The 2023 Mazda3 Still The Same Mazda3, Just A Bit Better | MotorWeek Road Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2023
- When the fourth-gen #Mazda3 arrived for 2019, it grew a little more stylish, a lot more upscale; and loads more practical too, adding all-wheel drive into the mix for the first time. How does it get better than that? Well, for ’23 the 3 adds an engine update that promises to deliver more power and better efficiency. Time to speak truth to this power. #Mazda
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The mere fact that Mazda offers both a manual and an auto 6 speed rather in the 3 (rather than a lifeless CVT) automatically qualifies the 3 as a winner in this segment. Thank you, Mazda.
So glad fun little cars like this are still being made. Please buy these instead of a boring crossover.
I did just that, Mazda3 AWD hatchback. I get the practicality and the fun to drive on the back roads. G vectoring AWD, sports tune transmission and suspension for the AWD hatchback models, with better P Zero UHP tires and some fresh brake pads make it fun. 186hp-tq, means you can use all the power without shitting your pants.
That red paint is Mazda's gift to humanity. It's SO good.
Absolutely 💯
That paint color been around since the 60s on low riders in Los Angeles area.
I agree!
It is very pretty especially for factory paint
As a bump/paint guy it’s a nightmare! Very intense painting process and expensive!
I like the sedan styling better. Wife has a 22 and luvs it. It’s nicely equipped with sunroof and heated seats for $25k.
What a gorgeous timeless classic shape. Respect to Mazda for still making engaging *manual* drivers cars that are also beautiful. Not to mention the most popular paint code of the year!
We just traded in our 2014 Golf for a 2023 Mazda3 hatch with 8k miles. Hatchbacks are getting hard to find and the Golf is no longer sold in the US. I am very impressed with the Mazda 3 hatchback. The build quality sems on-par with our Wolfsburg manufactured Golf and it was seriously fun to drive on the 90-mile trip back from the dealership that had it. Got the 2.5 non-turbo with the luxury package (leather, moonroof etc.). I bought this car for my wife, but I think I'll be finding excuses to drive it myself.
*There are now rumors of a new larger Mazda6 coming back from inside sources. So, the Mazda3 may not be the only sedan anymore. This is because Mazda wants to be seen as a serious luxury brand and all the other serious luxury brands from the Germans have sedans and SUV/CUVs, so they're wanting the same. Let's hope they bring back the 6.*
Traded my 2020 Corolla SE for a base 2023 hatchback. No regrets, I love everything about it. The blind spot monitor is probably the best in the business too
Do people realize how fast 6.0 to 60 MPH is for a compact non sports car?? WOW! Those are exotic sport car number just a few decades ago.
Mazda makes excellent vehicles! I have a 2018 Mazda 3 and still love it today! I’m finally hitting 40 thousand miles.
In our Mazda 3 Sedan (12-2020) the media display functions as a touch screen when stationary, but disables the touch function while moving. The rotary dial is always available. I think that’s quite a smart move in terms of safety. The dial is very intuitive to use.
I believe you can turn off the lock on the touch screen while driving, by going into the settings. You just have to acknowledge that you've read the safety warning. I agree it's better not to be fiddling with a touchscreen while driving though.
It's Excellent Design. Rotary Knob and Tech over Touch Screen Break Across All Brands I Take it Over a Touch Screen
I love my 2021 Mazda 3 sedan. It has high end looks, and high-end features with great performance to boot.
Platinum Quartz is the hint of gold i needed in my life and got one in 2022. No regrets it's a lovely car.
I still miss the robust yet economical Mazda2...
But I am a proud owner of a 2020 Toyota Yaris LE Sedan, chosen because of my experiences with my wife's 2015 Mazda3 Grand Touring!
Those are great cars. You still have a Mazda 2, just with a Toyota badge. It’s a shame that inexpensive, fuel efficient new vehicles like the iA have been discontinued. They’d be very popular right now with our high gas prices and soaring sticker prices on new vehicles.
