I worked at mazda in service department btw the skyactive technology and engineers are awesome. The traction control restricts power in wet by knowing the moisture is on the road and wipers, the car is also breaking more when it knows is on a downhill. Very dynamic experience. The awd is so fuel efficient because of lower viscosity simpler smaller rear differential design reducing drivetrain loss. The difference is neglible compared to the fwd version and knows when to apply more traction on the rear when doing a corner aggressively. The steering input relearns itself as its reset is position with g vector in electronic steering. There is so much you won't notice or appreciate or it's secrets until you own it for a long time!
@@lucisleesion8824 like if the reveiwers are not complaining then why are you going on every comment and spamming the same thing like you got something against them or are just biased.
So are the older ones. My 2005 RX-8 that I bought new in 2006, it was a beautiful and extremely comfortable, great Bose stereo, and extremely good handling car. Now I've got a 2017 CX-3(again w/ Bose), and every time I drive it I enjoy doing so. And that's even just a gas saver crossover SUV, but it drives like a nice suspensioned sports cars, yet has a little more ground clearance to make it an SUV. It only has 150 hp and torque, but the torque peaks at 2800 rpms, and with the light weight of 2800 lbs, it accelerates far better than most vehicles in it's class. In fact, it pulls 0-60 a full second faster than the Subaru Crosstrek. Zoom Zoom FTW, when it comes to my heart...
Also go look at 1995 323f BA Lantis Mazda, specially 2.0 V6. It's a marvel, her green interior was much ahead of her time and exterior also really good. I drove one 1.5 2010-2015, 200k-300k mileage (kilometers), never got a significant problem. Still see them around.
@@afcgeo882 I've been considering ordering a new 3 turbo and I like to keep my cars as long as possible. I've never owned a Mazda so I'm interested in what kind of issues you have experienced with interior wear?
@@user-ix7rh4zz4n The biggest issue has been the pleather that is literally wearing thin at seat sides (from getting in and out) and on doors. It’s discolored and you can pretty much see right through it at those spots. I’m also getting a lot of rattle noises from the glove box, even when empty, and the turn stalk has a crack in it. All things I went to the dealership for, and was told that unless they tear or break off, the warranty won’t cover it. 🤷♂️ It was a 3 year lease, so I just handed the car back in.
I just upgraded to a 2022 Mazda3 hatch from a 2018 Mazda3 hatch and all I can say is WOW. Mazda has definitely upped their game in 4 years time. The improvements they made to the interior design, road noise and exterior are fantastic. They made the driver's car even better.
Really like these! Feel like they’d be a great all-weather daily driver with just enough sport to have fun, just enough comfort for daily drudgeries and just enough safety and economy to be the perfect daily driver!
It’s an IIHS TopSafetyPick+… gets 28mpg… AWD… 320lb of torque (what you need for daily driving)… plenty of space… good looking… great quality (I own one)… quick and stylish. Mazda is No.1 for reliability and consumer satisfaction on ConsumerReports and the 3 is recommended by them too. If you can swallow paying $36,000 for this vs. a Golf GTI or Veloster N, go for it, they’re great cars.
@@ryangromoll9329 that last part. That $36k is killing me 😭 Not because it’s not worth that much but the overlap in cars in that area are crazy. I could likely get a Kia Stinger GT Line for that money with a bit of back and forth with a dealer. Hard pressed to make a decision
Mazda make such good cars. I've bought three new Mazdas in the past decade, they're a pleasure to drive, totally bulletproof reliable and look much more expensive than they are.
I loved my test drive so much of one I traded my Boxster in for one back in December :) Love seeing positive reviews of it w/ people that understand the balance between sportiness, luxury, practicality, and reliability!
@@poppachoppa8956 Porsches are really good for 2 things: 1) showing off your money 1) having fun on track. If you are only using the car on public roads, especially in the city, and you don't care about impressing strangers, Porsches are a humongous waste of money.
@@MrZombiedude567 well sure, but what do you step on, other than snow, that’ll come off with a quick hit. If my boots are muddy, there’s no way in hell I’m getting in the car. I’ll find some way way to clean them. Snow on the other hand is just water that’ll get the carpet wet, at most some salt. So just hit them together to get rid of big chunks.
@@some_nebula Exactly you hit them together to get rid of any salt or any small rocks that get stuck in your shoe or even dry leaves or any other debris, its just a 1 sec action that can help keep the car clean. Its just a good habit, similar to wiping down on the mat before entering your house.
Binaural audio is always so weird, but it really works so well to give the sense that I'm actually there driving the car. Especially noticeable during the audio test, so awesome!
They updated the SPORT mode so it does that fancy break vectoring and engine torqueing more so you turn in/rotate better around the twisty turns and it down shifts faster in auto and holds gears in the corners to make it more sporty.
This is such an awesome car, I almost cried when I saw it listed...AWD and Turbo...amazing. I'm glad Mazda pretty much made an in-between price division between loaded up sedans and luxury sedans, for those of us whom don't want to buy an audi, bmw, etc.
Your reviews are absolutely the best. You are not talking trash. Just all the important content and nothing more. Lifetime follower here. Good job. Best regards MX-5 ND owner
I bought this car 2 months ago with 40 miles on it, I love it so much and it’s very affordable and quick. I put 4,000 miles on it in 2 months because I just can’t stop driving it! Quick and comfortable, mileage is decent and the back seat is very tight. I got the red one.
