Used 2016 Mazda 3 Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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An excellent compact car with a few annoyances
DG, 03/28/2016
updated 10/03/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
69 of 69 people found this review helpful
REVIEW UPDATED OCTOBER 2016 AT 14540MI Pros: After clocking almost 14540 miles in this car, I can say without reservation that the 2.5 liter engine is excellent. It’s very smooth with linear power delivery and never leaves me needing more, as long as I select the right gear. Also, doing my own oil changes is very easy. The 6-spd manual transmission in this car is one of the best I’ve had in a compact car, but it can feel a bit notchy when going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd, but I realized this was because I was trying to 'guide' the shifter, which isn't necessary. It has nice short throws and slides into the next gear almost on its own, if you let it! Ride/handling is firm, but not at all harsh. The 3 sGT is a very controlled and fun car to drive! Build quality and fit/finish are excellent throughout the car, on par with the very best. Although, road noise at speed can be intrusive, due to limited use of sound insulation. Styling is fantastic inside and out. It’s a very simplistic but upscale look and feel, reminiscent of a much more expensive car, although the upper trim on all 4 doors could be softer, especially the rear. Supportive and attractive seats, I love the contrast stitching The Bose Centerpoint sound system is the best sounding audio system I’ve ever had in a car, hands down. It offers excellent imaging and superior full range sound reproduction, particularly when playing lossless music files. It won't provide the kind of bass you get from a separate subwoofer, but it's a clean sounding system. The adjustable head-up display and the blind spot monitoring are great safety features that work very well, although I'd prefer a head up display that projects onto the windshield, instead of a popup of clear plastic, which looks a bit cheap. The BSM allows you to adjust the warning chime level or turn it off, which is nice. Fuel efficiency was not quite as good as I expected at the beginning but, as I suspected, it has improved markedly since break-in. I am now averaging 36 MPG in mostly highway driving, which is better than it's rated. Cons: The infotainment system is slow to start up, sometimes taking over a minute to display the home screen. It also has unstable smart phone integration, often not recognizing my Android phone when connected via USB, which is annoying because I prefer to play music over wire instead of Bluetooth, as the sound quality is MUCH better. It also sometimes has issues connecting to the internet radio and webcast apps on my phone. Also, too many of the systems core functions cannot be accessed while driving. I realize this is for safety, but it’s far more restrictive than most cars I’ve owned. And finally, there is no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay present, while most competitors are offering these features. Mazda could definitely stand to further refine this system. At highway speeds, the level of road noise can become fatiguing and intrusive after a while. Mazda clearly saved some money by eliminating sound insulation materials. The car doesn't retain accessory power when you shut off the engine. I sometimes like to finish listening to a song or a news story before exiting, but in order to do so, I have to turn the acc power back on by pushing the start button again. Every other car I've owned in the last 15+ yrs retains acc power for a few min (or until a door is opened) after engine shutoff. Not a major con, but still annoying. There needs to be a fog light indicator light somewhere on the dash board. The switch on the left stalk is hidden behind the steering wheel, so it is difficult to tell if they’re on or off. Not a major con, but it's a minor detail that never should have been omitted. The clutch has a much higher take up point than I’m use to. It doesn’t begin to engage until the pedal is more than half way out. I prefer a clutch that engages closer to the floor to facilitate quicker shifts. It may be somewhat adjustable, which I will investigate eventually. A non-leather seat option on the top sGT trim would be nice for those who don’t want leather. Something like Alcantara would be a great option. Also, a bit more bottom padding would be nice as well, as the seats can begin to feel hard after a few hours. Summary: I admit to being VERY nitpicky when it comes to my cars. I have high expectations that are rarely met. That said, I would still buy the 3sGT 5-door over any other compact currently currently offered. The only car I might have considered is the upcoming 2017 Honda Civic 5-door, but it won’t be available until late 2016 and I couldn’t wait that long. In any case, I’m very happy with this car and can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent compact car that will undoubtedly provide many years of fun and trouble-free driving.