Hands down the most handsome hatchback on the road today.
Love that Mazda marches to the beat of its own drum mostly. One the last holdouts of traditional automatics when most other have gone CVT. Also still offering a manual when every one of its competitors don't. And while I am not in the market for small car hopefully the Mazda will keep an ICE powered 3 around for a long time to come even if they add hybrid and EV variants in the future which I am ok with. A 3 in all flavors to cater to everyone is not a bad thing.
Love my 2019 Mazda3 AWD hatchback. Wish Mazda keeps making fun and affordable hatchbacks.
Mazda makes great reliable engines!
It's a beautiful car. But I think the impressions of its interior screen and technology sum up how everyone feels about most interior screens: it's tolerable.
John Davis is a national treasure! 🎉
That Mazda 3 is the best looking in its class.. the styling is so intimate .. ❤
@@layne4376Nahh, that's all of Mercedes current electric vehicles.
@@layne4376get your eyes checked then
@@layne4376 well I see a 4 door sedan at times.. without the rounded back I thought maybe this model was a hatch back option
I have a 2019 Mazda 3 - same shape as this and it's incredible looking in the flesh, so comfortable and full of quality inside and so easy to drive. There is also so much safety kit to boot. Don't know why anyone would even consider a far more expensive and far less reliable German equivalent.
As my Chevy Cruze LTZ RS ages I need a replacement car.....seems everyone is leaving the car playing field. The Mazda 3 looks nice!!!
When watching this 2.5 AWD turbo, the Mazda 3 also comes in a 1.5 engine in other markets
My 100th anniversary hatch is best small car I've ever owned.
The 'blind spot' is only bothersome if you are a beginner driver.
@layne4376 I believe it's complete opposite.
Purposely made this way for design aestheic's😉
@@layne4376 you got it!
Going with the flow seems to sell.
Only 3 things stopped me buying one.
1. The 6 Speed Auto was sluggish and dimwitted.
2. The torsion beam rear suspension was terrible and bouncy.
3. The infotainment screen was worse than the original BMW iDrive system.
I got a 2023 ( built dec ) so maybe 2024. And mine is sedan MY GOD its stunning. I love the style how it does NOT have that C and D window IT has that sleek look Mine is Aussie so DOES have that 2.0 lol i would love a 2.5
Cylinder deactivation on a 4 cylinder?
Those acceleration and braking numbers would be super car level just a few years ago.
I love my mazda 3.😀
need a mazdaspeed3 again but this one is faster than my 2009 Mazdaspeed3 6 speed manual!
Amazed they still haven’t updated the infotainment
That’s a lotta torque!
Can't stand the rear quarter ... front is awesome though with the black surrounding the grille
MW used regular, it would've been nice to use premium fuel for best performance
When they give you the option they go with what most people would use
I don't know the answer. But that seems crazy to me. I for one would not buy a premium vehicle and then give it its substandard fuel to save money and reduce the vehicle back to being non-premium.
@@CalvinHikesI sold them. You’re one of like 5 people that feel this way. Most owners put regular in these and it performs just fine. Putting premium in it doesn’t change the performance of the car drastically anyway unless you tune it and there are a few that are, most people don’t do that either.
@@foxtrot685Selling versus driving are two different things. I have a 17 2.5 that responds noticeably better with premium. And even more noticeably with Chevron/76/Valero
@@foxtrot685I mean this car does change noticeably. Horsepower goes up from 227 to 250 if you use premium. I'm buying one of these in the coming weeks and will use regular since it is fine on both, but it is measurably faster to 60 and in the quarter with premium.
My girlfriend had a completely decked out Mazda3 back around 2006 or so, and it looked great, but I was always shocked at how slow it was. Then a few years later, I went and looked at a Mazda RX8, again, it looked cool, but when I took it out for a test drive I was shocked at how slow it was. All of Mazda's stuff I've ever driven have seem way under-powered, so its nice to see at least an acceptable engine in this one, even if I once again assumed it would be quite a bit quicker based on the styling and price.