I've always been a fan of Audis and BMWs from the 80's through the early 2000's but I just don't see the newer versions of them as really all that special for what the MSRP is. This Mazda (and Mazda in general) really hits all of the right cords for me. Just the perfect balance of sportiness, luxury, practicality, and pricing. Really hope I have the opportunity to buy one of these in the near future.
I think it's fun to rev out a small NA motor in a cheap car, but I can't deny how amazing it is to drive something that has so much torque on tap like this does.
agreed, however driving my buddys alfa (which also had a 5k rpm limit) I hit the rev limiter pretty damn quickly. I do like to shift these autos manually.
Just got my 2022 hatch turbo for about 2wks now after watching your car review and just wanted to drop by and say thank you. Agreed with every single comment you made, it's such a comfortable and fun daily car to drive and I absolutely love it.
Subscribed 👍 it's nice to see a review video where the guy isn't rushing through everything because he thinks we don't have the attention span to cruise alongside the experience. Nicely done.
15:56 lmao he was not about to let that semi stop him from passing. i am legitimately considering getting this when my lease on my 2.0t accord is up. used to have a 2014 mazda 3 and i miss that car, this is like the ultimate evolution of the model.
My 2015 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 6 speed hatchback is about the best car I have ever owned. I like everything about it. The interior is very luxurious and way better than you would expect from a car in this segment. The 2.5 liter engine is not super fast, but very smooth and responsive. When you have owned one long enough, you begin to appreciate Mazda's attention to detail. The quality touches are everywhere. Unfortunately, this gem is going to my granddaughter for her 16th birthday as I just ordered my brand new 2022 Mazda MX-5 RF-GT... 6 speed of course
Hey, just a note for the parking brake "lurching forward". You are able to put flip the parking brake off with that switch before you press the gas. This gets rid of the lurch. :)
I love the looks of this, was looking at other cars in the class and this is seems to be the best combo of sportiness, reliability, design, and I just love Mazda. EDIT: I’m picking up my 2022 2.5s preferred package this afternoon after a lot of test driving and comparing between other hatches.
I listened to this yesterday wearing a pair of Google Pixel buds...I have to say, your video is really good....but the audio...was completely out of this world...it was as if I was there with you in the car. This was very impressive and kudoos to your sound tech
Huge VW guy here, 10 owned so far over half of them GTIs. VW please take notes, this is how you do driver interaction. No weirdo haptic buttons everywhere (MK8) just keep it simple and analog. Glad Mazda 3 Guys finally have one since the MS3 disappeared. We need more Hot Hatches! VW , Honda and Hyundai seem to be the only ones making ones we can reasonably afford in the US and that actually offer a very competitive package both function and performance wise. Toyota still has some catching up to do in terms of even matching the competition and Ford no longer makes the Focus at all. Great review!
90% of people that are complaining about this car having a torsion beam rear suspension probably are in capable of driving their cars at over 7/10ths, don’t even have a basic understanding of suspension setups, and have no objective ability to discern between the ride quality and handling of an IRS and torsion beam setup to begin with. They just see journalists complain about it, hear it as a buzzword and they’re like “zerrrmergherd! I need IRS now.” Same type of people that drive their cars like they just saw an F&F movie after doing an oil change.
Yea, I heard mazda tuned it quite well. In other torsion suspension cars I've driven, the rear end would be quite unsettled when going all out. But I drive like a Maniac on the road
Lol its not that complicated, multi-link set up is just better overall especially for hard driving. I have this car currently and I had a mazda3 2018 NA with multi link rear, I can feel the difference
@@mezzb Mike, I’ve read several of your comments across a number of videos. You’re a true enthusiast, of a certain vintage, and you’ve made a tremendous choice.
One of my co-workers bought this same exact car last year. I didn't like the hatchbacks look when these first came out, but has kind of grown on me over time. I would still get the sedan as I've always been much more of a sedan guy having purchased five vehicles so far as they've all been sedans. The Mazda3 has been my favorite of all compact cars. Wish they offered that red interior on the sedan which both my current & previous car have red interiors.
You nailed it when you said that it is not a speed 3, but more like a higher end VW/Audi product. Think Golf R with similar off the line torque, but with even more refinement and premium features and less horsepower, and less urgency in power delivery along with reduced handling prowess. It's basically an upscale Mazda 3 hatchback, or something that actually competes against the Audi A3.
I have the same exact model and this was a perfect fit. I didn't want to pay for German badges but wanted something a bit more upscale to drive and ride in than typical Toyota, honda mainstreams...agree with Topher. it feels almost luxurious and got that oomph whenever I want a little speed driving. Although it might not be as nimble as GTI or GLI or even Type R, cornering is excellent and it is very sure-footed thanks to AWD.....have the top model with MSRP of a bit more than 35000 but ended up paying a lot less after dealer discount. I am very satisfied with the purchase.
