2014 Mazda 3: What's It Like to Live With?
We've added the redesigned 2014 Mazda 3 S Five-Door Grand Touring to our long-term fleet to see if it still measures up.
What do you want to know about?
- Introduction
- Heads-Up Display
- Best Knobs in the Segment
- Range Meter Goes to Zero
- We Might Have a Problem
- Fuel Economy Update for January
- Traffic History Feature
- Center-Mounted Tachometer
- Check Engine Light Is Off
- Harshness on the Highway
- First Hauling Assignment
- Steering Wheel Controls
- Helpful Navigation Feature
- Head-Up Display Stubbornness
- Fuel Economy Update for February
- Squeaks
- Driver-Oriented Interior Layout
- Heated Seats Stay On
- The License Plate
- Tapping Noises
- From 19 to 27
- A Place for Everything
- Americans Like Sedans
- 5,000-Mile Mark
- Fuel Economy Update for March
- It's Got Spunk
- May the 4th Be With You
- Fuel Economy Update for April
- Eighteen-Inch Wheels Fit Easily
- Larger Engine Worth the Extra Cost
- Securing a Flat Tire
- Plenty of Plugs
- First Service, TSB
- Useful Cargo Space, Sort of
- Serious Seats
- Fuel Economy Update for May
- Easy-To-Use Technology Interface
- More Than Just Basic Transportation
- Child Safety Seat Installation
- 39 MPG on a Highway Drive
- Automatic Transmission's Manual Mode Works Well
- Piling on the Praise
- The Bike Fits Easily
- A Sport Button That Actually Works
- Fuel Economy Update for June
- Windshield Washers Serviced
- The Fan Club
- Road Noise
- 10,000 Miles So Far
- Daily Life Is Just a Little Better With a Mazda 3
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Comes In Handy
- Like Our Macan, It Could Really Benefit From Summer Tires
- Compromises
- Performance Testing
- Busy Wheel
- Fuel Economy Update for July
- Head-Up Display Revisited
- I Like It
- More Should Do This
- Dash Creak Is Back
- Fuel Economy Update for August
- Yep, Mazda Gets It
- Exciting Styling
- Testing the Limits
- Adaptive Bi-Xenon HID
- Storage Space?
- 15,000-Mile Service
- Getting the Bigger Engine With a Manual Transmission
- Fuel Economy Update for September
- Which Style Should You Buy?
- My Favorite Edmunds.com Mazda So Far
- Software Update
- 15,000 Miles So Far
- Rear Seat Comfort
- Suspension Noise
- Suspension Noise Fix
- Fuel Economy Update for October
- A Few Creaks and a Tight Suspension
- 2014 Mazda 3 vs. Previous Generations
- Nice Interior Details
- Handy Navigation Information
- Head-Up Display Failure
- Makes You Smile After a Long Day
- Fuel Economy Update for November
- Napa Road Trip
- Still Loving it at 20,000 Miles
- Second Scheduled Service, Suspension Noises
- Third Service
- Last-Minute Road Trip Miles
- Wrap-Up
Introduction
The 2014 Mazda 3 is in a delicate spot. On the one hand, it has to be a Mazda. That means it needs to provide a certain feel for people who view driving as a skill and not just as the thing that gets in the way of text messaging. On the other hand, the 2014 Mazda 3 needs to appeal to the rest of the driving public as well.
This, now the third generation of Mazda 3 took some serious development dollars and features highly efficient Skyactiv engine and transmissions, a competitive interior with an all-new media interface and a ride that splits the difference between comfort and sport.
And now we've got a 2014 Mazda 3 S Five-Door Grand Touring for six months to see if the changes have paid off.
What We Got
The 2014 Mazda 3 is available in two body styles: sedan and hatchback. While the sedan is sure to be a stronger seller here in the U.S., we prefer the hatchback's looks and functionality. The tougher decision was which engine to get.
There are two choices: a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's hooked to either a manual or automatic transmission, or a 184-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder that's available with an automatic transmission only. Though the 2.0 offers slightly better fuel economy (33 mpg combined vs. 31 mpg combined), the 2.5 feels less strained and, of course, is a little more fun. The six-speed Skyactiv automatic transmission isn't even a penalty. Shifts are fast and well-timed and the Sport mode is extremely well-programmed.
With the 2.0-liter, the 2014 Mazda 3 Five-Door has a starting price of $19,740, but the cheapest you can get into a 2.5-liter car is the "s" Touring model, which costs $25,890. At that trim level the Mazda 3 has 18-inch alloy wheels, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, bi-xenon headlights, foglamps, LED taillights and a head-up display for vital driving information. But we took ours a step further.
The 2014 Mazda 3 S Five-Door Grand Touring gets all of the above (including the 2.5 and the six-speed automatic) and adds adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and leather upholstery. This model stickers for $27,290.
Our car is pretty loaded so we just have a few options. The cargo mat is $70, while the rear bumper guard and the scuff plates on the door sills are $100 and $125, respectively. Add in the $795 destination fee and you're looking at a 2014 Mazda 3 with a sticker price of $27,585.
We had no chance to haggle it any lower, however, as Mazda supplied this vehicle to us for this long-term test.
Why We Got It
The Mazda 3 has been a perennial driver favorite, but ultimately lacked the interior refinement, ride comfort and fuel economy offered by its mainstream competitors.
Those issues appear to be fixed, however, as the 2014 Mazda 3's interior is stylish and well-built and the Skyactiv powertrains now offer excellent fuel economy. As for the ride, during our first full test of the 2014 Mazda 3, a 2.0-liter example, we wrote "Over bumps on surface streets, the 2014 Mazda 3 experiences some impact harshness that can be initially disconcerting. But the ride itself is controlled during cruising speeds...the Mazda 3 does the best job of balancing handling and ride comfort in its class." So, it's still a Mazda.
In a change of pace, we're testing this one for six months instead of our usual 12. During that time we're shooting for as many miles as possible to see if the updates make the 2014 Mazda 3 the widely acceptable car we think it can be, or if Mazda's once again built a niche machine that appeals to a small subset of drivers who favor performance a little more than most.
Best MPG: 32.7
Worst MPG: 28.2
Average MPG over 1,085 miles: 30.2
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
The "s" versions of the 2014 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback are distinguished from their "i" counterparts by a more-powerful 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine instead of the 155-horsepower 2.0-liter motor.
There's no obvious external badging that sets them apart. One sure way to tell at a glance is to look at the top of the dash for a heads-up display; the Mazda 3 S comes standard with one, the Mazda 3 i does not. It can't be added as an option, either, so this method can be used to positively identify the engine under the hood of a given 2014 Mazda 3 sedan or hatch you might be looking at.
Mazda calls their heads-up display by the name Active Driving Display, and it's a pretty slick piece. Fire the engine and it pivots into position from its dash-top recess and begins displaying a digital speed readout. The numerals are easy to see (they appear larger in real life than they do in these photos) but they don't intrude on the view ahead one bit.
And when the navigation system is actively providing guidance, next-turn direction and distance-to-turn information appears alongside speed when such changes in direction are coming soon.
Folks of different heights will need to tweak the angle of the reflective screen for optimum viewing, of course. This adjustment is quite easily accomplished in the settings menu via the Mazda Connect system's central control knob.
As you may have surmised, the Mazda Connect system and navigation are necessary elements here, and these features are also standard on the Mazda 3 S sedan and hatchback. But the lack of a heads-up display on the Mazda 3 i versions does not mean you're out of luck if you want to pair navigation and the Mazda Connect system with the thriftier 2.0-liter engine. You can get that stuff, but you won't get the Active Driving Display that comes on the 2014 Mazda 3 S, is all.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the 2014 Mazda 3's control knobs — the multi-function control and temperature controls — are the most precise knobs in any compact car built today.
Seriously, these knobs have minimal lateral play, offer solid indexing, have a grippy, knurled surface. They look and feel expensive.
Rather than wimping out at 20 miles like a lot of cars, the Mazda 3's range predictor goes to zero. I'm a just-in-time kind of guy. I like that.
See all those warning lights on the gauge cluster? They weren't there when I started driving home last night, but they lit up like that twice after some odd noises from down below.
The first time around I was just putting along in traffic at around 15 or 20 mph when I felt a sizable clunk from the transmission. Then the warning lights came on and the car felt like it was in some sort of limp mode. I got off at the next exit and headed for a parking lot. Along the way the transmission felt like it had no fluid in it, with lots of spinning gears and not much forward movement.
I parked, turned the car off, checked the tires (they were fine), waited a few minutes and then restarted it. At this point, only the check engine light remained on so I gave it a go. Much to my surprise the transmission had returned to normal and the car drove fine. I drove another 15 miles or so without incident.
Then it happened again, and in the same way as before. A clunk, followed by warning lights, followed by very little forward motion. Turned the car off and back on and all was good again.
This morning the check engine light was still on but the car drove fine, which is good as we'll be driving it straight to the dealer to see what might have happened. Update to come.
Our new 2014 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring proved to be wildly popular in its first month with us. We piled on the miles, over 2,600 miles in fact. First, we followed proper break-in procedure, then we tested it at the track, and even drove it on the 120-mile Edmunds.com test loop. It's been a busy month.
Rated by the EPA to earn 31 mpg combined (27 city/37 highway), our average (even after deleting the 31.5 miles of wide-open throttle at the test track) is a disappointing 28.4 mpg. However, it is encouraging that we easily eclipsed the official 37 mpg highway figure with a remarkable 41 mpg stint on our high-biased test loop.
Clearly, the 2014 Mazda 3 can achieve remarkable fuel economy. That is, of course, depending on how it's driven. Here's its fuel log thus far.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 28.4
EPA MPG Rating: Combined 31 (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 332 miles
Current Odometer: 2,654 miles
I'm a fan of real-time traffic information even if it only tells me what I already know. The allure of hope is always enough to make me look at a screen. So I was impressed to discover the traffic history feature on our 2014 Mazda 3.
Though I'm yet to read about its specifics, it's easy enough to understand that that this feature gives an average of the traffic history for the specific time you're asking, a good thing to know for the commute you don't usually take.
Mazda mounted the 3's tachometer (on "S" trim levels) in the middle. Lesser "i" trim levels use this location for the speedometer. Here, however, there are redundant digital speedometers, one tucked in the bottom right corner of the tach and another on the heads-up display. I prefer engine speed getting priority on any car with sporting intentions.
What do you think? Good idea?
Ed was driving our 2014 Mazda 3 when the check engine light, along with several others, lit up. We took it to the dealer the next morning. Before pulling into the service drive, we plugged our OBD code reader into the Mazda to see what we could learn...
When we started the car, the engine light was off. Still the CarMD was able to pull a single code, P0882. This appeared to be a generic code for a low power input signal to the transmission control module. Alone, the code didn't pinpoint the actual problem. That, we left to the dealer. Shortly after we dropped off the car it confirmed the code and found a loose battery cable. Problem solved, hopefully.
While the 3 was there, we also had a Mazda Connect reflash performed. It added 20-30 minutes to our visit but was covered under warranty.
Total Cost: None
Days out of Service: None
Our new 2014 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring is proving to be very popular. It's always on the go, racking up miles at an impressive rate. Yet, a weekend of intensive Los Angeles freeway driving has us looking elsewhere for a long-haul driving companion.
Don't get us wrong, we love the cargo versatility of the hatch back, outstanding ergonomics, the engaging driving dynamics, and the impressive fuel economy.
