Used 2016 Mazda 3 Sedan Consumer Reviews

Excellent crash performance

I was hit in the middle of the passenger side by a driver who ran a stop sign, hard enough that I spun 180 degrees and she continued on to hit a house across the street. I estimate she was doing 35-40 mph on a residential street and she never even touched her brakes. The Mazda3 was amazing. 2 days later I have a bruise where the seatbelt crossed my lap and another on my back where I'm assuming the seat supports pressed into me. That's it. No stiffness or soreness, no other injuries. The wreck honestly felt smoother than a bumpy roller coaster ride, although not nearly as fun. And when the air bags deployed, the car used my phone over the Bluetooth connection and called 911 automatically. I really liked my car. It handled well, was comfortable, fun to drive, attractive, and priced right. If the insurance totals mine out, I will be purchasing another Mazda3.

Mazda for Life

I have previously owned 3 Mazda cars, just sold a 2013 Civic Si. What I really needed was a commuter car, and always liked the previous Mazda3, so I decided to try a new one. It's great. Comfortable on long drives, has a very nice stereo system in the GT (HD radio and XM). The GT has the Active driving display (HUD) which I really like. I'm not a big fan of the basic-basic dash layout, but the dash mounted infotainment screen gives you a lot of info (HD traffic, Nav, Text SMS, etc.,) The HUD also gives you Nav directions. Car does not perform like a Miata, but it is no slouch either. I have changed tires (and that made a good difference in how the car handles in tight corners). I love manual transmissions (and one is available), but I get into heavy traffic, and my wife can't drive stick. The shiftable automatic is great. Fuel mileage is very good for the size car it is and uses regular gas (avg. 32 mpg). If you are looking for a good all around car the 3 is a great choice; however, I would suggest that you don't skimp and get the bargain basement car hoping to upgrade parts later. I love the GT. UPDATE: 10/2018 25,000 miles (I used the O.E. upgrade and added Apple CarPlay - LOVE it. Sounds dumb but makes the car better by allowing Pandora and Waze to be placed on the Nav screen. Result? I don't like XM, I like Pandora instead. The problem with the 6-sp auto is that is that unlike a manual trans, you can't always tell what gear you're in by putting your hand on the shifter and when moving through traffic, I will lose count - and be in the wrong gear. Using the paddle shifter negates this. Problem solved. Trunk has more room than I anticipated and it's just a very easy car to live with. If only I could afford more than one Mazda at a time. I would buy a Mazda again in a minute.

Great alternative to the Audi A3

I stopped buying Japanese cars a while ago. Despite the benefits of reliability and fuel efficiency, the Civic, Corolla and Prius were not fun for me to drive. I then tried a BMW 3 series which was a blast to drive but broke down too much and was expensive to fix. The Passat seemed like a good compromise but still had reliability issues and was expensive at the pump. Why am I telling you all of this? The Mazda 3 grand touring Sedan checks all the boxes for me. It's fun to drive (more so in the city than on the highway) It has a great infotainment system (Bose) and the interior reminded me a lot of the Audi A3 that I was testing (for $10k + more). The interior feels upscale, the acceleration is good and the handing is excellent. It feels much like my Miata from the 90's. My one concern is that I am not getting the advertised MPG which is one of the reasons for choosing this car. I am getting a combined of 28 MPG with modest driving. I had expected more like 33 MPG. The dealer says MPG will improve after 5000 miles (I'm only at 750). That seems like a long break-in time. Has anyone else experienced this? Overall, it's a great car.

Great Ride and Handling

The 3s Grand Touring was an easy choice. It rides and handles beautifully. The steering is quick and precise, and the driver's seat is very comfortable. The transmission shifts are crisp, and are very responsive to accelerator pressure. In addition, the audio system is the best I have experienced, no doubt because of the Bose speakers. When stopped temporarily on a hill, you have 2 seconds to move your foot from brake to accelerator before the car begins to roll. The headlights, taking their cue from the steering wheel, swivel to point in the direction you will be going, rather than where the car is pointing. There are, however, a number of annoyances. The electronics (with the exception of closing the driver's window) are disabled when the ignition is turned off. It requires a separate operation to restore the audio. Three distinct operations are needed to select a station, instead of, for example, simply switching between a pair of AM and FM stations. I would have appreciated all four windows, not just the driver's window, operating with one touch. The numbers on the dash cannot be read in sunlight when wearing sunglasses. The blind spot monitoring is mostly an annoyance, forever warning me not to change lanes while I am doing so safely. The reason is that it only measures distance, and has no knowledge of relative speed. While the BSM feature can be disabled, it cannot be decoupled from the cross-traffic alert, a most desirable feature. To deal with this problem, I have attached a pair of blind-spot mirrors to the side-view mirrors, and rely on this combination to make my decisions. While I am satisfied with the 25 mpg (in primarily city driving), the range is a big disappointment. The manual says that the car has a 13.2 gallon tank; however, it functions as if it had only an 11-gallon tank. Both the gas gauge (an inconsistent discrete device) and the range indicator show no miles left when only 11 gallons are required to fill the tank. So I get no more than 225 miles from a tank of gas. I would much prefer the old needle, which was a true indicator of the gas remaining in the tank. Despite these complaints, I would buy the Mazda 3 again, because it is a pleasure to drive.