The interior is so pleasing to the senses. Modern in just the right measure with that classic and serious Mazda touch. Superb and discreet at the same time 🥇
We bought one Friday! Love this car!! You can push the parking break button when you first start the car before putting it in gear to turn it off. I turned down the volume on the seat belt warning!😀
Great review. I had a 2015 S GT manual 3 for a couple years, purchased new, and even back then thought it was a very decent ride for what I paid. Been owning Mazdas since 2006 and i feel like they've matured impressively as an auto maker. I'll be looking at these in a couple years for sure.
Back in January I purchased the 2022 M3 Mica Dark blue, the regular 2.5 engine preferred package, even without the turbo it rides beautiful and great pickup with the 93 octane. Love it !!!
I wish the Mazda 3 would come with that engine to Europe, here in Europe it is sold with two variants of the 2.0 Skyactiv, the 122 hp called Skyactiv-G, and the 180 hp called Skyactiv-X both with supercharger and mild-hybrids, that 2.5 turbo wouldn't be bad here, but with anti-pollution regulations it's hard for it to reach the other side of the ocean
@@mezzb The problem in Europe is that they have imposed very strict anti-pollution regulations, a car for example, cannot exceed the rate of 95 g/km of CO2 emitted, surely that is why this engine does not reach here, it has also been established that in Europe in 2025, 15% of cars sold in the EU will be electric or plug-in hybrids
It is very svelte or should I say elegant. Refined. Seems out of a more upscale vehicle too. Seats are more comfortable and bolstered than CX5. I have both a 3 hatch and CX5 in the garage and so that’s why I make the comparison.
Thing is for many people AWD is going to be mostly a disadvantage (added weight, power lost via drivetrain, MPG) with very little to zero benefit most of the time if you live in say Florida for example. Still cool little car and certainly doesn't seem "overpriced" when you compare to other cars in the market. There's quite a few compelling alternatives in the ~35K price range but this Mazda 3 seems like a very solid daily driver.
I got the 2020 Astina. Considering maybe trading it in end of the year for this 2021 turbo (hasn't released yet in Australia anyway). I had no idea they were going to release this variant for 2021, otherwise i would've waited lol
They might not be bringing it here unfortunately. I am waiting on further confirmation from Australian dealers before I lock in my purchase for 2021. If they don't bring this here, will probably get the Megane RS instead.
Australia is so insignificant that we don't get to have much of the stuff people can have in every other continent.Also we drive on the wrong side of the road which makes our market even more lackluster for many manufacturers and models.
I had a 2005 Mazda3 and it was the best car ever. Since I've had a 2012 GTI which I really liked but went through 3 coolant pumps (warranty) and a 2015 GTI, both good cars but with some of the issues VW's get. I like the level of interior polish you get with the Mazda. I'm getting this car and looking forward to being back in a 3.
Mazda has done amazing recently. I love they're one of the few companies still willing to have standard transmissions. I really wish they did better on fuel economy and made the 2 in the US (or made something a bit more hot hatchy).
Enjoy your reviews. Interestingly, the Mazda3 hatchback has almost 2 cu. ft. more cargo room (47.1 vs. 45.2) than the CX-30 with the rear seats down! With the rear seats up the cargo room is about the same (20.1 vs. 20.2).
You said it! I work valet and see lots of cars of all different years/styles and models. No joke, Mazda interior is up there with Mercedes. Honestly, Mazda makes sweeeett cars
You guys in America are so lucky to get the 2.5 litre turbo model ! In Europe the most powerful Mazda3 we get is the 2.0 litre non turbo model! This 2.5l model sounds like a 3 litre V6!
I test drove one of these last week. Hugely more refined than the 17' Grand Touring 3 my wife has. Typical great Mazda steering feel but despite the healthy power and grip, it just doesn't feel 'sporty'. It's nice but not engaging. $34k seems fair for what you get but I'd rather save $5k, get it with a stick and no turbo/awd.
i have this exact car in automatic & no turbo. i woulda opted for the stick shift but that in LA traffic would b hell 😔 gotta say its still so much fun with the paddle shifters and lil 186horsepower !
@@Adr1anR0d Mazda's; their Miatas, speed3s hatches, rx7s and rx8s always look incredible. It's too bad they cater too much to mommys now:(. They need to go back to their 90s model roots, which is real everyday people motorsports, with a little hint more on reliability. They would make tons of money going back to that kind of company model. There's a reason people still buy factory rotary engines
@@EncrypticMethods sorry bro, but there are a lot more "mommys" with money to buy a car than "enthusiasts" willing to buy new cars. So business wise, Mazda is right with this car.
Great review as always. I'm choosing between this, a CX30 Turbo and a CX5 Carbon Edition Turbo for my next car, and I am very torn. I don't have a family but I do camp a decent amount, so the extra room and ground clearance that the CX30 and CX5 offer are nice. The Mazda 3 driving dynamics seem great and I could still fit a decent amount of equipment in the back with the seats folded down. Not having the ground clearance would be tough though. I'm especially interested in how the 3 Turbo stacks up against the CX30 Turbo. If it's not that big of a difference driving wise, I feel like the CX30 with more visibility and extra ground clearance makes more sense in the long run.
I’ve been driving a 2015 Mazda 3i Sudan since 12/26 2015. I’ve been research on cars for a new purchase perhaps in 2024/2025. Been looking everywhere. Probably coming back to Mazda. The hatchback looks awesome.
