Used 2011 Mazda 3 Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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Love This Car
I have only owned My Mazda3 for a few days now, and I've never owned one before. My previous car was a 2009 Honda Fit. I thought I was very happy with the Fit, but there is little comparison to the Mazda3. I have the 2.5 liter, S trim package with all the bells and whistles. This car feels like one costing much more. I have heard people complain about road noise, but compared to my Fit, it is very quiet. I got 0% financing too which let me upgrade the tech for the car. Road handling, accelaration, and over-all feel are just excellent in the 3. Gas milage is a bit lower than some expect, but my Fit barely got 30mi on the highway. So pretty comparable, and the Mazda is way more fun!
fun fun fun
I am in my mid 60's===not the typical buyer of this type of car . This car is a hoot to drive . Just a lot of fun . Reminds me of my younger years when I would just go for a ride to have fun . Responsive handling and more than enough power .
- s Sport 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,5002 mi away
- i Sport SedanMSRP: $7,85014 mi away
- s Sport SedanMSRP: $7,38774 mi away
Everything is Great, But...
I pretty much love everything about this car except for one thing. It's reporting an average of 17 mpg in mostly city (suburb) driving, far from the 22 mpg city it's supposed to get, according to the government. I bought it used in 2014. I brought it to the dealer twice to see why it's getting such poor fuel efficiency and they can't find anything wrong with the car. I use the AC (I live in CA), but I don't drive like a maniac. I wish I would have bought a 2012 with SkyActiv. Other things I don't love about the 2011 Mazda 3: 1. The cabin is noisy. 2. The standard stereo isn’t that great. 3. It took me a while to get used to driving with the car's blind spot. 4. Closing the hatch takes more effort than it should. 5. At the end of 2017, I noticed the seal material around the opening to the cargo area has started to decompose. That’s a trip to the dealer for replacement. 6. The AC is ok, but not great. I had to bring the Mazda3 in for a recall and the dealer gave me a rental. It was a Toyota Corolla. The AC in the Corolla cooled the cabin in no time. The Mazda3 takes a long time to cool.
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All Around Winner
To the person that wants rims and not hubcaps--buy ANY trim level except the very cheapest and you have alloys? That's a no brainer - The 2011 is near exactly the same as the 10 but the rear headrests tilt and they added a Moonroof/Bose pac as standard on all GT trims so the only upgrade it the tech which they toyed with by trading the aforementioned for the Xenons, Leds and rain sense wipers + auto headlight. Also switched to Synthetic 0W-20 oil! good move! Great car others pale, a honda fit? please 15" rims -zzz , I love the design as its grown on me and quite frankly I'm sick of insecure people that need mean looking cars , the smile is great! as is the car!
LOVE this Car!!
This car is solid. Fast. Sporty. Fun. I honestly look forward to driving this car every day. Can't beat a mazda. 80k mile update. still super strong. I'm sure this thing will go forever. Update 11/2019. I sold this car a while back, never had any issued with it. awesome car. bought a 2015 Mazda 3. One of the best cars i have ever driven. It's so much fun, and the interior is incredible, drivers seat feels like a cockpit of a racecar.
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great car.
this is my commuter. i have taken it on only a couple of road trips. on the road trips i used cruise control and watched the gas mileage, and low and behold, it actually does get 29 MPG. not so when commuting though for obvious reasons. i almost have 70,000 on it, and the only problems i have had so far, is the driver side visor clip. the part that holds it in place broke. cost me $2.50 at the dealership and didn't require tools to change. also a few times it hasn't started right up. i know the spark plugs are due to be changed at 75,000 miles so i am guessing that may have something to do with that. i do my own maintenance so i'll change them at the next oil change. stereo is great! love the bluetooth. seats are comfortable. it has a more sporty ride, and has a bit of road noise. but i came out of a mini cooper so this car is softer and quieter than that car. update at 82,753 miles. --------------------------------- still happy with my little car. runs great and no real issues accept the blue tooth in the radio disconnects with my phone a lot. still plays music good, but in the middle of a call it will connect, disconnect, connect, disconnect. not sure why. great car still. comfortable and runs good. --------------------------------------------------------------------- update at 112,062 car still doing ok. plastic interior pieces are breaking. the sun visor stay clip just broke a second time. and the sunroof control panel switches are all broken. i think they used a little too brittle of plastic. mechanically it is doing well. still on original front brake pads! changed the Accessory belt at 100,000. it does grind second gear upon aggressive up-shifting now. i did change the gear oil at the maintenance time with a quality German synthetic oil. how ever i am wondering if maybe i should have bought the oil form Mazda now. time will tell. i now am driving a mega commute. lots of freeway miles running at 70mph. the miles left gauge and mpg gauge are no longer accurate from some reason. says i am getting 31 mpg which i know is not possible.