Two Weeks In

I have always knew I would end up getting a Mazda3. I went from a 2003 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro that I purchased brand new, to this 2016 Mazda3 2.0. Other than losing all wheel drive and the peppiness of my modified Audi, this automobile is quite an upgrade for me. First off, there is instant power to the wheels, instead of waiting for the turbo to kick in at 3k RPMs. The cabin interior is quite nice, even though I went from leather to cloth. I at first scoffed the side impact avoidance system I went along with, but it actually helps with the slight blind spots this car has; however, the side impact indicators stay on a little too long after I am well past the mouth breather lingering in the passing lane... The entertainment system/Bluetooth connectivity is great and the sound is as well, even though I didn't go with the Bose premium sound. A little weird not having a CD player, but I guess they are a little dated now anyways. As I mentioned the Bluetooth connectivity is a no brainer, so no CD player needed at all for someone with an iPhone/Droid/or any other Bluetooth enabled device. The ride is smooth and handles corners extremely well, as well as the plethora of potholes the wonderful D.C. area has to offer. Speaking of potholes... I took this to New York and this Mazda3 handled their potholes as well like a champ. Overall, I am happy with this purchase, but a little dismayed at how much it would cost just to get the SD card for the GPS. I'll just stick with my cellphone.

Spartan car with average appeal?

If you buy a used 2016 Mazda 3 iSport you will be a bit underwhelmed but satisfied, but you might not be thrilled by it. It IS a pleasure to drive, but perhaps only in contrast with my previous car of fourteen years. It feels a little larger and heavier than my spouse's 2006 Toyota Corolla (in fact the weight of the Mazda reminds me of my old 1995 Corolla). The steering is excellent. The seats adjust less easily and have limited settings. The driver's seat on the base model does not appear to be height adjustable and the curve of the seat seems to force you forward into a hunch. The acceleration is smooth, but if you need a fast response (emergency swerve for example) it might not execute as you'd expect. There is no "Sport" button on the base iSport model! However, if you "punch it" while highway driving, then you have the opportunity depress the accelerator (to the floor) a second time for increased acceleration, which I liked. Like many 4-cylinder budget cars, the A/C diverts power from acceleration (you'll hear it rev harder). Also, there is a gear-shift feature that sort of gives manual control over the transmission, but it's really worthless. I have tried it and the automatic transmission is better. It really seems more like a gimmick to make you feel as though you're driving stick (with no reverse for rocking). Cabin noise is considerable. The car sits extremely low to the ground and you should be careful to remember that the plastic front bumper could get hooked on a parking block or snow bank. If you are older or have back issues, you might find getting into/out of it a bit difficult. The brakes are okay. The general visibility is okay, and there is a backup camera, though I use the mirrors because the screen image is washed out and distorted. The "A" and "C" pillars are substantial and the rear passenger windows are small. The interior is dark and the rearview mirror sort of obstructs vision. I find myself actively looking around it. Most of stock technology in the iSport is mediocre and unimpressive. The stereo is very quiet and seems to calibrate the volume with acceleration (gets louder when you rev higher, drops when you de-cel). Because the cabin noise is considerable, you will most likely have to keep the volume up. I barely use the large media screen. When I tried to run an iPhone though it, I could not hear Google Maps turn-by-turn instructions. In fact, the link with the car seems to have suppressed the volume on the phone. When I plugged in an iPod, it will play, but the stereo interface does not preserve the settings consistently after you shut off the car. The bluetooth connection works okay for hand-free phone calls. I am not sure where the car's antenna is located (there is no "nub"). I really want to like Mazdas and their engineering ideas (fuel efficiency, lighter weight, higher compression), but I must say that I struggled to find reasons for keeping this car. It's not a very practical 4-door sedan (the back seat is cramped), it's not a sports car, and I didn't get the hatch, so the cargo space is limited. The gas mileage average is modestly higher than some competitors and its safety ratings are average. Oil changes will run (approximately) from $60-$90 (for full synthetic) depending on the shop, but, depending on your mileage, they are not frequent (2-3x / year). That said, the car was reliable and, in the end, that's all that I needed. UPDATE: Mileage exceeded competitors. I have driven a Toyota Corolla and a Honda CRV, and this Mazda beat both. In fact, this Mazda felt more substantial than a newer Corolla and its technology was on a par with the CRV base model. Moreover, the 2016 screen was superior to the base CRV's and maintenance menus were about the same. Plus, there's no turbo in the 2016 Mazda3 iSport, so you don't have to worry about oil dilution (like the CRV). Not much maintenance was required. When I owned it there was no visible rust or breakdown of electrics. It was generally comfortable ride for long distances. If you need a commuter car, this is a good option. UPDATE 2021: During the COVID pandemic, the used value of this car rose to $15, 200 (as of today; it was 13,940 in early July) because of low inventories at dealerships and demand for used cars. In fact, it remains at inflated prices for used vehicles. It averaged about 35-36 mpg in the city and were no issues yet (at 50k miles). UPDATE 2022: I sold the car to CARVANA in October of 2021, but not because there was anything wrong with it. We had another car and insuring and maintaining two cars while working remotely seemed unnecessarily expensive. Demand for these cars has risen and the used cost is close to the original MRSP. UPDATE 2023: Having sold the car, all I have are fond memories. Mostly, I recall it was comfortable, felt safe, had smooth transmission shifts, got good mileage, and it was a nice-looking car. I sold it at 50k miles and there were no issues. After I sold it, I bought a 2017 Chevy Spark which is the epitome of no-frills cars, but even the Chevy has better quality internet connectivity, screen interface, really clear backup camera, and a superior stereo. It has a terrible CVT and shifts clumsily, but it gets better mileage than the Mazda and handles about the same. The ride is harder and the seats are less comfortable, but for an inexpensive runabout it's what I need. Buying it made me aware of all the stuff I did NOT need on the Mazda such as power windows and mirrors. All that stuff adds weight and expense. I sort of wish cars would go back to basics and pass savings on to consumers, but I know that's unrealistic.

