2015 Mazda 3 full detailed review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
- Full detailed review of the Mazda 3, a sometimes over looked gem in the very busy small car market segment. This is a long review so you can skip to sections by clicking the times below
3:55 Specs and history
8:25 Driving
11:18 Interior
16:16 Exterior
19:40 Other cars in the small car catagory
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Mate, you've got it all wrong. SkyActiv isn't just Mazda's marketing word for fuel injection, it's more to do with them pushing the compression ratio really high and still being able to run on standard pump fuel. Obviously direct injection is a big part of this, as well as the extra tricks that lets you do with the valvetrain and the injection timing, but they also had to do give the piston heads a unique shape that keeps the fuel density high enough at low throttle so the engine doesn't start self-igniting or detonating. Each piston has a little cup in the head that the injector sprays into and then the spark plug dips directly into to light the small amounts of fuel, it's a really clever design. You say Mazda is just catching up with Audi, but Audi never got this efficiency out of their petrol motors!
FSI = Fuel Stratified Injection btw
Thank you for correcting the SkyActive technology. The viewers could learn some inaccurate information.
And would you tell that this technology can lead to lower reliability in time after 50000k miles for example? We all know that when a vehicle is new all it’s gizmos are working properly but after a few years and some mileage on it and small problems start to occur.
@@joroBGsf So far these engines have proven to be incredibly reliable. All direct injection engines have carbon build up on the intake ports and the backs of the valves but it won’t prevent the engine from running, in high mileage engines it may slightly reduce power and fuel efficiency but most engines lose power with age already.
Overall the skyactiv engine series is very solid and certainly better than what you’d get in most modern cars
@@joroBGsf These engines have proven to be incredibly realiable. They are mutliple skyactiv cars above 2 to 300k miles. Thats why Mazda has been offering unlimited range warranties for years
I'm actually going to buy one of these next week and this is the most helpful review I've found on the car. Cheers!
How is it today?
I'd definitely like more affordable car reviews from you as well, the luxury car reviews are great eye candy, but few of us are actually buying those.
Right. I love his 911 reviews but such affordable sporty car reviews are more than welcomed.
Skyactive is not Mazdatalk for direct injection. Its a engineering philosophy that has a number of features. Such as extremely high compression gasoline engines. Direct injection. Lightweight and strong chassis etc.
No it's not Mazda catching up to Audi of 15 years ago, because the Mazda engine has a lot better fuel economy.
Blown away but how much better quality your videos have gotten since the days of the Porsche. Keep it up!
Finally , somebody reviews the 2.0 model .
Love your YT channel. Great review. I've got a 2015 Mazda6 GT and absolutely love it! It's the best-kept secret in its class. I researched and drove 90% of all the cars in this segment and the Mazda6 was the clear winner. If I lived near you, I'd gladly let you take it out for a spin and do a review.
+Matthew Sharpe It is true that the US Corolla is a totally down market compared to the NZ spec one. I agree the Golf MT is a disappointment, should have been a 6 speed
Finally Nick, you are back to reviewing cars !
Shame he was crap at it. This is an appalling review from 9 years ago.
I have owned 2012 mazda 3 Skyactiv with 6sp manual transmission. (I bought it as a new car).
Now, ODO is 110000km. I have no problem and no issue. So far so good.
I just change engine oil every 8000km. (or 4 months)
Fuel economy is fantastic.
"Aand the first thing you notice about the Mazda 3 is that my pants are falling down ".
That cracked me up XDD
I own a 2015 Mazda 3, it is the 3rd one we have owned (and I have owned a 911) and it is a fantastic model.
+Locutus D'Borg Are they worth it? I want one but it seems too long compared to the older gen
GamingWithEnvy They are worth it.
+Locutus D'Borg question is... are they reliable?
Kevin Liu Very reliable.
I have this same car except mine is the 6 speed manual, great car to drive. I have modified my car some with the Corksport short shift plate, SRI intake, Racing beat axleback exhaust,new floor mats and a shelf in the back hatch area. I love to make cars my own. I would like to see some more affordable cars reviewed.
Were those mods worth it? And have you done any more? I know it's been 5 years lol
Happy to see you reviewing more affordable, regular cars.
