2014 / 2015 Mazda Mazda3 Review and Road Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
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The mainstream compact car segment is the perfect example of the infamous "driving appliance." The Corolla and Civic sell in enormous volume because they are the middle-of-the-road "white bread" option, not in-spite of the vanilla. Unlike many in the automotive press, I don't find anything wrong with that. In fact, I love me some Wonder Bread. But sometimes you feel like a pumpernickel, and that's where the 2014 Mazda3 comes in. Mazda was so excited about their new loaf that they invited me to spend the day with them in San Diego. Want to know if you should spend 5+ years with one?
Accounting for 30% of Mazda's worldwide volume, calling the Mazda3 their most important product would be putting things lightly. As a result 2014 brings a complete overhaul to every aspect of the 3 and the compact sedan now rides on a platform derived from the larger 6. The "Kodo" design language of the larger sedan has also been brought down to its smaller stablemate to astonishing effect. While the old Mazda3 was all smiles and bubbles, the new 3 is all grown up and aggressive with Mazda's incredibly attractive grille. Before the 3′s release I was quite torn about who was the fairest of them all but now there is no contest.
The base engine for 2014 is a 2.0L 155 horse four-cylinder that's good for 150 lb-ft of twist and 30/41/34 MPG (City/Highway/Combined) with the 6-speed automatic. If you have the cash you can upgrade to the 2.5L engine (shared with the CX-5 and Mazda6) which bumps these numbers up to 184 horses and 185 lb-ft while dropping fuel economy to 28/39/32.
With pricing that ranges from $16,945 (sedan) to a hair under $30,000 (loaded hatch) if you check all the option boxes on a Mazda3 hatch, it's obvious the Mazda spans the price spectrum from white bread in a bag to a paper-wrapped organic artisan cheesy sourdough. Like the Ford Focus, this large price span means the $19,495 iSport and $20,645 iTouring compete with the bulk of Corolla/Civic shoppers while the upper level trims compete with the Ford Focus, Acura ILX, Lexus CT200h, Buick Verano, and the few that shopped Volvo's defunct C30.
Compared to the Civic and Corolla, the Mazda3 delivers superior dynamics and more premium dash materials in exchange for less tech and no touchscreen infotainment. This is a dangerous trade in a segment known for placing features before fun. On the flip side, the Mazda3 has everything it needs to compete with the Focus, ILX, Verano and CT200h. Mazda's chassis tuning makes the Mazda the most fun to drive (even considering the ILX 2.4′s Civic Si roots), the infotainment system is entry-level luxury worthy and 2014 brings all full-speed range radar cruise control and ever gadget the Buick and Lexus shopper could want. So is the Mazda3 the perfect pumpernickel for Wonder Bread prices? As good as. Civirolla shoppers who can be convinced to cross-shop will be pleased with Mazda's sexy exterior, comfortable seats and road manners, but those after large seats and large trunks will return to the white bread alternative. I suspect the near luxury shoppers are the ones that will miss out the most however thinking that nothing this tasty could come in a package with a Mazda logo on it. Their loss.
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I bought a 3rd gen back in 2014 and still loving it. It hasn't aged a bit and still stands out. It had decent power with the 2.0L and averaging 35.5mpg.
Hands down the best review I've seen so far on this car. Your detailed and comparison-oriented review helped me in deciding on getting this car. Thank you!
Nothing beats this, not even the Acura ilx or the Buick verano. This is the best of its class
well it is a very nice car and the performance is probably best in class, but that back seat space is very small compare to the other cars in the segment. I will probably choose a Ford Focus or Hyundai Elantra GT
jorge romani I admit the elantra has the best interior for the price
jorge romani I recently test drove the focus and this GT. The focus' back seat is atrociously tiny. Not sure about the Elantra.
For Sure!!!!
getting the 2014 tc :D
I recently purchased a Mazda 3 i Sport, and I love it! I don't have a ton of options, but I have what I need. I naturally went for the stick shift, and have no problems averaging 31-39 mpg. This is the first car I've had in years that makes me really want to go out and drive.
This is the best Mazda3 review I have found to-date. Test driven the car few days ago, and totally in love!
This is one of the best if not the best auto reviews I have seen on youtube. Excellent format and presentation.
The Mazda 3 is still holding strong even in 2017 with others experiencing total redesigns. Once they redesign theyll be way out in front again. Unless you just want an appliance, then stick with corolla, cruze, elantra...
I was on the fence before I drove it and experienced the new MazdaConnect infotainment system but now there is no question in my mind: Mazda3.