2016 Mazda 2.0L I Touring sedan

Been turning wrenches for over 35yrs ASE.. so I'll go off my mechanics view of this car .. over all the car is better than I expected for a compact car as it rides better than my 06 Lincoln LS sport touring sedan.. the size of the Mazda meets our needs as it's only me and my wife as for a family it may be a bit small but this 3 series is really nice has great handling - brakes - lighting - entertainment - excellent crash rating A+ Reinforcements in the body structure A+ under the hood you can see around the motor another plus unlike my LS you can't see crap ! As I look under hood as a mechanic I see everything and for me that's another plus! Can easily work on this 4cyl a/c waterpump alternator etc plenty of room and it has timing chain no belt drive an added plus for me not having to remove front cover to do belt and water pump etc . Getting good hwy mileage 35 mpg at 75mph , 40.1 below 65mpg .. as for road noise ? I and my wife have no issues talking to each at 75-80 mph as other have stated ? Only real issue I see later down the road - yrs is possible electrical issues like push button start keyless entry electric rack-in pinon steering all computer control etc all mfg are heading this way as you might say I'm old school lol ... For the money Mazda 3 is well built cornering is a breeze and the auto transmission shifts smoothly thru all gears. No it's not a sports car but the handling is better than I expected for a compact car ! Yes it's Mexico production car which doesn't bother me as Mazda has very strict high standards for production! most of the parts I install on American cars are either Mexico or china made ! And some American cars are made in Mexico as well

More than Happy

It was a really hard decision .. Mazda 3 vs Honda Civic , I went to a Mazda dealer looking for the Mazda 3 I-Touring which I drove, after the test drive I wasn't satisfied at all with this car, nice ride, good handling but not enough power then I drove the Mazda 3 "S" what a big difference, I felt the power, response was twice better, acceleration.. If you are looking for fuel efficiency get Mazda 3 "i" if you want better acceleration more powerful engine you must have the Mazda 3 "S". I have been driving this car for 2 weeks I am happy to say I really love it. I drove the the new civic and I have to say it is a beautiful car but those cvt transmission .. those cvt transmissions are horrible.

Might as well be a BMW

I was scared to go from a BMW to a Mazda but something pulled me to this car rather than buying yet another BMW. Seriously this car has everything you want in a car but more. It has a luxury badass look outside and in. It has blindspot monitoring, a backup camera, even has voice commands. When I drive this car I feel like a million bucks, I drive fast knowing I'm not wasting as much gas as anyone else is. Plus with gas at almost 3.00 i only pay $19 to fill up. This was my first new car and I was scared [non-permissible content removed], but having it now for 7 months, I love everything about it