When the shifter is put in manual mode it has rev matching with the capability of redlining. It's an excellent feature matching all the usable power from the base engine. I was impressed driving a 2015 specified just like this car and the same color also. The other consideration was testing a manual version, yet there wasn't one in stock. I found the automatic to be the best I've driven in that class of cars as well as a few others. The engine impressed me the most, the 3's drivetrain is on a whole other level than the competition. The 13.0:1 compression ratio working can be felt as much of this car's responses are instantaneous. There's more cross-shopping to do but it's first on my list as most possible to buy.
Nice review Nick! I particulary like the comparisson part with other market rivals! Would be great to have in every video! Keep up the good work!
I for one didn't find this to be a long review at all - very watchable, and the Corolla truth-telling made a nice payoff, too. Best review of the latest gen 3 out there - by a bright guy who's knowledgeable and fun to listen to. (Though his companion seemed a little glum, IMO). I just got a '17 3 hatch and find your review spot on. The interior refinements and tech freshments have made this model even more competitive since your neighbor picked one up, btw. Keep up the great work, Nick!
Loved the review as always; definitely in my top three of the class with the Focus and the Dart.
Also it's fantastic to finally hear someone rant about Toyota with the same points that I make.
You've nailed it on Toyota. I step into any new Toyota and I feel a general sense of dated-ness. At least here in the U.S., their cars need a massive boost in modernization. On Mitsubishi, it's a such a shame that they very well be gone in a few years. I don't think they know what they're doing.
Sure Nick's nailed it on Corolla. Corolla has been a cash cow for Toyota for so long that Toyota forgot to give a f about it. Toyota must upgrade the Corolla.
Hey nick I haven't watched your videos in a while. When did you get rid of the porsche for the M4?
Could not agree more. Another spot on review. "Friends don't let friends toy their ota!"
Nick, I work at a high volume Mitsubishi dealer. The Lancer is way Outdated but Mitsubishi is investing money and has many new products coming out. If you review a 2015 Outlander Sport you will see the newer designed vehicles are much better. Also all the current Mitsubishi vehicles are very reliable. Love your reviews as always.
MrNuggetface Interesting, they must be focusing on the models that make the money. I wonder if not having a full range will impact the sales on the other models.
Thanks for the response always appreciated. Please take a look at a 2016 Outlander PHEV. Its worth a look and will be sold in the U.S..
Great review, actually just recommended the 3 to a friend of mine who isn't a car girl, and just wants something affordable to get around town. May work well for her.
Hi Nick, You are absolutly right about toyota corolla as I had one was 2015 Toyota Auris 1.5L CVT (Japan) for 8 months and I found it as a crap idea to have one of that car and sold it in just few months and choose 2016 Mazda axela 1.5L 6 speed automatic transmission and What a car man! It just gives a boost on up hill drive. It is an amazing car. Your review about thsese toyota and Mazda is relevent to what people expact to hear.. cheers👍
Don't know if US and Euro versions are different but Skyactive doesn't stand just for DI .Whole Skyactive concept is about lightweight construction , high compression petrol 14:1 , and low compression diesel engines (audi is just now looking into that :) ). Besides that, there's i-eloop system. Fancy way of saying it has regenerative braking which it collects in separate capacitor, and when it collects enough energy, it disconnects alternator to save some fuel ,and powers the rest of car by it. .. Loved the review !
I rented one for a week in maui and was very impressed with this car too.
Hey Nick, great review as always.
I was wondering if you were going to review the mk7 golf anytime soon(preferable the R) and if you were thinking of upgrading your own golf?
Thank you so much for this review.I am really impressed by the new Mazda3 and will possibly consider a 2.5L hatch. Im surprised at 6 ft you fit well in the back, other reviews have complained pretty consistently but you do look comfy back there, that has been one of my biggest concerns as I currently drive a sub-compact and want at least BETTER space back there than I do now. Will definitely check them out one day.
You should review the Focus! I think it's right up there with the Golf competing for the best in this class. It's just so much fun to drive (once you figure out which of the 162849834 buttons actually starts the engine).
I've always been a fan of the Toyota Corolla. I have owned two in my lifetime. I currently own a Corolla from the mid 2000s and it has been rock solid. I'm slightly disappointed to see that they have been waning in recent years. For my part, aside from any of the quality aspects, the styling of the new Corollas looks terrible.