I bought an sGT 2 weeks ago when they first shipped, trading in a manual for the paddle shifting auto, and its wonderful. The manual mode is significantly better than other cars in its class, and you can down shift into 5000+ rpm range of the lower gear. also, the sport mode is phenomenal if you want to keep the engine revved and get those higher shifts. prior to this car, i had only considered manuals, since i have been driving stick for 6 years. this car converted me: no regrets at all.
Congratulations. The video was extremely detailed, even down to the seldom mentioned suspension design. Explaining some more detail about the 13:1 engine might have been interesting as it is a bit unique. Overall I was really impressed with the detail with regards to the transmission and what make it special. Thanks
Great review, really professional
Expect the Corolla video tomorrow. We actually had the Corolla before the Mazda3, so please keep that in mind when watching the video. Due to the massive requests for the Mazda3 I decided to edit this video and make it live a little out of order.
Alex on Autos consistently does the best reviews on the web.
Alex I have watched every single video of yours. I'm confident to say you are the best youtuber in car reviews. Also would you do a review for the new 2016/2017 camaro from GM? And how it's different from Cadillac ATS though pretty similar. It would be great to see that.
Alex, you give excellent, THOROUGH reviews. Keep it up. You make the guys on "The Fast Lane Car" look like AMATEURS......
I like the Forte as well and that would be a tough one. The Forte is huge on value, when you compare the feature content to the Mazda3, the Forte is notably cheaper. However, the Mazda3 is the more dynamic model and I think it's the better looking choice as well. The big news will be the new Forte Turbo which will make the Kia significantly faster than any current Mazda3.
IMO the Forte is a POS firedragon without notice deathtrap = MAZDA > HYUNDAI/KIA.
This must be one of the best carreviews I've ever seen.
Finally, someone who does a more than decent job at reviewing cars. Great work!
I own a 2014 fully loaded Grand Touring and I love it no problems as if yet. Got rid of our Jetta TDI for this car and we couldn't be happier. Drives great, looks great and the gas mileage is very good. Overall this car is as close to perfect as could be.
Alex. you probably make the best car review vids on the net. Its also great that you are knowledgeable on car mechanics and can offer informative tidbits in your reviews
It's fun to drive and the Zoom Zoom slogan nails it. 76,000 miles on my 2014. Zero problems. Averaging 38.7mpg but I do about 70% highway. 2.0L 6sp manual. Great car.
When it comes to auto reviews, you totally rock!
Best in segment imo. The hardest choice is hatch or sedan...
+tipoomaster to each his own for me i like the 5 door(hatch)
LOVE that soul red metallic paint. Also, the almond leather with black inserts creates such a nice contrast to the rest of the black interior color. So sweet! Love this new Mazda3!!
Tim,
Nice Car. Dad
Probably the best 2014 Mazda3 review right now. Great job! Especially on the infotainment section!
Great review. I love that Mazda has decided to open this car up to people just looking for low priced basic transportation as well as to people with some extra money to burn and that want some high end features and technology. This really is a beautiful car, especially with the bigger wheels/rims on the 2.5 models.
I really did appreciate the thoroughness in the infotainment system. It definitely looks like one of the best systems in its class.
Mazda engineers are absolutely obsessed with racing, driving, cars and racing. It's all they think about and do...so when you get a Mazda, you're getting as close as that body style can get to a racecar in handling. Interior does seem like a secondary consideration.
I've only driven Mazdas for 20 years, now. I won't ever stop.
Yes but can it fly?
Great Review. I've watched dozens of reviews on youtube and this is the best. Super thorough. Answered all my questions. Got a sub!
That was one hell of a thorough review.
You are doing a great job, analyzing every single aspect of the vehicles you feature.thanks
Best car reviewer in TH-cam
Mazda says it will only be in the Mazda6 at launch. I'm not entirely clear why they didn't put it in the Mazda3 at the start, but they said that the decision to put it in other models depends on how well it does in the Mazda6. So, if you want to see a diesel Mazda3, tell everyone you know to take one for the team and buy a diesel Mazda6.
On the GT model the tech package also includes iEloop, lane departure warning, smart city braking, and as I recall, dynamic radar cruise control.
I agree and I am looking forward to driving one when it lands.
Alex, another amazing review. You are so thorough in your coverage and your presentation style is both approachable and professional. Kudos to you. As for the Mazda3, I'm seriously crushing on this car!
For many yes, but I have the love that dare not speak its name. A CVT is totally fine in my book for a compact sedan that scored in the 8-10 second 0-10 range.
Thank you very very much for the hard work, you car reviews are still the best on the internet (by a big margin), and you even continue to make improvements on them!
I truly appreciate the extra effort that you put in, and I hope more people will subscribe to your channel.