Girl Power in My Mazda 3 i Touring 6 speed

I really like my car, I have a 2016 Mazda in 6 speed. I saw it on the lot and fell in love with it. Now that I have it for a while I can say these are some of the draw backs: I do not like the bucket seat, I have to put a pillow behind my back to be comfortable and for some reason I think it is moving slower than two years ago. The MazdaUSA team is extraordinary, I had the interior middle console replaced because the buttons began to sick about three weeks ago. But I want to add that the console is user friendly and it feels like an extension of my hand (when it is not on the gear stick). I do great mpg on it, takes me about $30on a good gas day to fill up and I can get 455 miles (I keep it on range). For those who don't know what range is, the dashboard can display the milage in range, miles and some other stuff, but since I use the navigation I see 60 miles to home and I look at the dash and see 70 miles and know I am good. I gave the purchase and resale an ok grade because my car looks terrible, as soon as a little too much breeze touches it the panel lifts, I can actually see parts of the bumper lifted a little. Oh and it scratches easy too, but I must say it is a beauty when I wash it and clean it up. The inside air filter is great too, I have managed to keep the inside air cleanish. Next is the USB port, it is inside the glove box, and for a compact car that is inconvenient, I have wires stretching out for my charger and my darn navigation in between the the seats. They had a big space where that CD player is and a big enough space underneath it to put the darn USB, another pet peeve is the=at when I have the charger plugged in my headset gets the sound redirected to the car, so I have to choose talk or charge and play out loud. Next problem is that the noise that comes in the car when the windows are down is horrible and when it is up more horrible, I just keep the music on. What I love, the smooth shifting and the display is awesome, it even tells u when it thinks you should down gear. I love the sunroof and the foot rest, the cruise control is great too. The breaks are sharp and the blindspot monitoring is great. If I could choose the car again I would.

No regrets

I wasn't happy about having to trade my Jeep Wrangler in on a car, but I'm glad I decided to drive the Mazda 3. I have to say I really like the car. I was worried we would feel like we were on top of each other but surprisingly there is plenty of room inside. For Louisiana roads the ride is very smooth. The sound system is awesome and I love the controls in the middle console. I love the look of the vehicle on the outside and inside. There is plenty of trunk room. I'm very satisfied with my purchase and will definitely look at other Mazda vehicles.

Chose a Mazda over another Honda

The 2016 Mazda 3 iGrand Touring model has everything I could want from this style of vehicle. Safe, reliable, economical. With some great features including navigation and a bluetooth system that has better sound quality than my wife's Mercedes. And, it's fun to drive. All at a good price. Couldn't be happier with our decision

Fun-updated

I've only had it for a month so some of my ratings really don't apply but overall...I love this car. It's fun to drive. Looks great. The dash is laid out so logically everything is just where I would instinctively reach for it. It just feels good. Feels like Mazda is a best kept secret because you don't see the same car every where you turn like other brands in this class. A year later and I am still incredibly happy with my choice! Still fun!!!

Great car for an Affordable price!

I bought this car recently and I liked it . It's got everything you want at an Affordable price . I've owned a BMW 535 before, but this car truly a great purchase! Honestly, everything is as good as a BMW but the front seats which need little work to enhance the driver's comfort.

Truly a Wonderful Vehicle

I've never owned a Mazda before but I am a huge fan of foreign vehicles and replaced my older vehicle with this Mazda 3. The Mazda 3 s grand touring has a feature that the other models didn't have - a sport mode. When engaged, it makes the vehicle feel and act like a 6 cylinder engine which is helpful when accelerating onto a highway. Never having owned a 4 cylinder engine due to concerns over lack of power, this 4 cylinder engine is surprisingly powerful even without using the sport mode. I like the huge amount of technology in this model as well and the entertainment system is first class. The car has a lot of leg room and storage areas in the interior as well as a good sized trunk. The ride is extremely quiet and smooth. All the safety features they've put into this model are impressive. If you want a really first class comfortable ride with all the bells and whistles at your fingertips, go for the total technology package on the car. Well worth it.

Zoom Zoom Florida to upstate NY

Let's start off, we rented this car for a trip for 3 full grown adults for a trip from the Florida panhandle to upstate VT and mind you the ratings were prior to the car completely dying upon returning the car to the rental place. The trip went great, got out of its own way, held the road great, did amazing in the heavy rain and has amazing headlights, very easy entertainment system, good display, great mpg! We drove exactly 1568.3 miles and only cost us $88 in fuel! It was an amazing car until returning to Enterprise where it literally shut completely off and died right there in the parking lot! We weren't charged a fee for that, thank god, we never beat it and held every speed limit to a T, so for this to happen is not good!

Went with Mazada over Civic

Decided on Mazda over Civic based upon Mazada seems a bit more responsive in steering and acceleration. Nice interior as well. Mazda navaigation system does not allow out of state address to be entered! Called Mazda USA and they confirmed this. No good reason why Mazda wouldn’t fix this terrible flaw in their nav system.