I am no brand loyalist and have become very interested in the Mazda 3. Thanks for this review. I am currently looking at a 2015 Mazda 3 and this review has been very helpful. The 2018s are finally getting Android auto and Apple carplay, but I don't feel like paying the premium for a new car. I'm very happy to see that the trend of good Mazdas isn't just a recent thing.
I remember why Drum brakes are named so. It's because of the noise cars made every time they crashed into something they were trying to avoid.
Gosh I am sold Nick. That was a great review of the Mazda3 Grand Touring.
I came here for the Mazda but have found out that I like the Golf/Sportwagen as well! I really liked the fact that you compared the Mazda3 with the true competitors (sporty hatchback) such as the Ford Focus and the VW Golf.
And good pointing out that the Corolla is the one of the worst choices in this segment. You know Corolla used to be a true economy car, but Toyota just cut corners after generation and generation.
Again, good job Nick and please keep up the good work.
That's been a pretty cool review. Would be pleased to see more in that price range.
Nick, big fan, but the wheel size won't affect how much arch is taken up, the rolling radius will remain the same / very close - have a good one
Thanks Nick for reviewing the Mazda 3 and giving insight on other cars by the way corolla here in the Philippines are called altis and all of them have disc brakes, maybe they realize having 4 disc brakes are better, but still lacks the entertainment system (options if you want to upgrade) compare to Mazda or Ford that offers more.
Yes, please review other cars your opinion is deeply appreciated!
Great review. I also happen to agree with your closing statements on the competition offering.
Nick, to be precise, there were companies like Mercedes and Mitsubishi (GDI engines) that included direct injections engines long time before FSI Audi engines.
C'mon Nick, tell the truth... You didn't really care about reviewing this "non-expensive" car, you just wanted to do some "business" with the lady next door :D
Jonny Oliveira Yes, a very astute analysis. You may be correct. :)
Jonny Oliveira Lol!
Thought Nick was married! lol
Nice review as always.
SkyActiv refers to a bit more than just the direct injection. It's a bit like BMW's EfficientDynamics as it's a holistic approach to fuel efficiency.
It includes higher compression ratios, drastic weight loss (also part of the Jinba-ittai principle), better automatic transmissions with lockup range of more than 80%, lighter and smaller manual transmissions, and reduction in weight of unsprung components for better handling.
Mazda is my favourite non-premium brand :-)
Andrew Coom Mazda are doing a great job with their cars
Nick, is paint on this car in America good? Here in Croatia many people complain already because of bad paint, specially front side of a car? So much little dents in paint on hood and front mask..
***** I did not look closely at the paint sorry.
Great review Nick. Thank You for such a insightful review. Interesting stuff on Toyota and Mitsubishi. A girl friend of mine had a VW Golf. I just loved that car. Looked kind of small on the outside. But we sure could fit so much stuff in the inside. Great gas mileage too. Thanks again.
Did your brother get Corolla just to piss you off?
lebacco Pretty much : )
You're welcome to review my super suave 2003 Mazda 6 Luxury Sport as a follow up. It comes complete with a cactus garden planted in the centre cup holder.
Jon Churchill Nice touch with the cactus.
what's your thought on honda civic, another popular car in this segment?
Hi Nick, I really enjoyed this video because I have heard some good stuff about the Mazda 3 and there is not Mazda in my country, but I still prefer the Golf. Please continue with some affordable cars reviews from time to time! I love Porches, BMWs and Mercedes but where I live we have a big "car tax problem" and a VW Golf 1.4TSI is about 35.000 to 45.000 US Dollars and a CLA AMG is 170.000 US Dollars (an SLS AMG is 710.000 US Dollars), so sadly we must keep with the "cheap stuff" (I love the Golf GTI, but own a Jetta because I need the big trunk)
Great review. Everyone that I've known who's owned a relatively new or new Mazda liked it a lot.
"Selling on reputation alone" - that says it all and I think Toyota has been doing that for a decade. Maybe 2. They used to inject (if you will) quality up and down their line, even on the most spartan model. VW overtook them in the 90's in that regard and it's stayed that way. As you note, the newer VW's are better than ever and a great value. My wife and I have collectively owned 5 since 1995 (6 if you count my A4) - though we both have BMW's now..
