Analog gauges, small center screen, physical buttons, manual transmission, leather appointed interior... This is so refreshingly traditional in the current wave of software-oriented cars
This is funny. I literally just drove a 2023 model in Colorado. It's like they took how most cars felt dynamically in 2005 but put in modern tech, comfort, and features. Very cool car!
This is why I got my 2018 at the time haha, the gen 4 just takes it to the next level on overall refinement (with the same, but a tad more refined, drivetrain).
HEY THAT’S MY CAR! 😍😍 It’s definitely surprised a lot of people I’ve encountered that they still make this. I’ve been super happy with mine over 3.5 years and 50k miles. I understand the space constraints relative to, say, a Civic hatch, but it’s had all the space I’ve needed (have fit whole bikes inside with the front tire off and the back seats down) and the only passenger I’ve driven who hasn’t fit in the back seats is my 6’3 dad. Driving wise, it does lean more toward the luxury/refinement end of the spectrum, but it can hang if you want to hustle every once in a while. The manual was super easy for me to get used to, but my only issue with it is with the more efficiency-focused gearing, the gears are fairly far spaced, which, with some of these Seattle hills, can be annoying. Hill start assist is a godsend, though, as is radar cruise control with the manual for road trips. Drove mine from LA to SF, SF to Seattle, and on countless trips now from Seattle to Portland and back. Best efficiency on the highway I’ve seen is 37-38 mpg. Overall, Realistick mentioned this in his review, but this is one of those very precisely and specifically targeted cars for a particular customer, but if you are one of those people, there’s nothing else quite like it. Would be a great new car for someone coming out of something like a 6-speed Volvo C30 or Audi A3. Ok, thanks for coming to my owner’s TedTalk.
That last comment hit me since I currently drive a 6-speed Volvo C30. While part of me would like to hold onto it and appreciate it for its relative rarity, It's up there in miles (bought at 208k, and I put 30k on It in my ownership). I'm looking to move on and I have test driven the manual 3, but I could sense the dealership personnel didn't really want me to get on it much. I'm sure I'd miss all the low down torque if I switched, but so much else about the car is appealing to me that no other new vehicle has matched so far.
@@AdmiralSym Unless you need to have something very different than everyone else (no one can tell this 3's a manual), you should get one. The Premium trim is otherwise extinct btw on any 3, including sedan, for being too good a deal. Unless you get the MT hatch.
As someone who owns a 5 speed C30 (the 2L petrol), I'm hoping this means it'll also be a good next car for me also! Though here in the UK I'd be looking at a Skyactiv X, which is supposedly a similarish power to this 2.5 you guys get in the US, just had a little less torque mainly.
Bought a Mazda3 2.5 Turbo about a year ago. Partially thanks to your video. One of the best automotive decisions I've made. I thought I'd regret it but I enjoy it more and more every day!
You saved me and you don't even know it, I'm currently sitting in my job's break room from a boring day and time is moving slow and I'm eager to go home so you uploading giving me something to watch to kill the rest of my 10 minutes time does a ton for me. Thank you! Lol
Driving focus not so much. No independent rear suspension, steering is too light and too slow. Looks like a sporty car, doesn't really drive like one. The only sporty thing about the way it drives is the harsh ride.
Currently at 43k on my 22 mazda3 manual and the only issue I've had was a stuck thermostat which was covered under warranty. Two cross country trips, a year in Hawaii and a year in colorado and she's still going strong. In my opinion, hard to find a better, more well rounded car for the price point
One neat detail is the red accent on the speedo that changes based on the speed limit. Way better than a blinking icon, because let's be honest, we're all going to exceed it in a car like that lol
I love my 2018 Mazda 3 Grand Touring Sedan with the 2.5 and 6MT! It is an amazing daily driver with heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise and headlights… I agree with your perspective good sir!
One clever feature is the red accent on the speedometer that dynamically adjusts to reflect the current speed limit. It’s a subtle yet effective design choice, far superior to a simple blinking icon. This detail not only adds a stylish touch but also serves as a functional reminder without being overly intrusive, allowing you to stay informed while fully enjoying the driving experience.
I bought a Mazda CX-30 last year with a manual transmision and I am very satified about my acquisition. I have driven both manual and automatic cars but the manual transmission at Mazda is absolutely amazing.
Love the car. It has great look and elegant interior design too. Looking forward to their next gen of Mazda 3 and hopefully we will get a more powerful and sporty Mazda 3.
I have a 2015 mazda3 2.5s with the manual. It's basically the same exact powertrain. It actually surprisingly sounds pretty good at full tilt. Only thing I will say is that the clutch just doesn't grab very strong. Even when new, it just slips a lot before it catches. Contrast this to my gr86, where it grabs hard. So it feels more crisp.
They had this at the dealership I had gone to get my sister’s oil change done! Oh man the look of sheer joy I had on my face when I sat in it. Everything just feels right in this car ESPECIALLY the price. I told the salesman that if I hadn’t already upgraded through them earlier that year - it would’ve been the easiest sale of his life. Easy.
Great video. I have this color and interior on a '24 Turbo Premium Plus. I tested a 6MT and the Turbo back to back and was genuinely torn. I preferred shifting my own gears, but I wanted the AWD and the down low grunt of the turbo car. That ultimately won out but the 6MT Mazda3 Premium is a sweet, sweet ride. Anyone who picks one up will not regret it. Keep up the great work.
If Mazda can make a manual with no rev hang then why can't any of the other manufacturers? The only other car I'm aware of that doesn't have it is the new wrx. Clearly it can be done and still meet emissions regulations so I don't understand why rev hang is so prevalent in modern cars. Very frustrating.