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Good for 30,000, then all heck breaks loose
I don't generally review cars, but my experience with this vehicle was so horrible that I felt motivated to counter some of the shameless praise the Mazda 3 receives on this website. To put it bluntly, my Mazda 3 was a troubled vehicle. It was loud from the first day (I knew it would be), but the noise level rose as time passed. The tires wore down very quickly, and were extremely expensive to replace. But, what ultimately killed me was the clutch. Just over 41k miles, the clutch began acting up. I know a fair bit about cars and realized what it was immediately. Come to find that the clutch is a chronic issue for this car -- with many failing far earlier. And even at 15 or 18k, Mazda...
Great except for the GPS...zero support from Mazda
Great little car. Except the built-in GPS which is a rip-off. My brand new grand touring Mazda 3 came with outdated 2009 copy right maps on and SD card. After having a number of problems and fails with this GPS outdated maps (can't find direct route to the dealership for one thing.) I have attempted to get updated maps..... I am even willing to pay the hideously over-priced fee of $200 to get updated maps, they are simply not available (I was promised by the dealer when I bought these maps were easily upgradeable) The OEM supplier Denso says they are "out of stock", they do not respond to multiple emails I've sent, they refer me back to Mazda, which refers me back to Denso..... what a joke!
Zoom up and down the road.
I decided to replace my 2007 Focus. Looked at 2010 Corrola, 2010 Civic and Accord. After reading reviews people said to look at the mazda3. I drive around 30k just to work and I wanted a fun but good car to drive. After test driving all of them the mazda3 was the one for me. The Toyota was the best deal for the money but felt numb to drive. Honda was nice but lacked bluetooth and nice radio. I got a great deal on a 2011 mazda3 s sport with Bose/roof package. I love how it drives. I hope it will give me the 200k+ miles I am looking for. So far getting 30 mpg on highway. And me driving so many miles I wanted fun to drive.
Great Car for the Money
Bought my 5 door Grand Touring new about a month ago. Absolutely love this car. I consider myself a car "junkie" who loves to drive. I drive about 1,000 miles per month for work, and let me tell you, this car makes it a completely different experience to drive. The handling is great, the 2.5L engine feels like a V6, the seats are comfy...I could go on and on. My friends, family, and neighbors are all intrigued by the look of the car and once they get in and ride in it they walk away impressed. The backseat is a little tight on leg room, but, my kids fit just fine. Averaging 25 MPG do far with mixed but mostly city driving. Good numbers when you consider the power the engine puts out.
An excellent, beautiful handling car for the money
Two-plus months and 2,900 miles on my Velocity Red hatch and I'm loving it. Fun to drive, handles like a dream and I enjoy my daily commute in comfort and style. Plenty of power when needed, with great torque, on the 2.5. You're giving up some gas mileage, but I'll pay for the trade off. Still averaging 30-32 mph with mix of highway/city driving, much better than my old V-6. It's nice to be crusing in something different and sporty in the sea of Civics and Corollas. Looks aggressive with those 17-inch alloys, side body crease swoop and is ready to prance. Even the smiley grill is growing on me, although the fog lighs and front license plate wipe off some of the smile.
Fun to drive but noisy.