People who own Toyotas, keep buying them, and people STILL think you get a lot for the money who are new owners - without doing research. 30 years ago, a 5 speed manual Corolla was a pretty fun little car - I had a friend with one and it was the perfect small car for a 19/20 year old.
matt damon doing car reviews now? :D Nick thanks for the review. I first saw your BMW m4 video. Back to reality.. which one would you recommend between audi a3 sedan and m3 sedan? +SUB
I notice you are in the USA as a Brit. Where is this you are driving?
Nick, I know hatchbacks aren't popular where you live, but please try to get your hands on a mk7 GTI, would love to see/hear your opinion on it!
Mazda has been killing it! When nick was reviewing the Macan I couldn't help thinking about the Mazda CX-5 which is about half the price, completely loaded, especially the 2016 model. Yea, the Macan will go faster, but that's about it for another $30k.
great review as always， and i agree with william，mazda3 in sedan form does look quite good too despite of the small size
Best explanation of direct injection I've ever heard.
I'd love to hear an opinion on if the upgraded engine available on the mazda3 is worth the extra cash and if you think it would fit between the base golf and the gti in level of preference. Love the videos. Keep it up.
I got a 10th gen Corolla hatch for the "reliability" of the Toyota brand..... Lucky it had a good warranty, as it needed the gearbox fixed after 50000km and had rust come up on the roof in a 2 year old car. Same underpowered old engine as the 11th gen, but at least in nz it has disc brakes all round.....
Just sold it and got a focus, couldn't be happier!
Nick Murray: Pardon me if I am wrong :) but the car you are driving has leather seats and a sunroof. Sunroof is only available as an upgrade for the SP25GT or standard with the Astina, aren't both those models 2.5L? :) My apologies, I am in Australia and you are USA.... differences :)
Yes US / Aust differences
I've driven long-distance in a Mazda 3 and the seats become very uncomfortable, very quickly. Painfully so. I also found the back seats have very little leg room, and I'm only 5'10. It wasn't a pleasant trip.
I wanted so badly to love the Mazda 3, too. When looking into cars to buy, the Mazda had been at the top of my list. After getting to put it to the road-trip test, I was bitterly disappointed.
On the other hand, driving in a 2012 Toyota Yaris is a dream. I'd recommend the Yaris over the Mazda 3 any day of the week.
+Sonja Burnett Had a rental Mazda3 2015 for a month and drove ~600 km in the Rockies in Canada in one go. I personally had a lovely drive and think that this car's seats and driving position are the best in class. I am 194 cm tall.
By the way, Yaris is a smaller car and should be compared to Mazda2 (Demio).
Mazda's are great cars and have been for decades. I had an '86 626 after owning an '85 Chevette (don't laugh- it was remarkably robust, even though it was crap), and the engineering differences in *every* *single* *area* was ridiculous. GM was *horrible* in the 80's. Mazda just made ergonomic, well-built, zippy cars.
I'm glad to see they've kept it up, Nick.
Nice review, as ever! Cheers!
Hey Nick cool vid especially like the new angle (under car view) I hate the corollas as well! I do however really like the tacomas, but I prefer the older body styles to the new ones. On that note It would be cool to see you do some more SUV/TRUCK reviews! I really enjoyed the Macan review you did back in NZ.
Smokin with Chris yes lots of people ask me to do SUV and truck review and I have access to many of them, I just don't enjoy driving them so I think they will remain a once in a while sort of deal
The two buttons under the left spoke of the steering wheel doesn't have a symmetrical counterpart on the right side. It's driving me crazy
hi nick nice video! but when u will review the kia sportage 2015.because i want to buy it.i already book this car.
Thanks for the review. I am now confused as to which one to get the mazda three or of the Mazda six
What about the Honda Civic?
Does it come with a cd player?
Hey Nick, would love to see reviews on the 2015 Subaru Liberty and Chevrolet SS if possible.
The Corolla thing depends where you live. In Finland we can get the new Corolla with 1.33 liter engine and even that model has rear discs.
i own the 2014 mazda 3, love the car
+Odra for how long? are they reliable?