However, after a couple hundred miles in the Mazda 3 on Los Angeles's notoriously choppy, variously paved and poured concrete (and sometimes rain-grooved) freeways, we're less impressed with the busy ride and road noise we endure.
It's the sort of thing that one might not notice until he tries to have a conversation with the stereo playing and abruptly the concrete surface disappears in exchange for smooth asphalt. Suddenly we're yelling with tense shoulders up around our ears and wonder what the heck we're doing. Huh?!
It wasn't planned, but over the weekend, I gave our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 S its first hauling assignment. I'm an incurable Craigslister, or cheapskate if you like, and I made a quick decision to buy a bassinet (for a baby). Fortunately, I had a hatchback at my disposal.
At 40 inches long, nearly 20 inches wide and 33 inches tall, it was not a small bassinet. After this experience, I'm convinced I'll never own another sedan.
Mind you, I could have fit this fine example of Australian craftsmanship into almost any sedan had I been willing to take it apart. But with our 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback, all we had to do was fold the seats and remove the cargo cover, and slide in the bassinet. (The bassinet is just long and wide enough that I just don't think most midsize sedans' pass-through openings would accommodate it in its fully assembled state.)
As with the previous-generation Mazda 3 hatch, I did have to scoot the front seats up on their tracks to allow enough clearance for the rear seats to fold with their head restraints still attached. After the seats were down, we were able to revert to our preferred seating positions up front. (The carved out portions on front seat-backs provide plenty of room for this once the rear headrests have cleared the top portion of each seat.)
When I really like a long-termer, I inevitably revert to nitpicking the little things because everything else works great. File this one under nitpicking.
I'm not a fan of the button layout in our Mazda 3. I realize this doesn't even qualify for first-world problems, but hear me out.
I wish they had swapped places for the info and track-skip buttons. I'm a compulsive track skipper, especially when I'm shuffling through my music collection. I use those buttons way more often than I do the info buttons, which scroll through the various trip computer menus in the instrument panel.
In order to skip forward, I need to stretch my thumb over and up to hit the button. Oh, the humanity! But let's also face it, from a design layout it makes more sense to group volume and skip buttons together, no?
All right, that's the end of my petty rant. I'll go back to complaining that my cleaning lady misplaced one of my caviar spoons (seriously, she did!).
Our 2014 Mazda 3 Grand Touring has a navigation system that offers the guidance assistance you'd expect. But it offers one related feature that isn't very common, and it does this even when no navigation route has been input, when no actual route guidance is going on.
It points out the name of the upcoming cross-street and displays it at the top of the screen for a few seconds.
This cross-street notification is great for those times when you know where you are in basic terms but would like confirmation that the street you're looking for is coming up. It basically "reads" the street signs to you and displays them as text before you're close enough to see and read them for yourself.
I found this to be pretty handy when I first noticed it, particularly at night, but it's even better than that.
It will display the upcoming cross-street names even when navigation-related screens are not being viewed. The street names pop up at the top edge of ANY of the screens you have selected.
Also, the timing of the street name display is tied into the speed you are travelling. You get more notice at higher speeds than you do when going slow, which gives you the necessary time to react no matter what your speed happens to be.
Cool beans.
For those people who find head-up displays distracting, redundant or just plain dumb (or all of the above (*raises hand*), you won't find solace in our long-term 2014 Mazda 3.
Mazda calls its head-up display an "Active Driving Display." ADD. I kid you not. Dan Edmunds doesn't seem to mind it. Me, the first thing I'm looking for when I get into a head-up display-equipped car is the "off" button.
The Mazda 3 indeed has an "off" button for its head-up display, but there are a couple of caveats. First, the head-up display screen atop the instrument cluster remains deployed after you switch off ADD in the Settings menu of its touchscreen as shown above. The display screen remains vigilantly present in your field of view like a business card stuck under the wiper, standing at attention for absolutely no reason at all. Keen readers will correctly conclude that the only time the ADD stows away is when the car is shut off. What, exactly, is the point of that?
More insidious is the second caveat: the ADD defaults to "on" after a key cycle. Yes, you have to re-switch it off every single time you start the car. This is just maddening.
My only recourse is a combination of scrolling the digits as far down as possible and turning the brightness of the ADD display all the way down. This banishes the hovering digits during daylight hours, at least.
In January we announced we'd been averaging 28.4 mpg compared to the EPA's rating of 31 mpg combined (27 city/37 highway). We put just over 1,500 miles on our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 in February. Did that do anything to move the MPG needle?
Kind of!
We didn't set a new best, but we didn't set a new worst either. Overall fuel economy is now 29.1 mpg.
Drive our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 on anything other than perfect pavement (or initiate a really hard turn) and one thing stands out: This thing's got some squeaks.
Mainly, the annoying sound waves are emanating from, I think, where the A-pillars and windscreen meet at the bottom, but there's also some much lighter squeaking from what sounds like the intersection of the rear door and B-pillar.
I guess this is the price you pay for structural rigidity?
The driver-oriented interior layout in our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 S is excellent. Mazda press material says that "each control and function has been specifically placed with intuitive utility in mind." After my first weekend in our Mazda 3, I'm inclined to agree.
The location of the multi-function control and volume knob is perfect, especially when combined with the curved center console. Once you've found a comfortable seating position, there's no need to lean forward to reach the controls. You can easily use any of them with your right hand whenever it's not engaged in the task of steering the car. And if we'd opted for the manual transmission, the knobs are mounted far enough away that they wouldn't interfere with shifting, either. Plus, you still have the redundancy of the Mazda 3's steering wheel-mounted controls for quick adjustments when both hands are on the wheel.
While driving our silver hatchback, I found myself changing tracks and stations easily, accurately and quickly without taking any focus away from the road ahead.
On the whole, the Mazda's setup feels intuitive and natural, and the quality of its controls is more in line with those in much pricier luxury cars. Considering that our long-term car has a price tag of $27,585, this is a pretty fantastic layout.
Our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 S is a Grand Touring model, which means it has heated seats. And no matter how many times I turned the car on and off this weekend, the heated seats stayed set to their highest level. Just turn the seat heaters on once and leave them that way. If I left them in the middle or lowest setting, that was exactly where they'd be when I returned to the 3.
Despite this nice convenience, our 2014 Mazda 3's seats never seemed to heat up quickly enough. They also seemed a bit underpowered and unable to reach the kind of scorching temperatures I favor.
Setting aside the seat heaters' so-so performance, I like the theory behind heated seats that remain on if you leave them in the "on" position. Much like the climate control in any car, there is a (correct) assumption that the weather probably didn't change in the ten minutes it took you to buy milk so there is no need to reset everything.
One of the new 2014 Mazda 3's many virtues is its sharp styling, especially at the front end. Unfortunately, should you not live in Arizona, Indiana, Florida or 16 other like-minded states (plus five Canadian provinces/territories and Puerto Rico), your pretty new Mazda 3 will be besmirched by a ridiculously placed front license plate.
Mazda certainly isn't alone in this folly, but how does any carmaker design a car without taking into account the front license plate? It's not like Japan, Europe or other global markets go without them, and only Californians (to my knowledge) take their chances by ignoring front plate laws to maintain their cars' pristine visages.
Now, it's certainly not unheard of for manufacturers to provide an alternative mounting location off to a side. Alfa Romeo and the Mitsubishi Evo are some examples, while there are also some aftermarket options. Brackets that screw into the factory tow hook are a popular alternative as well. The Mazda 3 has such a tow hook (what looks like a small door in the bumper), but its location really wouldn't improve things in this case.
Therefore, Mazda 3 owners have three choices: Suffer the indignity of a dopey front end, defy Johnny Law, or move to a civilized state like Kansas.
A couple of weeks ago Mike Magrath mentioned squeaking noises coming from our long-term 2014 Mazda 3.
I drove this car for the first time last night. As I was slowly making my way along the freeway at about 20 mph, I noticed tapping noises. They seemed to be coming from under my feet, behind the steering column and from the passenger door.
Nothing seemed amiss other than the noise. I'll let Mike Schmidt know in case he wants to have our Mazda 3 checked out before its first suggested oil change at 10,000 miles.
Do any of you have a Mazda 3? Have you noticed any strange noises?
When I think of small hatchbacks like the 2014 Mazda 3, I think spunky, fun, convenient, and cheap.
Well, depending on how you equip your Mazda 3 the price can swell. The starting price of the base Mazda 3 five-door is in the upper $19s. But our Grand Touring long-termer is full of features and stickers for $27,585.
Yikes.
What would you buy for $27K and some change?
And everything in its place.
There's not a lot of nook-and-cranny storage in the Mazda 3. A cavity molded into each front door panel holds an oversize bottle of water. There's a narrow box under the armrest, a sliver of flat space ahead of the shifter and a glovebox. It's enough, but we've grown accustomed to more (cue the chorus of "but it's a driver's car!").
Yes, fine. But I still want several places to throw whatever falls from my hands. This tray in the center console holds a wallet and the 3's key fob perfectly. Plenty of room below for the two USB-connected mobile devices. What little interior storage the 3 does offer is cleverly packaged.
Behold. The empty cargo bay of the 2014 Mazda 3 S. I loaded a shallow cabinet about three feet tall, six cardboard boxes full of books, and a handful of other loose knickknacks in here earlier. You didn't want to see the photo. Seriously. Looked like I was living out of the car.
When I finally cleared the hold, I stood back and stared. I decided a wagon/hatchback/truck bed will always have a place in my life. They will be a prerequisite before any coupes or roadsters are considered. They just make too much sense.
Yet apparently I'm in the minority of American buyers, as you have to constantly badger automakers about why they don't offer hatch/wagon versions of popular two- and four-door models, models usually offered in other countries. The Mazda 6 sport wagon, which looks like a larger, even more useful Mazda 3, comes to mind.
Low volume, they say. Cost too much to certify. Americans like crossovers and we, the automaker, like crossover profit. Hatchbacks enjoy more success than wagons obviously, but it appears that many Americans can't do without a trunk, a rear shelf or at least an elevated ride height.
Consider a recent report that shows Mazda 3 sales sliding every month since August. The report concludes that sales aren't falling to Golfs, Elantra GTs or Ford Focus hatches, for example. That would at least suggest a demand for hatchbacks and that perhaps the Mazda 3 just doesn't measure up. But instead, 3 sales are falling to Civics and Corollas — Sedans! — as part of an incentive game that Mazda says it won't join.
The Mazda 3 S has 47.1 cubic-feet back there. That was plenty for my short-notice, quick-grab errand. It would likely cover 80 percent of my other daily needs. So why are wagon/hatches slow sellers? What's your take?
Not a big surprise here. Our 2014 Mazda 3 has crossed the 5,000-mile mark after just over two months in the long-term fleet. It's already a staff favorite thanks to its sharp handling, well-trimmed interior and overall usefulness.
It hasn't been without problems, though, as a loose battery cable caused the check-engine light to illuminate and send the car into some kind of limp mode. It was corrected at the dealer free of charge. Another editor also noticed a few ticking noises from the interior but none of them were enough to warrant a dealer visit.
We drove our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 nearly 1,000 miles in March and the lifetime average fuel economy continued to climb toward the EPA combined estimate of 31 mpg (27 city/37 highway).
The lifetime average is now 28.6 mpg running on a steady diet of regular gas. This is only a hair better than the 28.4 mpg at our last report, but with gas prices rising, we are moving in the right direction.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 28.6
EPA MPG Rating: Combined 31 (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 342.2 miles
Current Odometer: 5,181 miles
Despite it being a noisy tapping machine, I like driving our 2014 Mazda 3. I've always had a fondness for sporty hatchbacks and I don't mind the Mazda 3's firmer ride. I'll put up with some noise over a wishy-washy soft ride any day.