Mazdaspeed 3 was the fastest car they offered. Rx8 was only good for track. RX7 was fast and so was their 323 GTX. Mazda cars were known to be sportier albeit not being the fastest.
none of those cars are "Slow"
Correct the cars you mentioned were slow back then.
@@allentoyokawa9068 as I said, slow compared to expectations and styling. I drove them, I know what I expected, and I know I kept pressing the pedal and nothing much was happening. With the RX8, you had to drive like a complete a-hole to get anything close to acceptable performance out of it. You had to rev the thing way up and constantly keep the RPMs high, otherwise it was very slow compared to what you'd expect. For the Mazda 3, it was just slow-slow. Both were fun handling cars, but they needed more power for me, coming from American sports cars and used to having good acceleration. If you have very low standards, and think 0-60 in 8.7 seconds is quick, then great, enjoy.
oh my dear, the key to happiness is having low standards/expectations
I wonder why the smaller hatchback is $1,000 more expensive than the sedan? I prefer the hatch but $1,000 might push me to the Subaru Impreza.
CX-30 Turbo is also a great SUV based on the Mazda3, especially in turbo trim 🙂
Yea its literally just a raised mazda 3 😂
Powerful, sporty, elegant, and efficient. One of the best. Well it is more attainable than a Civic Type R.
@@layne4376your right this is better
We have a 2023 Mazda CX-30 Carbon Edition - which is replacing our 2013 Mazda 5, which had a touch screen. Our Honda Pilot also has touch screens.
I confidently say, I much prefer the dial and button control on the center console for the infotainment system. My hand falls perfectly into place off the arm rest, I don't have to lean forward to push any buttons on the LCD, and I can scrolls menus in a flash by spinning the dial. Then factor in the screen is near "eye-sight street level" when driving, and I don't have to look down to see my LCD display (looking at you Honda). It's a near heads-up display.
Mazda has ruined me - I hate touch screens now. So unintuitive and cumbersome compared the Mazdas new controls.
is it true that the mazda steering feel is too heavy at times?
@@braetonwilson4296 - no. It's not "loosey goosey", but it's not "heavy" either. For me, it feels "direct".
One point where I have a different preference. The Gentleman said they preferred the hatchback, I do not. Here is why, with a trunk you add a level of safety. Imagine a heavy object; with a hatch, it can "come visit you" in an accident, whereas with a trunk you have a lot of protection. Second, a trunk can hold an expensive item hidden from view--yeah, you can "hide it' with a hatch, but not as easily. Last, if you have a firearm--which most people do not--the trunk can provide legal protection, many states want the firearm and ammo NOT accessible to each other--only a trunk can do that.
Your comment makes a lot of sense. Thank you.
Well, I also see the flip side, there is a reason the markets are dominated by hatch, not trunk, vehicles. @@demarcoforge1458
Could Mazda do a next-gen 3 in the form of a liftback?
this one is a liftback.
Even though I’m a Lexus guy I have to agree with you🏖️
I just rented a 2023 Mazda 3 hatchback and was surprised at how poorly it road and handled in the city. The downgraded, semi independent rear suspension crashes over bumps and takes the fun out of the handling. I'm a huge fan of Mazda as their chassis make the cars handle more like an extension of your body than a regular sporty car. This car did not give me that feeling at all, although the acceleration with the 195 HP engine and AWD was excellent.
I thought they are talking about bringing back Mazda 6 🤔
I've owned two 3's 2005 and a 2010 3s hatch . The hatch didn't suit me because of the blind spot at stop signs due to the thick A pillar and trouble I had getting in and out at 60 years old. So I bought a 2013 CX5. This 2023 price for the 3 turbo is right in the ballpark of a top version for a non turbo CX5 and would be a hard sell for me on price alone.