It's a byproduct of tuning turbo cars for emissions. And you mentioned the WRX but I'm pretty sure it still has it it's just not as bad as the previous generation. You should probably blame the government and not the car manufacturers
Totally agree. With a stock tune it's present to a miniscule degree, and easily completely removed with a tune. So many reviewers give car manufacturers a pass on this. It's a dealbreaker for me.
I really wish Mazda sold more of these. I could see myself buying one of these if it wasn't for already having my beloved 10th-generation Accord. Looks beautiful, gets good fuel economy, reliable, fun to drive, manual, beautiful interior, physical controls, and refined. This car is everything you could want and more! And I don't mind the chime. If a chime is so annoying it makes you put your seat belt on, then it's doing its job!
Funny, but I haven’t heard the “chime” in ANY Mazda I’ve owned, and I’m on my fourth MX-5 (with an RX-8 sandwiched in between). My secret? I buckle up the moment I sit down. Been doing that since I learned how to drive. I’ve heard no annoying warning chime in any car I’ve owned.🙂
I love my 2018 GT manual hatch. Been a great car over the last 60k miles. The only reason I haven’t bought the latest generation is that they took away the heated steering wheel for the manual.
My friend was looking for a new car and she was thinking of getting a Sentra but I sold her on a 2023 Mazda 3 hatch. It’s AWD with the automatic but still a beautiful car. I’d personally swing for a manual, Mazda gets that right always.
Thats crazy lol. Was literally just looking at one of these the other day. Was toying with the idea if leasing an electric car when I saw this has a really quiet interior too, cheaper, comes in a manual, but doesn't have ventilated seats. Thats one thing i really really want.
@@Jaun2Three i like that but I actually prefer how it is in this car. Since most of us will need to look at our speed quickly more than our revs. We normally don't use the tachometer in daily driving at all any way. We only look at it when we're trying to have fun. At which point, the way it is here is perfectly usable. In fact, I prefer it this way for that too. Because we can see how the speed picks up at different rev ranges and the different rev ranges for different gears and how your car picks up speed at different speed ranges. This is the best implimentation in my opinion. Thank God it's not a digital display though. This looks so clean. Digital displays look blurry to me in every car. They're not exactly top of the line phone displays. For rally driving, yeah tachometer in the middle for sure. And in some cases, tachometer in the middle is really nice. Like in classic minis. I don't mind either to be honest but I want to be able to look down quickly and check I'm below the speed limit when a camera shows up.
I just got into an accident with this car 2021. Hit a car that lost control and veered into my lane basically a head on. I walked out the car with some bruises mostly from the seatbelt and some cuts from the plastic that hit my hand. Mazda 3 saved my life 3 days ago.
Funny you mention the 1-2 shift. That was a sore spot with the 3rd gen too. I think the clutch being a long throw combined with it being light with a vague engagement point is what makes it hard to get smooth.
I own a 3rd gen and it's not really an issue for me. The ratios between first and second and very close (at least on the European G165 model which I own, the ratios are different on the G120, maybe it's also different for the US) and if you shift too slowly, the revs drop and it jerks as if you had downshifted without rev matching. It's pretty easy to get around it just by shifting faster or shifting at a higher RPM where the rev difference is larger between the 2 gears.
So happy Mazda is keeping a good manual alive! And lots of physical controls, LOVE IT. I just wish they'd make the infotainment a touchscreen, I'm not a huge fan of the knob type thing (tried on my parents' CX30) when using AA or CarPlay.
Dude yes! YES! SO MUCH YES!!! I got a 2024 in blue this year and absolutely adore the thing!! I am so beyond sick of software planned obselescence touch screen BS, I can't even begin to describe.... These cars are truly hidden gems, made by a team of ENGINEERS and artisans - not marketing bozos! The sheet metal flows, I understand older Mazda design language because this gen just nails what they aim for. The thing almost looks nautical! The interior looks and feels like a million bucks! Good space for young professionals, the heated seats toast those buns, I mean they work WELL! And the little sunroof is just treating yourself right! Plus, visibility is good, there's a nice array of storage and the infotainment is basic, and that's AMAZING. Yeah say it again for the people in the back - you can keep your bloody android whatever and apple carplay!! All I want is bluetooth music, and controls I don't have to take my eyes off the road for. Go look at a few bmws, or a genesis - they have fancy dials and analog controls!! Because dat-gummit we're analog creatures! Once you soend a week with these, they just fade away to "why aren't all cars like this?" Genius! And the driving!! I'm a car guy. I open that engine bay and get happy! It's cleaner and more accessible than most cars TWICE the price. The engineering is incredible, and it's 200hp (ish) four-banger that makes 30's mpg when driven right, and mid 20's when you learn how much fun it is! I love to rev mine out! That standard 6 speed would be nice if it was 7 or 8, but it doesn't complain and neither do I! Screw CVT'S!!! It's not a sports car though. It's "sporty", but the linear steering (also rack-and-pinion yay!) does mean the right way to think about this is as a GT car, a cruiser and a driver, but not drifts and apexes. Still, for the price I could not be any happier!! And the paint on Mazdas really is nice. Seriously, I don't even like Red and I'd drive a Soul Red Crystal metallic one! But had to have Blue ;) Seriously, if you're in the market - there are few other brands at this crossroads of performance engineering, styling, interior design, economy, and driver dignity.
I have my '25 for almost a month now and I'm really enjoying. While I agree with most of your points, for you to say "visibility is good" calls into question the credibility of your other claims for those without first hand experience. The rear visibility of the hatchback is most certainly impaired by body design choices. While you can compensate and adjust to it, it's most definitely more challenging than most in that regard.
