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Used 2021 Mazda 3 Consumer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars
32 reviews

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2 out of 5 stars

An honest review of the AWD Mazda 3 Turbo

Jason, 11/23/2021
2021 Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
9 of 27 people found this review helpful

So I really wanted to love this car, I mean I did buy it. Problem is... I really don't. I have three Mazda 3's The 2021 AWD turbo and two 2010 Mazda 3 GT that I bought for my kids. One I handed down and drove for years. I really liked it. Thus the 2021 purchase. The car is nice inside. It's minimal, but tastefully done with a nice feel and finish. that's where it ends for me. I find the motor laggy. I hit it and wait. Wait for it... no seriously it's fast, trust me, here it comes... yawn* anytime now. When it goes, it goes. but I'm not blown away. I had a 2010 cobalt SS and it was way faster. Handling. Dry conditions. It does NOT feel like the handling matches the engine, even with the lag. The breaks do not feel like they will stop you. The suspension feels... light? fluffy almost.dont get me wrong, I'm not saying a "smooth" ride. It's not "tight" and "sharp". Snow... i'm from Ontario. I dont have experience with AWD. but this thing is scary in snow. I drove a mustang GT back ion the 90s in the snow. If I am saying its scary... it's scary! It feels the same as the Mustang. It responds just like a rear wheel Mustang. I can fish tail around corners if I give it a little throttle. Where is the front wheel pull? Why is the back end breaking free? Does this thing not have traction control? I dont get it. Im actually thinking of taking it back and getting an SUV

Safety
2 out of 5 stars
Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Value
1 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Great car

Chris, 08/25/2023
2021 Mazda 3 Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

So I had a hard time parting ways with my 2011 mazda 6. I had it for 11 years and I loved it dearly. Which is why the 1st dealership I went to was mazda of course lol. I didn't even go to another dealership. There was no point! I wish they still made the 6 model but the 3 is still amazing. 2.5L inline 4 (I believe), bose speakers, 18 inch wheels. Lumbar support for the seats. Nice leather interior. And it rides smooooth, accelerates great(there really is no need for the turbo IMO). The premium trim comes with heads up display and even shows the speed limit as well as your directions of when you need to turn on your windshield. You really can't go wrong. I originally had my heart set on the carbon edition because it looks sweet. However, after sitting in the seats of the carbon edition compared to the premium trim level. I could tell a difference in the comfort level of the seat which is huge for me because I have a bad back. Once you download the mazda app you can even remote start the vehicle which is sick. I really could go on and on. Just drive to your nearest mazda dealership and see for yourself.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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2021 Mazda 3 for sale near you
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2 out of 5 stars

Looks nice, but looks can be deceiving.

Angela, 01/23/2025
updated 07/24/2025
2021 Mazda 3 Preferred 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Purchased a 2021 used for my mom thinking that it would be a comfortable and reliable vehicle for her. After a year, I've come to realize that this cast is not all that great. Pros: - Memory seating for driver's seat. - Decent mpg (great highway mpg). - Heated seats. Cons: - I should've realized that 18" rims don't really provide much ride comfort for a senior. - The smart key for this (and new mazdas) has a unique design (which I DO NOT like). The smart lock function also sucks - it only locks 50% of the time and never locks if any of the passenger doors are the last to close. - Battery on this thing sucks. - Car is supposed to have heated mirrors, but I've never seen anything melt on the mirrors (this could be more of a used car/dealer issue). - Miles to empty gauge sucks and only seems to provide estimated miles in units of ten. - Steering wheel is oddly thin (had to purchase a cover to add some thickness). ***Edmunds sent me an email to update my review, so here it is. I still regret purchasing this car for my mom. One thing I did forget to mention in my initial review - the dash sits very high, so it seems to get in the way for shorter drivers. Also, another con I forgot to mention - the infotainment system in this car is so tech deficient. Older model vehicles have more updated systems. Overall, I would definitely stay away from this vehicle (probably Mazdas in general).

Technology
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Interior
2 out of 5 stars
Comfort
2 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
2 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Mazda3 2021

Memon, 01/23/2023
2021 Mazda 3 Select 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Awesome beautiful car

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4 out of 5 stars

Best version for long term ownership

Doomedhuman , 08/28/2021
2021 Mazda 3 Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 5 people found this review helpful

In Canada - GS - 6MT - 17" Toyo Proxy - lightest weight version available with standard - $25,000 Canadian before taxes and fees - just drive

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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