It is on the website, buried deep on the first page but not listed on the spec sheet at this time. I suspect that it may be a late availability option. Mazda did announce it at the event and provided vehicles with the feature for us to drive. As I recall, it is only in the top S Grand Touring trim and will be bundled in the iEloop package.
This reviewer is AWESOME. Subbed just because of his ability to provide top notch reviews.
I will as soon as we get our hands on one for a week. I drove the sedan all day as well and it is basically the same except for the hatch.
The legroom is the same but there is a slight drop in headroom. The trade off is a big more trunk space (below the cargo cover for comparison)
I wanted to say "They MAY do it". The old 3 that was sold locally in my country got a software update over it's infotainment for newer models after the 6 was released that made the infotainment more similar to the 6 rather than the older ones.
Unfortunately, in this continent, people look for car that they can commute with, not the one you can actually DRIVE. As a European in Canada, I am appalled by the way people drive; hogging left lane, driving very slow, not knowing how to parallel park, how to merge on a highway. Consequently, most will pick deadly boring automatic Corolla or Civic. They don't know what they are missing with manual Mazda. By the way, in Europe (and most likely, rest of the world) one only drives automatic if he/she is physically disabled or very, very rich.
I love how Mazda made the hoods longer, I agree with what you said about the RWD look. Frankly I wish it really was RWD.
Looking forward to your review of it :) I love your format and the amount of level of detail you put in. Awesome stuff!
DCT transmissions are faster than any auto box but the auto will always be smoother. Sport mode simply changes the throttle mapping and shift points in the Mazda3.
Great review as always. Alex, your hard work is much appreciated.
The only diesel Mazda has at this time is the new SkyActiv-D engine which is a twin-turbo 2.2L engine. It uses a small turbo at low RPMs and a larger turbo at higher RPMs depending on driving conditions.
I've had the S Touring for less than 1 wk & it's already in the shop! Was loving it. Yesterday, noticed nav malfunctioning. Got off highway to look, car started rolling backwards on hill. With"Hill Launch Assist" that's not supposed to happen. After turning it off, had trouble starting. Finally, once in DRIVE, the engine revs, but no forward movement. When lifted on tow truck, liquid was leaking from engine (maybe trans fluid). Had
That was at viewer request. It seems we have a number of people that want to see the body motion in relation to the road. I'll keep this in mind however and maybe we can switch it up in the future.
Great review, Alex. Thanks
Looks bigger than previous model. Looks almost like a cross over vehicle. I like the back of hatchback and front is very slowly growing on me. I have only seen one on the road so far. Looks fun to drive.
Very handsome car, fair price. Whats not to like! Well done Mazda!
Mazda has said that the 6speed manual will be available later this year for the 2.5 s models. Also; all 5door Mazda3 models have exposed bright-tipped duel exhausts. Both the 2.0 i and 2.5 s models. (the 4doors are the models that have them a bit hidden for some reason) And in comparable trim levels; the 5door is only $500 more than the 4door. Also the most fully loaded 2.5 s Grand Touring 5door will be $28,890 to $29,190 depending on color. (not sure where you got the $31k idea from)
Mazda is worlds ahead of the boring Civic.
The level of quality materials in this 3 are outstanding!
Civic has same hp engine as 10 years ago...sad
Plus Civic went the grandpa route and put a CVT.
I think the new Civic and Cruze are still the quietest, but the Mazda 3 is an excellent car all around and is my new favourite.
wow! mazda is kicking ass and taking names!
Ouch! Be sure to post back and let us know how your experience ends. I'm sure we all would like to know.
Thanks again for the review. I purchased my white 2014 s grand touring hatchback this past weekend. It was tough, but managed to get it for a few hundred under invoice. Awesome car!
Excellent comprehensive Review !! Thank you !!
Yep it is. Remember that the Mazda 3 plays slightly higher up the food chain than the Civic or Corolla.
I didn't get the point of the HUD honestly. It's nifty and it's a talking point and I'm sure it will make you feel special when it pops up. On the flip side it's not as well integrated as BMW's full-color unit (keep in mind it is much cheaper in the Mazda). I do like the radar cruise control, Mazda's implementation is among the best and I'm a big advocate of active safety features. The hatch is less useful than I would like but more useful than a regular trunk.
wow, what a copy of BMW 2,3,4 series interior, especially that curvature and separation on that dashboard and the set up of the center console. even the shape of the arm rest
Newsflash. They all copy. Its a joke.
The interior is just gorgeous! Very high end looking.
The 0 to 60 in the 2.0 is 7.6 to 8.2 and the in the 2.5 it's 6.8 to 7.2 seconds.