Have a 2024. Put on MBRP exhaust so I could hear engine. Quiet engine made manual hard to drive in noisy traffic. Also added sound deadner to interior. Feel like I'm driving a luxury car now. Love this little car.😊 Edit: The car chasis feels extremely solid. It's an odd but very satisfying feeling.
I have the exact same car, 2024 EU version with 2.0 mild hybrid 150 HP engine, Manual transmission, i totally recommend it for a middle class (like me) 30k budget
I want one so bad! I have a 2012 Mazda3 Touring Skyactiv MT and it has 138K miles. It's been a great car. I've known about an exhaust problem with my car for a while now and I have an appointment to get it checked out in 2 days. To my surprise, I started my car yesterday and it sounded like a straight piped WRX 😂😂😂😂 Nothing else is wrong with the car so I plan on doing another 100K if I can and getting one of these. The gearing on mine is about the same as this one. 2400 RPM at 65, 2600 at 70 and 3000 at 80.
Happy holidays Topher! I own a 2015 Mazda 3 that I absolutely love! When I get a newer car I know it will be a 2024 Mazda 3. Thanks for posting this because I love seeing reviews of this car, and you’re the best at it in my opinion!
I'm about 6'4" (193cm) with very long legs and I fit quite comfortably in the Mazda3. The only thing that would make it more comfortable for me would be a longer seat, this one starts bothering me a little after about 2 hours of driving. The rear passenger space is also a bit tight behind me as I sit all the way back, but not unbearable.
I have a 24 premium MT. I love it except the auto breaking. I can't get used to it. I also wanted the 16-inch rims Mazda said for the manual transmission it's the 18's only. But everything else is spot on. I've had it since June. By far, it is the best car I've ever owned.
Go to tire rack and get 16". The car will handle rain, snow and bumps better. Plus you will get 5mpg+ better econ. Having 18" on a car that small is like a human wearing snow shoes. It will keep you on top of snow. The tires will never touch road
Im pretty sure you can disable the auto breaking in the settings (or at the very least decrease the sensitivity so it only goes off in VERY close scenarios) or by pressing the button to the left of the steering column to disable the i-safety / awareness features. I set mine to the lowest sensitivity possible and I've only had it trigger 2 times in 1.5 years in very understandable scenarios where it should've gone off.
We have this model also in Europe, but with 140 HP. It's very unusual here, because of its big displacement (compared to Europe standards), but the engine has a great fuel consumption, the same compared to brittle 1.0 or 1.2 3 cylinders turbocharged engines that competitor use on equivalent cars.
The 2025 Jetta and 2025 civic both dropped the manual transmission (minus the SI and GLI of course) so the Mazda 3 is THE last normal daily driver with a manual transmission
@ enthusiast cars aren’t defined by engine size. You don’t drive a spec sheet. The civic SI rides rough, has a ton of road and wind noise, the seats aren’t made for daily driving, the fuel economy is awful for its class due to the shorter gear ratios, the list goes on. It’s a compromised enthusiast car.
So the big question: which version for a fun-to-drive Mazda3 hatchback (no track or autocross, but occasional spirited drives on twisty roads)? The AWD turbo, ‘cause of its power and the way it powers through curves, or the manual, ‘cause it’s way lighter and, well, it’s a manual??
Honestly, it's not such a bad thing for rough roads and snow. No servicing required, and the old focus based mazda 3's used to chew rear tyres no matter what you did. Civics still do. No bushings to clap out, alignment adjustments that sieze up after 5 years, ect ect. From a dynamic perspective, I totally agree.
I’d love to see you drive the 22-24 Civic Sport (2.0, not the 1.5T) with a manual transmission. No rev hang, and way more fun to drive than this Mazda. Not sure why Honda didn’t make press cars available in that trim (or at least I haven’t see any), but you would make a lot of people happy if you put out some content on it. I’m a little biased because I own one, but I also test drove pretty much every other manual car that was available in the same class, and none of them felt as good as that car.
You're being disingenuous, no, the base Civic does not come in manual, but the Civic Si DOES come in manual, and still manages to be cheaper than the lowest trim Mazda 3 that comes in manual
Actually have a Mazda as a rental car right now while my Honda is in the shop. Nice cars, deal-breaker bone headed decision to lock remote start behind a pay wall.
Still a great car in 2024, despite now being five years old. It’d be nice to see an update to the power train, especially here in Australia where we never got the 2.5 Turbo. I still have a previous model 2.5. Reasonable performance but a bit thirsty by modern standards. Perhaps a decent hybrid version wouldn’t go astray, Mazda.
The dealbreaker of this car is that it has no rear independent suspension. It really does feel like it too if you're used to driving FWD cars that do have rear independent suspension. FWD cars with no independent rear have a very distinct feel to them, I'd describe it as feeling like they're leaning only onto the front end and the rear is sort of unloaded and just hopping along trailing behind the front. This is fine on smooth roads, but if you're hitting corners on bumpy roads, especially changing direction, the rear feels loose and uncomfortable. Instead if there's rear independent suspension, the front and rear ends feel in sync, the car feels like it's leaning onto the rear end too when you're cornering, and that gives you confidence on bumpy roads, the rear doesn't skip along, it's breathing with the road so to speak. I really don't understand why Mazda made that decision to cost save on such a crucial aspect of the car, especially considering they were aiming for a sporty drivers car sort of hatchback.
Agreed, the first time I rode in my mom's mazda3 I was surprised about the jumpy rear suspension set up. The interior and everything else feels nice and well put together but then you drive over an expansion joint or pothole and it's very jarring, especially in the rear seats. The only other gripe is the poor rear visibility, even in the sedan.
