car to drive for the first four years. Rust started this winter and in a few short months has almost devoured the car. Not since my 71 Torino have I seen a vehicle rust so bad. I would never buy another
a different car
I have had no problems with the car. The styling has been copied now and will be used partially in the design of the EVO 10. It is so much different than having a boring Ford.
best
love this car. the best in its class
Great Car!
I bought the M3 a couple of weeks ago and it great all around from style to performance. It gets good gas mileage (around 35 mpg) which was very important in the decision. Also, the body style and colors to choose from were all excellent.
Love
I did about 5 months worth of research to find a car. That all stopped when I found my 3 :). It is a lot of fun to drive and looks great. I'm hoping the reliability holds up. I have confidence. I love my car!
mazda3
one of the most fun cars i have ever driven.
Watchout!!!! The Mazda3 is a Cut Above
The smooth, quiet 2.3l engine along with almost no road noise is amazing in this class car. The interior quality and design belongs in a far more expensive car. The 3 is much faster than it feels like. You look at the speedometer and your 20 mph over the speed limit. First gear (automatic) with your foot down just a little and your gone. Wonderful handling car.
The Surprise Winner
I decided to test drive the Mazda 3 just to be sure that I did not overlook anything before I dropped 20K. This car out drove anything else I drove (Jetta, Civic, Altima and Matrix). Shifting is simple and precise, not the sluggish start of the other cars I drove. The engine revs freely and clutch is very smooth. Steering is a bit light but provides a good sense of the road. The car interior is well laid out though a bit quirky in its styling. The result is that I bought the car. Mazda really has delivered a drivers car at a reasonable price.
Cute and Fun Car!
I just bought the M3 today and have already had a lot of fun driving it. Besides being inexpensive, it is stylish and easy to drive. I actually bought the car for my teenage son, but he may never get to use it because I am enjoying it so much! When I went to the dealer I was going to buy a Mazda 6 but I found this to be almost as nice, much more interesting to look at, and about $7,000 cheaper! I think this will be a hit with the teens and college students.
Mazda 3 lives up to expectations!
I was on the market for a reliable new vehicle that I knew I could build up to high performance standards. The Mazda 3 has given me a jump start on this goals at a great price. This vehicle should be around a long time.
Zoom, Zoom
I have had this car for about 2 weeks, and 1000 miles later, I can say I'm pretty happy with this purchase. It's been through Chicago's winter already, and It does alright in the snow.
Drives like a zoom out of Hades
Continue to be amazed by thoughtfulness of detail and quality of fit and finish. Drives like a go-cart and turns quite a few heads as I pass them. The dealer sold two more of them while I was buying mine. Another winner for Mazda.
Ticket Getter
Purhased after reading reviews. Being a "motorhead", I had a pretty good idea what was out there, and without the bump to 160-horses, I probably wouldn't have considered the 3. Also drove left over Proteges, which has entirely different feel. Whereas the Protege is flingable, the 3 feels more substantial. Bought for less than $500 over dealer's invoice. The January issue of Car & Driver magazine provides a good review on this model. More comparable to the discontinued Prelude than the Civic or Matrix in it's class and pulls as hard a a 330 Bimmer 0-60.
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
This is a great car at a great price. When i saw the features and the styling of this car i almost over looked it thinking it whould be in the mid to high 20's i took a look at the sticker price, drove it, bought all in one night... AWESOME VEHICLE.....
Awesome Car!
This is truly a fun car to drive! The interior is comfortable yet sporty. It handles very well. The highway ride is smooth and quiet. The car can be customized to fit your peferences, while remaining affordable. I would highly recommend it!
rocket ship
test drove the sedan 2.3L 5spd. wow what a rush,great take off speed,0-60 in a blink of an eye,handled turns outstanding,its like buying a BMW but alot cheaper, cant wait to buy one with in a month
Great car
We just bought a 3s for my wife to drive and we love it. The car is fun to drive and it looks great. Our's had a problem with the rear brakes initially, but it was resolved quickly.
Mazda3 s sedan, auto
I just bought my 2004 Mazda3 s last week, but I've already driven it over 1000 miles on a trip. My first impression of the car was great, it's sleek and drives well. The only issues I've had with it are that the driver seat seems to be made for tall people with long arms. When I push the seat back so that your foot is a good distance from the pedals, I have to hold my arms out straight to hold the wheel. I also bought this car not realizing that the 2.3 L engine didn't get very good gas mileage. I was hoping to improve over my V6 mustang, but the mpg is only slightly better. But I like the way it drives, and I think it will be a great car for me.
Fantastic vehicle
I found my 2004 Yellow Mazda3 Hatch at the dealership just calling out my name. The previous owner apparently wanted a MazdaSpeed3 and this was what they traded in. Mine is a 5-speed manual and extremely fun to drive and tour with. Great gas mileage helps me save on my commute to work, and to say that my car turns heads would be an understatement. The ONLY complaint I have on this vehicle is that the stock tires that come with it are HORRIBLE in adverse weather (snow and/or rain). Got 4 new tires and the difference is amazing. Only one issue in 2 years (seat belt sensor) was fixed immediately and has not reappeared.
New Mazda 3i 4-Door
I just replaced my 2000 Hyundai Accent 4-Door with the new 2004 Mazda 3i 4- Door. I chose the Velocity Red with Black Cloth, loaded with features and 4- Speed tiptronic. Even with all of the features, my sticker was $18,030. One of my co-workers said it looks like a small BMW! I drive about 35 miles each way to work, and this car is comfortable- even for me at 6'3" plenty of legroom up front and just enough headroom- even with the sunroof! I highly recommend this car - I just hope you don't start seeing them all over the road so I can still stand out like I do now!
This ain't your Fathers Protege
NOT like any entry level car you have ever driven. No other car comes close...@ $18,000 loaded this car is a steal. Many cars look the part...but this one delivers looks and performance. Mazda has hit a home run!
Who is Honda anyway?
Compare this to a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla and you are flat out nuts! The 3 is way faster, handles ten times as good, and has a longer warranty. What more can you want right? Well it looks better too, and costs the same. I'm tired of the Honda and Toyota cliche. Honda and Toyota aren't better anymore people! And this is coming from a used to be loyal Honda owner. Mazda is it now! Mazda is doing and building cars now, like Honda and Toyota used to.