Working at an auto auction I always love being able to drive any mazda that's like 17' and newer. The quality of these cars are crazy good things come from taking notes from Toyota
I bought the naturally aspirated 2021 Mazda 3 as I really enjoy manual and they don't offer the Turbo with the manual transmission, unfortunately. That being said I'm really happy with the car!
Bought an AWD back in 2019, needed a new daily. Sucks it took a few years to get these out, it really needed a turbo. Though.. I have the new Mazda 6 to look forward to and the wife can keep the AWD Mazda 3, haha.
I have the hatch 2.5 Select, so smooth as you said. I had to get used to not having a touchscreen, but the infotainment is pretty cool once you get used to it; actually a little more efficient than the touchscreen 😊
@@Dunkaroos248 The colour on this particular car is called Polymetal Grey Metallic. But the well known "better looking" option is Nardo Grey which is typically an aftermarket paint job.
I understand that the mazda3 turbo is meant to be more of a GT than the speeds used to be, but a manual would be so nice for a car like this. It's also pretty interesting that it has more low end torque and drops off around 5k rpm, as 5500 was peak torque for the speed3 and it was most responsive around 3-4k.
This video was randomly in my recommended and I don't usually watch this kind of video, so it's weird that right as you pulled out of the parking lot I realized that you're driving close to where I live... lmao TH-cam explain.
I own a 2021 Mazda 3 Select Sedan and it's been my favorite car. This car just spoke to me when I first bought it at 5k miles used. Unfortunately I should of gotten it at the actual Mazda dealership but it is what it is. I really dig the way the car drives and it's response time! Such a fun car to drive and sexy to look at too !
Excellent review. Just bought one myself and agree with the points you make about it. Wish the Bozo audio system had better mid punch/body but is otherwise better balanced than I expected from them. This may be the car that changes my mind about leather interiors.
You guys are lucky getting the 2.5 Turbo, here in Europe the most high powered motor is the 2.0...Great review once again Topher! Keep up the good work!
The 2.5 turbo is a gas guzzler. It can only be sold in the USA where gas is cheap. The 2.0 Skyactive X we get in Europe has similar horsepower to the 2.5 G without the turbo, but gets improved gas consumption and makes the car lighter in the front. Plus we can pick it without AWD. Yes it is a little slower in acceration but it needs almost half the fuel the 2.5 turbo needs....
I worked at mazda in service department btw the skyactive technology and engineers are awesome. The traction control restricts power in wet by knowing the moisture is on the road and wipers, the car is also breaking more when it knows is on a downhill. Very dynamic experience. The awd is so fuel efficient because of lower viscosity simpler smaller rear differential design reducing drivetrain loss. The difference is neglible compared to the fwd version and knows when to apply more traction on the rear when doing a corner aggressively. The steering input relearns itself as its reset is position with g vector in electronic steering. There is so much you won't notice or appreciate or it's secrets until you own it for a long time!
dude holy shit thanks for your comment. I really wish mazda marketing did a better job showing how much engineering goes into these cars.
That's some deep info.
What do you think about the Awd on the speed 6?
？？
Ok I saw a bit of launch control when he did 0-100. Do you know any issues doing so?
Love the interior.
Looks vintage and at the same time modern.
It looks really great and classy.
In 2019 Mazda applied torsion beam to Mazda3 instead of original Multi-link, that's where they cut the cost for "Nicer Interior"
@@lucisleesion8824 like if the reveiwers are not complaining then why are you going on every comment and spamming the same thing like you got something against them or are just biased.
@@lucisleesion8824 I got out of a Stinger GT1 and prefer the ride.
@@eriknephrongfr8847 can’t believe people buy a stinger.... the only thing it got for it that’s nice is the name « stinger »
Damn these new mazdas are beautiful
Ur mom isn’t
@@ihmpall why tho, you’re so off topic get out of here -_-
So are the older ones. My 2005 RX-8 that I bought new in 2006, it was a beautiful and extremely comfortable, great Bose stereo, and extremely good handling car. Now I've got a 2017 CX-3(again w/ Bose), and every time I drive it I enjoy doing so. And that's even just a gas saver crossover SUV, but it drives like a nice suspensioned sports cars, yet has a little more ground clearance to make it an SUV. It only has 150 hp and torque, but the torque peaks at 2800 rpms, and with the light weight of 2800 lbs, it accelerates far better than most vehicles in it's class. In fact, it pulls 0-60 a full second faster than the Subaru Crosstrek. Zoom Zoom FTW, when it comes to my heart...
Also go look at 1995 323f BA Lantis Mazda, specially 2.0 V6. It's a marvel, her green interior was much ahead of her time and exterior also really good. I drove one 1.5 2010-2015, 200k-300k mileage (kilometers), never got a significant problem. Still see them around.
@@ihmpall at least he has one
I hope people buy this so I can buy it used in like 10 years LOL
Same XD
Mazda3's depreciate like rocks. Got a loaded 2010 for $5k a few years back, great car. This looks like it would be a great buy at $10k in 5 years.
Exactly my plan. After im done with my Civic Si, this would be a fun project. Hopefully they come out with a manual.
I think that with every car like this that comes out lol.