I can see you like this car, so do I! I love mine, I got a '23 Mazda 3 Sedan GT, the 2.5L NA FWD, it's awesome! Shooting next for a Mazda 3 2.5L AWD Turbo. I love my Bose and keep talking about it with my friends and when they get in my car we always listen to some loud music! Good video!
Interesting review. I test drove a 2017 and lack of throttle response was terrible. Almost impossible to rev match downshift as the throttle pedal was so slow to blip the revs. Wonder if they updated it. However, it had really good shifter feel and great steering weighting.
Hey, thanks for the video. I am a big manual transmission fan, I noticed your down shifts are excellent! Are you using the hell-toe technique for your downshift to rev match? How does this Mazda behave if you wouldn't rev match? Do you have to wait a little bit longer on the pressed clutch or do you need to apply a bit of pressure on the accelerator? Trying to find out whether for someone who doesn't do rev match heel to toe, is it still a pleasant experience to downshift...thanks!!
I really love the new gen Mazdas but good lord im 6,5 and i could just barely squeeze myself into the front seat of a 3 😂 i haven't felt more claustrophobic since i sat in a Prius 😂
2016 Mazda 3 hatch manual still my daily, 21 Supra didn’t come in manual at the time so the weekend car is auto 😂. Wish they make a Mazda speed 3 again
This might be the last TRUE TO FORM hatchback available in the US. I just wish I could afford it. I'd need to be making about 15 bucks an hour more in order to even consider it. I might look into a '14 or '15 model in a couple years.
I didn't think I would like the heads-up display until I drove this car, all it shows is your blind spot warnings, the current speed, the speed limit, and the cruise control limit. I look at it more than the speedometer now and it keeps your eyes on the road / car in front of you at nearly all times, its effortless to check your speed. I don't think I'd want to get a car without a heads-up display now.
Analog gauges, small center screen, physical buttons, manual transmission, leather appointed interior...
This is so refreshingly traditional in the current wave of software-oriented cars
It really is brilliant.
Built in Japan
Beautiful car
The speedometer is a screen
and it has a spare wheel, which is a rare occurance now
No rev hang
This is funny. I literally just drove a 2023 model in Colorado. It's like they took how most cars felt dynamically in 2005 but put in modern tech, comfort, and features. Very cool car!
I love mine. Have the exact same one as in this video. Its such a nice car.
This is why I got my 2018 at the time haha, the gen 4 just takes it to the next level on overall refinement (with the same, but a tad more refined, drivetrain).
I have the turbo. Tuned jb4, exhaust and intake
@@prizefighterexileToo bad the turbo doesn't come in manual.
@@prizefighterexileToo bad the turbo doesn't come in manual.
I bought a 2024 6MT, white with red interior last year. It's the last of a breed we used to love in the 80s-90s...a modern throwback 👍🏽
thanks for buying these and keeping them alive
HEY THAT’S MY CAR! 😍😍 It’s definitely surprised a lot of people I’ve encountered that they still make this. I’ve been super happy with mine over 3.5 years and 50k miles. I understand the space constraints relative to, say, a Civic hatch, but it’s had all the space I’ve needed (have fit whole bikes inside with the front tire off and the back seats down) and the only passenger I’ve driven who hasn’t fit in the back seats is my 6’3 dad. Driving wise, it does lean more toward the luxury/refinement end of the spectrum, but it can hang if you want to hustle every once in a while. The manual was super easy for me to get used to, but my only issue with it is with the more efficiency-focused gearing, the gears are fairly far spaced, which, with some of these Seattle hills, can be annoying. Hill start assist is a godsend, though, as is radar cruise control with the manual for road trips. Drove mine from LA to SF, SF to Seattle, and on countless trips now from Seattle to Portland and back. Best efficiency on the highway I’ve seen is 37-38 mpg. Overall, Realistick mentioned this in his review, but this is one of those very precisely and specifically targeted cars for a particular customer, but if you are one of those people, there’s nothing else quite like it. Would be a great new car for someone coming out of something like a 6-speed Volvo C30 or Audi A3. Ok, thanks for coming to my owner’s TedTalk.
That last comment hit me since I currently drive a 6-speed Volvo C30. While part of me would like to hold onto it and appreciate it for its relative rarity, It's up there in miles (bought at 208k, and I put 30k on It in my ownership). I'm looking to move on and I have test driven the manual 3, but I could sense the dealership personnel didn't really want me to get on it much. I'm sure I'd miss all the low down torque if I switched, but so much else about the car is appealing to me that no other new vehicle has matched so far.
@@AdmiralSym Unless you need to have something very different than everyone else (no one can tell this 3's a manual), you should get one. The Premium trim is otherwise extinct btw on any 3, including sedan, for being too good a deal. Unless you get the MT hatch.
As someone who owns a 5 speed C30 (the 2L petrol), I'm hoping this means it'll also be a good next car for me also! Though here in the UK I'd be looking at a Skyactiv X, which is supposedly a similarish power to this 2.5 you guys get in the US, just had a little less torque mainly.
You're right, great car but wished it was a bit bigger like a Civic.
Bought a Mazda3 2.5 Turbo about a year ago. Partially thanks to your video. One of the best automotive decisions I've made. I thought I'd regret it but I enjoy it more and more every day!
