Used 2011 Mazda 3 i Sport Sedan Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2011 Mazda 3 i Sport Sedan.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Sporty and Dependable sedan!
Nadine O., Ogden, UT, 12/29/2015
2011 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
I've had this car for almost 3 years now, I bought it certified-previously owned at a Mazda Dealership in Saratoga Springs, NY. I've driven it from New York to Arizona, from Arizona to New Mexico (Several times), from Arizona to Utah (Several times), From Utah to Nevada. I currently live in Salt Lake City. I've put several thousand miles on my car since I got it. I started with 30,000 … and I am now at 80,000. It has been a phenomenal experience to say the least. Not only is this car reliable, but it's very sleek. I have the 2011 Mazda 3 i Touring, silver with a spoiler. I'm 4'11", so the car seems very spacious to me. My husband is 6' and fits okay, in my car. His head can touch the ceiling (with ease), but even he has taken road trips with me and has grown to love this little car. My father-in-law has a Mazda as well, he has the Mazda 6 because he couldn't quite fit in the Mazda 3 model very well (he's about 6'4" and disabled).
One of the greatest things about this car, in my opinion is the reliability. Out of all the usage I've put it through, I have not had to repair anything but the tires. I found this impressive, especially since it's a previously owned car. It's been wonderful to me. I love that I can trust it in the snow, rain, etc. I love the headlight features that turn with the steering wheel and I love that my tires will seemingly "autocorrect" themselves when I'm slipping. It's a wonderful vehicle. I sure love it and I plan to keep it until it completely breaks.
The only upgrade I can see myself doing is possibly getting a bigger vehicle when my husband and I decide to have children, but even then, I have transported little ones in the back. Little snug, but still very spacious for the size and abilities of the car. Needless to say, I love this car!
My Little Tank!
N. Rhodes, Orange, CA, 12/16/2018
2011 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
80,000 miles, 7 years of ownership and zero issues - I call my Mazda 2011 "my little tank" because she's never once let me down. I absolutely love my Mazda!
I bought this 2011 Mazda sport in a rush with zero research after my last car (my beloved 1996 RAV4 with 180k miles on it and still going strong) unexpectedly sold the same day I placed the car ad, leaving me carless. I cabbed it to … the nearest dealership and test drove 3 brand-new cars - a Ford Focus, which drove like a slug with a brick tied to it, a Kia Sportage, which had brakes so grabby I almost ejected myself through the front windscreen the first time I hit a Stop sign - and a Mazda 2011.
From the moment I first put my foot on the gas I was in love, and bought it on the spot. The difference in driving experience is night and day between any other car I've ever driven. My Mazda is, to put it simply, SO much fun to drive. She is light and nimble while at the same time being solidly planted, a smooth ride on freeways, firm and zippy around corners, and fast as a whip.
Driving performance is important to me because I drive A LOT. I have a 50 mile daily commute along a notorious toll road (241>>133 through the heart of Orange County, California) which starts with an engine-frying 3-mile climb up a 30 degree mountain gradient, a brake-melting roller-coaster descent down into a valley on the other side, then a 20-mile twisting, rolling series of loops and bends alongside an unfenced mountain road to rival any you see in a car commercial - and combine all of the above with the heaviest commuter traffic in Orange County, sometimes extreme Santa Ana crosswinds in winter, and the fact that every driver likes to do 80mph *at all times* on the toll roads. It's been my twice-daily obstacle course for the last 5 years, and the Mazda eats it up like it's nothing.
I dream about driving this car - the driving feel is hard to describe; it's solid and very satisfying (almost manual-feeling) at lower speeds, but at high speeds she takes off and literally floats over the road, putting a huge grin on your face.... while at the same time you have absolute confidence in the well-dialed steering and handling to do exactly what you tell them to, giving one of the most precise driving experiences I've felt.
In the city, the Mazda excels. She turns on a dime, fits into the tiniest parking spots, and yet can pull out some serious accelerating power in a crunch - I credit my Mazda for saving my bacon on one particular occasion involving a big-rig driver on his cellphone doing 70mph alongside a merging lane, pulling suddenly left and not noticing me caught between 5 tons of speeding steel and the concrete freeway side-wall. Thank you Mazda for that (literally) life-saving turbo-booster that got me quickly out of harm's way!
Economy-wise, I get about 23 city/28 highway, although that number was a few MPG higher in the first 5 years of owning her. She goes through brake pads pretty heavily, but that's mainly to do with the hilly local terrain and my annual 1000-mile round-trips to Yosemite!
Grumbles? Of course I have some. The built-in MP3 player is so low capacity as to be worthless and I still haven't figured out what any of the giant buttons on it do after nearly a decade of hopefully poking at them. I recently ripped out the whole system to replace with a modern touchscreen with iPod interface and Bluetooth. Much better.
Also - the welded-in-place metal trunk frame/cargo bay divider should (in my opinion) be shot into space, as it severely limits the height of long items that can be carried in the trunk with the back seats down. Sure, it's a big trunk with a wide 'frog mouth' opening and both back seats lay almost flat, but at the back of the trunk you've got this solid inverted U-shaped truck divider at the top which the back seats rest on, which means anything longer than the trunk has to be less than 15 inches high at its tallest point or it won't fit under the gap. A recent cat tree purchase, for example, was a huge struggle. Hoping Mazda fixes this with its newer models.
This car (minus optional add-on packages) is also not an all-weather vehicle. In sunny CA it's fine, but in a rare heavy downpour the light weight of the car will make her scrabble for traction at every stop light unless you remember to apply the gas ever so gently. There is also (stupidly) no rear wiper, though the rear heating element does work well to unfog the back window. The low-tire-pressure warning system does a good job of warning you when your tires drop below recommended pressure.
Regardless, the Mazda 2011 is still a car that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a practical, solid, fun, yet trustworthy sedan that won't break the bank and will put a smile on your face even on your worst commutes. Its dependability also makes a great choice for a 'first car' for new/ young drivers.
I hope to be driving this little car with a big heart for many years to come.
Great performer
Ted, New River, AZ, 10/08/2018
2011 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
My 2011 3 Sport has 96,000 miles on it and it runs like new car. I've maintained it well and have experienced no major problems whatsoever. Runs like the day I bought it. Peppy, great handling car.
Almost Perfect
Collingwood, Cedarville, OH, 01/15/2020
2011 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
I bought my 2011 Mazda3 iSport certified pre-owned from an awesome dealership and have never regretted the decision for a second! I'm a no-nonsense guy, it doesn't have cruise control, no keyless entry, no bluetooth, no options whatsoever. None of those things ever bothered me. I was so glad to have low miles and long-term peace of mind.
I've put just under 100k miles on it and it has … never - NEVER - needed a single repair. I've done all of the preventative maintenance on schedule and it has rewarded me with a fun, reliable, lovable driving experience.
BUT
It's too small for our growing family (FORGET about putting a rear-facing car seat in the back with two front seat passengers). So I'm getting a larger SUV.
This little scrappy Mazda3 has become a part of me and I'm so sad to see it go - like a pet you have to get rid of because you're moving. It sucks. I love this thing.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2011 Mazda 3 i Sport Sedan
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Benchmark handling
- Pro:energetic 2.5-liter engine
- Pro:stylish, well-equipped interior
- Pro:impressive list of luxury options
- Pro:five-door model affords hatchback utility.
- Con:Ride may be too firm for some
- Con:cabin and trunk not as large as those of competitors.
Full Edmunds Review: 2011 Mazda 3 Sedan
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2011 Mazda 3 in California is:
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