Kevin Liu bought the car as a new one in feb. 2014. no problems so far ! everything works fine and the interior is solid, nothing there that can break easily. the best part is the Bluetooth system, connects automatically to my android phone and starts the music
+Kevin Liu i've had mine for a year and a half. Have had ZERO problems.
+Kevin Liu
I have owned 2012 mazda 3 Skyactiv with 6sp manual transmission. (I bought it as a new car).
Now, ODO is 110000km. I have no problem and no issue. So far so good.
I just change engine oil every 8000km. (or 4 months)
Fuel economy is fantastic.
You're missing the point on the Toyota Corolla. Speed and handling are not its prowess and you're making your judgement solely on performance. I agree that the Mazda 3 and the Golf both have great driving dynamics (and are indeed my favorites in this segment as well), but that's not the goal of the Corolla. Instead, you should acknowledge the excellent reliability, low cost maintenance (which is certainly not the case for German cars), excellent comfort, large back seats, great craftsmanship, excellent fuel economy, and longevity of the Corolla, something that a lot of cars in this segment lack. These facts justify why the Corolla is a great selling car.
Thanks for the review! I'm choosing between a 2.5L MT Mazda3 hatch and the Golf wagon - test driving this weekend (I'd like a deeper trunk than the GTI/Golf hatch offers). I have a Miata so I'm biased towards Mazda's approach to steering and shifting feel, but we'll see.
Any chance you'll be reviewing the new Miata? Reviews of cheaper cars can be more interesting, because of all the required compromises. As for this review, if you could go into more detail about what in particular makes a car feel sporty and/or easy to drive (or what doesn't), that'd be great to hear.
+Carlos Sempere I will review the Miata before the end of summer.
Carlos Sempere what did you end up buying? I have a Golf Wagon TDI but VW will be buying it back and I'm looking at getting a Mazda3 2.5L hatchback.
I ended up with a 2016 Mazda3 2.5L 6MT hatchback. I'm happy with it, with some caveats below.
The Golf wagon (gasoline) was also in the running, but you could only get a stickshift on the base model and I preferred the Mazda3's steering, handling, and infotainment system. Even the GTI's handling didn't impress me - it felt slow to settle into a turn.
However, the Mazda3 is a lot louder on rough surfaces (possibly improved with the 2017 refresh), and the pedals are oddly loud, too. The backseat is tighter. Throttle response is lazy and the power is only okay. I will be addressing the last two with an OrangeVirus tune in the next few months.
The Civic hatchback might be more similar to the Golf if you want a straight swap (more refined but less fun than the Mazda - just look out for the audio controls). It wasn't out yet when I was shopping. They all have their strengths. Good luck!
Carlos Sempere awesome, thanks! I like the Civic Hatch on paper (even test drove one) but honestly can't get over the styling (ex: the fake air intakes and dual rear spoilers). Much prefer the look of the Mazda. I will miss my Golf wagon's space but not the crazy high maintenance/repair costs. Also like the handling of the Mazda but so far have only tested a 2016 2.0L so looking forward to test a 2.5 with the updates for 2017 (i.e. sound deadening improvements, G-Force vectoring, etc).
Okay Nick Murray That was the biggest ANYHO' we've seen so far @4:10
I have the Mazda SP 25 and it is brilliant
Some feature on the mazda might disappear over time, like the Navigation in Active Driving Display no more works on North America cars. Other feature may also have same fate.I have a mazda 3 2014 Touring, dont buy looking at the features else you will have my experience.
Strange that the Toyota Corolla does not have rear disc brakes, even my Prius has that.
PHOTOTRISTAN Some models do.
PHOTOTRISTAN I think he's just referring to if you get the base Corolla.
Awesome review! Could you do a review of the Ford focus se or higher?
Hi Nick, any plans to review CLA 45AMG? desperately waiting !!!!
Atul basera Sorry buddy, no plans to review the CLA 45AMG.
Nick Murray . :( ..Hey buddy ..what is your opinion about CLA 45 AMG? Also Nick I am very confused about what car/SUV should I buy (under $60,000). your Porsche Macan video was impressive and filled with information no one ever mentioned. what would be ur preferred SUV under $60,000? I am moving from Australia and you know how expensive cars are in ANZ. when I was in the USA i felt like a kid in candy shop. :) as you also consider yourself a 19 year old kid.. lol . FYI I have Infiniti Q50S, so my taste is sports vehicle with Luxury features. I hope I am able to express what I am looking for.