You saved me and you don't even know it, I'm currently sitting in my job's break room from a boring day and time is moving slow and I'm eager to go home so you uploading giving me something to watch to kill the rest of my 10 minutes time does a ton for me. Thank you! Lol
Simple, comfortable, driving focus, reliable, beautiful, cheap… what else should be 30 K car.
a v6
@@S44BBOIa v6 is not cheap tho
Driving focus not so much. No independent rear suspension, steering is too light and too slow. Looks like a sporty car, doesn't really drive like one. The only sporty thing about the way it drives is the harsh ride.
I bought mazda 3 hatchback 2023 as my first car and tell you what i couldn't be more happier
Currently at 43k on my 22 mazda3 manual and the only issue I've had was a stuck thermostat which was covered under warranty. Two cross country trips, a year in Hawaii and a year in colorado and she's still going strong. In my opinion, hard to find a better, more well rounded car for the price point
One neat detail is the red accent on the speedo that changes based on the speed limit. Way better than a blinking icon, because let's be honest, we're all going to exceed it in a car like that lol
That is a cool detail!
yeah it looks super clean
I love my 2018 Mazda 3 Grand Touring Sedan with the 2.5 and 6MT! It is an amazing daily driver with heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise and headlights… I agree with your perspective good sir!
Perfect timing. Was just looking into these
One clever feature is the red accent on the speedometer that dynamically adjusts to reflect the current speed limit. It’s a subtle yet effective design choice, far superior to a simple blinking icon. This detail not only adds a stylish touch but also serves as a functional reminder without being overly intrusive, allowing you to stay informed while fully enjoying the driving experience.
i absolutely love this car, its so beautiful.
This video appears when I am about to buy a 2024 Mazda with manual transmission :D thanks TheTopher!
My dream daily driver. Just another perfect car from Mazda!
I bought a Mazda CX-30 last year with a manual transmision and I am very satified about my acquisition. I have driven both manual and automatic cars but the manual transmission at Mazda is absolutely amazing.
I loved my 2011 Mazda 3 with the 6 speed manual. It was so fun
Love the car. It has great look and elegant interior design too. Looking forward to their next gen of Mazda 3 and hopefully we will get a more powerful and sporty Mazda 3.
Bought my 2.5 Preferred in August.
Just moved, now have a 40 mile commute each way, these 2.5 motors really love a long drive.
10:54 I got spooked when the bus popped out of existence on my phone screen 😁
He even looked over like he himself was wondering where it went. 😂
A car like a car should be. Manual and with analog instruments (including the speedometer centered among them).
The speedometer is digital 😉
@novoyatlev nothing is sacred anymore 😔
@brutalschel the speedometer is digital. The fuel, temperature gadge, and rpm are analog.
I've got a Cx-30 Turbo. Mazda makes great driving cars, I love mine.
Didn’t realize how nice these cars till recently now I’m gonna be on the lookout for Mazda 3’s for the next month lol
I have a 2015 mazda3 2.5s with the manual. It's basically the same exact powertrain. It actually surprisingly sounds pretty good at full tilt. Only thing I will say is that the clutch just doesn't grab very strong. Even when new, it just slips a lot before it catches. Contrast this to my gr86, where it grabs hard. So it feels more crisp.
They had this at the dealership I had gone to get my sister’s oil change done! Oh man the look of sheer joy I had on my face when I sat in it. Everything just feels right in this car ESPECIALLY the price.
I told the salesman that if I hadn’t already upgraded through them earlier that year - it would’ve been the easiest sale of his life. Easy.
Used to think it was so cool when they were offering crossovers with a stick, my buddy had an pretty well modded Tiguan, was a fun little family car
I'm happy to see that there are still new cars around that do not have rev-hang
I almost skipped this thinking it was a mx-5 review. So glad it's a three.
I own a 2015 but only with the 2.0 engine
If only it was a turbo
@Scott-mu4xw I wouldn't watch a review of the turbo because it's not a manual... Boring!
@@joshpinchuk7061Did I say that? I was referring to the car he is driving had a turbo, like the old mazdaspeed 3
@@Scott-mu4xw true! Surprising too considering the BRZ the WRX the gr Corolla, there's no reason Mazda can't compete in that space.
@@joshpinchuk7061 mazda's priorities are out of whack, they treat the turbo awd 3 as a luxury car, not a hot hatch.
Great video. I have this color and interior on a '24 Turbo Premium Plus. I tested a 6MT and the Turbo back to back and was genuinely torn. I preferred shifting my own gears, but I wanted the AWD and the down low grunt of the turbo car. That ultimately won out but the 6MT Mazda3 Premium is a sweet, sweet ride. Anyone who picks one up will not regret it. Keep up the great work.
Honestly that knob is all you need for infotainment and it is just perfect once you get used to it
If Mazda can make a manual with no rev hang then why can't any of the other manufacturers? The only other car I'm aware of that doesn't have it is the new wrx. Clearly it can be done and still meet emissions regulations so I don't understand why rev hang is so prevalent in modern cars. Very frustrating.
It's a byproduct of tuning turbo cars for emissions. And you mentioned the WRX but I'm pretty sure it still has it it's just not as bad as the previous generation. You should probably blame the government and not the car manufacturers
What's rev hang?
Its when the revs hang for a second or two in between shifts, so you have to wait a bit to shift into next gear otherwise the car jerks forward
Totally agree. With a stock tune it's present to a miniscule degree, and easily completely removed with a tune. So many reviewers give car manufacturers a pass on this. It's a dealbreaker for me.