I bought the car at the end of 2011 and currently have 10k miles on it. It's fun to drive, corners on a dime, very responsive and accelerate smoothly. The interior is nice however the seats are not comfortable. Controls are well placed and the car has a lot of nice technology. The GPS is difficult to operate and very annoying. A $200 aftermarket GPS will solve this problem. From day one, I thought the road noise is a bit much however after the first tire rotation the noise became unbearable. Mazda is aware of the quick tread loss and will not do anything about it.
New clutch at 20k miles
I first took my car in to the dealer when I noticed the clutch slipping after I shifted or when I accelerated at freeway speeds. Now, after 16 days, I finally have my 2011 Mazda 3 back with a completely new clutch assembly. Mazda paid 50%, not including the rental car. My final bill: $700 (not including the rental car cost for this time). They replaced not only the clutch disc, but the flywheel and associated bearings and parts. Apparently they consider replacing the clutch at 2 years / 20k miles to be "normal wear and tear" and not under warranty. In my opinion, the fact that it wore out so quickly, in itself, means it was defective.
First new used car, and I love it!
I've bought this car about a month ago and put about 2,000 miles, and let me say, its amazing to drive. It handles the taconic curves like nobodies business. I love the bucket seats, makes the car feel like a sports car. I do have to admit, the back seat is a little tight for tall passengers, but its not a big deal at all. It's a perfect commuter car in my opinion. I average out 28-30, while doing 75-80 with the AC which is amazing. A full tank gets me about 450-500 miles that's mostly highway mileage . Great car.
Well I have owned 2 that should say something
My first mazda 3 was an 08 2.3L hatch. great car did not have cool tech features like the newer one but reliable and fun to drive, got totaled in a wreck so I decided to buy another. The 2011 is a big step forward tech wise, granted I cannot fairly compare as the 08 was a touring (middle trim) and the 11 is a Grand Touring(Top trim and fully loaded on top of that) but the HID lighting is superb(did run into a rather expensive issue right after purchasing the car used with the HID assembly leaking water but it was fixed and just a seal issue that can be remedied easily by a home mechanic or shop), lights up the night very well the adaptive HID is nice it turns with the steering and has auto height and vertical adjustment built in. LED tail lights are nice, less maintenance more brightness for people behind to see. The bose stereo is really nice has good mix of treble mid and bass and plays loud for a oe stereo. bluetooth pairing is easy and has not given me any problems on the car end (all my issue have been phone compatibility and minor, more like things my phone cant do) the 6 cd changer does mp3 cds which is nice the sat radio is great (bought used and it functions, for now will not buy it when it stops though) the nav screen is too small for a nav screen (newer 3's have better screens, and i did not care mine even had this) and updates for the maps in the nav are $200 from mazda so its practically useless, the fuel economy, range and maintenance reminder are much more useful features this screen displays, it can also display music info their as well. it gets what i expected and a little bit better mpg wise, its not as good as other cars this size but not the worst, and the fun driving experience is worth some extra gas. it has a ton of "personalization" features but only a handful can be changed without a special computer plug in at the dealer costing $125 locally at the time of writing. the power driver seat is nice and comfortable, the leather seems to be of good to great quality especially at this cars' original msrp. the dash is rubbery and feels solid and upmarket, the materials inside are nice and seem to last, the exterior paint is good, gets rock chips on the front somewhat easy but nothing bad. it handles excellent, my 08 was a 5 speed manual and unfortunately I could not find a good manual one this time so the 11 is an auto but it shifts smooth and decently fast, the manual mode helps alot and be warned it acts like a manual and will let you over rev. the brakes are about my only bad spot, as they seem a little weak, However after doing further research the car has a pressure sensitive pedal, not really a pedal position sensitive so the feel is just different than I have been used to, its part of the brake assist. I went and tested and sure enough if you hit the pedal hard but don't push it far it responds more than if you push it far but light. I think the brand and hardness of the ceramic on the pads I put on right after purchase affect this as well and will probably change to different pad material next time. on my star ratings newer mazdas after 2014 are far better not using ford parts for headlights and engine mounts among various other items the ford made headlights were the reason i got rid of this car 6 months after buying it but would not hesitate to buy a non HID equipped mazda 3 from before 2014 or any 2014+ mazda with HIDs