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Very happy with my Mazda3
Surly Jason, 05/28/2016
updated 02/01/2018
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
49 of 52 people found this review helpful
I traded my 2014 Accord for a basic Mazda3, 6-speed with the preferred package and am totally ga-ga in love over my Mazda. It's definitely smaller but it performs u-turns so much easier and is much more engaging to drive. I love the 6-speed transmission, too. I owned a 2009 Honda Fit for several years and it was a fantastic car which easily got 38 mpg and had tons of cargo space; it, however, always had the appearance of a kiddy car with a rollerskate-like appearance. The Mazda3 feels and looks more grown-up and sophisticated. I love the high quality materials, the tight seams on the car and how smooth the controls are. I also like the largish wheels and tires and appreciate the 6+ inches of ground clearance. My Accord, despite being a far larger car, had tires similar in size to the 3 and had lower ground clearance so I often scraped the air dam when going into or leaving parking lot ramps. I wasn't sure about the so-called "commander" knob on the 3 but with just three weeks of ownership, I've become used to the knob and really like it. I told my other half that this is likely to be the last car I buy for a long, long time and she didn't believe me. Well, I've already started looking at another car -- a slightly higher trim level Mazda3. I wouldn't mind having the dual-zone climate control or the keyless entry / keyless ignition. The only thing that seems weird to me about the 3 is how you need the key fob to get into the car but not to start the vehicle. I would really like to be able to not fumble in my pocket to unlock the doors. For reference, I considered the Mazda3 and also a Golf Sportwagen. Strange combination I'm sure you're thinking and you're right. I really wanted the larger cargo capacity of the Golf wagen and the little turbo gas motor was rated for much more power, however, the motor didn't feel nearly as strong as the ratings suggested. I drove the 3 and fell in love with the thing. The steering wheel and controls are right at my hands and the transmission is creamy-smooth. The motor seems to make more power than the ratings suggest and the car has a "let's go -- zoom-zoom" feel about it. The motor never seems to run out of breath and is so smooth and quiet. The VW salesperson asked me why I chose the 3 over the wagen and I told him the car just felt great and was "me." I think if you try one, you'll like it too. This is my 19th 4-wheeled vehicle that I've owned and easily my favorite. Only 3 tanks of gas (and just over 1,000 miles) but my average mileage on fuelly.com is over 38 mpg. I expect as the mileage accumulates and the motor breaks-in, this figure should stay the same or increase slightly. UPDATE: 7-23-16 I've now owned my 3 for a few months and just passed 4,600 miles. Despite the availability of cars for work, I choose to drive my 3 because I like it so much. Having lived with the car for a little while, there are some things I appreciate more and some other things that could be improved. The engine and transmission remain creamy smooth and quiet and over the past months, I've seen a high mpg of 42 and a low of just over 35: average is 37 mpg. The cabin remains quiet and comfortable. That commander knob I mentioned is easy to use but I do find myself wishing for a simple tuning knob. I just had my oil changed for the first time and it seems like the mileage has improved slightly -- a mpg or 2 on the highway. "surly's mazda fuelly" Would I buy again? WIthout reservation -- I love the thing. UPDATE: 1-28-17: over 14,000 miles and just had the oil changed for the 3rd time. The car seems to be loosening up nicely -- the exhaust seems a little more sporty sounding and the motor feels more willing to rev as the miles accumulate. No problems at all and I still love driving my little "go-devil." Mileage averages about 36mpg overall. Google surly's mazda fuelly for more stats. 7-30: over 22,000 miles -- love the car. Averaging 36 mpg. One of the greatest features of the car is the rain-sensing wipers. I've looked at other cars and few have this feature. I can't imagine NOT having them. The car has been a delight to own and to drive and I still recommend it. 1/2018: The Mazda was my favorite car -- loved the thing. Never a problem. Didn't like the dealer or Mazda. Never heard one thing from either about my satisfaction with the car or my sales experience. Mazda lost a customer because they didn't acknowledge me as a customer. Got a new Subaru Crosstrek instead -- feeling the love as an owner with email surveys about my satisfaction with the vehicle, with the dealer and welcome letters, acknowledgements of ownership from Subaru and from the dealer. Free maintenance, "encore delivery" service, donation made to ASPCA, complimentary car washes at the dealer. Nothing, ever, from Mazda other than postcards "reminding me it might be time for an oil change." Like I said, they lost a customer because I loved my car. Final mileage, about 29,900.
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2016 Mazda 3 for sale near you
Showing 3 of 39 listings
- i Sport SedanMSRP: $9,9952 mi away
- i Sport SedanMSRP: $11,5232 mi away
- i Touring SedanMSRP: $18,9909 mi away
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Love the car although it has it's minor negatives.
Mike A, 05/24/2016
updated 02/20/2020
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
23 of 24 people found this review helpful
I have had the car for more than 3 weeks and put about 1,200 miles. Here is what I like and dislike: Likes: -Looks. Bought the "gray" which actually looks more like charcoal black. -Decent backseat room. Perfect for my teen kids. -Fuel Economy. Averaging about 33 MPG in mixed city/highway. I like in the suburbs but still deal with lights. Its not stop & go but its not true highway either. -Lots of standard features for the iSport. Rear view camera, bluetooth, voice commands, text reads. -Acceleration. Its quick. (**Update after a year of ownership, it is not quick. Not sure why the acceleration went down or why I said it was quick originally.) -Braking. Maybe because the brakes are brand new but it stops on a dime. -Money factor on leasing. *This is key if you are considering leasing. I researched a lot on this but Mazda offers competitive money factors. It is cheaper for me to lease the Mazda3 than say a Kia Soul although the Soul is cheaper.* -Warranty: Powertrain - 5 yr/60k miles plus 3 yr/36k miles roadside assistance (although I have AAA). -Reliability. Consumer Reports has rated Mazda as one of the most reliable brands. Dislikes: -Road noise. Not sure if it is the tires but the road noise is the worst and loudest. I thought my old 2013 Civic had a lot of road noise but this Mazda3 is load! -Seats a little uncomfortable. -Black interior. Looks nice but in the summer, black dashboard and black seats will make the car an oven. -Second week I made a wide right turn and heard a loud pop underneath the car. Then I started hearing metal hitting each other after hitting bumps. Took it to the dealer. They said everything was fine but did confirm the noise. After 3 hours, they said they needed to contact Mazda (this was on Saturday). Noise went away by Monday. Not sure if they fixed it unknowingly. Gone for now. Hope it does not come back but this is a big concern. -Interior Light brightness. There are only 2 options unless mine is defective. Its either bright or less bright. No in-between. Why? Never seen only 2 choices. *Update (after a year of ownership): Everything I mentioned above still stands except for the acceleration. One other item that I took the car to the dealer was when you hit the brakes hard (at slow speed), the car made a noise as if some metal was loose. Dealer determined the brakes were dirty. They cleaned them and noise went away. No issues besides that. I will update in another year. **Update (after 2 years of ownership): Had a recall where part of the rear brakes caused premature wear. I did get new rotors and pads for my rear brakes. Acceleration is not great and is worst with the AC on. I will have the dealer check it out in case there is anything wrong with the transmission. Car is OK but it is not really fun to drive. This is a lease and I will end up buying it in any case. Almost will exhaust the warranty. I have over 32k miles so far and its been only 2 years and 1 month. **Update (after 3+ years of ownership): Again, the acceleration is horrible on this car when the AC is on. The transmissions lags in shifting. No power, no torque. Have two other minor issues: 1) no way to set an audio alert when a text comes in; and 2) why can't my car beep when I lock the doors using my keyfob. You have to press twice for it to beep. Should be at the first press not second. Other than that, it is doing well. No major issues. Approaching 56k miles although its almost 3 1/2 years old. **Update (almost 4 years of ownership; 63k+ miles): Rear shocks need to be replaced; mechanic stated this is a little premature as they usually last 90-100k. Still has lack of power, torque so poor acceleration unless you manually shift gears. Tires are overdue for replacing. I replaced one set so need to replace next set. Overall, the original tires lasted me about 60k which I think is OK. Hoping this will last me another 6 years before I am able to replace this.