The Mazda 3 is not quick but it does have a feeling of spiritedness. It handles well and the precise steering adds to its feeling of confidence.
Have you driven a 2014 Mazda 3?
Yes, it's that time of year again. May the Fourth, the unofficial Star Wars Day, where geeks like me unite and Magrath rolls his eyes in disgust. This year, I'm only posting one, mostly because I can't think of other candidates in our long-term fleet.
Click on through to read more about this protocol vehicle and feel free to comment or tweet me with your ideas or your own creations.
So there I was stranded on some dusty old rock that seemed as though it was the furthest point from the bright center of the universe, also known as California's 909 area code. The Tesla ran out of juice and I came upon a burnt out bazaar filled with an ill-tempered biker gang with jackets that read "The Tusken Raiders" and short tweakers wearing dark brown cloaks.
It was obvious that the tweakers were trying to unload hot merchandise just as desperately as I wanted to get back...home. They kept rambling on about binary languages and moisture evaporators when they finally showed me this: the Mazda3PO.
It's an odd-looking beast. I get the idea that whoever built it had serious emotional issues. He definitely had a dark side. Given that this was the only transport away from this hive of scum and villainy (the only other vehicle was a white Audi R2 that looked like a trash bin), I took it.
From the get-go, the car started getting on my nerves. The navigation system simply wouldn't shut up. It kept calling me sir, too. Annoying.
Mazda3PO: I'm fluent in over six million forms of communication.
Me: "Is silence one of them?"
Mazda3PO: Sir the odds of navigating through the Inland Empire is approximately 3,701 to 1. We're doomed.
Me: Don't ever tell me the odds.
The electronics must've been on the fritz. I'm guessing they were made by Lucas. By the time we hit the city, I wished I had taken the R2 or at least had a trusty blaster at my side. Once back in L.A., I had its memory wiped.
Here are some previous Star Wars posts from a long time ago...
Jeep Wrangler
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Jaguar XF
Volvo S60
Buick Grand National
Acura NSX
Nissan Quest
It was a busy month of weekly test cars here at the office so our long-term Mazda 3 didn't get as many miles on it as usual. Those who did get behind the wheel clearly enjoyed the powerful 2.5-liter engine as the mileage figures dipped below 30 mpg on several of the tanks.
With an overall average of 28.9 mpg, our Mazda 3 is still not quite meeting its EPA combined rating of 32 mpg. Not surprising given that it encourages you to drive it hard with its quick steering and capable chassis. We'll put some additional highway miles on it in May to see if that overall number edges up a little.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 28.9
EPA MPG Rating: 32 Combined (28 City/39 Highway)
Best Range: 342.2 miles
Current Odometer: 903 miles
Our 2014 Mazda 3 easily fit four 18-inch Porsche wheels, remnants from a cross-country road trip, into the rear cargo area. Just drop the second row seatbacks to create a large, flat-load floor and slide them in. We didn't even need to remove the cargo cover clipped to the rear hatch. Hatchbacks are great.
When it comes to choosing which version of the 2014 Mazda 3 you want, one of the biggest decisions is whether to stick with the base 2.0-liter, four-cylinder or upgrade to the larger, 2.5-liter version.
For small hatchbacks like the 3, the extra power isn't always worth the reduction in mileage. In this case, however, I think the 2.5-liter engine is the better choice.
That extra 30 horsepower makes a world of difference in how this car behaves. Instead of just getting by when you need to make a pass, it jumps to attention and gets the job done quickly. It's not the smoothest or the most refined four-cylinder engine I've ever driven, but its performance makes up for the lack of polish.
To top it off, its EPA mileage numbers are only two points down compared to the smaller engine. The fact that we haven't been seeing its combined mileage number of 32 mpg is mostly due to the fact that this Mazda encourages enthusiastic driving. Drive it a little more relaxed and the combined number shouldn't be very hard to achieve.
Turns out the folks over at Mazda think of everything. I'm a big proponent of securing heavy cargo so it doesn't fly around in an accident. And loads don't come much heavier in a passenger car than a wheel and tire. Our 2014 Mazda 3 has the right equipment for the job.
This tire strap is there to secure the car's standard wheel/tire combo to the rear seat in the event of a flat. The owner's manual explains the details.
Nice.
Our 2014 Mazda 3 has enough plugs to satisfy even the most device-heavy travelers. In total there are two USB plugs, one aux jack and one 12-volt outlet in the center console. I like that Mazda locates the plugs in the center console, too. It's cleaner.
I took our 2014 Mazda 3 to Mazda of Orange last week for its first service which included an oil change, tire rotation and curing of the windshield creak, a known issue handled via a technical service bulletin.
The visit was quick and easy. I dropped the car off in the morning and got a call from service writer Joel Angulo at about 3:00 that afternoon informing me that the jobs were complete.
The oil change included five quarts of 0W20 Castrol Edge Pro synthetic oil at $7.24/quart and cost $65.78 total. And so far the windshield isn't creaking either.
Last week, I had a few big boxes to ship with long, fragile car parts inside. Both boxes were 70 inches long by 12 inches high and 12 inches wide and I needed something to haul them in. So when the sign-out sheet came around and our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback was available, I thought, "Perfect, a hatchback. That'll haul my stuff." Getting the boxes to fit though, wasn't as easy as I expected.
I folded the passenger side of the rear seat down and slid the first box in. Nope. The boxes stuck out over the bumper. Try again. I folded the other side of the rear seat down and moved the boxes so they were diagonal. My middle-school algebra tells me this is a longer distance. Not long enough though. Try again.
There were only a couple of inches left hanging out of the rear so I went up front and moved the passenger seat as far forward as it would go. This gave me enough space for my cargo, but only just, and zero room for passengers. Hatchbacks are generally better at hauling taller cargo than their sedan siblings, but in this case a big enough trunk pass-through would've probably gotten the job done too.
Our 2014 Mazda 3's front seats mean business. They're not your usual economy car chairs. Check out those bolsters. And though they're comfortable enough, I wouldn't describe them as soft. Being full leather makes them a little more slippery than I'd prefer when cornering hard. Mazda could have fixed that the same way it did on the last-generation Mazdaspeed3.
Here you can see how that car managed both the appeal of leather and the function of cloth. Still, this isn't the dedicated performance car that one was, so there's nothing wrong with full leather.
I like these seats. They look better and fit my narrow frame better than the Mazdaspeed seats anyway.
May was a pretty normal month for our 2014 Mazda 3. We put on about 1,600 miles and posted fuel economy similar to what we achieved in prior months.
For the month, we averaged 28.2 mpg. That had a minimal impact on our Mazda 3's lifetime average, which stands at 28.6 mpg. Somewhat discouragingly, in my opinion, is that we're still off the pace of the EPA's 31 mpg in combined driving. Granted, 2.5 mpg or so below is actually pretty typical for one of our long-term cars. But it seems like Mazdas of late are often overachievers. We were only 1 mpg below in our 2014 Mazda CX-5, for instance.
Maybe we just need to add a few more long-distance drives to our Mazda 3. We've still got plenty of time.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 28.9
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 342.2 miles
Current Odometer: 7,729 miles
I really like the technology interface found in our 2014 Mazda 3. It has what I consider to be an ideal setup of both a touchscreen and a multi-use controller knob.
The controller knob works similarly to those you'd find in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. You can make cursor/highlight inputs on the screen by turning it, moving it like a joystick and pressing down to select. There are also fixed buttons to immediately go to the most common things you'll use or do: audio, navigation, the home screen, favorites and a back button. As Travis commented as part of an overall update about the Mazda 3's control layout, the knob and buttons fall readily to hand.
Admittedly, having the volume knob on the console is a little weird, and I'm often finding myself reaching towards the dash to a non-existent volume knob purely out of habit. But as an owner, you'd no doubt acclimate to the different location.
The other welcome aspect to this interface is the touchscreen. It, too, falls pretty easily to hand. Mostly, I like how it gives you an extra way to make inputs if you're so inclined. The menu structures are pretty straightforward and the icons are easy to understand. I doubt many owners will need to consult the owner's manual much.
Overall, I think this is one of the best technology interfaces you'll find in a small sedan or hatchback for 2014.
If you're shopping for a small economy car, you've no doubt found that there are plenty of choices. Almost all of them are likely to meet your expectations for practicality, fuel economy, performance and safety.
But what I like about our 2014 Mazda 3. is that it goes beyond just meeting my expectations.
Much of that has to do with the way the car drives. Thanks to the quick steering, taut suspension tuning and strong engine, the 3 feels alive and energetic. It's not a sports car, but it can still put a smile on my face. That counts for a lot in a car that's meant mainly for just getting the job done.
I like the interior design, too. The controls are readily at hand and the overall design, with the exception of the touchscreen, is pretty harmonious and attractive. The vibe I get is that Mazda's engineers really sweated making the 3 a car that you're going to want to drive.
Yet there's no big sacrifice for all of this as far as I'm concerned. The interior is sufficiently roomy. Fuel economy, at least for EPA estimated numbers, are right up there with segment leaders. And while the ride quality is a little stiffer and noisier than some other choices, I don't find it to be objectionable.
Overall, the Mazda 3 would be right at the top of my consideration list if I were shopping for a small sedan or hatchback in 2014.
I have two small children and am constantly wrangling child safety seats in and out of Edmunds long-term cars. Since I really like our 2014 Mazda 3, I was curious to find out how well the 3 would be for family duty and child safety seats. The top photo shows my main setup at this point: a Recaro booster seat and a Britax Marathon reversible child safety seat.
Installing the Recaro in a car is rarely a problem, and that was true here as well. Trying out the Britax seat was also straightforward in its front-facing position. The 3's rear seat bottoms do have some contouring to them, but I was able to use a towel to get the seat's base flat and aligned properly. The 3's rear seatbacks are angled in such a way that the Britax fit just about perfectly. Another bonus is that the rear headrests are easy to remove.
As for installing LATCH anchor buckles, the anchor points are a little buried (some cars make it easier to identify where they are) but there's enough give to the cushions to make the buckling process easy enough. The top (rear) anchor point behind the seatbacks is also easy to get to. Overall, the front-facing install for this seat went very smoothly.
Problems arose, however, when I switched the seat around to test out the rear-facing position. (You typically use the rear-facing position for toddlers who are too big to be in an infant-style safety seat but are still too small to be forward-facing.) Rear-facing always require a lot of rear legroom. And rear legroom is not something the Mazda 3 has in abundance.
I originally had the driver seat positioned for me (I'm 5-foot 10-inches) but it quickly became apparent that I'd have to move it up to fit the safety seat. In fact, I had to move it up so much that there's no way I could comfortably drive the car. If the safety seat was on the passenger side, a normal-sized adult could get by sitting up front in a pinch, but that's about it. The same situation would almost certainly be true for a rear-facing infant safety seat as well. In the Mazda 3's defense, though, it isn't the only car in its class where rear legroom can make installing rear-facing seats difficult.
For me, this isn't problematic since I'm past the rear-facing kid stage. And in that sense, the Mazda 3 is still an ideal daily runabout, even with two kids in back. But if you've got very small children or have some on the way, this is something to note if you're considering a Mazda 3 purchase.
In our last fuel economy update for the 2014 Mazda 3 we noted the car's lifetime average so far: 28.9 mpg. It's an OK number, but we've been doing a lot of urban driving these past 8,000 miles. I wanted to know what our 3 could achieve in a more theoretical sense.