Man that car is so beautiful! Love the styling! Mazda is doing this one perfect!👌🥰👍👉♥️
I have a 2019 and has quickly become the costliest car to maintain in our driveway. Need more real long-term reviews out there from actual owners. Newest on the list is fixing a code P0126 which we have been told is a known engine design defect post warrant for $1500 8% of the car's original price. Add to my stack HA.
This was just posted, but, it's too late. You should be reported on the updates for the 2024 Mazda3. This is from last September.
Imagine if Mazda puts the turbo inline-6 and a better transmission in the Mazda 3 Hatch
Would literally humiliate a bunch of cars in this general size category...the Supra and ILX Type-S included
I doubt they'll do it, it would cost a lot to turn that engine transverse and engineer a new transmission to match.
Needs an all digital dash
Most people still prefer physical buttons for things like A/C and audio systems. Not everyone has the patience of a Tesla owner, taking 15 minutes how to turn the wipers on.
It's so good looking but that tight back seat and poor visibility would be hard to live with.
Blind spot mirrors. They're not just for truckers and old people
I only wish there was a hybrid model, more fun colors like orange or bright blue, and a Sport Turbo trim with stronger brakes,better tires, no sunroof, and red cloth seats. That would be perfect for a younger demographic.
a base model manual / sport-trim stripper would most interest me. not interested in complicating things with minor MPG boosters that haven't proven to be long-term solutions.
Anything else princess?
I wanted a Mazda 3 or corolla hatchback but i checked out the game of buying cars. Ill deal with having a really old reliable car and cycling.
The market isnt good anymore
I'm over touchscreens. They're overrated, and it's a pain to wipe down the fingerprints all the time
I don't believe I'd want to buy a car that I need cameras to see out of the back at all.
It’s really not that bad. I almost own the exact same config and even if I didn’t have the backup camera and the blind spot. I would buy it again. It’s small enough for you to use depth perception.
Zero to sixty at six seconds? That is almost Mazdaspeed 3 quick.
Should be quicker. Awd and 250hp
Yes, this is a cool car, but price for the turbo version puts it into Cadillac territory. You just have to like Mazda to spend that amount of money. I'd pay the difference for a CT-4V.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing -- or, if you're going to spend $40k, just buy a slightly used luxury car that cost $70k and has like 12k miles on it and is still under warranty for years.
CT4V is 10k more than this for MSRP? that's 33% more before options. IRL this is competing with Audi A5 and 2/CLA series.
Yea but the Mazda won't spent its life in the shop after it crosses 50k miles. The Caddy on the other hand.
@adamn7516 I have had my ATS for eight years. It has only been in for oil changes and had to get a new battery. By the way, you could probably score a CT4V for a reasonable price. There is also the de - tuned version of the 2.7 CT4. Cadillacs are very sporty. Almost more than they are luxurious.
@@tchasman I am well aware how sporty the CTSVs are, especially the black wings. I also fully believe they are very reliable. I'm just saying that a new CTSV is ~$50k, while a top spec Mazda 3 which is very luxurious, quiet, and quite quick is only ~$36k. I'd take a CTSV all day but most people couldn't drop an extra 40% over the lower purchase price.
3 Is Enough
nice
I love Mazda based on 12 years of ownership of a 1997 Protege. I would have loved to buy this 3, but while it's wheelbase and overall length are greater than my Protege, the interior is so cramped and I just didn't fit comfortably. I really dislike drab gray interiors.
Good thing it comes in black, tan, red, and the special brown&black interior on the carbon. No gray in sight
@@markcoopers1930 the interior in the video is awful. They may call it black, but it's not black, it's dark gray.
@@tomjanowski8584 It's the same interior as my Mazda 3, and it's black.
Mazda punches way above its class.
It's a $40k car, up there with BMW and Cadillac, and it's not in their class.
@@rodmunch69 This is FAR better
Best looking car made today under 50K
Seems the 0-60 should be around 5 seconds.
How much does this car weigh?
Beautiful cars as always… good job, Mazda!