22 WRX literally doesn't have any rev hang issue, straight from the factory. Up shifting is as buttery as my ND Miata.
I have a red 2022 manual that I bought new and I love it so much I have no regret at all. It will also be reliable for a long time
That manual 6spd cx-5 has been my car for the past decade. Everytime i would take it into a dealer even they were surprised by its existence 😂
I really wish Mazda sold more of these. I could see myself buying one of these if it wasn't for already having my beloved 10th-generation Accord. Looks beautiful, gets good fuel economy, reliable, fun to drive, manual, beautiful interior, physical controls, and refined. This car is everything you could want and more! And I don't mind the chime. If a chime is so annoying it makes you put your seat belt on, then it's doing its job!
Funny, but I haven’t heard the “chime” in ANY Mazda I’ve owned, and I’m on my fourth MX-5 (with an RX-8 sandwiched in between). My secret? I buckle up the moment I sit down. Been doing that since I learned how to drive. I’ve heard no annoying warning chime in any car I’ve owned.🙂
Such a shame we dont get this engine variant in europe.
I love my 2018 GT manual hatch. Been a great car over the last 60k miles.
The only reason I haven’t bought the latest generation is that they took away the heated steering wheel for the manual.
My friend was looking for a new car and she was thinking of getting a Sentra but I sold her on a 2023 Mazda 3 hatch. It’s AWD with the automatic but still a beautiful car. I’d personally swing for a manual, Mazda gets that right always.
Good save buddy.
Thats crazy lol. Was literally just looking at one of these the other day. Was toying with the idea if leasing an electric car when I saw this has a really quiet interior too, cheaper, comes in a manual, but doesn't have ventilated seats. Thats one thing i really really want.
Unbelievable, the speedometer is in the middle where it should be.
I’d argue the tachometer should be in the middle, especially for a manual.
tach in middle with digital mph inside it. Big gear indicator.
@@Love2Cruise Yup, the 3rd gen manuals have the tach in the middle with a digital speed gauge, which is by far the best setup.
@@Jaun2Three i like that but I actually prefer how it is in this car. Since most of us will need to look at our speed quickly more than our revs. We normally don't use the tachometer in daily driving at all any way. We only look at it when we're trying to have fun. At which point, the way it is here is perfectly usable. In fact, I prefer it this way for that too. Because we can see how the speed picks up at different rev ranges and the different rev ranges for different gears and how your car picks up speed at different speed ranges. This is the best implimentation in my opinion. Thank God it's not a digital display though. This looks so clean. Digital displays look blurry to me in every car. They're not exactly top of the line phone displays. For rally driving, yeah tachometer in the middle for sure. And in some cases, tachometer in the middle is really nice. Like in classic minis. I don't mind either to be honest but I want to be able to look down quickly and check I'm below the speed limit when a camera shows up.
Lol Andy, maybe you should go buy a RAV4 or a CRV becuase any sporty type of car has the tach in the middle.
I'm glad Mazda is still making cars like this.
I just got into an accident with this car 2021. Hit a car that lost control and veered into my lane basically a head on. I walked out the car with some bruises mostly from the seatbelt and some cuts from the plastic that hit my hand. Mazda 3 saved my life 3 days ago.
Funny you mention the 1-2 shift. That was a sore spot with the 3rd gen too. I think the clutch being a long throw combined with it being light with a vague engagement point is what makes it hard to get smooth.
I own a 3rd gen and it's not really an issue for me. The ratios between first and second and very close (at least on the European G165 model which I own, the ratios are different on the G120, maybe it's also different for the US) and if you shift too slowly, the revs drop and it jerks as if you had downshifted without rev matching. It's pretty easy to get around it just by shifting faster or shifting at a higher RPM where the rev difference is larger between the 2 gears.
So happy Mazda is keeping a good manual alive! And lots of physical controls, LOVE IT. I just wish they'd make the infotainment a touchscreen, I'm not a huge fan of the knob type thing (tried on my parents' CX30) when using AA or CarPlay.
Dude yes! YES! SO MUCH YES!!! I got a 2024 in blue this year and absolutely adore the thing!! I am so beyond sick of software planned obselescence touch screen BS, I can't even begin to describe....
These cars are truly hidden gems, made by a team of ENGINEERS and artisans - not marketing bozos!
The sheet metal flows, I understand older Mazda design language because this gen just nails what they aim for. The thing almost looks nautical!
The interior looks and feels like a million bucks! Good space for young professionals, the heated seats toast those buns, I mean they work WELL! And the little sunroof is just treating yourself right!
Plus, visibility is good, there's a nice array of storage and the infotainment is basic, and that's AMAZING. Yeah say it again for the people in the back - you can keep your bloody android whatever and apple carplay!! All I want is bluetooth music, and controls I don't have to take my eyes off the road for. Go look at a few bmws, or a genesis - they have fancy dials and analog controls!! Because dat-gummit we're analog creatures! Once you soend a week with these, they just fade away to "why aren't all cars like this?" Genius!
And the driving!! I'm a car guy. I open that engine bay and get happy! It's cleaner and more accessible than most cars TWICE the price. The engineering is incredible, and it's 200hp (ish) four-banger that makes 30's mpg when driven right, and mid 20's when you learn how much fun it is! I love to rev mine out! That standard 6 speed would be nice if it was 7 or 8, but it doesn't complain and neither do I! Screw CVT'S!!!
It's not a sports car though. It's "sporty", but the linear steering (also rack-and-pinion yay!) does mean the right way to think about this is as a GT car, a cruiser and a driver, but not drifts and apexes.
Still, for the price I could not be any happier!! And the paint on Mazdas really is nice. Seriously, I don't even like Red and I'd drive a Soul Red Crystal metallic one! But had to have Blue ;)
Seriously, if you're in the market - there are few other brands at this crossroads of performance engineering, styling, interior design, economy, and driver dignity.