Early on with our 3, we did record one fill that resulted in 41 mpg. But it's worth noting that we filled up after driving just 80 miles on that trip. It'd be nice to back this number up with a little verification.
For my trip I drove 242 miles, of which about 90 percent was highway driving. That highway driving was at speeds a little over 70 mph with the air conditioning on and using cruise control when possible. Ideally I would have liked to drive even further to reduce any margins of error but figured 240 miles is better than nothing.
When I pulled into the gas station to fill up the Mazda 3's in-car fuel economy gauge, it was showing 36.5 mpg. Yet when I did our official math calculation, it turned out our 3 achieved 39.5 mpg. The official EPA highway estimate is 37 mpg. Not too shabby for our little Mazda.
We selected the "s" trim level for our 2014 Mazda 3, which means we got the upgraded 2.5-liter engine good for 184 horsepower. As Ed Hellwig previously commented, it's worth the extra cost given its stronger power and minimal fuel economy drop.
If you're a driving enthusiast, however, you might be bummed out that Mazda doesn't offer a manual transmission with this engine. It's a six-speed automatic or nothing. The good news for those car guys and car gals, at least, is that this automatic works quite well, particularly in its manual shifting mode.
You can select gears manually by moving the gear selector to the left and then pushing it forward for downshifts and pulling backward for upshifts. (And this is the way the good lord intended it to be if you ask various members on our editorial team.) As shown in the main photo, you can also use the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Either way, the gear shifts happen relatively quickly. They're not lightning quick like you'd get from an automated manual transmission (Porsche's PDK, for example) or even an advanced eight-speed automatic. But for this class of car, it's sporty. Another nice bonus is that the downshifts are rev-matched, which means the engine's rpm is automatically raised to the correct amount to match the rotational speed of the wheels before the next lower gear is engaged. This makes the downshifts smooth yet still quick.
I like putting our Mazda 3 into its manual mode. I'll rev it out towards redline or blip down a couple gears in advance of a turn. Sure, I'd get more engagement with a regular manual transmission. But I'm very satisfied with the automatic in our car.
Recently, after what I thought had been a friendly discussion at work, I was informed that I had been "piling on," making the situation worse instead of better.
So I won't exactly be shocked if I'm accused of piling on yet again after this update on the 2014 Mazda 3 Hatchback. Because, like several other editors, I truly like this car.
With its sharp steering, composed handling, quick-reacting transmission and well-bolstered seats, the Mazda 3 drives unlike anything else in the economy compact class.
Sure, it won't overwhelm you with power, but nothing does in this segment. And nope, the ride can't be called plush.
But the Mazda 3 offers a rarity for cars of this ilk: It's fun to drive. And not on a comparison basis. It's fun purely on its own merits. It's the kind of car that's a joy to charge hard with onto a tight freeway on-ramp, responsive to your steering, braking and throttle inputs. When I drive this car I find myself actively searching out the next turn to attack.
Plus, you can use the manual-shifting ability of its automatic transmission (with either the paddle shifters or the console shift lever, the last with my preferred "push forward for downshifts" layout) for engine braking and/or making sure you're in the right gear as you enter a corner. With nice throttle blips every time.
And, let's face it: Doesn't exactly hurt that it looks so damn good, either.
Here's another reason to like the 2014 Mazda 3: Order it as a hatchback and it's simple to throw things like a 29er mountain bike in the back.
Sure, there are plenty of sedans out there with fold-down rear seats. But hatchbacks eliminate the pass-through issue. All the space is right there for ya, just throw the bike in.
Okay, actually put a blanket down, take off the front wheel and place the bike gently. But you get my point.
Plenty of cars have "sport" modes these days, but not all of them are worth bothering with. They typically promise a heightened sense of urgency on the part of the engine and transmission through a change to their electronic programming.
All too often the change is so imperceptible that there's little reason to engage it. Toyota's old "ECT Power" button comes to mind.
Our Mazda 3's sport mode is a little different. When you push it you actually feel an immediate change in the throttle sensitivity. Downshifts come quicker, too, although it doesn't immediately drop a gear the minute you press it. I pretty much drive it in sport mode all the time these days even though the owner's manual says mileage may suffer slightly.
By the way, the owner's manual also says you cannot engage sport mode while cornering, so don't even bother trying.
Our 2014 Mazda 3 travelled 1,100 miles during the month of June and increased its lifetime average by 0.2 mpg.
The majority of those miles were racked up by Senior Automotive Editor Brent Romans. Brent wanted to validate the Mazda 3's "Best Fill MPG" number of 41.1, so he took the Mazda 3 on a 242-mile highway trip to see what he could achieve. The result? 39.5 mpg, beating the EPA highway estimate by 2.5 mpg.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 mpg
Best Fill MPG: 41.1 mpg
Average Lifetime MPG: 28.7 mpg
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 342.2 miles
Current Odometer: 8,830 miles
One day recently, the windshield washers in our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 refused to wash the associated windshield.
Instead of being deposited on the windshield, the washing agent would collect in a puddle beneath the car. Great for keeping the pavement hydrated; suboptimal when it comes to having an optically transparent windshield.
Cue ominous music?
Nah. Our local dealer blew some compressed air through the hose to dislodge a foreign object that was blocking the hose. A pebble? Chewing gum? Jimmy Hoffa's body? Who knows. Said object is almost certainly in low earth orbit by now.
The washers again work as intended.
No charge.
Seems I'm not the only one on staff who is smitten by our long-term 2014 Mazda 3. At this rate we have enough people to form our own fan club.
Like the others, I really enjoy driving this car. Even when I'm just slogging home on my commute I appreciate the crisp dynamics of this car. It steers precisely, handles sharply, looks great, feels great.
All this, plus practical and fuel-efficient, too. If I was in the market for a new daily driver-like car, the Mazda 3 would be at the top of my personal shopping list.
It's all enough to compel me to take it on a weekend road trip to San Francisco. I'll be sure to share my impressions.
I recently hit the road in our long-term 2014 Mazda 3, running it to San Francisco and back for the holiday weekend. And I'm still a fan.
This trip underscored one area where this car really suffers, though.
Road noise (note the title of this entry, after all). On this trip the Mazda 3 exhibited an awful, awful lot of road noise, no matter the pavement. It grew very tiresome, as this trip consisted almost entirely of freeway travel.
Mazda could add sound insulation to the car to mitigate the noise. However, this solution is heavy (and bulky), and this is a car that embraces lightness as a virtue. I like lightness. But the noise has got to go.
Instead, perhaps Mazda could invest in some kind of active noise cancellation feature. You know, those systems that use the audio system already in the car to transmit waveforms that are 180 degrees out of phase from the incoming noise frequencies. Poof, the waves cancel and the noise vanishes. Sure, it's an expensive solution for this vehicle segment, but considering that this is truly the one area that the Mazda 3 falls on its face, it would certainly be welcome.
Our 2014 Mazda 3 has been steadily racking up the miles and recently achieved 10,000 miles on its odometer. At the time of the milestone there wasn't any fanfare, just me pumping in some gas and then getting back on the road. But that's probably fitting since our little Mazda has been quietly getting the job done since day one.
True, it hasn't been 100-percent trouble-free. Early on we had the transmission clunking issue, which turned out to just be a loose battery connection. The windshield washer jets weren't working until we cleared the supply hose. And, of course, we had the car in for its scheduled 7,500-mile service, which included a TSB.
Overall, though, our Mazda 3 is running great and continues to be very popular with our team.
Just about every small economy car sold today will get you where you want to go while still being respectably pleasant to drive. They're safe, quick enough to get out of their own way, decently comfortable up front and can be equipped with many of the latest convenience features.
Only a few small affordable cars, however, go beyond this and actually provide an engaging driving experience that helps to make normally mundane trips a little more fun. The 2014 Mazda 3 happens to be one of them.
There are a lot of small-car buyers out there who probably feel they don't need a car that's "fun to drive." But if the Mazda 3 still checks all the "Point A to Point B" boxes, why wouldn't you want something that engages you on top of all that?
While on vacation a couple of months ago, I rented a small sedan that's a competitor to the Mazda 3. It was a fine car. But I didn't look forward to driving it every day like I do with the 3. Firing up our long-termer, I know I'm going to appreciate its upscale interior, snappy acceleration, quick steering and stylish looks. It's almost like getting a BMW, but as an economy car.
If you're shopping for a small car, I certainly recommend checking out the Mazda 3.
The 2014 Mazda 3 is unusual in the small car class by offering a large amount of available safety features. Specifically, these are optional driver assistance features: a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, forward collision warning and automatic braking for low-speed collision mitigation.
Many small cars offer one or two of these features, but it's rare to have this much available. Our long-term Mazda 3 has all of them except the frontal collision warning and automatic braking. Yet in daily use, the one I appreciate most is the rear cross-traffic alert feature.
Rear cross-traffic alert is part of the blind-spot monitoring system. It uses the same sensors for vehicle detection but activates instead when you put the Mazda 3 in reverse. Its purpose is to detect vehicles that might be crossing your rearward path, such as when you're backing out of a parking space. When an oncoming vehicle is detected, the system beeps at you.
It works. There have been a few times when I've been backing out of a space in a parking lot only to have the cross-traffic alert system notify me of an oncoming car. This isn't to say that I didn't see the cars coming down the parking lane, but I find it to be a welcome layer of safety that nicely complements the rearview camera. Cross-traffic alert is especially useful if the Mazda is bracketed in its parking space by bulky SUVs or trucks on one or both sides that limit your own view of what's coming.
You receive this feature standard when you pick a Mazda 3i Touring trim level or above. Along with the Touring's other extra features, it's a worthwhile upgrade in my opinion.
Last month, fellow editor Jay Kavanagh observed that our long-term Porsche Macan's handling abilities are tamed by its all-season tires. He recommended making sure to get the summer tires if you're buying a Macan. (You are getting a Porsche, after all.)
It's not the only vehicle in our fleet that could use a set of summer tires, though. I happen to think the same thing about our 2014 Mazda 3.
Yes, the Mazda 3 is just a small, economy-oriented front-drive hatchback. Yet much like a Porsche, the Mazda 3's got quick and precise steering and a fun-to-drive nature that will have you wanting to drive through turns with enthusiasm. The weak link, at least from a handling perspective, is the car's set of Dunlop SP Sport 5000 all-season tires.
Here's a quote from our test driver's notes after testing the Mazda 3 at our test track:
"This is a planted car with excellent suspension tuning. The precise steering means it goes exactly where you point it. If the tires had more grip it would do even better, as they "give up" pretty early."
The official numbers from our testing are a slalom speed of 64.5 mph and a skidpad measurement of 0.83g. These are decent results, don't get me wrong; a 2014 Toyota Corolla Eco we tested posted 62.3 mph and 0.78g, respectably. But they're also not that much different than our long-term 2014 Kia Forte, at 63.7 mph and .82g. From behind the wheel, the 3 feels a lot more capable, but the tires keep you from really exploiting it. Going around turns and having the tires squealing away is kind of embarrassing, too.
Of course, the last thing you're going to want to do after buying a brand-new Mazda 3 is spend even more money on a set of new tires. But if this were my car I'd really want to replace these all-seasons with summer tires once they wear out. (Or, if I lived in a place with freezing temperatures and snow, summer tires for summer and winter tires (with an extra set of wheels) for winter.)
One nice thing about our car is that it seems there's plenty of summer tire selection in the 215/45R18 tire size. Tire Rack lists 17 different sets ranging from around $500 to $1000 for a set of four tires.