Car and driver tested at 5.6s, MW used regular fuel so they didn't have the ful 250hp/320TQ, also the 6 speed is kind of a slow shifter, this cannot be a 5 second car, at least not in stock form.
Let’s not forget it’s auto and that the old MS3s did it in 5.4 seconds. Impressive without being in your face about it is another plus.
These things have always been slow. My girlfriend had a completely loaded one years back, and I never drove, but one day I needed to, and I was flat out shocked at how slow it was. They're all show, and no go, as far as acceleration. You can throw them around, which is fun, but as someone used to driving American sports cars, it felt extremely sluggish. Same thing when I was shopping for a car a while back, I took a RX8 for a test drive, and again, the thing was so incredibly slow compared to what I was expecting.
@@AndresSalazarAutos wrong, Car and Driver doesn't give real 0-60 tests, they give 3 foot rollout test results that artificially juice the numbers. Motorweek's numbers have always been great since they're real world - you press the pedal and go, just like people do in the real world. Doing some rolling start high reving bullcrap like C&D and Motortrend do at behest of the people loaning them the cars doesn't mean much.
It would be a better handling car if they returned to Independent Rear Suspension. They turned it into a "Boulevardier Cruiser"with that outdated, but cheaper (more profit) and outdated Torsion Beam Suspension which is a loser. If you like crisp, agile handling...look elsewhere.
It's obviously a nice looking car, but if Mazda wants to be taken seriously, they need to offer a fuel efficient drivetrain alternative alongside the turbo model. Honda and Toyota offer compacts in this price range that are in the 40-50mpg range while these barely break into the 30s.
And for every armchair enthusiast who issues empty demands for turbos and manual transmissions, there are a thousand buyers out there who don't care, especially when gas prices are ridiculous and they have to fill this thing up with premium. They want practicality and reasonable cost of ownership like the other Japanese and Korean brands can already offer.
Nice styling only goes so far, but give people a fuel efficient option and they will flock to a car like this.
If Mazda would make a hybrid Mazda 3 or CX-30 with around 200 HP and 45 MPG, I'd trade in my GR86 for that instantly
This mentality is exactly why cars are appliances now
@@ADUSN congratulations, you score in the negative range on reading comprehension skill 🤡
First Japanese car company to win at LeMans, now, almost entirely, focused on emulating German luxury.
Damn shame they're losing their interest in performance.
They're going for a more geriatric audience, seeing the current pricing and color options throughout the entire Mazda range. Pretty much no fun colors or value trims like a sport turbo trim without luxury frills like a sunroof or leather seats but still getting the turbo
umm the Germans are emulating Japanese luxury, and there is NOTHING wrong with this
They are losing their interest in high performance. Not normal performance. Wish they made the speed3 again.
@@barsaf9989 Yes! It doesn't even need to be called "Mazdaspeed", just give us some actual performance models.
$37,000..😵💫
The 2024 is out, why are you reviewing last year’s model?
Outside of dealer markup, the GR Corolla starts at the same price and offers a huge world of difference.
@@user-wu7gf1sp5z Um, no. The Mazda 3 Turbo starts at $36,650, the GR Corolla starts at $35,900 per each manufacturer's website.
GR Corolla is a completely different audience bro, this is supposed to be entry level luxury. Super nice sound system, super quiet, etc.
@@cordellwanless5914Bro, then Mazda should have stuck with its Amati plans since no one is going to see this as an Audi A3 competitor.
@@LearnAboutFlow IDK, I'd say you see a lot of people cross shopping Mazda with entry level luxury cars these days. Most of the reviewers mention the comparison, though they are obviously more prone to it than the average person. Still, I think many people do.
Make a speed3, omg what are they waiting for. Get back young buyers.
Wow...this looks like a 90's video. You guys need to update production for the younger gens.....I think. I like the contents, tho🙂
Mazda no longer provides the 'value' they used to with the 3rd generation.