Decent rental for 2,300 mile road trip!

A very comfortable (in the front), quiet riding, somewhat fuel-efficient vehicle that I enjoyed having for an 8-day rental a couple of weeks ago for vacation with my son and his best friend. Had plenty of cargo room in the trunk for all of our bags/suitcases, along with numerous cup and drink holders for refreshments. Backup camera was very helpful in several situations, as was the blind spot alert (for me, the vehicle has terrible visibility trying to check over my left shoulder before executing a lane change, really have to get "into" the mirror to check clearance). Approximately 90% of miles driven were interstate, with easing into the throttle and the cruise set no faster than 73 mph, which returned just over 35 mpg on flat terrain (started and returned to FL going up to NW Ohio), dropping to 32-33 once we hit hills and mountains of VA and WV en route. City driving saw us getting 27 mpg, and our figures were calculated by dividing actual miles driven by gallons of gas put in, which also was consistently two mpg lower than the digital readout. I will admit that I was expecting a little more highway economy out of the small 2.0 SkyActiv engine, especially considering I am a very easy driver, my days of hot rodding long behind me. Still can't complain though, compared to what I would have gotten had we taken my 4WD, V8 powered '07 Sport Trac Limited! The only other negatives to mention, would be the lack of room for rear passengers. I'm only 5'7", and typically sit close to the steering wheel due to having short legs, yet my son's friend sitting behind me noted some discomfort after a couple days on the road, even with my seat moved as far forward as I had it, and there was no way possible for him to sit behind my son as they are both around six foot tall and, with both having long legs. The other issue was the USB reader, as it would not properly work with my USB card, only playing about 15 seconds of a song before freezing up (the card works fine in several other vehicles). Aside from that, the car gets a thumbs up and I'd definitely rent one again if I weren't going to have any rear passengers!

Sneaky nice car!

My Mazda3 sedan is on a three-year lease, that follows a three-year lease I had on a Prius 2. I loved the Prius, it was such a nice, smooth, comfortable and inexpensive to operate! The Prius is my benchmark for an inexpensive car you can take anywhere, and be happy going there. I liked the hatchback-type rear with drop down rear seats. Needing a replacement, I looked at Civic, Prius, and Kia, in addition to the Mazda. To be open about it, I like Mazda as a brand. I drove a Miata for ten years, and an RX-8 for seven. The Miata was the most fun car I ever had. I've had Boxter, Mercedes 500S, and a bunch of nice cars when they were new. For a follow-up to my Prius, I wanted a car with a lower payment. I only drive about 9,000 miles a year when I drive a lot. The Mazda 3 was my choice. It's nice looking, sleek, and has some of the newer technology, but not so much it's expensive. The features on my model with bluetooth, rear camera, and simple stuff. It's just a nice car, not fancy.

Excellent Car Outstanding Value

This car combines all the economy of a smaller car with the fun & style I've not seen in other smaller cars. Excellent choice! I'm very happy.

Best decision I ever made!

The Mazda 3 is everything I ever dreamed of in a fuel efficient reliable car. Before purchasing I had done my research on line and was impressed by its #2 ranking given by Edmunds list of Best Fuel Efficient Cars of 2016. I preferred the look and price over the #1 car on the list (Honda Civic). The performance is exactly as the review stated, no lagging here. The Soul Red color is beautiful and I couldn't be happier!

Best bang for your money

I had another Mazda 3 Sedan before purchasing the 3i Sport and believe it or not I was rear-ended in both vehicles. The first Mazda was struck dead center by an old Ford Bronco....the Bronco lost its grill and the radiator was spewing fluid. I had a 1 inch gash in my bumper but the stabilizer bar had to be replaced. I wasn't injured at all. The second accident was in 2016 with my new 2016 3i Sport. A Hyundai Elantra rear-ended me and then a F-250 pickup truck rear-ended the Elantra which shoved the Elantra into me again. I did have neck injuries from that one. The bumper was replaced and nothing else. The Mazda 3 is an incredible sturdy vehicle. I live in Brevard County in Florida and people love to stop in your backseat out here....I hope that no one else rear-ends me again but if they do I am glad I have a vehicle that can endure it.

Frequent & Costly Brake Repairs

I was sold a new 2016 Mazda3 off of the dealership lot. However, I was not sold the expensive and frequent brake repairs that would come with it. I only have 63,000 miles on this car and have had my brakes depleted to metal on metal nearly every year. I have had my brakes replaced at least 4 times. Do not buy this car if you don’t plan on spending nearly a quarter of its value on brake repairs. Not worth it.