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Roomy, Sporty, GREAT fuel economy **and SAFE**
jeff b, 08/05/2016
updated 08/07/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
32 of 34 people found this review helpful
Whats not to like about a sporty hatchback that gets 40+ mpg? No, it`s not a muscle car, and it`s never going to be. Performance is what you`d expect from a 2 liter engine...maybe a tick more but nothing that`s going to push you into the seat. It scoots just fine. The seats are supportive and comfortable. Also, for me, the interior controls are fantastic. There have been some complaints about the ergonomics of the infotainment system and I honestly don`t get it. The screen is well placed and sized well enough. The controls are both on the steering wheel as well as the main control knob which sits comfortably right under your right hand. I read a complaint that the radio kept going up the frequency range after the user stopped clicking. Buddy, there are two settings for the radio. One of them is the "scan" feature. Turn that off and you get one station at a time. The rear view camera is nice and quite useful. I got the six speed manual transmission, and I love it. The clutch is very light and feedback is perfect for the vehicle. One great feature is the hill start assist. If you come to a stop on a hill, the car will automatically hold the brake for you to allow you time to engage the clutch without rolling back. Handling wise, it`s a win as well. Keep in mind you`re not in a ferrari. It has it`s limits but it`s got a sports car`s soul. The automatic windshield wipers are AWESOME. It`s not just on/off, but it also automatically adjusts the wiper speed according to how hard it`s raining. All in all, I am 100% happy with my 3. I took possession of it lock,stock, and barrel (no financing) and I don`t regret it one bit. I had my expectations in the right place and the car exceeded many of them. No, it`s not a race car. Yes, it`s exponentially more cool than a Prius and gets better mileage than a smart car. Plus, I`m a professional musician and my entire rig fits in the hatch. If you want a practical vehicle that`s fun and won`t make you feel you sacrificed your youthful exuberance for space and crappy fuel economy, this is a great car. I was in a terrible accident with this car not too long after my initial review. I was stopped, and rear ended by a car going 70mph. The rear bumper was pushed nearly into the back seat and the car was obviously totaled. I walked away from the crash with little more than aches and pains that you`d expect from such an impact, but I was still able to walk away.
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Recent Owner, Not a Drop of Buyer's Remorse
nino scholz, 02/24/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
First off, it should be noted i have only owned the car for about 700 miles, so i cannot comment on reliability and such. I can say that there have been no problems so far, and the forums for the mazda 3 are NOT littered with threads about oil consumption and HG issues as some other car forums might be. Lets get the bad out of the way first: My car is the Grand Touring 2.5L 6speed Manual, so it's loaded aside from the tech package (which means no eloop or radar cruise). One of the features i really like on my car is the red light camera warning system, which tells you via voice warning that a red light ticket camera is ahead. It's a great feature, but on at least 2 occasions has gotten stuck, with the lady repeating herself 10-15 times before traffic starts up and finally it clears up. Quite annoying. Also, as with my previous Mazda, the lower door panels scuff easily. That pretty much sums up the negatives I have so far. The Good: First off, the interior on this car is excellent. It has a luxury feel all over and is feature packed. The infotainment works well and is intuitive, and also allows modifications via "tweaks" from the modding community so you can tailor certain things to your liking. Wi-fi functionality is even present, but hidden initially. The leather seats look and feel great, and the dash materials are high end and look great overall. I'm 6'3" and have ample head room up front. The LCD display for the infotainment looks a little out of place, but you quickly get used to it and realize it is in the perfect spot. The BMW inspired infotainment controls are instantly easy to use. The heads up display - it seems like a gimmick until you use it. It displays your speed and next turn for navigation, as well as other info at times. It is very useful on the interstate to keep you aware of your speed. This can be turned off or adjusted. Backup camera works well, blind spot chime can be turned down or off but works well, and the voice control is decent, although i'm still getting the hang of it. There is plenty of storage space, although the door pockets are a bit small and more cup holder than storage. The climate control is easy enough to use, but I personally prefer a simple 3 dial manual layout. Overall, the car allows nice customization through the infotainment center in allowing you to turn off and adjust features to your liking - example - the door locks can be set for "one touch unlocks all doors" or "press once for driver, twice for all". The driving experience is fantastic. You quickly forget this is a compact economy car. The 2.5 has plenty of pep. enough to chirp the wheels and put a big smile on your face. Power is adequate at all RPM's, and impressive when you have the engine in a sweet spot around 3.5K. You'll be pushed back in your seat if you are into that sort of thing. The car handles great. I've taken a country drive in the twisties already and it was all smiles. minimal body roll and confidence inspiring steering feel. The