I've apparently become the Lexus demographic. This won't be a fair characterization to the fine folks who build F Sports and actively work to transform the brand's image from floaty to fiery. But as I get older and start chasing kids from my lawn, I'm less tolerant of tightly-wound ride compliance like the 2014 Mazda 3's.
In the grand scheme, the 3 is not exceptionally stiff-legged. But placed between me and 60 miles of Southland interslab, the 3's rigidity and the steering effort required to keep the car tracking straight were the first things I noticed after some time away from the car. The 3 keeps you working.
And that actually makes the Mazda a joy for errand runs and twisty two-lane breakfast blasts, but less so for long, choppy pavement commutes. Sometimes at the end of the day, you just want a well-damped pothole eater. And a sharp stick for keeping kids out of your yard.
Back in January, when our 2014 Mazda 3 S five-door joined our long-term fleet, it marked a huge step forward for the venerable hatchback. Vast improvements took place inside and out, along with a slew of new features that raised the bar for the entire segment.
Even though the Mazda 3 is far more refined than its predecessors, its lively spirit and fun-to-drive nature are solidly intact. For definitive proof, we ran it through our usual battery of tests.
The following performance numbers were originally published along with our Road Test of the 2014 Mazda 3 that would eventually become our long-termer. We tested it again when it took part in a comparison test against the 2015 VW Golf and it went marginally quicker.
Vehicle:
Odometer: 1,427
Date: 1/14/2014
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $27,585
Specifications:
Drive Type: Front engine, Front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 6-speed automatic
Engine Type: Naturally aspirated, direct-injected, inline-4, gasoline
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 2,488 / 152
Redline (rpm): 6,250
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 184 @ 5,700
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 185 @ 3,250
Brake Type (front): 11.61-inch one-piece ventilated with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): 10.43-inch one-piece solid with single-piston sliding calipers
Suspension Type(front): Independent MacPherson struts
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink
Tire Size (front): 215/45R18 89W
Tire Size (rear): 215/45R18 89W
Tire Brand: Dunlop
Tire Model: SP Sport 5000
Tire Type: All-Season
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,038
Test Results:
Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.9 (w/TC on 3.1)
0-45 (sec): 5.1 (w/TC on 5.4)
0-60 (sec): 7.8 (w/TC on 8.2)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 7.6 (w/TC on 7.7)
0-75 (sec): 11.5 w/TC on 11.83)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 15.8 @ 89.0 (w/TC on 15.9 @ 88.6)
Braking
30-0 (ft): 32
60-0 (ft): 126
Handling
Slalom (mph): 61.1 w/ESC on
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.81 (0.80 w/ESC on)
RPM @ 70: 2,250
Comments:
Acceleration comments: After sampling Drive, Sport Drive, and manual-shift Sport mode, the best results came in Sport Drive because the manual-shift requests aren't registered/don't happen quick enough and result in hitting the rev-limiter. The car responded only a little to a modest amount of wheelspin, gaining about a half-second to 60 mph, but what advantage it had there is effectively erased at the end of the quarter mile. This is a peppy car, but not what I'd call exhilarating or fast.
Braking comments: Only a little bit of nosedive modest pedal-travel despite the pedal feeling firm and consistently confident. The car moved side-to-side a bit with each stop and distances were growing with each successive stop in a typical fade progression. First stop was the shortest of four. These tires don't seem like they can take full advantage of the mechanical system upstream. These are only so-so numbers from an otherwise sporty hatchback.
Handling comments:
Slalom: The Mazda 3 has quick reflexes, precise and communicative steering, intuitive behavior at the limit, AND an electronic stability control (ESC) that's calibrated to go to DEFCON 2 in our rapidly transitioning slalom test. Just as the car begins to dance and respond, the ESC believes it's out of control. Some, more advanced systems are lenient so long as the driver's input reveals a skill level commensurate with the attitude of the car.
Skidpad: Here, however, in a steady-state exercise, the ESC is very lenient and intelligent, providing enough of a leash to effectively match feedback and results regardless of it being fully on or fully off. It's interesting that this Mazda 3 s Grand Touring (with its wider tires where one would assume more grip) was outperformed in handling by the Mazda 3 i Grand Touring we last tested. This car has slower slalom speeds and less measured grip on the skidpad.
There's a lot to like about our 2014 Mazda 3. A lot. I'm on record as being a little grumpy on its highway ride, but if you don't spend much time on rain-grooved interslabs, the Mazda 3 is a no-brainer. Driving around town reveals more and better sides to this car. It reminds me a lot of my late '91 Integra. It pulls hard like that old Integra and it's always willing to chirp the tires. I'd like to see factory torque curves on both cars. Old Integra had miles better visibility, though. Also sang better above 6,000 rpm.
Only a mother could love this steering column, though. There's a lot going on here. Nine buttons on the wheel face alone, controlling 15 commands. Seems like a good indication of where designers are right now, trying to harness myriad functions mostly unrelated to driving in a small piece of real estate, on hardware meant to keep the car away from trees and utility poles.
Then there are the shift paddles behind and the thick, stubby wiper and headlight stalks. The carbon-fauxber inlay makes me wince a little bit.
The whole thing has a vaguely spacecraft feel to it, which complements other design elements. Clearly a thin Nardi wheel isn't going to work here. But less clutter, more understatement would be good.
But, really, this is like complaining about the freckle on Monica Belluci's elbow.
More than 2,000 miles were added to our 2014 Mazda 3 test car's odometer in July, mostly during Jay Kavanagh's San Francisco road trip and during a couple of weeks in Brent Romans' care.
With now over 10,000 miles, our Mazda 3's average lifetime mpg has climbed to 29.1, steadily closing in on the EPA's 31-mpg combined fuel economy rating.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 mpg
Best Fill MPG: 41.1 mpg
Average Lifetime MPG: 29.1 mpg
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 342.2 miles
Current Odometer: 10,877 miles
I've spent plenty of miles in the passenger seat of our long-term 2014 Mazda 3, but hardly any time behind the wheel. As I was struggling to find a driving position that allows me to use the Mazda 3's cool head-up display unit without the steering wheel obstructing the view, I came across Dan Edmunds' January post on the same topic. Dan noted some drivers not only need to adjust the seat, but also the angle of the Mazda's head-up display itself.
Dan's post (with video!) was so nicely written, I figured it was worth calling out again.
I like small feisty cars. I also like big cars. OK, I like cars.
Dan posted recently about how the 2014 Mazda 3 reminds him of his Acura Integra. As the proud owner of a last-gen Integra, I agree in some ways. It's small, sporty, sits low, enjoys a curve, and has the versatility of a hatchback.
The Mazda 3 has more power than the Integra ever had, but the Acura was more fun to drive. Unfortunately I don't get to air it out that often anymore. When I first moved to California, I loved taking it exploring. It's so fun on twisty canyon roads. It's a shame it was discontinued. I still see so many of them driving around L.A.
For those of you who missed out on the cult hatchback, I think the Mazda 3 is the closest thing you can get in today's market to the Integra.
Have you driven a Mazda 3? Or an Integra?
Not only should more automakers adopt the dial-controller interface forward of the armrest, but they should include the volume knob along with it. Every time I drive the 2014 Mazda 3 I'm reminded of this little feature's genius. It's either a testament to advanced ergonomic thinking or just plain laziness (no more needing to reach out and extend for the volume knob). I'm with the former.
I constantly tweak the volume knob or steering wheel switch when cruising. Probably a bad habit, but some songs are louder than others, as are the levels of different voices on talk radio programs. Some patches of road are rougher and noisier than others. I've also neglected to protect my hearing much of my life. It all adds up to keeping me busy on the audio levels in the car.
The volume control in the Human Machine Interface (or HMI, Mazda's name for its iDrive-like system) is almost perfectly placed. Drop your hand from the wheel, slide it over, twist. Skip the first step for cruisey open interstate travel when you're already leaning on the armrest. Perfect.
Back in May I took our 2014 Mazda 3 to the dealer for its first service and to have a TSB repair performed to eliminate the dash creak. I drove the car last week for the first time since then and it's clear the creak is back. However, since then I've made a discovery.
Further research proved I was wrong back in May about there being a TSB issued for this problem. I searched the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's site anticipating the TSB, but found nothing.
Even so, the dealer didn't dispute the dash creak and when I left there that day it wasn't creaking. Didn't creak the rest of the time I drove it. Now, however, there's no denying its presence. We'll ask the dealer to address the issue again on our next visit - TSB or not.
We put 1,884 miles on our 2014 Mazda 3 during the month of August, burning 67.1 gallons of 87-octane fuel along the way. We averaged 28.1 mpg during that time, which dropped our lifetime average from 29.1 mpg down to 28.9, taking us a little further away from the EPA’s 31-mpg combined fuel economy rating.
We achieved our best range to date during August, at 343.8 miles, when the Mazda 3 was in the hands of Josh Jacquot. Now Josh prides himself on many, many things in life, one of which is pushing a car closer to the brink of complete fuel-depletion than any other editor. Or any sane person.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 mpg
Best Fill MPG: 41.1 mpg
Average Lifetime MPG: 28.9 mpg
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 343.8 miles
Current Odometer: 12,761 miles
Want proof Mazda is bent on building cars for enthusiastic drivers, rather than just for those who want to get from A to B? Check out the center-mounted tachometer on the 2014 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring.
Josh Jacquot touched on this back in February. I'm expanding a bit (Josh is a man of few words).
As with Josh, I like Mazda's approach here with a tachometer that's not only large, but perfectly mounted in the center. It further cements the Mazda 3 as a more serious driving machine.
If given the choice between an equally-sized analog speedo/tach combo, or a jumbo analog tach along with a digital speedo, I'll take the last one. While I find analog tachometers the most natural for me, I actually prefer digital speedometers. They're easier to read quickly.
Plus, a center-mounted tachometer looks kinda cool.
Beyond the fact the 2014 Mazda 3 is the driver's car of this segment, I also really like the styling Mazda has going on with this thing. It's the kind of car that gets you excited to drive it even when it's just sitting still in the parking lot. There are lots of nice curves and creases.
And, the car looks great whether you get it in hatchback or sedan configuration. The sedan of the previous generation was a bit frumpy in comparison.
I'm still partial to the hatchback, but that may have more to do with the five-door's easy bike-hauling ability than anything else.
And, to be honest, the silver on our long-term car isn't even the best color for this thing.
My brother, who lives in Denver, Colorado, was car shopping recently and asked what I thought of the 2014 Mazda 3. It's a big hit with the other editors so I relayed this to my brother who went out and bought one.
Ever since then I've wished I had more time in our long term 3 so we could swap impressions about the car. Recently, I set out on a four-day trip to the Sierra (yes, it's singular) and finally got some seat time in the Mazda. Here's one of the first things that struck me.
Driving in the mountains is a quick way to see what a car is made of. After the 232-mile drive from Los Angeles to Lone Pine, the 14-mile Whitney Portal Road climbs over 4,000 feet to final altitude of 8,400 feet. There are two ways to handle such a climb: brute force — max displacement from a V8 — or a responsive four-cylinder with a smart transmission.
The 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the Mazda 3 was enough to handle the climb when it's managed by the six-speed Skyactiv automatic transmission. Even without using the paddle shifters, it seemed to choose the right gear for the grade. I never had to consciously mash the accelerator to get a downshift.
On the way down, weaving through hairpins with no guard rails and 2,000 foot drops, I opted for manual mode to keep my speed down and the brakes cool.
