Overall a great ride!
Dave, 05/11/2017
updated 11/15/2019
2017 Mazda 3 Touring 2.5 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 18 people found this review helpful
Cons: Fuel economy continues to be poor compared to competition. Climate control sometimes has a mind of it's own when starting the car. Can't seem to find a sweet spot for the power seats. Original tires are wearing out quickly with only 23,000 miles. Yoga positioning needed to get in and out of the car if you don't want to bump your head. Poor rear seating accommodations. Pros: Still fun to drive. Has some punch with the 184 hp engine. Great cornering and handling. Timelessly beautiful styling inside and out. No service issues.
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Zoom, Zoom!
mcm0455, 05/08/2017
2017 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
After not have a manual transmission for the past 5 years, I really wanted to shift again. I was looking for a fun and inexpensive car that would meet my needs. Previous to purchasing this car, I owned a 15 Subaru Forester XT. While it met most of my needs, there were a few issues that popped up that made me weary to keep it much longer(I have posted my final impressions on this website of my 15 Forester). At any rate, I am so happy that I took a chance and downsized to this Mazda 3. For 22k($2000 cash back) this car is so well sorted. The leather seats provide excellent support, I have plenty of legroom(I'm 6ft2 200lbs) and headroom, the steering is surgically precise, and the clutch and shifter are buttery smooth. I was worried that going from a 250hp turbo to a 184hp engine was going to be a major bummer. Not so, the engine pulls strong throughout the rev range and has plenty of power for my needs. I recently drove it up a local canyon that starts at 4500 feet and ends and 8200 feet. It was the most fun I have ever had driving! The Bose stereo is very impressive and the back up camera has a nice, clean picture. The command knob takes about 30 seconds to figure out. This is a vehicle that has so many positive attributes, it is no wonder why Car and Driver has praised it so often. Gas mileage with less than 200 miles on it is still in the upper 20's in a mix of driving. There are a few downsides, but I knew of them before the purchase. Cargo capacity is on the small size though I was able to put (5) 5 gallons water jugs in the cargo with room to spare this morning. Rearward visibility in the rear corners is a bit limited, but with the backup camera and correct side mirror adjustments take away the blind spots for the most part. I can sit in the back seat where the drivers seat is adjusted fairly comfortably with more than enough headroom. I plan on keeping this car for several years, it is the first time in many years that I actually look forward to driving. Great car Mazda!
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2017 Mazda 3 for sale near you
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- Sport 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $12,407483 mi away
- Grand Touring 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $10,999477 mi away
- Grand Touring SedanMSRP: $16,896489 mi away
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Love this car
JoelB, 06/21/2017
updated 12/30/2019
2017 Mazda 3 Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is an update from my review two years ago. I've now got 40k miles on it. The Mazda 3 is still running like new - no issues whatsoever. I continue to get great gas mileage. The M3 comfortably accommodates 2 adults (I'm 6'2", 200lbs) plus two teenagers. The car handles great and has a lot of features for the money. In my opinion, if you are looking for a smaller economical car, you can't beat the 2017 M3. I bought the car new and test drove it against the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It was the best of the three IMO and 2+ years later I can testify that I made the right decision.
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A Cheap Man's SUV
Chad Pearling, 01/10/2018
2017 Mazda 3 Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
My two previous cars were both Mazda Proteges, a 1994 1.8-liter and 1998 1.5-liter. This 2017 model gets significantly better gas mileage, has a lot more power, handles well and is quieter. My only complaints are minor (I have only had the car for seven weeks): 1) Some buttons seem backward to me, like the key fob where you press the top button to lock the door and vice versa to unlock the door. 2) I have found it difficult to get the seat high enough to see over the sloping hood without having the top of the steering wheel partially block the speedometer. 3) The stubs that keep the floor mats in place can be an annoying to foot placement. 4) Large posts somewhat restrict outward visibility, perhaps due to the extra reinforcement needed for a hatchback. After only seven weeks I can't speak to the long-term issues like reliability and maintenance. I waited until the 2018 models were out before buying this car (2017 Mazda3 Hatchback) and with a lot of research and patience felt I made a great deal getting the base model (Sport) for $17,600 which included tax, title and license (out-the-door price). The only add-ons were tinted windows (put on by the local dealer in the Phoenix, AZ area) and door bumper guards. I considered and test drove several other hatchbacks in the same class (Honda Civic, Chevy Cruze, Kia Forte) but as prices dropped and models disappeared the Mazda rose to the top as the best-for-the-buck I could get, and so far I'm as happy as could be.
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Great Except for Touch Screen
Joe, 12/29/2016
updated 01/08/2018
2017 Mazda 3 Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
22 of 30 people found this review helpful
Love our Mazda 3 overall with only one big exception -- more to follow on that. My wife and I bought the Mazda 3 for a commuting car. Love the peppy little 2.0 engine -- it routinely gets 40mph back and forth to work, it handles very well and it is very fun to drive. The road noise for a small car is low, which is quite amazing and the seats are very comfortable. The only issue I CANNOT STAND is the disabling of the touch screen while driving. I have a RAM 1500 truck that has a great touch screen that works during driving and is very easy to use. Mazda, in the name of safety, disables the touch screen while in motion and makes you use a terrible interface that makes dialing a phone or plugging an address into the NAV system a huge chore. My wife is usually with me during commutes but this system is not smart enough to know someone is in the passenger seat so they can use the touch screen. The interface is TERRIBLE and it takes a lot more concentration than just using a touch screen because you have to use a dial to "type in" an address or phone number. Reminds me of the old rotary phones from the 1950's. HORRIBLE interface and I wish they would fix it (easy software fix). I may not have purchased this car if I knew how much this would annoy me.
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