shifter has a very short motion. Initially, it was hard to tell 1st from 3rd, but I quickly got used to it and have not thought about it since. The clutch has a bit of a binary feel, but again, I quickly became accustomed. For casual driving, the car does not drift or require extra attention to stay on track on the interstate. Road noise is acceptable to good. I suspect new tires would help in that department, but it is certainly not an issue for me. Also nice is the fact that the engine does well in just about any rev range for daily driving - it's a bit of an "any gear will do" affair unless you really want to get on it. More than a few times i've found myself cruising around in 4th gear when i should be in 6th, because the car does not get loud or jerky. Even for interstate passing, downshifts are not usually required. There is enough torque in the low range for standard driving maneuvers. So far i'm getting around 30mpg mixed driving, and it seems to be improving with break in. I also do enjoy the car from time to time so my figures are far from optimal. All in all, I would buy another if this was stolen. I took the car on a 34 hour test drive before buying and that feeling has not changed - I love the car and am very happy with my choice. Mazda does make cars that are fun to drive, and they it well.
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An awesome car
MedStudent, 06/12/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
As a medical student, I was looking for a great car that would hold me over for years to come- and I found it in the Mazda 3. Small enough for city driving, enough room for everything I could want to throw in the trunk. I mounted roof racks to the top for my tandem bicycle as well as my road bike- and I have zero complaints. The adaptive cruise control is great, the fuel economy is awesome, the sport mode makes for fun driving. I couldn't ask for more out of a car. Mazda won themselves a customer for life.
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I used to drive a Tahoe!
JMK, 03/15/2017
updated 09/20/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have a 35 mile commute one way. For years I drove a Chevy Tahoe, and I finally got fed up with the gas mileage and parked it. I was looking for a bottom line entry level car to use as a basic high MPG commuter, without any significant bells and whistles. I drove a Honda Fit and Civic, Kia Rio, and Hundai Elantra. Settled on the Mazda 3 i-Touring hatchback w/nav. I won't repeat the same comments as others, but I completely agree with the positive reviews of this car. I have been amazingly surprised and happy with the choice. I'm a big guy, so leg room is very important. The Mazda 3 has plenty of legroom with the seat back, however, a negative is the entry. The rear pillar of the front door is ahead of the seat back, so I constantly rub against the weatherstripping getting in/out....wearing it out. Once inside, leg room and head room are great, but, I can't reach out the window to an ATM, without hitting my head on the top of the window. Otherwise, I'm really happy with this car, as it surprises me everyday with sportiness and comfort. Cloth seats are very tough and heavy duty, far more than any others I looked at, so no worries there. Basic bells and whistles are great for this price range. The center console control knob is just like a much more expensive German sedan, so you always feel like your driving something special. It truly has a German feel to the interior.....not Japanese at all. Interior finish (vinyl) is very heavy, and has a near-leather feel. The only complaint I have on the electronics is that the touch screen shows fingerprints too easily, very distracting in the sun, so I avoid touching it and just use the knob. The room in the hatchback is great....nearly as much as my Tahoe, plenty of room for groceries. With the seats down, it has an amazing amount of room inside. You would be surprised at what I have carried. Anti-collision warnings, blind spot warning lights, etc. are great but take some getting used to. They have saved me many times from changing lanes, or backing out of a parking space with a car coming at me. Overall, I couldn't have made a better choice. Update: A year later and still no problems. A completely trouble free automobile. Comfortable on long trips. Actually, the only thing that has caused a problem is the computer access hatch in the panel near your left foot. Occasionally, I'll kick it getting in/or and it pops open.....huge problem <snicker>. I change the synth oil every 5K just as an easy reminder.
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Based on two months' ownership
Pete O, 11/01/2016
updated 06/01/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car replaced a 2004 Toyota Matrix RX with a 5-speed manual, which I loved and had 256,000 miles on. The Mazda is a really nice car; comfortable and lots of cargo space. Fuel economy is good to excellent; I've been averaging around 40 mpg per tank, combined city and highway. My only complaints so far are some wind noise at highway speeds (though it's quieter than the Matrix); lack of a dome light when just the hatchback is open; it's not as easy to exit as the Matrix as it sits lower, and the "carpet" in the rear cargo area is pretty cheap stuff. The speakers could be a bit better, and the navigation voice is muffled, with no way of changing the tone to hear it more clearly. All that said, I like this car a lot, with easy Bluetooth connections, two USB ports and an AUX audio input. I'm a musician, and one of the selling points was the ability to get an upright bass into the car. The higher trim levels that have a sunroof are more difficult, if not impossible to achieve that task, which is why I went with the iSport.