Mazda - Never Again

April 2020 Update After refusing to cover the emission control system malfunction that was under warranty, the Mazda dealer eventually repaired the problem so I could have the car smog checked for the registration renewal. The ride has gotten worse and I feel every bump. Mazda recalled the touch screen on the dash and replaced it. They updated the software as they were replacing the screen and the old software became corrupt. Mazda charges to update the vehicle software and it can only be done at a Mazda dealer. They connect a flash drive to the USB in the car to upload the software. They also charge a lot to update the maps in the built in cumbersome Navigation which I declined as I can use my phone instead which is easier. Other manufacturers allow owners to download the software onto a Flash drive, plug it in, and update. A good car for going from point A to point B in town, but it isn't good for long trips on the freeway because of the roar from wind and road along with the seats not being supportive enough for a long trip. The terrible resale value has kept me from selling it and it is good for a second car to go to the grocery store as it always starts. Mazda customer service is still awful and I have the maintenance done at the tire store. I wouldn't buy another Mazda. Nothing but frustration dealing with Mazda dealers and Mazda Customer Care. Emission control system didn't last 50,000 miles. Interior noise is too high at highway speeds and the noise makes listening to the radio difficult without turning it up. Navigation system is difficult to use as the destination address has to be typed in line by line and Mazda wants $400.00 to add Google maps. I regret buying a Mazda and there is a reason the resale value is low. I got what I paid for. Update - September 2020 The struts and springs had to be replaced at 63k miles. Then the rear passenger side brake caliper broke and the part can only be ordered through Mazda for a high price. Mexican made Mazdas have different parts than the Mazdas made in Japan. The broken caliper and defective emergency brake caused the passenger side rear brake pad to wear down faster to 10% than the other brake pads as it was stuck on the rotor. The rear brakes had to be replaced.

Glad that I got to drive this car for a few days

I just rented a base Mazda 3 sedan over the weekend - and I was pretty excited to get it, as I've always liked the way Mazda cars drive and I wanted to see if I like this one well enough to buy one. For me, the answer is no. Here's why: 1) I'm not crazy about the BMW iDrive-ish controls, and I don't like that the volume knob is down in the center console. However it is very much worth noting that having a knob, is a huge improvement over on-screen only buttons. 2) The back seat seemed cramped parents with a kid in a car seat. My daughter had a hard time getting out of her seat, onto the floor in the back seat and out of the car because of the lack of space between the seat and the passenger seat. Yes, moving the passenger seat forward would improve the situation, but not for everyone. 3) I really liked the idea of keyless start and being able to just keep the keys in your pocket rather than hanging on the dash, however for me, I wanted to be able to listen to the radio after I turned off the engine, and that was a two-step process I don't have to deal with in my own cars. Having accessory power for the radio (and the power windows!) is very nice to have. This car didn't have that. 4) The gauges on the dashboard were not all that easy to read at night - maybe I could've fixed that, however dimming the lights (or making them brighter) was not intuitive to me and I never got them changed. 5) This car seemed loud on the road and it could've been quieter; my wife said numerous times that it seemed like we were going much faster than we actually were on the highway. Maybe the sound was part of that issue for her, I'm not sure. 5) No daytime running lamps; all of my other cars have them, along with fully functional auto-lamps and for me, that is important as I see way too many, ahem, people, driving around at night with their lights off. What I did like a lot: 1) Great trunk space for a car of this size. 2) Sharp handling and I thought, much more than adequate acceleration for the 2.0L Skyactive engine. 3) Responsive transmission, including manual shift. 4) Comfortable seats - very supportive and easy to adjust. 5) Radio/Cruise/BT controls on the steering wheel were easy to use, and the wheel itself felt great with accurate feedback from the road. Overall, I'm glad that I got to drive one of these for a few days. I don't think that it's a great family car, however if it were just my commuter car, I'd have to drive it again (in a different, higher trim) before I'd be willing to rule it in or out.

nice ride

car is great

Great little car! Acceleration could be better...

Been leasing this vehicle since May of 2016 and so far I only have one complaint and thats acceleration. After driving the CX-3 with less horses and torque I feel like there is something more to be desired in terms of acceleration vs the CX-3. The CX-3 (which was a loaner while my car was being serviced) felt more spirited and quick to get up and go, when going back to my Mazda3 I didn't feel the sense of acceleration and I wonder why. Other than that this car is great and I am more than happy with it!

My Last Mazda

This is the third and most likely the last Mazda I will buy. I had a new 2008 Mazda 3... loved it! Had a pre-owned 2009 cx9 but not long after buying it from a dealer I needed new tires and brakes and enough little repairs that was annoying. i.e. Blower motor, So I decided to trade it in for a 2016 Mazda 3 because I needed something with better gas mileage. It was a loaner used by the dealer, had 4300 miles on it. Had it in for service twice within the first month, the front end was smelling and the blind spot monitor stopped working. Second service was because my rear brakes were making noises. Turns out it was a warped rotar and had been like that when I bought it. Third visit they replaced the front end struts, strut mounts and now power steering column? I believe. They have had it for two weeks now and it still isn't fixed. I've only had it for 3 months!!! They have been great about fixing all the the problems and giving me a loaner to drive BUT I feel like it should hold. Not a happy customer and this will be the end of my love affair with Mazda.