I have my '25 for almost a month now and I'm really enjoying. While I agree with most of your points, for you to say "visibility is good" calls into question the credibility of your other claims for those without first hand experience. The rear visibility of the hatchback is most certainly impaired by body design choices. While you can compensate and adjust to it, it's most definitely more challenging than most in that regard.
I'd argue mazda has surpassed Honda, maybe even Toyota, in reliability and hands down in quality
I agree and the honda heads aren't ready for this conversation but overall I also fear all reliability has gone down :(
Best red on the market
Have a 2024. Put on MBRP exhaust so I could hear engine. Quiet engine made manual hard to drive in noisy traffic. Also added sound deadner to interior. Feel like I'm driving a luxury car now. Love this little car.😊
Edit: The car chasis feels extremely solid. It's an odd but very satisfying feeling.
I have the exact same car, 2024 EU version with 2.0 mild hybrid 150 HP engine, Manual transmission, i totally recommend it for a middle class (like me) 30k budget
I wish my mazdaspeed 3 had that gearing! Short gearing is great for acceleration but sitting at 3500 rpm going 70 gets on your nerves real quick lol.
Sure does, but no downshifting to pass is kinda nice!
My first thought was to wish Subaru would offer a manual in the 2.5 Crosstrek. I’d consider the 3 as a DD though.
Wow! Another mazda 3 manual review....needle in a haystack video
I want one so bad! I have a 2012 Mazda3 Touring Skyactiv MT and it has 138K miles. It's been a great car. I've known about an exhaust problem with my car for a while now and I have an appointment to get it checked out in 2 days. To my surprise, I started my car yesterday and it sounded like a straight piped WRX 😂😂😂😂 Nothing else is wrong with the car so I plan on doing another 100K if I can and getting one of these. The gearing on mine is about the same as this one. 2400 RPM at 65, 2600 at 70 and 3000 at 80.
Happy holidays Topher! I own a 2015 Mazda 3 that I absolutely love! When I get a newer car I know it will be a 2024 Mazda 3. Thanks for posting this because I love seeing reviews of this car, and you’re the best at it in my opinion!
2.5 and a manual thats what we want
I'm about 6'4" (193cm) with very long legs and I fit quite comfortably in the Mazda3. The only thing that would make it more comfortable for me would be a longer seat, this one starts bothering me a little after about 2 hours of driving. The rear passenger space is also a bit tight behind me as I sit all the way back, but not unbearable.
I’ve got a turbo hatch. Love it even though there’s no manual!
I had a 2006ish Honda Fit 5MT back in the day that had no cruising gear... 3400@70mph.
I have a manual 2023 wrx but kind of wish they put this manual in the awd turbo mazda3.. would have considered that a lot harder
Absolutely. People have been lamenting that Mazda never offered the turbo version with a manual ever since they launched this generation.
Awesome car. Cool they still manufacture it.
I drive 17 Corolla for more than 7 years. It's time upgrade and wonder if Mazda 3 driving experience would be any difference compare to Corolla.
I have a 24 premium MT. I love it except the auto breaking. I can't get used to it. I also wanted the 16-inch rims Mazda said for the manual transmission it's the 18's only. But everything else is spot on. I've had it since June. By far, it is the best car I've ever owned.
Go to tire rack and get 16". The car will handle rain, snow and bumps better. Plus you will get 5mpg+ better econ. Having 18" on a car that small is like a human wearing snow shoes. It will keep you on top of snow. The tires will never touch road
Im pretty sure you can disable the auto breaking in the settings (or at the very least decrease the sensitivity so it only goes off in VERY close scenarios) or by pressing the button to the left of the steering column to disable the i-safety / awareness features.
I set mine to the lowest sensitivity possible and I've only had it trigger 2 times in 1.5 years in very understandable scenarios where it should've gone off.
@autofigure00 thanks. I'll try it out
I know what you're saying, I own a 2024 Mazda3 Sport GT manual 6 speed in red as well (QC, Canada). 😊
need a foot cam during manual driving
just a small detail for newer drivers to see foot movement
Bose with manual? Hell yes
We have this model also in Europe, but with 140 HP. It's very unusual here, because of its big displacement (compared to Europe standards), but the engine has a great fuel consumption, the same compared to brittle 1.0 or 1.2 3 cylinders turbocharged engines that competitor use on equivalent cars.
The 2025 Jetta and 2025 civic both dropped the manual transmission (minus the SI and GLI of course) so the Mazda 3 is THE last normal daily driver with a manual transmission
the si and gli are still normal daily drivers though lol
@ the GLI sorta, the SI not really, too compromised compared to the normal civic.
@@legostarwarsrulez how is it "too compromised"
its literally the 1.5t motor with some nicer seats+manual transmission only
@ enthusiast cars aren’t defined by engine size. You don’t drive a spec sheet. The civic SI rides rough, has a ton of road and wind noise, the seats aren’t made for daily driving, the fuel economy is awful for its class due to the shorter gear ratios, the list goes on. It’s a compromised enthusiast car.
I got a chuckle at the Brower reference on the spare tire.
My Mazda shuts off cruise if I hit the clutch so I'm glad to hear that in the new ones it automatically resumes.
So the big question: which version for a fun-to-drive Mazda3 hatchback (no track or autocross, but occasional spirited drives on twisty roads)?
The AWD turbo, ‘cause of its power and the way it powers through curves, or the manual, ‘cause it’s way lighter and, well, it’s a manual??
Hope they bring back Mazdaspeed
Love my Mazda! When are they bringing the Mazda spirit Racing to market in the us?
I've heard the rear differential on the AWD models has significant problems, unfortunately.