I'll be doing a lot more mountain driving in the Mazda. But so far, it's up to the task even without a beast under the hood and all-wheel-drive.
Driving around the city in the 2014 Mazda 3 it's easy to forget how sophisticated the bi-xenon HID lighting system is. But when I was driving down a mountain road near Lone Pine, Calif., it showed how both the directional capability and the leveling feature work together to provide a crisp, clear — and safe — picture of the road ahead.
At first, the moving beams caught me by surprise, as if my eyes were getting jumpy. Then, I grew to like the way that turning the steering wheel gives you a picture of where you want to go, not what you don't want to drive into. The auto-level feature is designed to adjust to road conditions as well as leveling when passengers and cargo are added.
I can't provide a price tag for the adaptive bi-xenon HIDs since they came standard on the S Five-Door Grand Touring along with some other premium goodies. However, if you live in the mountains, or do a lot driving in the country at night, this is a tech feature that is well worth having.
The subject of this update is about the lack of storage spaces around the driver's seat in the 2014 Mazda 3. But since a photo proving my point is so dull, I'm putting up this more entertaining shot of the very beginning of U.S. Route 6 in Bishop, Calif., which stretches to the tip of Cape Cod. You may also be amazed and interested to learn that Route 6 is also known as the "Grand Army of the Republic Highway" in honor of Civil War Veterans.
Now, back to the topic at hand.
The Mazda 3 is a great car, fun to drive and gets good fuel economy. But when I slide into the driver seat I usually need to stow my wallet, cell phone and also my regular glasses since I like to don my shades. These items don't fit easily in the center area, even though there is a small place with a little rubber pad to keep the stuff from sliding around.
Most carmakers have created a door panel storage area. Not the Mazda 3. Instead, it is a strange space that is half cupholder, half storage area and pretty useless. There are already two cupholders in the center console so what does this one accomplish?
Like I say, it's a small thing. But sometimes, when a car is so good, you really want to find something to knock just to let people know you're paying attention.
It's been about 7,500 miles since we brought our 2014 Mazda 3 in for regular scheduled maintenance. The Mazda bellowed "FEED ME OIL" by way of its little orange wrench lighting up last week. We obliged by taking it to nearby Santa Monica Mazda for its 15,000-mile service.
The service encompasses an oil and filter change, tire rotation, replacement air filter and disc brake inspection. We also voiced our irritation about the recurring creaking dashboard.
Pretty straightforward stuff, and we didn't expect the Mazda to be out of service for long. We dropped it off late in the day and picked it up the next morning.
Bad news first. For the first time in recorded history, service technicians were unable to recreate a problem with a car. The dash noise will undoubtedly manifest again in a week or so. The normal maintenance work, on the other hand, was completed without a problem.
Total cost: $96.60
Back in June of this year I wrote about the 2014 Mazda 3, "If you're a driving enthusiast...you might be bummed out that Mazda doesn't offer a manual transmission with this engine. It's a six-speed automatic or nothing."
Well, Mazda's people must have read my update (or, more accurately, were already on the case) and made changes to address the issue. For 2015, Mazda's letting you pick the six-speed manual transmission with the 3i trim level's 2.0-liter four-cylinder and the 3s trim level's 2.5-liter engine.
Now the question is: Which one to get?
Going with the manual transmission is arguably less desirable than it used to be because the six-speed automatic is already so good and sporty. As I wrote in that previous update, the automatic is responsive, quick shifting, has shift paddles and even blips the throttle when you're doing manual mode downshifts. You also get better EPA-rated fuel economy: 31 mpg combined (hatchback) versus 29 mpg combined with the manual transmission.
So what will the manual provide? The Mazda 3 in the 3s trim level is already the driver's car of the small economy car segment, and getting it with the manual will only improve that. An automatic can never provide the tactile enjoyment you get by working the clutch and shifter, and Mazda has traditionally done this well. With the manual, the 3 will likely be quicker in our 0-to-60 mph acceleration tests by a few tenths of a second, too.
I know of at least one Edmunds employee who's going to be buying a 2015 Mazda 3 and he wants to get the 3s with the manual transmission for exactly these reasons. Yet going with the automatic isn't any less desirable in my opinion. I suppose the best news is that now you get the choice for 2015.
September was a good month for our 2014 Mazda 3. We put on about 1,800 miles, and that included Phil's trip up and back to the Sierra for a hiking trip. Overall, we posted a slightly better fuel economy than what we achieved in prior months.
For the month, we averaged 32 mpg. That helped out our Mazda 3's lifetime average, which now stands at a record-high 29.3 mpg. We're still below the EPA estimated 31 mpg, but 29 isn't too shabby. Somehow, I also managed to post a new record range this month: 358 miles. But it looks like there's even more potential, as that was on a 10.7-gallon fill. I looked back at our log, and a few other drivers have added about 11.5 gallons.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 29.3
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway Combined)
Best Range: 358 miles
Current Odometer: 14,867 miles
Let's just say that you've been reading our fantastic collection of updates about our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 and you've decided to buy a Mazda 3 for yourself. But then you might be wondering: Which style (or trim level) should I buy?
Our long-term Mazda 3 is the 3s Grand Touring, and that means it has just about every feature that can be had on the 3. (The only thing we're missing is the Technology package). But our car also rang up at $27,585. As Donna noted in an earlier post, the 3's price starts around $17,000 and heads up past $27,000. That can accommodate a lot of budgets. But based on my experience with our long-term car, I happen to think there are two sweet spots for the 3.
The first is the 2015 3i Touring hatchback that stickers at $21,145 (without destination but with the six-speed automatic transmission). For that price you get a solid amount of content for the small-sedan class that nicely complements the 3's upscale vibe and won't make you potentially regret skimping on your purchase later on.
Complete details can be found in our review of the 2015 Mazda 3, but the 3i Touring has all the desirable basics in my opinion (Bluetooth, air-conditioning, USB and the display screen) plus a few bonuses such as 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition, a rearview camera and blind-spot monitoring.
I also like the 2015 3s Touring that has an MSRP of $25,395. Here you're getting all of the above plus the bigger 2.5-liter engine, 18-inch wheels, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, a premium Bose sound system, a power driver seat and paddle shifters. Pay more and you'll move up to the Grand Touring, which has the xenon headlights, leather upholstery and automatic wipers. But I have to draw a line somewhere, and I'd rather stay with the 3s Touring and save $1,200.
Certainly this all depends on your budget. But if you're not sure what to get or just have a few Mazda 3 models on the dealer lot to pick from, those are my picks.
It was very close to four years ago that I had a grand time driving Edmunds' red long-term 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 on some winding roads in the Sierra National Forest north of Los Angeles. That MS3 was a fun little car.
Even though we've had plenty of Mazdas in our fleet over the years (including the MS3), our 2014 Mazda 3 is the car that I like best and would be most willing to own.
A lot of that comes down to this 3 being the most complete car in my opinion. Some Mazdas we've had in the fleet have been more versatile and others have been more fun to drive, but this 2014 Mazda 3 has the best balance of both. It's a car I can use every day and consistently enjoy the experience. I also happen to like the newest 3's overall design. It looks sharp both inside and out. There are also a lot of great features in our car and the pricing is quite reasonable.
Mazda's done a great job with its newest generation 3. Maybe in the future there will be a new-generation Mazdaspeed 3 or something that I'll absolutely fall in love with, but right now this silver 2014 model is my favorite.
A few days ago we got an email from Mazda asking us if we'd take our 2014 Mazda 3 to get a software update for the Mazda Connect infotainment/navigation system. We replied that we just had an update that was part of our 15,000-mile service. But apparently an even newer update had just been released.
Figuring it wouldn't take much time, I made an appointment to take our 3 over to my local Mazda dealer (Lithia Mazda). Once I was there, the service advisor, perhaps understandably, didn't quite understand why I'd brought the car in just for an update, so I just told him that it was a fleet vehicle and we wanted to get upgraded to the latest version (version 33, specifically, from version 31). He took the info down and said he'd give me a call in a couple of hours.
Sure enough, he called me back and said they had installed the latest update, which was covered under warranty, of course. According to Mazda, the new update included only very minor changes.
If I were a regular owner, the dealer visit just for the update wouldn't have seemed worth my time, honestly. But since we probably won't be back at a dealership for the rest of the car's stay with us, just getting it done seemed prudent enough.
"Claudine, this is a momentous occasion. I need your phone." This was me talking to my wife as were driving in Edmunds' long-term 2014 Mazda 3 on our way to a pumpkin patch with our kids in back.
"Why?" she replied.
"We've hit 15,000 miles! I need a photo."
"Where's your camera?"
"I, umm, left it in my backpack. Which is in the trunk."
She just sighed and rolled her eyes. Yes, it's a glamorous life being the spouse of an (often forgetful) automotive journalist.
True enough, though, Edmunds Mazda 3 has amassed more than 15,000 miles on its odometer. As we started this test at the beginning of the year, we're on track to meet our goal of at least 20,000 miles.
I really like this car. It's fun and versatile like few other cars in our fleet right now. Alas, it hasn't been entirely trouble free, as you can see from our Maintenance index. But overall, I'm a fan.
Recently a friend of mine was checking out Edmunds' long-term 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback. We were waiting in a parking lot for another friend to show up for a hike we were supposed to do, and it was a good opportunity to examine some of the 3's qualities that don't come up every day. One of those was how comfortable we were sitting in back.
If you think of word associations for the Mazda 3 it's unlikely that the first thing you think of is "roomy." But I was pleased with the amount of space the 3 has. I'm 5-foot 10-inches tall, and I had my 6-foot friend sit in front of me in the front passenger seat. There was a suitable amount of legroom for me, and there was close to an inch of clearance above my head. Thigh support was OK, too. The only thing that really stood out from a comfort standpoint was the slim door panel armrest. It's not padded and my elbow kept sliding off. The center fold-down armrest was just fine, though.
Overall, I came away with the impression that the Mazda 3's rear seat should be great for kids and teens and probably just fine for a lot of adults (albeit perhaps for shorter duration trips). Certainly, the 3 isn't a class standout here. The Volkswagen Jetta and Toyota Corolla, in particular, come to mind as having more backseat space. But in fitting with the Mazda 3's overall theme, you're really not asked to sacrifice much to enjoy the car's sporty and fun demeanor.
This is what I get for trying to enjoy the weather and driving with my windows down.
Driving down the absurdly unkempt Wilshire Blvd here in Los Angeles, our 2014 Mazda 3 sounded like it was being followed by a dryer with a fork in it.
I found an empty parking structure and started experimenting. Turns out, the noise is coming from the front driver side only. Hit a bump with the passenger side and it's quiet as can be.
To illustrate, here's our Mazda 3 going over a speedbump at 7 mph. Note that there's no sewer grate or metal ruler under the wheels, that's just what it sounds like.
I reached under the car and wiggled all the bits that aren't supposed to be wiggly and none of them seemed to be the culprit so we dropped it off at the dealer. That's what a warranty on a new car is for.
Will update you when we've got more. For now, what's your best guess?
Last we left our 2014 Mazda 3, there was a crazy noise coming from the front left suspension. We dropped it off at the dealer (that's what warranties are for) and had you take your best guess at the cause while we waited.
It's fixed and nobody was even close.
Our local Mazda dealer was stumped for a few days. They took one side of the sway bar off, and then the other. And then tightened the front license plate. And then tightened a bunch of other stuff to no avail. Then they started taking things apart.
And then they found this washer INSIDE of the control arm. It's not a Mazda washer. It doesn't belong on the car and certainly doesn't belong inside the control arm.
