Used 2011 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A) Consumer Reviews
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Really Quite Impressive
beeminbobby, Ocala, FL, 05/19/2011
Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)
38 of 41 people found this review helpful
I recently decided to impose some voluntary belt tightening in car payments and gas consumption. Over the past 20 years I've driven a number of BMW's, Audi's and Acura's, but "downgrading" to the Mazda 3 really wasn't a big deal. The car is very comfortable and quiet, is relatively fun to drive, and is for sure more reliable than BMW or Audi. No, it doesn't have all the "bells and whistles", performance capabilities, or panache and ego stroke of a BMW, but I also have a car payment that is less than half of what I used to have! Maybe I can retire 5 years sooner now!!
Awesome First Car...Zippy Driving:)
Josiah Klossner, Rochester, NY, 01/23/2016
Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
This car is the first one I have owned and I actually like it a ton! It's light on it's feet and fun to whip around corners. I often describe it as zippy! The acceleration is really only okay since I have the 148hp 2 liter engine (it goes from zero to 60 in about 8.7 seconds). That being said, it's a heck of a lot better than some of the cars my friends drive that are older and under powered. I always say that the great thing about having a car that isn't too powerful is that you can slam on the gas and hear the engine roar for a bit without going to much above the speed limit and thus receiving a speeding ticket. Overall though, I can't complain about acceleration, it doesn't take that much effort on the pedal to perform normal highway and thruway driving.The steering feel is my favorite part as it is responsive and engaging. In the winter, as long as I drive like a grandma on snowy roads I'm good! Tokyo drifting is sometimes fun though! However, steep driveways aren't fun. To be fair though, I have all seasons and haven't put forth the $$$ to invest in winter tires. As far as the interior goes, it definitely seems to have a better quality to it than other compact cars that I've been in of it's generation. The dash has a softer feel and the body panels on the doors seem to be in there pretty tight! Some of the door panels in the back feel a bit cheap, but they are of sound construction which is all I care about since I spend all my time in the drivers seat! My only real gripe is that a small bit of the dashboard above the radio/time display has managed to detach itself from the top of the display, leaving a small gap there. It's easy enough to ignore, but it's still a tad annoying. Other than that, the seats in the front do a good job of holding you in and making you feel comfortable! I can't quite say the same for the rear seats, leg room is rather tight and if you're fully loaded with passengers in the back, woe to the poor chap who is in the middle as there is a significant hump on the floor. The trunk is sufficient for me, a single college student, and it usually holds my stuff for most trips. If I'm driving two people on a trip though, I usually have to use the back seat as well (not everyone packs as light as me either). As far as fuel economy goes...it could be better. Considering fuel economy scores of other compact sedans of my car's generation, this one isn't really too fantastic, but it ain't bad either! As a poor college student I don't mind the loss of a few mpg, it makes up for that with its driving dynamics. I probably average 28-29 mpg in the summer. That drops to about 23-25mpg in the winter (although it's January and I got 27mpg on my last fill-up). again, I really can't complain considering the fuel economy of some of my friends under powered rides...hehe! As far as repairs go, I've had tie rods replaced three times!!!! THREE! I got the left outer one replaced for my inspection in 2014, my inner left one replaced for the 2015 inspection, and I got my inner right one replaced this past December (2015). I'm currently bracing my bank account for the outer right tie rod come next inspection! Other than that, I had my rotors replaced for my first inspection in 2013, and new brake pads. Other than that, it's just been regular maintenance. Although there are some other problems due to the previous owner to whom I want to walk up to someday and say....YOU FOOL!! Seeing as most people haven't had any issues with tie rods on their Mazda3, it looks like it's a wonderful model as a whole for reliability! there are some possibilities for why my tie rods keep needing replacement. 1. my mechanic is a horrible person, 2. I go around corners like a maniac too often, or 3. I got a lemon Mazda3 with sucky tie rods. So overall, it is a wonderful, fun to drive, economy car! I don't regret getting one and despite its flaws in my particular circumstances, I really really like it! If you're looking for a used economy car that's cost effective and this model is one of them and you like cars that aren't boring to drive....don't second guess yourself! That was totally a run-on sentence.
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Excellent car, fun to drive
mjs23, Douglas, AZ, 10/09/2012
Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've owned my 2011 Mazda3 for about a month, and I have never been happier with a car. I purchased it after a bad car accident, at a time when I never thought I'd feel safe or happy driving again. This car has changed my mind. I was drawn to it because of the great safety ratings, and the test drive I took it on sealed the deal. I average about 32 mpg, for a mixture of city and hwy. The road noise can seem a little loud sometimes, but not too bad. Nice acceleration, the handling feels almost sporty and it corners on a dime. The ride feels comfortable to me as well. Finally, I love the way the car looks inside and out, and my friends are always commenting on how nice it is.
I love my mazda3.
rob917305, Miami, FL, 02/18/2011
Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is my first mazda and I'm very happy. I got my mazda3 two weeks ago and totally love it more everyday. It handles superb. Very nimble, lightweight, and sporty suspension. The manual feature is like a turbo magic button. This is the best designed compact economy sedan that drives like a mini bmw, is cool looking, and not boxy. Oh and forgot to mention, priced right.
A few faults but at 85K miles she runs great
PAUL ZIMMERMAN, Parker, CO, 02/01/2017
Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Driver's side window vibrates with bass music on my vehicle so if you are looking to buy one you might want to crank up the bass with the window up before you buy it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value