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Peppy
Claire, 08/30/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I downsized from a mid size sedan. It's a little rough shifting in automatic when accelerating at low speeds (but I've always driven automatic cars). Loud on the highway which I may address by changing the hard tires and tiring up the radio. Acceleration is excellent and the car saved me from a potential bad accident the other day by helping me straighten out when a few cars had to brake hard on the highway. The interior is very comfortable and it definitely is fun to drive as others have said. Love it for city driving, not so much on long trips but overall very happy with the car.
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Best Car Since 1972
Chris Papas, 05/08/2016
updated 05/09/2018
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
My very first car was a 1972 Datsun 240z, and I absolutely loved that little sports car. Since then I've owned two Grand Ams, an Escort, an Aztek, and a Focus. Every car since (except the Aztek) has been a good transportation vehicle. All have comfortable interiors. All do exactly what they are supposed to do - get you from point A to B. Some have had more feature than others, some more comfortable and some more stylish. None of those cars made me feel wonderful while driving it, until this Mazda 3. It drives like a little sports car, but it has four doors. It's interior is almost luxurious, but it only costs $20,000. And while looks are in the eye of the beholder, I love the way this car looks. I am what is called a "hyper driver" - someone who tries to get the most MPG per gallon. As an example, my 2008 Focus was rated at 28 city / 35 hwy, but I average 40.7 mpg in combined driving. After only a month owning this Mazda, rated at 30 city/40 hwy, I can say I'm hopeful this will be in the Prius range, as I am currently averaging 48.7 mpg in combined driving. But take this number with a grain of salt, my Focus had 112,000 miles on it, this car only has 500. I haven't had it long enough to talk about reliability, but I have had it long enough to find a fault - "Getting in the car". I'm average in height, 5' 7" and getting in, I usually rub against the seat cushion. It might not seem like much and that is because I'm really reaching for straws trying to find fault with this vehicle. UPDATE: 11-9-2017 (18 months of ownership) - I still absolutely love this car. It's only shortcomings are something that should be offered, but is not - a more powerful engine, and the top trim is NOT available with a stick shift. UPDATE #2: 5-9-2018 (24 months of ownership) - There is so much to love about this car. No issues what-so-ever. Too bad Mazda doesn't offer hatchbacks in their other models (other than SUVs).
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Great car, aweful bluetooth
M. Mayer, 08/12/2016
updated 09/26/2018
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
16 of 20 people found this review helpful
The car is gorgeous, it drives great.The bluetooth was intermittently problematic from the beginning, then it got worse, not working at all. This is a known defect that has been going on for a few years on Mazda 3. Customer service from Mazda central is terrible. they make you come up to the service two times; one time to extract the bluetooth and get a part number, the next time they reinstall. It inconveniences customers, and they don't care. I'm now in the process of waiting for the new Bluetooth. 1st update in 2016: The dealership was very nice coming over to my home so I wouldn't have to drive up to the dealership a second time. They installed a working Bluetooth. OK .I'm updating my last review now again in September of 2017. Over the last year I've had intermittent problems with the interface between my iPhone 6 and my Mazda Bluetooth... the bluetooth device was not recognized, the names of the songs sometimes didn't sync, problems with Contacts, problems with Pandora link. So I was looking forward to my recent service appointment where I was told much of this would be fixed. After leaving the dealership the Bluetooth wasn't recognized. The Mazda employee, after his working hours, kindly tried to unpair and pair again the devices 2 times, unsuccessfully. So I called the Mazda Bluetooth company, and they suggested restoring original factory settings...still it didn't work. There are many other problems with the interface between Mazda and iPhones for example with Contacts and Pandora. After escalating I discovered that Mazda has been remiss in getting "Car Play" from Apple which would help with some of these problems; but I suspect the engineering problems go much deeper. If one looks at the problems of iPhone users with Mazda's on the internet you'll find hundreds of complaints; it seems Mazda should have addressed and solved these problems or else tell buyers about this upfront. Otherwise it's customer unfriendly and deceptive to think you’re going to have a functioning pleasant Bluetooth experience. I've spent numerous hours trying to find out how to remedy the problems. Mazda dealership has not been good recently in returning phone calls to let me know what is happening and how to remedy the situation. Mazda corporate has between 1/2 hour and 1 hour wait time to speak to someone (time that I don't have to wait); I can understand the long wait time if there are as many unsatisfied customers as I am. I'd say now in updating my review, "Mazda 3 Awesome Car, Awful Bluetooth!" OK its September 2018 and I'm updating my review. Same opinion: Mazda 3 awesome car awful Bluetooth. But good news for you, not me I understand that the new Mazda 3's coming next year will have the Apple Play installed and that they are beginning to bring those into older cars slowly. I haven't heard anything about when they will get to my 2016 car {Poor Communication from their corporate offices}. After three years of exasperation with intermittent problems with the Bluetooth that has taken hours of frustrated time contacting the dealership, their 3rd party unhelpful company etc., I imagine that enough complaints may have gotten them to do what was right for their customers and upgrade their Bluetooth system. It's not saying too much for their integrity that it's taken this long. But I still enjoy the car and will be grateful when they finally get to the 2016 Mazda 3 and upgrade their poorly engineered Bluetooth connection with my iPhone.