Nice car, but not perfect

I had the Mazda3 for 3 years (lease). Overall good car. Things I did like: 1. Fuel economy (true 40 mpg on highway) 2. Handling, excellent for FWD 3. Low maintenance. Oil change. That was it. Things I did not like 1. Cabin noise. Awful. Could not carry conversation or bluetooth phone call. 2. Had a flat tire and they has tighten the jack so hard in the trunk. 30 min. struggle. 3. Value. I was about to turn it in/option to buy with only 20k miles. Dealer gave me $0 credit for miles and at the lot, saw the same year and model Mazda for sale for less than the price I wanted to buy, another words, the dealer over charged for my lease deal and dealer customer service and the maintenance service are not very professional. They want your money without being nice. Big turn off.

It's a Mazda, not a Mercedes

I had the chance to drive both the 2 liter and the 2.5 liter engine, the 2.0 trim was the "iGrand Touring" and the 2.5 trim was the "S Grand Touring" both in automatic. I thought they were both little bit pricey for what they were, with the S grand touring at a sticker price of $27K not including tax, registration, and destination. I thought the user controls were a little unintuitive and somewhat chintzy. For example, when I used the tuning knob to change the radio station, it kept cycling through about 10-15 radio stations after I had let go of the knob. It took a good five seconds for the system to register that I was no longer spinning the tuning knob anymore. I could imagine that getting quite annoying after a while. The nav system looks like an old TomTom unit I had back in the year 2005...I'll just use Waze or Google Maps instead. I liked the driving experience though. It won't knock your socks off, but it definitely has its own unique blend of premium and sporty driving characteristics compared to other cars in the class. I thought the 2.0 engine was too sluggish, and the 2.5 engine was the perfect fit for this car. Both engines were very smooth, linear, nice torque curve, and the transmission was smooth shifting and listened to your foot for the most part. The steering had a nice predictable weight to it and had a really good on-center feel. Brake pedal had a very nice, smooth, even distribution of stopping power. Road noise was present, but perfectly within acceptable limits in my opinion. This is an economy car, after all. If they lowered the price of the S GT model I would consider it. This is a Mazda not an Audi! Overall, I thought the interior design, materials used, and the logic of the controls were a bit amateurish, but the driving experience was tuned very well. If you are a more driver-oriented type of individual, this is a good car for you. I would save some money and go for the "S touring" model, or even just the regular touring even though you sacrifice about 40 horses.

Mazda 3i Sport slightly short of expectations...

I really wanted to test drive a 3 sGT 6sp M/T but the dealership did not have any to test. I find this very discouraging considering one of the premises of buying a Mazda is the driver engagement via the manual transmission! That kind of killed the "zoom zoom" factor for me. The test drive was fun but the road was not too involving. Owning a 2014 Jetta Sportwagen TDI 6sp M/T, the 3i acceleration left something to be desired. I am accustomed to the torquey take-off of my VW TDI. The car feels very stable and controlled in turns and the steering is extremely crisp and precise. Road noise was acceptable. The interior of the cabin is well appointed even at the lowest trim level. I am not big on technology so I don't care about all the gadgets and gizmos for lane departure warning, park assist, or heated/ventilated seats. I just want a fun car to drive that won't break the bank. Shifting the transmission feels very satisfying; there is no mushy feel whatsoever and the clutch is weighted just right. I am still wanting to test drive the 3 sGT 6sp M/T and I am still undecided whether I would go for the 4dr VW Golf GTI S or the Mazda 3 sGT. If at all possible, I would opt for a 2017 VW TDI (Golf or Golf Sportwagen) but there's no telling if/when VW will bring back their 2.0 TDI engine.

Zoom Zoom 3

Awesome,nice car and fun to drive!

Zoom Zoom

Great little car - excellent value. The fuel economy is great, it's fun to use the built-in application for tracking fuel economy to see how efficiently you are driving each trip. It doesn't have the best pick-up, but it's pretty good given it's a 4 cylinder engine. If you are in the market for a Honda / Toyota (which I was) - definitely consider Mazda.