That was a number from one of the Mazda people and it would be a 100% fully loaded 3 hatch as I recall. When I look at it on their web site I couldn't get it past $30,215 excluding tax, etc without checking dealer installed option boxes so I assume the 31K figure was including all weather mats and that sort of thing.
UPDATE:They are replacing the entire transmission. It was shipped yesterday and supposed to reach here within 5 days. Mazda requested my transmission be returned fully intact to see what failed. Whatever it is, it happened internally. According to the dealership, the engine and drivetrain were not damaged. I love the car, so I am hoping that they are right.
It's pretty amazing that Mazda is able to get such great fuel economy numbers out of their two engines. The other cars in this segment either use puny, underpowered engines or cvt's to achieve their numbers.
Great review, love the extra details you can't find in other reviews. Very informative! I already bought the iTouring with Bose/Tech package. I can't say enough great things about this car! Mazda has a winner, especially with the holistic integrated re-design approach.
All Mazda would say is "there is no manual available at launch" the implication being that there may be one in the future.
Outstanding review Alex! Great detail and comparison to other models. Thanks!
Re swoopy styling: while I enjoy the charismatic styling of the Elantra and the new 3, once I'm inside I find that the high belt lines and thick rear pillars have a serious impact on visibility. I'd like to be able to see easily out of a car without relying entirely on electronic aids. I also prefer an airier environment. While Honda hasn't entirely resisted this trend I do appreciate the superior visibility.
Right now I would take the 3. If Mazda puts the new infotainment system into the 6 it would then be my choice because I like the size.
Thanks for catching that.
Damn you're good at reviews...lol. The detail is much appreciated.
Fortunately Mazda put an emphasis on voice commands in the system and you can command almost everything from the steering wheel button if you choose to.
Outstanding review!
I see the car is equipped with paddle shifters and was surprised you didn't bother to mention that.
I would expect similar performance. Yes, our numbers are with 1 foot of rollout.
I love my mazda 3!!
I like the Impreza, I just got some good friends to buy one for their daughter. If you need AWD and want good fuel economy, it's a steal.
I prefer the RWD dynamics on the 1 Series. It's hard to compare a RWD and a FWD car in this way especially when they are in different market segments. The Mazda3 is an excellent FWD hatch but it's not in the same league in terms of dynamics.
@alex on autos
The impreza uses cvt. Those 3 letters are enough to turn people away. Not all awd vehicles are created equal.
I like the Civic, if you can get over the interior styling. The transmission is a gear behind everyone else, but reliability and dependability are the brand's hallmarks. The Civic's real world mileage was a bit lower than the 2.0L Mazda3. My personal opinion, based off Mazda history, is that the 3 would be slightly more expensive to keep around in the long term.
You are the best cars reviewer on TH-cam
Thanks for the great review. 10/10
Great looking car with good performance. Mazda seems to be getting better and better.
I sure hope so. They should be here in January.
Problems starting or just general performance?
Really enjoy your in-depth review, truly. But I wouldn't call this a "quick look" killed you so in the end. Very appealing car.
One new feature that I like are the front headlights: They have the "Angel Eyes" that are featured in the BMWs. I'm very interested in the new MazdaSpeed 3 too. That should be a really interesting car. The only 2 things that I don't like and I fault the new Mercedes CLA for this too is the Multi-function infotainment screen: It looks odd sitting up on the dash board like an afterthought instead of integrated in to a center console like the Infinitis and Nissans. Also the rear door is very low.
The Mazda connect major flaw is the fact that you have to take your eye of road, atleast with the Mytouch you can pretty much control everything with the steering wheel
Someone did actually but as I recall Mazda referred them to their rust warranty.
Mazda was cagey about that but they did say that their diesel future depends on how well the diesel Mazda6 sells....
Detailed and tons of info. Helps one make informed decision. Love your review.
To my eyes the interior is one of the best, well my favorite at least, available at any price. Love the Bauhaus/simple/classy minimalism of it ... its not easy to explain I guess.
Toyota4life, would you like to compare recalls. Seriously, you all have to consider the Mazda 3 even you Mr Toyota4life may find the light after you drive the 3. GREAT review here.
They would probably do it after an year or two software wise, not screen size though. Changing the screen size would mean a new dash and that's pretty much a rare thing to consider for a already released new car. I was honestly amazed that the 3 is quite literally far ahead from the 6 tech wise. Especially when they are only an year apart. The six should be the better/bigger car after all.
I really loved your review! I was wavering between the hatchback or a sedan in Mazda vs other brands but I really like the look of the Mazda 3 hatchback and overall performance for my first car is fine for me at this time. Price is good also.