Best Commuter Value
Mike Nodine, 07/20/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
The Mazda3 is the best overall value we found in a commuter car for the money. It does everything adequately or well and holds its value better than its competitors. It can do the occasional long road trip but like all smaller economy cars, there is a lot more road noise than a larger gas guzzler. The hatchback is like a small SUV with good gas mileage which we love. We bought a one owner top of the line S Grand Touring but had the dealer swap the larger wheels and tires out with the smaller rims from an I model which greatly improved the ride quality and comfort as well as reducing the road noise. 78 mph indicated is really 80 mph now, careful to not get caught speeding, but a small price to pay for all of S features with the I's ride quality. It is the perfect combination and we don't know why this isn't a Mazda factory option.
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Great car. Out of this world maintenance costs!
Quoizimodo, 08/15/2016
updated 12/16/2024
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
Don't get me wrong, the Mazda 3 is a great car. However after 73000+ miles, I must sadly say that I would not buy any other Mazda in the future. Reason: Astronomical maintenance costs. The vehicle was serviced only by the Manufacturer's dealer ( the one in the SFV that sells high volume vehicles - G----N). Never had a vehicle that required beaucoup $$$ to drive daily. Will stay with Toyota.
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Thrilled
Mike, 07/04/2016
updated 01/13/2025
2016 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is a great car. If you have young kids not the car for you but otherwise very versatile with the hatchback. Good power great car mileage. Beautiful design. Tremendous value, Pretty much loaded up for 23k. I am now at 143k still running like a top. Now at almost 159k and absolutely no problems. Still runs and rides great.
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Great Experience with the 3
Amit N, 10/10/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We bought the S Grand Touring hatchback and love all the bells and whistles as well as the power and handling of the car. Great interior layout and good sound system as well.
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Major Upgrade
JR Cain, 04/07/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I leased my 4 door hatch 2.0 iTouring in January, so I cant comment on reliability. I've got the 6 speed manual and it includes all of the options excepting eloop, lane departure warning, and Adaptive CC. I was coming out of a Hyundai Veloster, and this was a MAJOR upgrade in just about every way imaginable. Build quality is the most striking difference between the two vehicles. Ive driven about 1500 miles thus far and I've averaged 34.4 MPG combined. For those who are struggling to meet the EPA's estimates, I suggest using the cruise control whenever you're on the highway.
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Love it...
Henry, 08/28/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Coming from a Honda Fit, this is a great step-up in terms of, well, everything except for ease of parking, although it's still pretty easy to park. Roomy in the front and rear, with enough cargo room, plenty of power for me (184 hp engine), and looks great outside and in. Controls and navigation instructions take some getting used to but are intuitive once you grasp it. Bluetooth does take a while to connect on startup and only sometimes resumes my phone music for some reason. From what others say, the tires are crap in the rain and are noisy. MPG in San Francisco is 23 without the Tech Package not driving conservatively, but that's in line with what I got in the fit (85% of advertised mpg, tons of traffic/hills, etc).
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great car with fatal flaw
Eric, 02/12/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
Nice driving car with high quality interior. Good engine and handling. However, engine and road noise were VERY intrusive. This is the third time I've passed on a Mazda to buy another brand due to noise levels. Too bad Mazda has continued to neglect this. The clutch was easy to adjust too but didn't add any excitement to the driving experience. I would probably opt for the automatic with this vehicle even though I generally prefer manual transmissions.
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if you only buy a new car once a decade...
Scott Harman, 11/28/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car has everything I was looking for in a vehicle- good gas mileage, a peppy engine (get the 2.5!), great traction and driving aids. Bonus points for having a sunroof, 18" wheels, a clear heads-up display that is actually useful, and a great sound system.
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great car and the price is reasonablef!
Renee Young, 02/07/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was trying to decide between the Mazda3 and the Lexus 200h. This car has all the main features I liked in the Lexus and I saved some $7000+. It is fun to drive - a lot of pep and I can't say enough about how helpful the blind spot detector is when I change lanes on a busy highway.
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New to Mazda -- VERY impressed
R.A., 08/12/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My first Mazda. I think I'm hooked! Very impressive car. Handling is great. Interior is very nice for the money. I really like the exterior design on the 3 Hatchback. When it comes time to replace our Saab 9-5 Wagon, the CX-5 will be at the top of the list. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how to justify buying an MX-5.
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Solid, Safe, Fun
Patrice DeVincentis, 09/26/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is the first non hybrid car I have owned in over a decade. No doubt I will be paying more at the pump, however, the ride is comfortable, the technology is easy to use and aides in safe driving, and the ride is comfortable. Driving is a pleasure!
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MAZDA3 is the car for me (or you)
Joe Dal Porto, 10/31/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is a great little car. Good handling, very responsive, and even the 2.0L has plenty of zip. The interior is comfortable and well-thought out with surprising amount of trunk room, even for a hatchback.
Meh, good car but not "Great"
Sam, 11/08/2018
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Sporty fun drive due to ample torque 1st - 3rd gear, but 4th-6th are a joke even with the 2.5L engine. Biggest complaint is that the interior is LOUD! you cannot hold a quiet conversation in this vehicle, main reason why I traded it in. That and just not enough power. I upgraded the suspension and rear sway bar, and only after that was the driving experience "Great"
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Curious Car
J.J, 11/12/2015
updated 12/12/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
After driving the car over a year and two months ...no mechanical problems.. besides maintaince the car does feel solid and all of its mechanism built as a highly quality product from Japan. The acceleration on the car is better than most .. And handling is really good and freeway merging is good for a 2.0 liter but the automatic transmission sometimes trashes the engine as if rev off sync with the trans ..kind of like a car from the 1980's or something Mazda could have refined the transmission as they did with the engine as it has plenty of power. Kinda left me begging for more zoom zoom when coming out of corners ..why Mazda?