Loving my new 2016 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring

Too soon to know about reliability and resale value but almost everything else is great.

my 3rd mazda

this is a 2016 Mazda 3 touring sedan. Purchased on a lease. great program. using the computer in the vehicle I average about 33 MPG over all. I can get up to 40 on the highway in perfect conditions. The 2.0 4 sings and has a fun feel with the 6 speed manual I selected. Road noise is expectable for a small vehicle and the driving dynamics are exceptional. Had a 626 and a Mazda 6 with manual transmissions. As a friend said "if your not shifting,your not driving". The safety features are perfect and I added the navigation system on line. The vehicle is relatively quiet for the class and the sportiness of the vehicle makes everyday driving fun and engaging. After 25,000 miles in 3 years I have had no service issues. Mazda ha always been my vehicle of choice. great options, fun to drive and so far reliability has been perfect. I am 70 years old but still love to drive. Handling, performance, features and affordability are the combinations I looked for. Feel like I had the perfect fit. Tried Toyota, Honda and Subaru. All great vehicles. But for me , the Mazda 3 was the perfect fit.

2016 S GT with Manual 4Door

Very quick car for its class. Fun to drive, fantastic highway mileage, city mileage is decent. I average 40mpg at 70mph at sea level. Interior is also nice for Iran price/class compared to other vehicles. Everything inside just looks well put together. Only complaint is road noise. Road noise on the highway is the loudest I've heard in any vehicle regardless of road type. It seems to be coming from the tires and is only bad above 60mph.

Awesome car with two small annoyances

I have owned a 2015 and 2016 Mazda 3. Everything works amazing and is exceptionally efficient. The pandora/Bluetooth can be glitchy and the wind noise is high at speed. They have added some instillation to the 2017 to solve the noise. Otherwise, you will not be disappointed. I have owned my sports cars and this is entertaining to drive, but super fuel efficient. The sport level has all of the features you need and I would argue the steel wheels give a better ride.

Mr Mazda 3

The gas mileage is awesome and the sport button when ingaged makes this car very quick. Drive quality and comfort are great. Price was on the high end compared to others in the class. I avg. 37mpg and when I want to, the car takes off very quick and passes with ease especially with sport engaged.

Very noisy interior

My 2016 Mazda 3 base is more noisy than my 2008 one. The inside cabin road noise is really annoying. Also my transmission makes alot of noise. The 2.0 L engine is a little weak but very fuel efficient. Steering wheel emblem started fading after a short time in my both CC-5 and 3 and infotainment system gave me a lot of headaches. Overall It’s a nice looking car but not as reliable and long lasting as Toyota.

Limited Use Review

I have had the car for one month and driven about 350 miles so this review is based on a limited time period.

Poor man's sports car

This is not a family car. For a single person or for a couple it is great. A really fun car to drive. Lively but not powerful. The handling is top notch. And it looks great.

Love my Mazda

Rear seating may be a bit tight for larger/taller types but still good.Trunk is also a bit small but fine for a single person like me.I have nothing bad to say about this car. I love the way it handles especially on curves, braking is good . Road noise is maybe a little on high side but I'm listening to music anyway. The nav system is quirky but you get used to it. I wanted something under 25K and I am very happy with my purchase. I have had it just a month so I'll update if any changes. UPDATE FEB. 2017 So I have had the car for a few months and still love it. For those wondering about trunk space, I recently went to IKEA and bought a 8ft tall 20" wide bookcase and was able to get it back to my house by reclining front seat and sliding it in. I have also hauled 2' x 8' foam sections the same way. In November I had the car packed with party supplies and had no problems.

Three Mazda Family

Fun to drive Excellent value Very reliable

No sugar coating at all

When it comes to mazda... I had a Mazda 3 2016...had only 1,000 miles when someone had ran a stop sign running over the top hood injuring me and children in a Walmart parking lot...now...no bags deployed at all...subframe was broke...it kind of struck me as odd, childs face had been hurt do to hard door panel..seat belt had hurt children's hip and belly...council had hurt side and more...

2016 Mazda 3 iTouring

Great car for me but...

I was actually helping my (80+ year old) stepmom shop for a car. I loved the car, but it was a bit too much for her.

Love my fully loaded Mazda 3

It’s beautiful

good car

good car

Great on gas!

Doesn’t guzzle it up like the previous car I drove. I drive 30 miles to work and 30 miles back 3 times a week. I would normally be out of gas by the second day. A full tank lasts me over a week now. Haven’t had any issues with my car. I love it! Built in dashcam can definitely come in handy if ever needed. Backup camera definitely comes in handy whenever I’m not sure if I’m too close to the car behind me.

Mazda 3

Great car so far. Fun to drive, lots of options. The Bose speakers sound amazing, the back up camera is pretty clear, lane assist is subtle but helpful, lights are bright. As for navigation, I didn’t purchase the card from the dealer, but off amazon for $75 vs $500 at the dealership. Haven’t received it yet but reviews were positive.