These are going to take ages to depreciate
I'm a massive fan of low- mid-range torque and you can see how effortless this car just launches forward in the lower RPMs. Great daily driver
The interior really surprised me, it looks so much more luxurious than what I would expect from a Mazda
Only at first. I’ve had two Mazdas in the last 6 years and the interiors wear out horribly.
@@afcgeo882 I've been considering ordering a new 3 turbo and I like to keep my cars as long as possible. I've never owned a Mazda so I'm interested in what kind of issues you have experienced with interior wear?
@@user-ix7rh4zz4n The biggest issue has been the pleather that is literally wearing thin at seat sides (from getting in and out) and on doors. It’s discolored and you can pretty much see right through it at those spots. I’m also getting a lot of rattle noises from the glove box, even when empty, and the turn stalk has a crack in it. All things I went to the dealership for, and was told that unless they tear or break off, the warranty won’t cover it. 🤷♂️ It was a 3 year lease, so I just handed the car back in.
@@afcgeo882was it the leatherette? Or real leather?
@@pazicjr Pleather is leatherette.
I just upgraded to a 2022 Mazda3 hatch from a 2018 Mazda3 hatch and all I can say is WOW. Mazda has definitely upped their game in 4 years time. The improvements they made to the interior design, road noise and exterior are fantastic. They made the driver's car even better.
Really like these! Feel like they’d be a great all-weather daily driver with just enough sport to have fun, just enough comfort for daily drudgeries and just enough safety and economy to be the perfect daily driver!
Truth! Couldn’t agree more!
@@mezzb Hey Mike, did you end up getting one?! I haven't stepped up to the plate yet, but hopefully by the Spring!!
@@mezzb Congrats, that's awesome! Keep me posted how you like it! I'm still a good 6 months out, sadly! :( Ha ha
It’s an IIHS TopSafetyPick+… gets 28mpg… AWD… 320lb of torque (what you need for daily driving)… plenty of space… good looking… great quality (I own one)… quick and stylish. Mazda is No.1 for reliability and consumer satisfaction on ConsumerReports and the 3 is recommended by them too. If you can swallow paying $36,000 for this vs. a Golf GTI or Veloster N, go for it, they’re great cars.
@@ryangromoll9329 that last part. That $36k is killing me 😭 Not because it’s not worth that much but the overlap in cars in that area are crazy. I could likely get a Kia Stinger GT Line for that money with a bit of back and forth with a dealer. Hard pressed to make a decision
Mazda make such good cars. I've bought three new Mazdas in the past decade, they're a pleasure to drive, totally bulletproof reliable and look much more expensive than they are.
I loved my test drive so much of one I traded my Boxster in for one back in December :) Love seeing positive reviews of it w/ people that understand the balance between sportiness, luxury, practicality, and reliability!
Oh gosh I just traded my boxster in for this too! 😂 Sad day but better days ahead!
@@shanetan2073 why sad
@@tomorrowcomestoday1621 cause he traded a porsche for a goddamn mazda
@@poppachoppa8956 Porsches are really good for 2 things: 1) showing off your money 1) having fun on track. If you are only using the car on public roads, especially in the city, and you don't care about impressing strangers, Porsches are a humongous waste of money.
@@ΧρήστοςΔενέχεισημασία well said.
Damn that Bose sound system. Makes it sound like you edited the music in instead of playing it form the speakers.
It's ok, after ive used aftermarket audio, the Bose sounds lifeless after that
I have this system in my mazda3. Sounds absolutely amazing. It wouldn't be out of place in a $85k luxury car.
@@ibz925 Yeah gotta agree with you dude. Aftermarket can make any sound system sound godlike.
@@ErectileSceptile ya, that's the thing with luxury cars that boast of multiple speakers blah blah, in reality they are glorified 3 inch speakers
@@ibz925 isn’t the better sound in luxury brands only because of better sound proofing?
gets in the car, hits boots together.
damn it, winter habit.
th-cam.com/channels/0AvTf9rqY0R_UaOr8qzdeA.html
Its not a winter habit, its a good habit to keep your car clean
@@MrZombiedude567 well sure, but what do you step on, other than snow, that’ll come off with a quick hit. If my boots are muddy, there’s no way in hell I’m getting in the car. I’ll find some way way to clean them. Snow on the other hand is just water that’ll get the carpet wet, at most some salt. So just hit them together to get rid of big chunks.
@@some_nebula Exactly you hit them together to get rid of any salt or any small rocks that get stuck in your shoe or even dry leaves or any other debris, its just a 1 sec action that can help keep the car clean. Its just a good habit, similar to wiping down on the mat before entering your house.
It’s a polite thing to do when it’s not your car, and if it is yours, it cuts down on the vacuuming.
Binaural audio is always so weird, but it really works so well to give the sense that I'm actually there driving the car. Especially noticeable during the audio test, so awesome!
They updated the SPORT mode so it does that fancy break vectoring and engine torqueing more so you turn in/rotate better around the twisty turns and it down shifts faster in auto and holds gears in the corners to make it more sporty.
Been waiting for you to review this, Topher! Just bought the sedan version a month ago. I absolutely love it. The performance is fantastic.
This is such an awesome car, I almost cried when I saw it listed...AWD and Turbo...amazing.
I'm glad Mazda pretty much made an in-between price division between loaded up sedans and luxury sedans, for those of us whom don't want to buy an audi, bmw, etc.