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Great car for the money
I bought this car new in early 2012. It's been mostly wonderful and the review on Edmunds is fair. It's super peppy, handles great and is fun to drive... especially considering it was $21,000. The rear foot space is small, but the trunk is huge and more importantly it opens really big so you can fit a lot of things in it (think a mountain bike, kayak, dresser, tv stand, etc.) Overall the vehicle is very versatile, parks easily in the city, and I can't imagine you could do much better at this price point. Here are my only negatives: MPG is worse than stated on here. The car tracks it for you, and my 6+ year average is 25.3mpg. Now I live in a city and I probably step on the gas a bit (its a fun car to drive), but even on the highway you aren't getting 30mpg. The original Hancook tires were CRAP! The fronts wore out in 32k miles and the rears were gone before 40k. They're also horrible in the winter. I've since replaced them with Hercules tires and the first time I drove with the new tires it was like being in a cushy SUV! Finally, the button to the hatchback broke after just a few years and minimal use. The dealership charged me nearly $300 for it. Finally, I opted for the basic stereo instead of the Bose package and that was a mistake. They're pretty bad. If there's two things I could change about this car would be the bad stereo speakers and the lack of 4WD/AWD. Overall, I really like the car. It's been a great value and I hope to keep it 5 more years. At which point I'll be too old for a small hatchback and I'll get a comfy SUV or large sedan.
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Bittersweet
I wasn't totally in love with the looks of this car but I do like hatches so I test drove it and fell for it right away. It fit me like a glove. A tailored glove. Handling is the best that could be expected from a front-wheel-drive compact. Engine has 175 HP and plenty of torque. The cosmetics are a different story. Windows rattling after not too long of owning it. Cylinder key lock in steering column replaced twice. And now, as if that weren't enough, I've been told I have a cracked piston ring and the thing is SLURPING oil. Not good for a car with only 51000 miles. Never again do I buy a Mazda. first and last. I'm spending more and getting a mini next.
Nice but not for me.....
I purchased the Sport hatchback, automatic. I love the bluetooth and the way it drives, lots of fun. Unfortunately, the wheel doesn't telescope out far enough for me without me being on top of the steering wheel, I'm 6'1. Because of this, the window switches are too far up the door handle; I'm constantly letting the rear windows down.
Fun, excellent performance
Like reviewer Tom Tom, I was looking at a Honda Fit. I chose this Mazda 3 because it drove better: smooth and responsive, quietly powerful, nimble and sexy. I almost got the touring model, but in Seattle, not much need for a moon roof. It feels luxurious inside and a lot better maneuverability than a Fit. Great trunk space.
Bang for the Buck...
I wanted a small car, with utility options, to replace an Audi A4. Like many people, I am trying to stay financially keen in current times. Is there a car with semi-luxury features, good safety reviews, acceptable gas mileage - all within the Compact $ range? Yes - the Mazda 3. The car handles nearly as well as my Audi and has respectable power. The front seats are very spacious and I do not feel 'jammed' in like the Audi. The seats are comfortable and the dash controls are intuitive. The Mazda 3 is larger on the inside and the versatility of the hatchback was a key factor for me. Looking for more personality than a ho-hum Civic? Give the Mazda 3 a try! 26 MPG mixed driving.
Fun, flexibile little car; great value
This car punches above its price. As I write this, I've had the car for about a year and have but 16K miles on. I wanted a wagon or hatch that was fun to drive. This was cheaper than the alternatives I considered. This car replaced my 2-door 2004 Accord EX V6 coupe, and with 2-kids and a hatch for their stuff and my hobbies, a nice upgrade. A smaller overall car, but bigger on the inside than the Accord. It is great for what I need - commuting (including dropping kids at school), weekend run-about car with the fam, occasional weekend trips, and space for chores and hobbies. It's been a year, and I'm thrilled with this car.