My 2014 Mazda 3 Grand Touring was $25k fully loaded and now the 'base' models cost that much.
A new loaded Corolla XSE is $26k. Mazda is no longer at the same price point.
Also in order to get the BOSE audio you are forced to get the Turbo Premium model. Shame on them
are you stuck in 2005? Mazda no longer competes with toyota & the corolla xse is quite terrible compared to any other example lol, its like half the quality + a useless CVT
@@xcellfury99 I literally stated 3rd generation (2014-2018) they used to be price competitive. My Grand Touring has all the goodies, leather steering wheel & heated seats, sunroof, Bose, dual zone climate, auto dimming mirror, power seats, etc. for $25k
Now the base model with a plastic steering wheel and cloth seats costs that much. Toyota gives you a 'loaded' Corolla for the same price.
Mazda no longer offers better value at the same price.
@@Argedisarguably they do offer better value at the price tbh. Mazda 3 at 26k comes with nicer leatherette than Toyota, better base sound system than Toyota "premium" JBL, more power, better styling, no CVT, and similar mileage between the XSE hatch and NA 2.5 for the M3. The 3 is also much quieter and rides better, though storage is less.
$37,000 for a Mazda 3? The 2007 i had was underpowered for $18,000 and would have had to spend $30,000 for Mazdaspeed 3. I now have a 2019 VW Jetta with a 1.4 turbo that was only $21,000 and 48 mpg high way 41 City. Maybe the car companies are in a fantasy world where very few hard working people can even get into a dealer show floor and not even given a look by salesman, who only reply to a Richie rich type of person.
18k in 2007 money is 27k is today's money. Or in reverse, this would have been priced at 23.5k in 2007 dollars. Inflation is a real thing, and cars have largely become better value for the dollar. Can't even say that for Eggs
I had a 2022 2.5 NA hatchback. I don't know how much Mazda is paying these reviewers, but I know it has to be a lot. My car was slow, cramped, and deeply annoying to drive. The automatic transmission was so bad that I considered getting it diagnosed for issues (but ended up dumping the car instead). The ride isn't 'isolated' or 'comfortable' compared to anything except maybe a Miata. It's a shame because the 3 DOES have a lovely interior, sharp styling, and a very high level of build quality -- but Mazda obviously didn't have the funds to give this car the hybrid powertrain and IRS that it needs.
For that price..... the Hyundai Elantra N is a better buy!
If you want to replace the engine after a few years go for it!
Mazda's move to go upscale (Translation: Increase prices) will be the death knell of the company. They may be nice to look at and drive but they're overpriced and thirsty.
…..My L.A. neighborhood already has a few brand new CX-90s. 👍👍🤷🏼♂️
Nope. Seeing a helluva lota new Mazdas on the road, and they can't keep them in the lots around here. I much prefer the beautiful and comfy leather interiors combined with the tighter suspension than Honda, Toyota and Nissan.
Mazda sales keep going up and up, so it seems whatever they're doing, it's working.
More like worse than ever before.
I may be out of touch, but the engine sound is pretty cringy to me. Maybe all new cars sound that bad...
I tell ya its hard to go to the dealership and buy any vehicle these days. All of the SUVs anf crossovers look the same. A Kia SUV looks like a BMW SUV. When it comes ro cars the few models left hsve been looking the same fir years. A prime exsmole is the 3 series.. Then you have the ugly cars like this one.
Will sell like hotcakes, the rest can go home
Still hideous. That elephantine C pillar is absurd. Not as bad as a Hyundai Vemonster but close.
get your eyes checked
I’ll die on this hill with you. I genuinely do not understand how people think these look good with that awful rear third.
I’m sure the troll Allen will have something stupid to say like always.
@@interstate366 when you think of how just right the first 3 was. Or the 00s Mazda 6 wagon. The original 626 two door hardtop. The Miata. Compared to those, this 3 is a parody of a car. Front part is beautiful. That blob of sheet metal backside is awful