Was racing a Sebeco SPX prototype with this engine in it. Think it made 250hp in that 1,500lb car. Very fun, very responsive.
Easily the best interior of the entire class
that torsion beam in the back is an absolute bummer.
Honestly, it's not such a bad thing for rough roads and snow. No servicing required, and the old focus based mazda 3's used to chew rear tyres no matter what you did. Civics still do. No bushings to clap out, alignment adjustments that sieze up after 5 years, ect ect.
From a dynamic perspective, I totally agree.
A torsion beam rear isn’t that big of a hindrance providing the rest of the car is set up well.
I’d love to see you drive the 22-24 Civic Sport (2.0, not the 1.5T) with a manual transmission. No rev hang, and way more fun to drive than this Mazda. Not sure why Honda didn’t make press cars available in that trim (or at least I haven’t see any), but you would make a lot of people happy if you put out some content on it. I’m a little biased because I own one, but I also test drove pretty much every other manual car that was available in the same class, and none of them felt as good as that car.
Regular Civics and Jettas don’t have the manual anymore sadly. This is all that’s left.
You're being disingenuous, no, the base Civic does not come in manual, but the Civic Si DOES come in manual, and still manages to be cheaper than the lowest trim Mazda 3 that comes in manual
@@MrToastyYThe said regular and that is true but the si is sport focused and leaves a lot of amenities out
@@MrToastyYT Topher said non sport variants
If you leave North America they do. But still true.
@@MrToastyYTyeah but Honda dealers want above msrp
Hope Mazda never quit manual.
Actually have a Mazda as a rental car right now while my Honda is in the shop. Nice cars, deal-breaker bone headed decision to lock remote start behind a pay wall.
Still a great car in 2024, despite now being five years old. It’d be nice to see an update to the power train, especially here in Australia where we never got the 2.5 Turbo. I still have a previous model 2.5. Reasonable performance but a bit thirsty by modern standards. Perhaps a decent hybrid version wouldn’t go astray, Mazda.
Peak semiconductor shortage, end of 2022, I test drove this car and the dealer quoted me 45k. (With tax and dealer markup)
Yes! Manual gages!!!
The dealbreaker of this car is that it has no rear independent suspension. It really does feel like it too if you're used to driving FWD cars that do have rear independent suspension. FWD cars with no independent rear have a very distinct feel to them, I'd describe it as feeling like they're leaning only onto the front end and the rear is sort of unloaded and just hopping along trailing behind the front. This is fine on smooth roads, but if you're hitting corners on bumpy roads, especially changing direction, the rear feels loose and uncomfortable. Instead if there's rear independent suspension, the front and rear ends feel in sync, the car feels like it's leaning onto the rear end too when you're cornering, and that gives you confidence on bumpy roads, the rear doesn't skip along, it's breathing with the road so to speak. I really don't understand why Mazda made that decision to cost save on such a crucial aspect of the car, especially considering they were aiming for a sporty drivers car sort of hatchback.
Agreed, the first time I rode in my mom's mazda3 I was surprised about the jumpy rear suspension set up. The interior and everything else feels nice and well put together but then you drive over an expansion joint or pothole and it's very jarring, especially in the rear seats. The only other gripe is the poor rear visibility, even in the sedan.
This person obviously loves to shift gears a lot
😊
I can see you like this car, so do I! I love mine, I got a '23 Mazda 3 Sedan GT, the 2.5L NA FWD, it's awesome! Shooting next for a Mazda 3 2.5L AWD Turbo. I love my Bose and keep talking about it with my friends and when they get in my car we always listen to some loud music! Good video!
Does it have a regular cruise control? Or do you always get the "adaptive" crap control?
Literally just bought this exact spec lol
Interesting review. I test drove a 2017 and lack of throttle response was terrible. Almost impossible to rev match downshift as the throttle pedal was so slow to blip the revs. Wonder if they updated it. However, it had really good shifter feel and great steering weighting.
Hey, thanks for the video. I am a big manual transmission fan, I noticed your down shifts are excellent! Are you using the hell-toe technique for your downshift to rev match? How does this Mazda behave if you wouldn't rev match? Do you have to wait a little bit longer on the pressed clutch or do you need to apply a bit of pressure on the accelerator? Trying to find out whether for someone who doesn't do rev match heel to toe, is it still a pleasant experience to downshift...thanks!!
I really love the new gen Mazdas but good lord im 6,5 and i could just barely squeeze myself into the front seat of a 3 😂 i haven't felt more claustrophobic since i sat in a Prius 😂
Con caja manual, genial!! 👏👏
Looks a lot more fun than my manual Crosstrek. Shame you have to get rid of the manual trans if you want AWD though.
Based Mazda still making manuals
2016 Mazda 3 hatch manual still my daily, 21 Supra didn’t come in manual at the time so the weekend car is auto 😂. Wish they make a Mazda speed 3 again
1:30 you missed the manual nissan versa 5 speed 😂
I LOVE MAZDUHHHHHH zoom zooooom !!!
This might be the last TRUE TO FORM hatchback available in the US. I just wish I could afford it. I'd need to be making about 15 bucks an hour more in order to even consider it. I might look into a '14 or '15 model in a couple years.
i wonder why the civic Si cannot fix their rev hang.
I understand "too many screens", but don't give me a single smartphone sticking up in the windshield!
I didn't think I would like the heads-up display until I drove this car, all it shows is your blind spot warnings, the current speed, the speed limit, and the cruise control limit. I look at it more than the speedometer now and it keeps your eyes on the road / car in front of you at nearly all times, its effortless to check your speed. I don't think I'd want to get a car without a heads-up display now.