Indeed , And I love also how they put the information screen a little bit away . So it gives you a good and not to busy interior . Nice picture Btw .
JDM Audi
I love this steering wheel, got a old school JDM slim steer feeling
It looks gay asf and tries using 70s styling
@@JoshuaHooks-ih1hh what are you smoking? it's a simple yet great looking wheel😭no need to be homophobic and dumb
@@ronnypooky what are you going on about?
Your reviews are absolutely the best. You are not talking trash. Just all the important content and nothing more.
Lifetime follower here. Good job.
Best regards MX-5 ND owner
I bought this car 2 months ago with 40 miles on it, I love it so much and it’s very affordable and quick. I put 4,000 miles on it in 2 months because I just can’t stop driving it! Quick and comfortable, mileage is decent and the back seat is very tight. I got the red one.
I've always been a fan of Audis and BMWs from the 80's through the early 2000's but I just don't see the newer versions of them as really all that special for what the MSRP is. This Mazda (and Mazda in general) really hits all of the right cords for me. Just the perfect balance of sportiness, luxury, practicality, and pricing. Really hope I have the opportunity to buy one of these in the near future.
Early 2000s was the best era of BMW
I think it's fun to rev out a small NA motor in a cheap car, but I can't deny how amazing it is to drive something that has so much torque on tap like this does.
agreed, however driving my buddys alfa (which also had a 5k rpm limit) I hit the rev limiter pretty damn quickly. I do like to shift these autos manually.
Just got my 2022 hatch turbo for about 2wks now after watching your car review and just wanted to drop by and say thank you.
Agreed with every single comment you made, it's such a comfortable and fun daily car to drive and I absolutely love it.
Huge respect for Mazda for putting 2.5l engine in 2021 compact car 😎👍
This is like the smoothest way to do a review I have ever seen! Keep up the good work man!
Subscribed 👍 it's nice to see a review video where the guy isn't rushing through everything because he thinks we don't have the attention span to cruise alongside the experience. Nicely done.
This will be a fantastic daily driver. Low rpm torque, low & high octane options, hatchback practicality.
15:56 lmao he was not about to let that semi stop him from passing. i am legitimately considering getting this when my lease on my 2.0t accord is up. used to have a 2014 mazda 3 and i miss that car, this is like the ultimate evolution of the model.
That's what I always liked while driving turbocharged cars. The sort of 60-80 pulls.
My 2015 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 6 speed hatchback is about the best car I have ever owned. I like everything about it. The interior is very luxurious and way better than you would expect from a car in this segment. The 2.5 liter engine is not super fast, but very smooth and responsive. When you have owned one long enough, you begin to appreciate Mazda's attention to detail. The quality touches are everywhere. Unfortunately, this gem is going to my granddaughter for her 16th birthday as I just ordered my brand new 2022 Mazda MX-5 RF-GT... 6 speed of course
I like how you patiently waited until the seatbelt chime stopped
Hey, just a note for the parking brake "lurching forward". You are able to put flip the parking brake off with that switch before you press the gas. This gets rid of the lurch. :)
I love the looks of this, was looking at other cars in the class and this is seems to be the best combo of sportiness, reliability, design, and I just love Mazda.
EDIT: I’m picking up my 2022 2.5s preferred package this afternoon after a lot of test driving and comparing between other hatches.
Did you get your car??
Glad to read it. Hope you enjoy it!
I listened to this yesterday wearing a pair of Google Pixel buds...I have to say, your video is really good....but the audio...was completely out of this world...it was as if I was there with you in the car. This was very impressive and kudoos to your sound tech
The exact car I was looking for. Thanks for the awesome video!
Huge VW guy here, 10 owned so far over half of them GTIs. VW please take notes, this is how you do driver interaction. No weirdo haptic buttons everywhere (MK8) just keep it simple and analog. Glad Mazda 3 Guys finally have one since the MS3 disappeared. We need more Hot Hatches! VW , Honda and Hyundai seem to be the only ones making ones we can reasonably afford in the US and that actually offer a very competitive package both function and performance wise. Toyota still has some catching up to do in terms of even matching the competition and Ford no longer makes the Focus at all. Great review!
Nothing beats this in terms of style, quality and driving experience for the same amount of money.
Not a bad car at all, this was on my top 5 new cars. But after driving the Skoda Octavia I can’t see myself driving any other than that.
@@PTVohnsen did you try the Mazda?
Hyundai i30N? Kia Stinger? (Okay, they can’t race with that interior, but they give serious power for a relative small amount of money)
@@zsszeli I agree, if power is what you are after
🙎♂️
Nice definitely my pick in the hatchback segment.
In 2019 Mazda applied torsion beam to Mazda3 instead of original Multi-link, that's where they cut the cost for "Nicer Interior"
Lucis Leesion what is torsion beam and multi link
@@lucisleesion8824 guess what so does the competition. the polo gti also uses torsion beam.
@@koenb7829 It's a type of suspension, it's not really bad in my opinion, unless you're used to high-end cars.
@Vq37 hr would be nice to have money for one.
That sound system sounds AMAZING
bought this puppy new (first ever new car - third ever car), upgraded from a Mini Cooper 2011 - it's MAGIC.
you can disable the auto hand brake, hold the button down for 10seconds on start up.
