Used 2012 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring Hatchback Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2012 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring Hatchback.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Great car with minor drawbacks
Daniel, Tyler, TX, 10/27/2015
2012 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
2012 Mazda3 S Grand Touring Hatchback (non-skyactiv) bought new in August 2013 since apparently I'm the only one who values tech and aesthetics over fuel economy, and the vehicle sat almost a year and a half with no buyer before I came along.
The good:
Great handling, a blast to drive, decent acceleration for a 4 cylinder. Love the look of the Crystal White Pearl Mica with black … leather interior, side sill extensions and larger wheels than base model. MPG is very close to what it's rated at 24.6 avg mpg so far, roughly 60-40 city to highway miles. Awesome reliability. On my second Mazda since 2007 and roughly 100k combined miles between the two with absolutely no major issues whatsoever. Love the soft blue interior lighting, and the panning HID headlights which give awesome visibility at night. Like the infotainment system overall with the sat radio, etc., but no backup camera?? Blind spot monitoring works great. Interior space is good, and I like the layout of the controls and the overall aesthetic of the interior. Dual climate control is nice for the girlfriend who tends to like it cooler on her side than I prefer, but the auto feature is annoying.
The bad:
-Road Noise. Let me say it again: Road Noise. This car is DEAFENING at highway speeds. Forget using your stereo to actually hear your music, you have to yell just so your passengers can hear you. People are constantly telling me it's the loudest vehicle they've ever ridden in, which is ridiculous. If you take a roadtrip in this thing, prepare for a long one because it's exhausting to listen to all day. I find myself slowing down just to lessen the noise for a bit of relief.
- I believe the navigation system was sent by God to punish me for my sins. Going from Jackson, MS to Panama City Beach, FL, it tried to send me to New Orleans first, adding a 3-hour detour to my trip. Thankfully I was also using my android phone's nav and recognized what it was doing. It never differentiates between "Bear left" and just a leftward bend in the road. Identifies your exit as you are driving past it. I despise this nav system and rarely use it.
- The seats are some of the least comfortable leather seats I've ever sat in, and not great for extended use.
- Not a fan of push-button starts and smart keys. Just give me a keyless entry and an actual turn key ignition and I'll be happy. My dash cam interferes with it, so if the camera is running and I get out of the car with the engine running, the vehicle re-scans for the smart key and can't find it, so it beeps at me and flashes its no-key light on the guages until the vehicle is restarted. And if the camera is running, the vehicle will not start. Also, there's no way to go from engine on to accessory mode without shutting the whole system down first. Finally, I hate having things in my pockets so I always take the key out and put it in the console, but since my garage is detached, I'm constantly getting up to my apartment door only to find I've closed the garage door and walked away without my keys. Push-button starts are just a hassle for someone like me.
- Visibility isn't great with this huge fat C (or D?) pillar. Backing out of parking spaces is extremely treacherous, especially with no backup camera or sensors.
- I also hate auto climate control. On a hot day, it's kicks on at full speed to get the temp down to your selected number ASAP. I don't need to be blown away, I just need cool air blowing on me. Never use auto feature.
sport friendly
jclives22, Frostburg, MD, 07/04/2018
2012 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
I just purchased 9th of June with 51,000 miles one owner. Very pleased with total package. Small, but steers and drives with good pickup, smooth shifting automatic. I wanted a reliable hatchback that had some sport, good handling and good mileage. The rear storage is small but adequate with flat folding of rear seats. I read reviews and found that some reviews were unfounded with … criticism of dash and navigation. I find it very user friendly and deem it a good and wise choice. Thanks for the Zoom Mazda 3, you're not a BMW or Audi but as fun and reliable without excessive cost for repairs. I had an old 626 in the day. It never asked for anything but gas and oil changes and served my family well. Thanks Mazda!!
4 1/2 years later our Mazda 3 is going strong. I just replaced tires in summer, oil changes only so far. Very pleased, everything works and yet again Mazda makes a vehicle that zooms for the long haul. Only complaint if any are the plastic headlight lenses that fog but I have treated and they are not really bad as many other makes like Mercedes and BMW. We like Mazda and would highly consider another, possibly a hybrid. And the Zoooom goes on!!
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2012 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring Hatchback
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Precise handling
- Pro:high fuel economy with optional 2.0-liter engine
- Pro:stylish, well-equipped interior
- Pro:impressive list of luxury options
- Pro:extra utility of four-door hatchback.
- Con:Ride might be too firm for some
- Con:cabin and trunk not as large as those of competitors.
Full Edmunds Review: 2012 Mazda 3 Hatchback
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2012 Mazda 3 in Ohio is:
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