Disappointed retiree
I’m an occasional lady driver retiree. I wanted a zoom like sports car. Paid the full amount for leather seats and hatchback sports. It was great for the first 5 years and then…..mayhem. This car is NOT meant for Canadian winters. It is so low to the ground ( that’s the zoom zoom sporty we all think we are getting and want) but it rips the shreds out of the bottom of your car come winter. Clearance very little. Suspension hard on country roads. Mega expenses on tie rods, exhaust, suspension, bearings, Noisey interior. Great on gas. Large enough cargo area. Interior design classy. Not made for tall people more than 6’ as they touch the ceiling in drivers seat.
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Mazda Owner after 7 years!
Think again! I really loved my Mazda in the beginning. I bought her with 5,000 miles on it and I've put oer 80,000 miles on the car. The mechanics were right when they said it's a 100,000 mile car. After around then everything breaks, resale value is absolute garbage, fuel economy is terrible, and there's always something wrong with it. Paying $26,000 for a car you would expect it to last for 150,000-200,000 miles. My Mazda will be lucky to make it to 120,000. I even baby the thing, always change fluids on time and all that jazz. Overall I give the company a 4/10. The car is okay but be aware, they aren't built like other cars. Cheap and guaranteed to break down after 60,000 miles.
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Good but not great
We recently bought a Mazda 3 right before Christmas. My husband and I both just loved the way it looked and drove. We didn't even notice the 'goofy' grin, and even noticing now, I think it's cute. I do wish that the car got better gas mileage. Right now we're getting about 25mpg which isn't great. That is one of my regrets with purchasing this car considering that gas prices are starting to rise again.
Worst car I've ever owned
After replacing a siezest calliper. A cascade of failures began. Every part rusts and siezes and the only way to remove is to cut it off. Replacing these parts cost a fortune and don't last long. Please avoid this vehicle. My 20 year old VW has had fewer issues with nearly 100000 more km
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The 3 is go-go
I was going to buy a Honda fit sport but was concerned about the lack of hp, 4 wheel disc brakes, useful sun-visors and tight legroom for my 71 1/2 inch frame. For a bit more money the Mazda 3 hatchback addressed all of these issues and rides and looks better too. (the smiley grill is livable, and I prefer a happy car) The only trade-off was settling for less gas mileage than the fit offered, but the rewards are worth it. I call the Mazda 3S hatchback "Honda Fits' better looking big brother".
I Love my ZOOM ZOOM
I owned a 2008 red mazda 3 hatchback for 9 months it had almost 55,000 miles on it and not a single problem and I recently traded it in for a 2011 celest blue Mazda 3 Hatch with 29000 miles on it. I have not one complaint about this car. It's 100% perfect. The handling is amazing, it's got plenty of speed and is extremely comfortable. The outside appearance is very sporty and nice looking and the inside is great looking as well. I give mazda 2 thumbs up when it comes to building these cars. I wouldn't trade mine in for the world.
Unreliable, lots of annoyances, poor mileage, noise
This car is annoying and high maintenance and sorry I bought it. It does have good power and sporty handling and can be fun at times, but "low profile" tires, counter-intuitive controls, and features that sound good on paper but are poorly implemented, make it expensive and annoying to drive on a daily basis. Gas mileage is quite poor. For instance steering wheel radio controls don't have the ability to "seek" or "scan" stations, only to go to the next or previous programmed channel. Cargo area is REALLY small, tie-downs are poorly placed, and the opening mechanism poorly implemented. Key-less remote is non-tactile and not illuminated. Very disappointing.
Love it and hate it
I owned a 2005 3i for 5 years and it fit me like a glove.My 2010 3s 5 door is a much better car,quieter,smoother riding and much faster. Only problem is the economics are out of whack.The power window switches are too far away,(I keep opening the rear window) and the telescoping wheel does not come back far enough with the seat all the way back,I'm 6'2"
So far so good.
I got a 2011 Mazda 3 hatchback just last week after doing some initial research into the car. I have owned a 2003 Mazda 6 in the past and my sister has owned a 2004 Mazda 3. The newer features are nice, but I miss the 1 touch drivers window. I don't have GPS and its an auto with 42 K on it.