90% of people that are complaining about this car having a torsion beam rear suspension probably are in capable of driving their cars at over 7/10ths, don’t even have a basic understanding of suspension setups, and have no objective ability to discern between the ride quality and handling of an IRS and torsion beam setup to begin with. They just see journalists complain about it, hear it as a buzzword and they’re like “zerrrmergherd! I need IRS now.” Same type of people that drive their cars like they just saw an F&F movie after doing an oil change.
Yea, I heard mazda tuned it quite well. In other torsion suspension cars I've driven, the rear end would be quite unsettled when going all out. But I drive like a Maniac on the road
Lol its not that complicated, multi-link set up is just better overall especially for hard driving. I have this car currently and I had a mazda3 2018 NA with multi link rear, I can feel the difference
Man I love the way this car drives man your into cars keep on doing more reviews I love that
The red inside is absolutely gorgeous! My 2007 mazda 3 is jealous
マツダの車を紹介してくれてありがとう！
Thank you for introducing Mazda's car !
The Sedan is an even more of a value. $30,000 for a 250hp Sedan with AWD, premium interior, great feature set, and beautiful styling.
@@alh06 it’s $1200 cheaper and has more interior room.
Just got mine with this exact spec and colors. I absolutely love this car. It’s a winner.
Mine’s in dark grey, but otherwise identical. I keep driving it for no reason.
@@mezzb Mike, I’ve read several of your comments across a number of videos. You’re a true enthusiast, of a certain vintage, and you’ve made a tremendous choice.
@@mezzb how’s the car for you now 8 months later? I’m planning to buy a white one this weekend, I’m 17 and my parents are co signing with me.
"How do we sum this up?"
Well, 85 mph on an off-ramp is a good data point.
One of my co-workers bought this same exact car last year. I didn't like the hatchbacks look when these first came out, but has kind of grown on me over time. I would still get the sedan as I've always been much more of a sedan guy having purchased five vehicles so far as they've all been sedans. The Mazda3 has been my favorite of all compact cars. Wish they offered that red interior on the sedan which both my current & previous car have red interiors.
I’ve watched this review probably 3-4 times I can’t wait to get one and start making more content for people
You nailed it when you said that it is not a speed 3, but more like a higher end VW/Audi product. Think Golf R with similar off the line torque, but with even more refinement and premium features and less horsepower, and less urgency in power delivery along with reduced handling prowess. It's basically an upscale Mazda 3 hatchback, or something that actually competes against the Audi A3.
golf r is better in every single aspect, apart from look.
This is a step-down from a Mazda 3 Speed!
I have the same exact model and this was a perfect fit. I didn't want to pay for German badges but wanted something a bit more upscale to drive and ride in than typical Toyota, honda mainstreams...agree with Topher. it feels almost luxurious and got that oomph whenever I want a little speed driving. Although it might not be as nimble as GTI or GLI or even Type R, cornering is excellent and it is very sure-footed thanks to AWD.....have the top model with MSRP of a bit more than 35000 but ended up paying a lot less after dealer discount. I am very satisfied with the purchase.
SHEEEEEEEEESH!!!! That's a beautiful car right there daaamn
The interior is so pleasing to the senses. Modern in just the right measure with that classic and serious Mazda touch.
Superb and discreet at the same time 🥇
Definitely leading the economy class cars in interior design.
We bought one Friday! Love this car!! You can push the parking break button when you first start the car before putting it in gear to turn it off. I turned down the volume on the seat belt warning!😀
How do you turn down the volume? Mine is so touchy lol
Great review. I had a 2015 S GT manual 3 for a couple years, purchased new, and even back then thought it was a very decent ride for what I paid. Been owning Mazdas since 2006 and i feel like they've matured impressively as an auto maker. I'll be looking at these in a couple years for sure.
Back in January I purchased the 2022 M3 Mica Dark blue, the regular 2.5 engine preferred package, even without the turbo it rides beautiful and great pickup with the 93 octane. Love it !!!
I wish the Mazda 3 would come with that engine to Europe, here in Europe it is sold with two variants of the 2.0 Skyactiv, the 122 hp called Skyactiv-G, and the 180 hp called Skyactiv-X both with supercharger and mild-hybrids, that 2.5 turbo wouldn't be bad here, but with anti-pollution regulations it's hard for it to reach the other side of the ocean
At least you guys get the GR Yaris.Thats better than this imo.
@@mezzb The problem in Europe is that they have imposed very strict anti-pollution regulations, a car for example, cannot exceed the rate of 95 g/km of CO2 emitted, surely that is why this engine does not reach here, it has also been established that in Europe in 2025, 15% of cars sold in the EU will be electric or plug-in hybrids
@@1091Alcatraz Dude. It stings me every day.
You guys get so many cool hot hatches that we don’t get, all the Renault, PSA Stuff, SEAT Leon Cupra, fiesta/focus at, and of course the GR Yaris
Im here after the new civic. This looks so better especially the infotainment that blends in perfectly on the front!
i personally love the interior design of this mazda
It is very svelte or should I say elegant. Refined. Seems out of a more upscale vehicle too. Seats are more comfortable and bolstered than CX5. I have both a 3 hatch and CX5 in the garage and so that’s why I make the comparison.
