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Sporty Performance AND Good Fuel Economy
hoveringfalcon, 03/24/2012
2012 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Sedan w/SKYACTIV-G (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
The beauty of the SKYACTIV Mazda3 is that it achieves good gas mileage without making any sacrifices when it comes to agility. I'd estimate my driving to be around 2:1 highway/city. I get on the highway for about 35 minutes going to work, and 35 minutes coming back. On my days off, my driving would mostly be considering "city driving"-- short bursts of movement between stoplights. I average 36 to 38 miles to the gallon with those driving conditions, which I find pretty darn impressive. If I was driving exclusively on the highway I have no doubts I could hit 40 mpg. All the while, if push comes to shove and I've gotta get my Zoom-Zoom on, SKYACTIV doesn't disappoint.
best car for the $
sorento2006, 01/27/2013
2012 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Sedan w/SKYACTIV-G (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 15 people found this review helpful
i did a lot of research before deciding on this car,and everything i have read from road tests is almost true.i got my 4-door with fog lights,spoiler,bose/moonroof package.looks great in dark grey.
2012 Mazda 3 for sale near you
3 of 44 listings
- i Touring Sedan w/SKYACTIV-GMSRP: $6,995101 mi away
- i Touring 4dr Hatchback w/SKYACTIV-GMSRP: $5,761142 mi away
- i Touring Sedan w/SKYACTIV-GMSRP: $6,795174 mi away
See all 44 listings
58K And Going Strong
Clifton J., 12/07/2016
2012 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Sedan w/SKYACTIV-G (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought this car for my wife back on the Skyactiv-G motor's introduction back in 2012 to replace her aging (and ailing) Nissan Altima sedan. I knew I was taking a bit of a risk here with a newly introduced system that had no proven reliability - especially in one with a sky-high 12:1 compression ratio, low-friction pistons, direct injection, all mated to a tricky semi-conventional 6-speed automatic transmission. But we were both smitten with the car's perpetual smile - and the grins it produced behind the wheel. So, we bought it. Four years and nearly 58,000 miles later, the car still drives as if it were brand new, and I've not spent a dime in repairs. The car regularly gets 35 mpg on the worst of days, climbing to very nearly 45 mpg in cruising-right-at-70 conditions. It's not a "quick" or a "fast" car, but it's sprightly and eager, and the 155hp on tap gets the vehicle out of it's own way easily. With it's taut, Porsche-like steering feel and stiff handling, it's a very fun car to toss around back-roads in the "driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow" kind of philosophy. The 6-speed automatic is also a work of art, choosing, holding, and (rapidly) shifting gears with an almost psychic temperament - and in manual mode, it will even let the driver bounce off the rev limiter, providing even this hard-nosed manual-lover with some genuine driving thrills on a twisty country road or in a quick freeway pass. Zoom, zoom, indeed. However, there are trade-offs: This is an exceptionally stiffly-sprung vehicle, and navigating pothole-riddled city intersections can be a teeth-chattering experience. It's also a very small car with a curiously ADHD-diseased interior design motif - mine is two shades of tan, with no fewer than 3 separate monochrome LCD displays (all different colors), 18 (!!!) buttons on the steering wheel, and an unnecessary giant, third rotary knob for controlling audio system functions. Get past all this and you still have to contend with the front seats, which are a strangely special kind of uncomfortable - very supportive for the aforementioned driving dynamics, but hard and unpleasant for long drives (even short rides require taking my wallet out of my back pocket to avoid a totally-numb right cheek upon egress). Still, the fuel mileage, reliability, and overall fun factor of this car make it a long-term keeper. Should the direct injection system ever - expectedly - give me issues requiring a pricey repair/maintenance in the near future (60K-100K miles), I fully plan to pony up and keep on driving this car. It's been such a pleasure to own and drive that it is now my own, and has convinced me to upgrade to a contemporary CX-9 this year. Great value, great fun, I can't recommend this car enough.
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Endurance Impressive
Chicago Commuter, 04/27/2021
updated 05/07/2025
2012 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Sedan w/SKYACTIV-G (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've had my Mazda 3 for 9 years now. 165,000 miles. I've not kept up with the maintenance as I should. I've only ever replaced the battery, tires, breaks, headlamps, and serpentine belt. Nothing else. I had a rock jam up a pully which snapped the belt, but I ran it for 2 days to/from work before I figured out that the battery charging wasn't the alternator but the belt was missing. And the car never overheated and I still drove 70 miles on a fully charged battery. I still get the same gas mileage I did when i bought it 42 hwy 35 local. I'm absolutely impressed by my first new and non American car. it stings to say it but facts are facts. 178,000 miles and still haven't replaced any non-consumable parts 5/5/2022 200,000 miles today 11/6/2023. I have my first failure of a part on the car, but it's not mechanical or power train. The switch to roll down the drivers side rear window only works downward, it no longer works upward. The window works, the switch on the rear door works, just the switch on the Drivers Panel for it doesn't work 100%. That's it, that's the extent of my cars problems after 11 years and 200,000 miles. Gas Mileage is still 42 hwy , 35 local. I'm not trading this thing in for anything. I feel as though it's got atleast 100,000 more miles in it. I couldn't recommend a better commuter car. I don't know if the newer models are as dependable but the 2012's are work horses for sure. 2025, 210,000 miles (worked from home for a year), first repair to solenoid for evap system.
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LOVE this car!!
kachok, 10/14/2012
2012 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback w/SKYACTIV-G (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I got my Mazda 3 hatchback a few days ago and I absolutely love it! Crazy good mpg in town and on the highway (52.9mpg@55mph and 44.0mpg @70mph) all the power I ever wanted, fantastic handling and plenty of room for me and all my gear. I work at another brand dealership, and am willing to deal with the ridicule of my boss and co-workers to drive my 3, it is the perfect car for me. I drive all kinds of cars every day, and the Jetta/Civic/Corolla/Elantra just don't stack up. Only the Focus SE and Dart Ralley compare, the Dart is not offered in a hatch and I have had bad luck with Fords so it was an easy choice for me.