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Mixed feeling
JB, 01/19/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
16 of 30 people found this review helpful
I started out really liking this car. Handling is easy, speeds up nicely, excellent mileage (36 local roads with not much traffic lights). My first problem was the limited visibility. I removed the head rest on the passenger side (I mostly drive it alone) so that I can see to the right side rear with the rear view mirror but it's still very limited. I have gotten used to the size of the rear hatch so visibility on that is not a problem. Then, around 6 months, when the days started getting darker earlier, that's when I noticed the headlights problem. Even with full headlights on, it's really dim. Brought it in to the dealer service and was told there's no fix for it since it's the basic iSport. There's basically a very small lighted region and a dome shaped darker region. The darker shade is right on my line of vision and I can barely see 30 feet in front. Making turns is even worse. I can't see anything to the sides so I'm basically making blind turns and creeping along. This problem isn't very noticeable if you drive in cities where there are street lights but you're basically driving in the dark in rural areas. I do not feel safe driving it anymore. I was thinking of trading it in but found out this lighting style is the trend for most brands now. There may be some better lighting (like the bixenon ??) for more expensive styles and brands. I'm actually thinking of buying an older car with the old lighting as I never have any problems with my old car. In the end, I really do not feel safe driving with such dim lights.
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Great value and fun car
Randal, 03/29/2018
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Read Consumer Reports and do your homework when buying any car. The Madza3 is a great value. My wife and I purchased the car transitioning her from a Honda FIT. Big deal as she loves the FIT. The biggest differences are in comfort, economy as well as performance. We love the car so far!
Well engineered
Steve, 11/15/2019
updated 05/31/2024
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Comfortable, sporty, reliable and well engineered
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Slightly Underpowered but Nice Car
psychprofessor, 01/30/2020
updated 08/03/2020
2016 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The car looked nice, had a lot of room inside, and ran great for the nearly 4 years I drove it. I did have some problems with the radio unit and backup camera but finally got it fixed on warranty.
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The Joy of Driving
Wil Hester, 06/20/2016
updated 01/12/2024
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car is a drivers car. The steering is excellent. It is quick, it handles great and gets gas mileage. Could use one or two more gauges for my taste. Can now say the car handles well in the snow.
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2 years with the car and over 10 repair visits
kaptankoko@live.com, 11/25/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 15 people found this review helpful
I bought this car after reading good reviews and good solid look of the car. After putting on a few options such as navigation, hatchback and moon roof, the total price became expensive. Since I got the car, there were continuous visits for maintenance. Some covered under the warranty however Mazda made me to pay some of them despite this car in in factory warranty. At one point, the car almost caught a fire when my wife and son was inside. They need to pull over until the smoke coming from the rear brakes cleared. Repeated visits to fix the noise and repeated visits to change the navigation or various other issues. I am extremely dissatisfied with this product. In two years the car's value dropped to 1/3 of the original price and if it wasn't under warranty, it would cost me a lot to repair this car. Handling is not great either. Not that you expect from quality Japanese cars. Overall this car is made for looks but it is very low quality product.
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Don'y buy this car!
Ali, 05/31/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 26 people found this review helpful
I bought a brand new 2016 Mazda 3. My previous car was a 2012 Nissan Altima. The Mazda is awfully loud inside the cabin. When I told this to the Mazda dealer they said o well Mazda is working on it to reduce noise. Also, the power brake is essentially non existing. You have exert for leg really hard to stop this car or keep it stopped at a red light for example. Definitely don't buy this car. Compared to my Altima, it is horse wagon!
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Navigation system
Al, 01/18/2017
updated 07/19/2017
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 23 people found this review helpful
Mazda does not offer real time traffic with their navigation system . You never know if there are any delays in real time. Mazda offers no fix. This is not a navigation system. My phone works better than this so called navigation. Stay away from Mazda they cannot and will not fix this. Why pay for a navigation system when it does not work . Mazda should refund all owners that were lied to.
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Didn't buy it!!
Frank Lambert, 04/03/2017
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
Recently shopped for a Mazda3 touring hatchback. Great car, great feel! However, decided to keep the Fusion Hybrid for a little while longer after spending $1000 for the 100K mile service.
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Great car for driver
Michael, 04/24/2016
2016 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive, great car for driver. Not so great for family use.
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4days
OW, 05/26/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 10 people found this review helpful
it's been great but wish they had CD option. i still like my CDs.
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my third mazda 3
tom brown, 02/26/2017
updated 03/08/2018
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
what a great car, plenty of room,fun to drive. first one i had for five years traded in for another one. second one i had for five years but a women pulled out in front of me and totaled car, just bought 2016 with 2000 miles . last year bought a cx-5. they have all been the grand touring models so they have all the bangs and whistles. all vehicles were bought off internet. holland, mi, springfield,ill, indianapolis,in cincinnati oh
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Great car
Peter Liginos, 06/01/2018
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great car with crappy sound system Road noise is loud. Seat are not comfortable for a long drive.
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Nice Zoom Zoom
Shelley Magnaghi, 07/08/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
When checking Mazda's site online had a Mazda 3i touring, included safety technology, same price range as Mazda 3 touring I test drove, but was told only the cx had the safety package, loved the car, dealer dropped the ball, lost a sale.
