I like the review, Scott, but I wish you talked more about the feel of the clutch, the way the manual accelerates compared to the automatic AWD, and the feel of the shifter, for instance. Thanks!
Normally I would go with the front-wheel-drive all the way but the fuel economy (25/36) is so disappointing that the all-wheel-drive really isn't that much of a compromise. Also, Mazda could probably squeeze out a couple more inches of rear passenger room if they shortened that hood a little bit.
Weight diff between the awd auto and a fwd manual is 233lbs that’s gonna make the car feel a lot slower. My choice is manual. Come on North America save the manuals. I’m also in Canada and I’ve never been stuck with a fwd car with snow tires.
Sorry, but AWD is not a necessity at all. We deal with the same conditions here in north Scotland, possibly even worse, and I've never owned an AWD and I've never felt like I've needed to. Its placebo crutch, nothing more.
I live in San Diego and most of my long drives are in southern California. The most we get here is rain and rarely hail. I drive in snow and ice maybe once every 5 years when I go up to Big Bear or Julian in the winter and driving up snow and ice in my FWD Jetta has never really been an issue. The extra cost of an AWD car and the extra expenditure in gas and maintenance of an AWD drivetrain is also a turn off. I'm planning to retire my little Jetta this year and I think I'm gonna go with a FWD Mazda3.
I agree I always have a set of winter rims with any of my cars and top quality winter tires,AWD is just a maintenance issue down the road as far as I am concerned,I keep my vehicles for 10 + yrs AWD is just another system waiting to let you down and Big $$ to repair.
I would have to disagree with toy Scott. AWD isn't necessary to go up to the mountains in winter. Cars were able to do that in the past with RWD and a good set of winter tires. I think there's a big misconception that AWD makes your vehicle "invincible" and able to get through anything. A manual you have more control of how much power gets put down to your wheels. AWD is nice but I wouldn't call it a must. If you want an AWD compact car with a manual though the Imprezza would be your best bet.
Back in late '60's and early 70's I drove a Saab 96 in the challenging winters and steep hills of Ithaca, New York. It was a rare duck in those days with FWD. With the weight of the engine over the front wheels, winter tires, and the short wheelbase, it never missed a beat. I made it around in snow and ice and up and down the hills while practically every other vehicle was in a garage or sitting beside the road. Once I was caught in a blizzard and the only other vehicle I saw was the Greyhound bus I followed for fifty miles, or so. AWD is a convenience in climates where messy winter weather is only occasional and all season tires are all that's needed. But my experience suggests that a good set of snow tires mounted on a smaller vehicle with engine weight over the drive wheels will accomplish the same mission as an AWD about 95% of the time.
It's not too late. If you already drive, you could be driving a clutch in a couple of hours, and comfortable with it in a week or two. A good way to learn is to start in a big parking lot. Learn to start from a stop without touching the gas, just the clutch. Once you have that mastered ( a few minutes), then learn to simultaneously use gas and clutch.
That red Mazda 3 is stunning. I have a snowflake white cx30 and am not as big a fan of the red with the black plastic cladding. The polymetal grey metallic is the coolest color IMO but white keeps cool in the Aussie summers so I think that was the way to go.
Thanks for the video. But what about the Mazda cx-30? In my country it has the skyactiv-g122 m-hybrid with 122hp gasoline engine. It comes with a stick shift or automatic. Both of those can be AWD or FWD. We have snow and bad roads, and I'm mostly driving in the city. Now I have an old Audi A4 FWD with 189hp but it eats to much gasoline in it's too old. Thanks
$28k for stick shift and no lsd or extra power is a huge letdown. I'd go prior genwhich is lighter weight, same engine,cheaper price, better styled hatch , and it had IRS. Mazda went backwards with this current gen at least to this old Mazda fan
I like the review, Scott, but I wish you talked more about the feel of the clutch, the way the manual accelerates compared to the automatic AWD, and the feel of the shifter, for instance. Thanks!
Normally I would go with the front-wheel-drive all the way but the fuel economy (25/36) is so disappointing that the all-wheel-drive really isn't that much of a compromise. Also, Mazda could probably squeeze out a couple more inches of rear passenger room if they shortened that hood a little bit.
There is one big reason they can't do that, safety.
In Europe you can have AWD with manual transmission.