We've got no idea how it got in there. It could be dumb luck, or it could be a really odd prank where the prankster doesn't get to see the payoff.
So, after four days we got our Mazda 3 back, drove it home and then, the next morning, drove it straight back to Mazda because of a new metal-on-metal scraping noise.
That one took three more days to diagnose and fix, and turned out to be the brake dust shield scraping up against the rotor. Must've gotten knocked out of whack during the first fix.
Our 2014 Mazda 3 got a rest from the roads in October, logging only about 1,000 miles. Most of this was due to more than a week of downtime at the dealer, first to solve our bizarre rattling issue and then to fix a brake dust shield knocked out of whack during the investigation.
But over the four tank-fills in October, we averaged 29 MPG combined, right in line with our current lifetime average. We also recorded one of the worst fills (23.3 MPG) of our long-term test. Only three other fills since late December have yielded fewer miles per gallon.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 29.3
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 358.1
Current Odometer: 16,005
With a little over 16,000 miles on the odometer, our 2014 Mazda 3 is starting to show its age. Driving home last night on the admittedly rough 405 freeway here in L.A. our Mazda 3's windshield emitted more than a few noticeable creaks. Nothing terrible, just the occasional sign it's no longer showroom fresh.
On the flip side, I also noticed the overall feel of our Mazda 3 hasn't changed much since it was new. Usually when our long-termers get to the point of getting a few squeaks and rattles, they also start to feel a little loose through the steering.
Not this Mazda 3. It still feels sharp through the wheel and over rough pavement. If I didn't know there were over 16,000 miles on it I would guess there were maybe 1,600 miles on it. I'll take a few creaks from the windshield over a sloppy suspension any day.
I had the chance recently to drive our 2014 Mazda 3 within the same 24-hour period as its two generational predecessors. They weren't extensive drives, nor did I thrash anything about, but it really is an impressive evolution that has occurred over the course of 10 years.
My wife drives a first-generation, '07 3 S Grand Touring Hatchback (pictured above), which is exactly what our long-termer is, and at the time she bought it was just as much the class leader the new car is. After all, there was I reason I urged her to get one. It had sharp handling, a responsive engine, attractive styling, good interior quality for the segment and a level of available equipment that most competitors didn't offer. All of that is true of the new car, however, the bar has, not surprisingly, moved that much higher.
Really, the biggest improvements are in the areas of refinement. The cabin is quieter, the ride is more comfortable and the interior is an enormous step up. True, the loaded Grand Touring trim helps, but as I'm comparing apples of today to apples of 10 years ago, it's even clearer to see how much has changed. Plus, the new car corrects the first generation's main flaws: sub-par fuel economy and so-so back seat space. The new car is now among the class best in both regards.
As for Mark II, it feels much closer to Mark I than III, which isn't that surprising since it was more of a substantial mid-life overhaul than an entirely new generation as the new Mazda 3 is. Its interior materials quality is a clear step up from the first-generation car and later model years featured the more efficient SkyActiv engines, but in general, it's still pretty loud, the ride is less supple and the back seat remains rather cramped. There was a reason the Mazda 3 retreated from the class peak during these years in favor of newer models like the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. Oh, and how could I forget that big, stupid grin?
What does this all mean beyond an automotive history lesson? Well, owners of the first-generation Mazda 3 (like my wife) are far more likely to be tempted to trade-in their car for a 2015 Mazda 3 than they would've been for Mark II. It's just as impressive and class-leading as their car was when new. And folks who bought a late model year Mark II may be kicking themselves for not waiting a year or two.
Sometimes it's the little things. And with our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 it's more than that. Certainly this car offers one of the best chassis in the segment. But it's the detail work that's often overlooked in the compact class. Here, however, Mazda nails it.
This red stitching is a little thing that makes a big difference in the quality feel of the interior. It's present not only on the handbrake but also on the doors, seats and shift boot. And it's striking stuff. With more than 16,000 miles on the clock, it still looks new.
The 2014 Mazda 3 available navigation system includes some handy information on its map display. In the above photograph, note the speed limit information on the left and the lane information at the top. In terms of the latter, it lets you know which lanes will be continuing on and which turn into an off ramp.
Usually, this information only comes up when the navigation system is actually directing you to a destination. In this instance, a quick glance to your right will allow you to keep your eyes on the cars in front of you rather than searching for a speed limit sign or waiting to read overhead green highway signs.
Our long-term 2014 Mazda 3's Active Driving Display isn't working properly. The unit's translucent screen should rise when the ignition is switched on and then display numerous bits of information including speed, lane-departure warnings, turn-by-turn directions and more. Ours rises but not enough to allow even the shortest of drivers to see the display. Something is wrong with the mechanism that raises and lowers its translucent reflective screen.
Of course, the display's fixed location is adjustable to accommodate drivers of different heights. I initially thought it had been set very low so I made the necessary height adjustment in the infotainment system. This fixed the problem until the next time I drove the car. But when the screen went back to its too-low position it became clear that there's a problem.
We'll have this addressed at our next dealer visit.
After a 13-hour work day I like walking into a dusty parking garage and finding our 2014 Mazda 3 waiting for me. This car makes me smile after a long day.
I like the way it looks. I like the way it feels. It's not just transportation. Any car would get me home. The Mazda 3 changes my mood. It's a happy place.
I don't think this is something only a car lover can understand. And yet, way too many people in the world are so preoccupied with the destination they have lost an appreciation for the journey.
This little car brings back the joy of the journey. It reminds us that an emotional and memorable driving experience doesn't have to cost a fortune.
After 13 hours of meetings and spreadsheets that sounds pretty good.
This should not be taken for granted. With many pushing an agenda of car sharing and cars that drive themselves, and many more demonizing the automobile for our various plights, the Mazda 3's unique character is under attack from the Fun Police.
They're going to have to take it from my cold dead hands.
During the month of November, our 2014 Mazda 3 rolled on another 1,622 miles. Roughly 600 of those miles entailed a trip to Las Vegas, where the little Mazda averaged 30.8 mpg. Most of that was steady cruising at 70-75 mph, but there was about an hour and a half's worth of slow-moving traffic for the round trip as well. Regardless, none of the needles budged as the 3's best, worst and average fills stood pat.
Worst Fill MPG: 22.2
Best Fill MPG: 41.1
Average Lifetime MPG: 29.3
EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway)
Best Range: 358.1miles
Current Odometer: 17,799
Recently, I was sent to Napa Valley to drive the new Nissan Murano. Rather than take a short flight up, I decided to drive. As we're nearing the end of the term with our 2014 Mazda 3 and we needed some miles to get us closer to the 20,000-mile mark, it was the obvious choice.
As fate would have it, California was finally getting some much-needed rain when I was scheduled to make the drive. I left L.A. around 10:30 a.m., assuming I'd have plenty of time to get to the Carneros Inn by the 6:30 p.m. call time for dinner.
The rain was relentless, making the drive anything but calming. Still, the Mazda 3 handled the slick roads like a champ. Though I was driving on high alert the whole time, only one incident managed to rattle my cage. That was when a big rig trailer started swaying back and forth in the wind and rain.
Despite the prolonged stress, I remained fairly comfortable in the Mazda 3. I stopped only once on the way up in order to top-off with enough fuel to get me the rest of the way and wash down a Big Mac with a Red Bull. Somewhere south of San Francisco, the clouds parted and the glorious sunlight lit up the scenery, but it only lasted for a few miles, fading back into dull grayness.
I pulled into the hotel right around 5:30, got partially settled and went about my press trip duties. Unfortunately, a personal emergency back home put a damper on things. As soon as I was done driving the Murano, I hopped back into the Mazda 3 and pointed it south towards home.
The 400 miles back to L.A. seemed twice as far as the drive up. With the driving rain continuing for the first two hours, there was little opportunity to claw back some precious time. Like the drive up, I stopped only once for fuel, but I had barely 20 miles of range left by the time I rolled into Hollywood. Stress always seems to get compounded by even more stress.
The Mazda 3 never contributed to that stress. Instead, it was a steady road trip companion that was worthy of my heavy reliance. At the end of the trip, I averaged 32.5 mpg over 812 miles. Not too shabby.
It's the right size. It looks great inside and out. It comes as a hatchback, if you like that sort of thing (which I do). It's frugal, but also spunky. It's well built with quality materials. It can carry a decent load. It satisfies with engaging handling, yet still rides smoothly.
It is the 2014 Mazda 3, and I'm a big fan.
This I have known and appreciated since it arrived here a year ago. But new cars come in through the front door for testing and evaluation all the time. Week-long road trips, dirt road excursions and towing needs have drawn me away to larger, more utilitarian vehicles.
Today I had an errand to run 50 miles away from home and the office. The Mazda 3 fit the bill perfectly and made the trip as enjoyable as ever. After I got home I headed out once more to get a haircut and the odometer rolled over to 20,000 miles as I pulled up to the curb. It could just as well have been 2,000 miles. It doesn't drive or feel any different than it did when it was new.
I'm past the point where any single car could be my only car, but the Mazda 3 could certainly be one of them. My daughters are finally starting to show interest in getting their driver licenses. Perhaps now is the time to seriously consider acquiring one, especially since I could swipe the keys from time to time. Theoretically, at least.
For the second time in less than 20,000 miles, our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 is in need of a trip to the dealer. A little wrench appeared on the gauge cluster this week and it led me to this service menu on the center touchscreen. This would typically mean a maintenance visit with an oil change and tire rotation but unfortunately, there are some strange noises and vibrations coming from underneath the Mazda that need to be addressed as well.
First, the vibration: I felt a mild shudder from the brake pedal while driving the Mazda and that made me believe the rotors were warped. Basically, every time I brought the 3 to a stop, the brake pedal pulsed. While this is a sensation I've felt in plenty of personal cars before, it was a bit surprising on such a new car. Hopefully I'm imagining things.
Second, we've got a new noise coming from the suspension. Cameron Rogers pointed it out, but unlike the previous noise we encountered, he described it as "more of a soft thump than a clanging." The noise seems to happen over speed bumps, around slow-speed corners and when we enter/exit our office parking ramps. This leads us to believe it's a suspension noise, but we've been wrong before.
We put both items on a checklist along with the scheduled maintenance, dropped the Mazda off at our local dealer and now we're waiting to hear back from them. In the meantime, any guesses on this new noise?
The orange wrench indicating a scheduled service for our 2014 Mazda 3 illuminated again. This marked the third time during its year with us. In addition to the routine oil change and tire rotation, we asked Santa Monica Mazda to investigate a slight pulsation under medium braking and a creaking noise made over bumps. We had a couple of final trips planned and wanted to make sure the car was in tip-top shape before we left town.
We called our advisor the next day. The oil change and tire rotation were done in short order. The rotors were indeed warped. A resurfacing fixed the problem. The creaking noise was recreated by the technician but he had not yet found a solution. We had to leave the Mazda at least one more night to address the problem.
We followed up the next day and were told it was ready for pick up. Our 3 was still on the lift when we arrived. The subframe had been dropped to inspect the mounts and all bolts were retightened to spec. It seemed to work. We drove away from the dealer for the last time with nary a peep coming from the brakes or undercarriage.