Great vid as always! If you can get your hands on a bmw x5 I would be very happy to see a review on that :)
just subscribed because I feel the same way about Toyota and their cars
I sell toyota's and I completely agree with your opinion on the new corollas. But something i do recommend is to drive a new Toyota Avalon, I was very impressed.
I still love my 2008 3.
Hi Nick, I'm getting a new car and I can't decide between the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze and the 2016 Mazda 3 (and the 2016 Nissan Sentra, Honda civic, Toyota corolla, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, and the KIa Forte).It would be great if you could review the 2016 Chevy Cruze (and possibly make a comparison? that would be greater thanks! :-D )
+thomas Get the Golf! Or the Mazda, or the Ford. Don't get that horrible Sentra or Corolla. It is unlikely I will review the Cruze sorry, I have so many cars to review and the Cruze is not currently on the list.
+Gary Senna I would take the Golf over the Mazda, it is more advanced and solid. Drives like a larger car and has many hidden features to make your life easier.
+Nick Murray agreed but ive heard that vw will be cost cutting in the future due to the scandal costs. the golf will suffer in a few years i bet. bye bye specialness.
+Nick Murray Also need to consider the cost of ownership, at least if you are buying. The VW's generally have more mechanical issues down the line, and parts are usually more expensive.
Assuming this still shares a lot of parts with the Focus, this seems a lot better than my 09 Focus, especially the engine and trans.
Michael Walker No parts are shared in this new generation. It's a ground up design all by Mazda. And yes, it is a thousands times better than your Focus!
wrong about drum brakes. I have drums on the rear of my Mazda 2 and it stops on a dime. Weight comes into play.
The only advantage the Corolla has over the 3 is a lot of rear seat leg room. Our three is kinda cramped in back.
No Comment saw the second deer in this film at 8:40, however, at 8:38 a deer crossed the road right in front of the car ;)
I Agree with Nick, the Mazda 3 leads the base segment. GTI then rules the next price point above.
do you prefer your m4 over the audi s5 ?
+liveyourlife08101 The M4 is further up the range then the S5, the S5 competes with the 435i.
so how about the RS5 vs M4 in your personal opinion?
- you father of stuffed animals :D
You should get a shirt made with that saying, I quote:
"Real friends don't let friends drive Toyota Corollas"
Hashim Khan This is going to happen. Stay tuned.
Sounds good Nick! I'm in Tasmania btw, would be proud to wear it down here
Here in Portugal, the best cars of this segment are Opel/ Vauxhall Astra, Renault Mégane, VW Golf, Ford Focus and VW Golf.
strange, the engine has a different power and torque to thai spec - US regs?
Actually - having drum brakes (in the rear I suppose) does not really matter on brake distance. Drum brakes are low maintanence compared to disc brakes. Especially on a small city car that won't be using the rear brakes much.
Then it might have crappy brakes anyway, but it's not because of the drums. :P
I almost bought a previous generation mazda 3 mps (think its called mazdaspeed 3 in the US?). It was really good to drive and look at but sadly couldn't afford it so ended up with a secondhand lexus, which is an awesome car itself but would've loved to own a rare hot hatch.
And you are right about mitsubishi making crap cars these days. I've seen, touched and experienced the mitsubishi mirage... *vomit*
Yessss! Represent!
Please review the new Corolla! I can't get enough of people hating that shit.
Could you please review more cars that are affordable for everyone.
A solid review!
you got that car from Stamford of Mazda In CT huh? I live there so it's cool to see and I have a Mazda and I love there service that the dealership.
Can you do a review of the 2016 Civic?
my VW Golf was a dream. i miss it.
Nick, you should check out the Hyundai Sonata for another car in this range. Hyundai has come a long way from their old shitboxes, their new cars are really quite nice!
Someone says Mazda is a Japanese BMW, I think it should be rephrase as "Mazda is a Japanese Maserati". Look at the side of the Mazda 6, it looks superb!
timramizzu They mean that when it comes to driving dynamics, Mazda has always taken an interest in driving pleasure and I really respect them for that.
Will you please do a review on a e39 M5 sometime?