Weight diff between the awd auto and a fwd manual is 233lbs that’s gonna make the car feel a lot slower. My choice is manual. Come on North America save the manuals. I’m also in Canada and I’ve never been stuck with a fwd car with snow tires.
Dubai only gets a FWD non turbo 2.0. Been looking for ways to improve the handling and speed, any suggestions?
AWD is much better for a road car. Like the Capri look to this version. Thanks for the upload 👍😊
Sorry, but AWD is not a necessity at all. We deal with the same conditions here in north Scotland, possibly even worse, and I've never owned an AWD and I've never felt like I've needed to. Its placebo crutch, nothing more.
Do you use snow tires during winter? Or is there hardly any snow in Scotland?
I live in San Diego and most of my long drives are in southern California. The most we get here is rain and rarely hail. I drive in snow and ice maybe once every 5 years when I go up to Big Bear or Julian in the winter and driving up snow and ice in my FWD Jetta has never really been an issue. The extra cost of an AWD car and the extra expenditure in gas and maintenance of an AWD drivetrain is also a turn off. I'm planning to retire my little Jetta this year and I think I'm gonna go with a FWD Mazda3.
I agree I always have a set of winter rims with any of my cars and top quality winter tires,AWD is just a maintenance issue down the road as far as I am concerned,I keep my vehicles for 10 + yrs AWD is just another system waiting to let you down and Big $$ to repair.
When does the FWD/AWD comparison begin?
8:13
There are manual AWD models selling in Europe, but we don't have AWD sedans.
I would have to disagree with toy Scott. AWD isn't necessary to go up to the mountains in winter. Cars were able to do that in the past with RWD and a good set of winter tires. I think there's a big misconception that AWD makes your vehicle "invincible" and able to get through anything. A manual you have more control of how much power gets put down to your wheels. AWD is nice but I wouldn't call it a must. If you want an AWD compact car with a manual though the Imprezza would be your best bet.
Back in late '60's and early 70's I drove a Saab 96 in the challenging winters and steep hills of Ithaca, New York. It was a rare duck in those days with FWD. With the weight of the engine over the front wheels, winter tires, and the short wheelbase, it never missed a beat. I made it around in snow and ice and up and down the hills while practically every other vehicle was in a garage or sitting beside the road. Once I was caught in a blizzard and the only other vehicle I saw was the Greyhound bus I followed for fifty miles, or so.
AWD is a convenience in climates where messy winter weather is only occasional and all season tires are all that's needed. But my experience suggests that a good set of snow tires mounted on a smaller vehicle with engine weight over the drive wheels will accomplish the same mission as an AWD about 95% of the time.
Awd with manual is available here in Europe but no turbo supercharged for us...
Click bait lol. We all know AWD is more expensive. Just talk about performance and handling difference.
I wish I learned how to drive a manual, this could have been a fun one.
It's not too late. If you already drive, you could be driving a clutch in a couple of hours, and comfortable with it in a week or two. A good way to learn is to start in a big parking lot. Learn to start from a stop without touching the gas, just the clutch. Once you have that mastered ( a few minutes), then learn to simultaneously use gas and clutch.
That red Mazda 3 is stunning. I have a snowflake white cx30 and am not as big a fan of the red with the black plastic cladding. The polymetal grey metallic is the coolest color IMO but white keeps cool in the Aussie summers so I think that was the way to go.
Thanks for watching. Here’s the review of the 2021 Mazda CX 30 Turbo. I liked it’s sophistication and power.
th-cam.com/video/i4OFvZpg1fA/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video. But what about the Mazda cx-30? In my country it has the skyactiv-g122 m-hybrid with 122hp gasoline engine. It comes with a stick shift or automatic. Both of those can be AWD or FWD. We have snow and bad roads, and I'm mostly driving in the city. Now I have an old Audi A4 FWD with 189hp but it eats to much gasoline in it's too old. Thanks
The CX-30 is brand new to us here! Haven’t had a chance to drive it yet but a great option too 👍🏻
I want FWD and auto 😂
stick makes sense with the lighter FWD car. It may be less secure if you're nervous, but it's a plain faster car.
$28k for stick shift and no lsd or extra power is a huge letdown. I'd go prior genwhich is lighter weight, same engine,cheaper price, better styled hatch , and it had IRS. Mazda went backwards with this current gen at least to this old Mazda fan
AWD w/Manual. All day, every day.