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Poor engine design
Robin T., 10/28/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 7 people found this review helpful
I found out that when parking the manual car in 1st or reverse on any slight incline, the car will roll due to low engine compression. I have owned manual transmission vehicles all my life and have never had a car roll when parked in 1st or reverse. This is unacceptable. Why would any auto manufacture build a low compression engine? They even know the car rolls because it says to use the emergency brake, but then it says to not use the emergency brake when the temperatures are freezing because the brake can freeze up so now you have a safety issue. Your car can roll and hit somebody, roll into another vehicle, or out into traffic. I only found out my car was rolling when I was told that I needed to go check on my car because it was moving. Sure enough it was halfway down the parking lot and if nobody told me about my car, it would have rolled out on to the main road into traffic. I took it to a dealer and they said this is normal. This is not acceptable for a manual transmission vehicle. What happens if the emergency brake fails? I'm screwed. I live in PA where there are mountains and winters are long and cold. Mazda needs to fix this.
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Good features, quality, and price!
Andrew, 03/29/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
High quality car! When I was researching for cars, I really didn't want a CVT and I was looking for a good automatic, and I found this car. I find to be very sporty and it handles like a champ! Cargo and styling are a big plus and so far, I've had no problems with reliability. The controls are really easy to figure out and the control knob make it really easy once you master it. The only complaint I have is that the stock tires don't do the greatest in the snow. Other than that, I would highly recommend!!
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Mazda was a pleasant surprise
J B Mascari, 05/14/2017
updated 05/16/2018
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
From the time I drove the car it wowed me. I did not intend to buy a Mazda but it's handling and interior made it just a joy to drive. One year and 20,000 miles later and I love the car as much as I did the week I bought it. It has GREAT gas mileage (41 highway trips), quiet interior, solid ride AND stops on a dime. In general it is the BEST car I have ever owned. Reasonable in price because you get more value for the money, it seems like a more expensive vehicle. And it is a work of art in exterior design. It is heading toward 2 years of driving and there has been "0" mechanical defects. Other than routine maintenance I spent nothing. If I had to do it again, I would buy this car.
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JL
JL, 12/24/2017
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Peppy and easy to maneuver around crazy Florida drivers Noisy with stock tires but not terrible. Overall good car for young drivers.
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A Sweet Little (20) Sixteen Mazda 3 - Updated.
Bud Bridgers, 06/03/2019
updated 06/25/2021
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Moving along in my third year of ownership of this car. Still drives very well and seems like an extension of one's arm when quick correction is needed to avoid an accident. So much fun to drive! Mileage is good, avg. mpg. @27 city, @ 32 freeway. I recently discovered that Mazda's engineers provided help for stopping when on an incline with stick shift transmission - will hold on a hill so that re-engagement with transmission is smooth. Very cool. Also, found that cruise control is also a speed control: let's you maintain the speed that was programmed by cruise control, which helps you from going over speed limit on streets that are mostly flat. This model and year have the "SkyView" technology that has worked so well in racing and overall test driving.
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Get the six speed..
MGNM, 05/03/2021
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I don't know how people stay focused with an auto trans. Makes me drowsy and bored.
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Mazda 3 GS Hatchback
Mian Hussain, 12/30/2020
2016 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent interior and style. Love it. I am driving this vehicle for last two and half years years, so far no problem. Its is very fuel efficient probably the best in its class. I have seen Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic from inside.Both are made of inferior material like Dollarama plastic sheets are lined all over.
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Trouble free.
Hughie, 12/15/2020
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive, fully featured, my wife loves it.
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nice little hatch
Megan, 08/03/2020
2016 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I regret not getting the manual! This car is nice to drive and feels smooth as silk. I live in a city with monster potholes however, and have to be super careful with this car. It has already developed a strange intermittant high pitched sound over bumps. Sounds like it's coming from the driver side wheel well. Dealer hasn't found anything wrong upon regular inspection, so unless I cough up money to have someone take things apart I guess it will remain a mystery for now. Also has a squeak and a rattle in the dash and the sunroof, respectively. Other than that the car feels solid and like it will last a long time as long as I take care of it. The quality of the interior, other than the intermittent rattles, is high and I get a lot of compliments. I hate hate hate not having normal knobs for the radio though. The automatic wipers are a nice touch. Decent enough on gas, as I average about 33mpg. Hard to see out of with the squatty windows and thick rear pillar, but the rear camera helps. I do like the car though overall, as it was the nicest I could find in my price range and I do intend to keep it a while. It is pretty! I have it in white and people are always asking about it. Of course it is the fancy pearly paint though which I found out is very expensive to repair in fenderbenders. Thankfully I was not at fault and the other party had to pay, but something to be aware of.
Stil Love my '16 Mazda 3s
Gayle, 05/29/2020
updated 06/09/2025
2016 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Mazda is an affordable BMW.
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It's not perfect...
Jason M., 07/31/2016
2016 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Overall this car is a good car. However going from a SUV to the Mazda 3 Hatchback I can tell a difference of space to get in & out of the car is a major difference. Also it has only 1 charging in the whole car. The USB connections are very useless to charge cell phones since it'll take hours to charge a phone with that method. My kids don't have a whole lot leg space in the backseat area. The feeling of the drive is very good. The brakes work very well. The trunk has a descent amount of space. I'm currently averaging 31 mpg without trying to be a stickler for every ounce of gas.
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