Total Cost: $98.79 ($38.45 oil, $1.12 oil drain gasket, $7.82 filter, $2.50 oil disposal, $14.45 oil change labor, $29.95 tire rotation labor, $4.50 tax)
Total days out of service: 2.5
Our 2014 Mazda 3's one-year anniversary was fast approaching with the sporty compact still 1,000 miles shy of the 20,000 we strive to achieve for all our new long-term vehicles. I quickly mapped out a route that would get me to the finish line. I've always wanted to take a long route to Las Vegas, but I typically drive with three or more passengers, and convincing everyone to double the time it takes to reach a destination isn't really an option. I brought my girlfriend along with the intention of taking her out for dinner somewhere nice. At Meat Master Mark Takahashi's suggestion, I made reservations at Mario Batali's Palazzo restaurant, Carnevino. With visions of prosciutto dancing in our heads, we headed out...
...into torrential rain. We left on the Friday that California was spanked by a Pineapple Express storm that bombed through San Francisco, flooded parts of Ventura County, and created a small tornado in Los Angeles. The Mazda's journey east on the 10 freeway toward Blythe was slowed significantly by the deep puddles forming on the inside lane. It traveled through standing water as well as any small car with all-season tires could be expected. The traction control warning light illuminated enough times to remind us to drive cautiously. It wasn't until passing Palm Desert that we outraced the clouds and finally hit normal freeway speeds. Blythe was a quick 90 minutes away.
After stopping for gas and pulled pork sandwiches from Rebel BBQ, we headed up Route 95 toward Needles. Even though the road at this point reduced to one lane, overtaking the rare commercial truck was a cinch thanks to the 184 horsepower on tap from the Mazda's 2.5-liter engine. It really is a fantastic little motor with plenty of grunt, even at passing speeds.
Flash flood warning signs were littered along the 95, and I was grateful to have outrun the storm. It was short-lived, as our luck dwindled near Needles. Black rain clouds were moving in and there was nowhere to go but straight into the mess. There was a resurgence of the traction control light, which kept me reassured as we passed through the ominously named Dead Mountains.
The Strip was 100 miles away, but we took a slight detour to the Hoover Dam. In all the times I have been to Las Vegas, I've never taken the extra half hour to see in person the massive steel and concrete structure that provides power for 1.3 million people each year. It is an awesome sight when framed by the massive bypass bridge constructed to aid traffic flow between Arizona and Nevada. A tour of the dam is definitely on the to-do list for next time. The drive from the dam to the Strip was unremarkable, as the storm had mostly passed over Vegas by the time we made it to our hotel.
We left the next morning, taking Highway 15 South back home. It was a much shorter trip, mostly because the highway formed the hypotenuse of the Interstate 10 - Route 95 legs of the right triangle. Traffic on a Saturday morning was almost nonexistent and the road was dry, so traveling was as easy as setting the cruise control and waiting till we got closer to civilization.
The Mazda 3 performed well on the long trip. Its seats may be the best in the segment, and comfortably supported our backs and legs over the course of the 12 hours I piloted the hatchback. The 3 has just enough headroom for me not to strike the headliner, which is a problem I have in other compact cars. The engine is a gem and the cruise control is smart when handling mountain climbs and descents.
With the trip, normal weekend driving, and commuting back to work, I had put 845 miles on the 3. It was just shy of our 1,000-mile goal, but Dan Edmunds finished it off a few days later. I was the first to drive the Mazda when it arrived at the office, and I will be one of the last before it leaves. I enjoyed the 3 from the moment I drove it, and the feeling has not abated over the course of the year. The car is fun, practical and the interior looks and feels better than its competitors. Like the Corvette, this is one car I am going to have a hard time saying goodbye to.
The average fuel economy for the entire trip was 31.0 mpg.
Wrap-Up
What We Got
We had two big decisions to make when it came to the redesigned 2014 Mazda 3.
Body style was the first. The sedan sells better, but our personal favorite is the hatchback. Our hearts ultimately opted for the versatility of the five-door.
Engine type was the second. For 2014 Mazda offered an optional 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The new engine generated nearly 30 hp more than the existing 2.0-liter with a mileage penalty of only 2 mpg thanks to a standard six-speed automatic transmission. Seemed like a decent trade-off to us.
The least expensive 2.5-liter required a minimum S Touring trim and an MSRP starting at $25,890. We wanted a few options and stepped up to the S Grand Touring. Most notably, it included 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a head-up display, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and leather seats. With so many features attached to this trim level, we didn't add much in the way of options. A cargo mat ($70) and rear bumper guard ($125) were the only extras.
MSRP on our 2014 Mazda S Grand Touring was $27,585. We didn't have a chance to haggle that price down, as Mazda provided the vehicle on loan for a year. Here's how it fared.
Performance
"With its sharp steering, composed handling, quick-reacting transmission and well-bolstered seats, the Mazda 3 drives unlike anything else in the economy compact class.... The Mazda 3 offers a rarity for cars of this ilk: It's fun to drive, and not on a comparison basis. It's fun purely on its own merits." — Mike Monticello
"The Mazda 3 has quick reflexes, precise and communicative steering, intuitive behavior at the limit and an electronic stability control (ESC) that's calibrated to go to DEFCON 2 in our rapidly transitioning slalom test." — Chris Walton
MPG
"I think the 2.5-liter engine is the better choice. That extra 30 horsepower makes a world of difference in how this car behaves. Instead of just getting by when you need to make a pass, it jumps to attention and gets the job done quickly.... To top it off, its EPA mileage numbers are only two points down compared to the smaller engine." — Ed Hellwig
"For my trip I drove 242 miles, of which about 90 percent was highway driving. That highway driving was at speeds a little over 70 mph, with the air-conditioning on and using cruise control when possible.... When I did our official math calculation, it turned out our 3 achieved 39.5 mpg. The official EPA highway estimate is 37 mpg." — Brent Romans
Comfort
"Our 2014 Mazda 3's front seats mean business. They're not your usual economy car chairs. Check out those bolsters. And though they're comfortable enough, I wouldn't describe them as soft.... I like these seats." — Josh Jacquot
"However, after a couple hundred miles in the Mazda 3 on Los Angeles' notoriously choppy, variously paved and poured concrete (and sometimes rain-grooved) freeways, we're less impressed with the busy ride and road noise." — Chris Walton
Cargo Space
"Behold. The empty cargo bay of the 2014 Mazda 3 S. I loaded a shallow cabinet about 3 feet tall, six cardboard boxes full of books, and a handful of other loose knickknacks. Looked like I was living out of the car. When I finally cleared the hold, I stood back and stared. I decided a wagon/hatchback/truck bed will always have a place in my life.... They just make too much sense." — Dan Frio
"Here's another reason to like the 2014 Mazda 3: Order it as a hatchback and it's simple to throw things like a 29er mountain bike in the back. Sure, there are plenty of sedans out there with fold-down rear seats. But hatchbacks eliminate the pass-through issue. All the space is right there for ya; just throw the bike in." — Mike Monticello
Interior
"This thing's got some squeaks. Mainly, the annoying sound waves are emanating from, I think, where the A-pillars and windscreen meet at the bottom, but there's also some much lighter squeaking from what sounds like the intersection of the rear door and B-pillar." — Mike Magrath
"I was pleased with the amount of space the 3 has. I'm 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and I had my 6-foot friend sit in front of me in the front passenger seat. There was a suitable amount of legroom for me, and there was close to an inch of clearance above my head. Thigh support was OK, too. The only thing that really stood out from a comfort standpoint was the slim door panel armrest. It's not padded, and my elbow kept sliding off." — Brent Romans
Audio and Technology
"Our 2014 Mazda 3 has enough plugs to satisfy even the most device-heavy travelers. In total there are two USB plugs, one aux jack and one 12-volt outlet in the center console. I like that Mazda locates the plugs in the center console, too. It's cleaner." — Josh Jacquot
"I really like the technology interface.... It has what I consider to be an ideal setup of both a touchscreen and a multiuse controller knob.... You can make cursor/highlight inputs on the screen by turning it, moving it like a joystick and pressing down to select. There are also fixed buttons to immediately go to the most common things you'll use." — Brent Romans
Maintenance
"The first time around I was just putting along in traffic at around 15 or 20 mph when I felt a sizable clunk from the transmission. Then the warning lights came on and the car felt like it was in some sort of limp mode." — Ed Hellwig
"Back in May I took our Mazda 3 to the dealer for its first service and to have a TSB repair performed to eliminate the dash creak. I drove the car last week for the first time since then and it's clear the creak is back." — Josh Jacquot
Miscellaneous
"Problems arose, however, when I switched the child seat around to test out the rear-facing position.... This isn't problematic since I'm past the rear-facing kid stage. And in that sense, the Mazda 3 is still an ideal daily runabout, even with two kids in back. But if you've got very small children or have some on the way, this is something to note if you're considering a Mazda 3 purchase." — Brent Romans
"Beyond the fact the 3 is the driver's car of this segment, I also really like the styling Mazda has going on with this thing. It's the kind of car that gets you excited to drive it even when it's just sitting still in the parking lot. There are lots of nice curves and creases. And the car looks great whether you get it in hatchback or sedan configuration." — Mike Monticello
Maintenance & Repairs
Regular Maintenance:
The Mazda 3 requested routine service at 7,500-mile intervals. We paid $66 for the first visit (oil/filter change), $96 at the second (oil/filter change, tire rotation and air filter) and $99 at the third (oil/filter change, tire rotation, brake rotor resurfacing).
Service Campaigns:
A Mazda Connect software reflash was the only item formally addressed as part of an open service campaign during our test. It was not the only item beyond regular maintenance, as we also had issues with a subframe creak, an unusual suspension creak, dashboard creak, object trapped in the windshield sprayer hose and a loose battery cable. Of this list, the dashboard noise was the one the dealer could never quite fix.
Fuel Economy and Resale Value
Observed Fuel Economy:
The EPA estimates fuel economy for the 2.5-liter Mazda 3 at 31 mpg (27 city/37 highway). Our average after 20,000 miles was 30 mpg, with a best single-tank range of 358 miles. This car achieved 40 mpg on multiple occasions, though with some effort on the part of the driver.
Resale and Depreciation:
New, our 2014 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring had an MSRP of $27,585. After one year and 20,088 miles, Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the Mazda at $21,345. That added up to 23 percent depreciation, a good number for this segment.
Summing Up
Pros: More fun to drive than most compact cars, excellent front seats, easy to achieve its EPA mileage figures, excellent user interface for onboard systems, hatchback versatility, solid resale value.
Cons: Busy ride quality can get annoying on rough roads, our car had several unresolved interior creaks, rear-facing child seats are a tight fit in back.
Bottom Line: The Mazda 3 remains one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the compact class. There is a trade-off, however, in terms of ride quality. If that aspect of the car doesn't bother you, then the rest of the Mazda 3 will likely impress thanks to its sharp interior, fuel-efficient engine and ample features.
| Total Body Repair Costs: | None |
| Total Routine Maintenance Costs: | $261.17 (over 12 months) |
| Additional Maintenance Costs: | None |
| Warranty Repairs: | Software update, attempt repair of windshield and dash creak, retighten loose battery cable, retighten subframe bolts, remove foreign object from wiper sprayers. |
| Non-Warranty Repairs: | None |
| Scheduled Dealer Visits: | 3 |
| Unscheduled Dealer Visits: | 4 |
| Days Out of Service: | 5 |
| Breakdowns Stranding Driver: | None |
| Best Fuel Economy: | 41.1 mpg |
| Worst Fuel Economy: | 22.2 mpg |
| Average Fuel Economy: | 29.5 mpg |
| True Market Value at service end: | $21,345 (private-party sale) |
| Depreciation: | $6,240 (23% of original MSRP) |
| Final Odometer Reading: | 20,008 miles |
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.