Don't mind me, just dreaming of a world with Mazda 6 Wagons in the USA.
amen
I've got a 2019 Mazda6. Wish it was the wagon.
@@Frame16Gaming either way, nice car :)
You keep dreaming. I kept wishing for a new 3 with a Turbo for a long time and I finally got my wish lol.
Y’all lucky to have the new Mazda 3’s, CX-5s or CX-9s(no cx-9 at all in EU) with big ass turbocharged petrol-engines, we don’t get that in Europe...
Thing is for many people AWD is going to be mostly a disadvantage (added weight, power lost via drivetrain, MPG) with very little to zero benefit most of the time if you live in say Florida for example. Still cool little car and certainly doesn't seem "overpriced" when you compare to other cars in the market. There's quite a few compelling alternatives in the ~35K price range but this Mazda 3 seems like a very solid daily driver.
I got the 2020 Astina. Considering maybe trading it in end of the year for this 2021 turbo (hasn't released yet in Australia anyway). I had no idea they were going to release this variant for 2021, otherwise i would've waited lol
They might not be bringing it here unfortunately. I am waiting on further confirmation from Australian dealers before I lock in my purchase for 2021. If they don't bring this here, will probably get the Megane RS instead.
@@nsp2932 Damn, that sucks then lol
@@nsp2932 Yeah, unlikely to get it in Oz sadly.
Yeah others have also said but may as well also cement the comfirmation that this unfortunately isn’t coming to aus
Australia is so insignificant that we don't get to have much of the stuff people can have in every other continent.Also we drive on the wrong side of the road which makes our market even more lackluster for many manufacturers and models.
Love this car. I had Ford Fusion, BMW, Volks Golf, and recently switched to Mazda 3. Finally found the one
The engine sounds ferocious!
I had a 2005 Mazda3 and it was the best car ever. Since I've had a 2012 GTI which I really liked but went through 3 coolant pumps (warranty) and a 2015 GTI, both good cars but with some of the issues VW's get. I like the level of interior polish you get with the Mazda. I'm getting this car and looking forward to being back in a 3.
This was an excellent review. Man would I love that car! Maybe in 5 years when its used :)
I’m owning a ‘98 MX5 and I know, that I’ll love Mazda forever
Mazda has done amazing recently. I love they're one of the few companies still willing to have standard transmissions. I really wish they did better on fuel economy and made the 2 in the US (or made something a bit more hot hatchy).
That interior is shockingly nice
Enjoy your reviews. Interestingly, the Mazda3 hatchback has almost 2 cu. ft. more cargo room (47.1 vs. 45.2) than the CX-30 with the rear seats down! With the rear seats up the cargo room is about the same (20.1 vs. 20.2).
I would take the 3 over the 30 ANY DAY. The cx-30 has really strange proportions with the large plastic fenders.
You said it! I work valet and see lots of cars of all different years/styles and models.
No joke, Mazda interior is up there with Mercedes. Honestly, Mazda makes sweeeett cars
bro, ngl this thing sounds ✨good✨
Someone in my family just bought one of these in this spec. Unbelievably nice car for the price.
You have a very nice and relaxing voice. Pleasant to hear.
You guys in America are so lucky to get the 2.5 litre turbo model ! In Europe the most powerful Mazda3 we get is the 2.0 litre non turbo model! This 2.5l model sounds like a 3 litre V6!
I test drove one of these last week. Hugely more refined than the 17' Grand Touring 3 my wife has. Typical great Mazda steering feel but despite the healthy power and grip, it just doesn't feel 'sporty'. It's nice but not engaging. $34k seems fair for what you get but I'd rather save $5k, get it with a stick and no turbo/awd.
i have this exact car in automatic & no turbo. i woulda opted for the stick shift but that in LA traffic would b hell 😔 gotta say its still so much fun with the paddle shifters and lil 186horsepower !
o & i dont need AWD cuz it never snows here. if only they had a stick shift turbo, that would be sick
@@Adr1anR0d Mazda's; their Miatas, speed3s hatches, rx7s and rx8s always look incredible. It's too bad they cater too much to mommys now:(. They need to go back to their 90s model roots, which is real everyday people motorsports, with a little hint more on reliability. They would make tons of money going back to that kind of company model.
There's a reason people still buy factory rotary engines
@@EncrypticMethods sorry bro, but there are a lot more "mommys" with money to buy a car than "enthusiasts" willing to buy new cars. So business wise, Mazda is right with this car.
I would rather spend another $5k and just get an A3 Quattro.
Fist pumped the air when I saw this on my feed. Looking forward to your review!
Great review as always. I'm choosing between this, a CX30 Turbo and a CX5 Carbon Edition Turbo for my next car, and I am very torn. I don't have a family but I do camp a decent amount, so the extra room and ground clearance that the CX30 and CX5 offer are nice. The Mazda 3 driving dynamics seem great and I could still fit a decent amount of equipment in the back with the seats folded down. Not having the ground clearance would be tough though. I'm especially interested in how the 3 Turbo stacks up against the CX30 Turbo. If it's not that big of a difference driving wise, I feel like the CX30 with more visibility and extra ground clearance makes more sense in the long run.
Looks like you'd be in the market for the CX-50.
I’ve been driving a 2015 Mazda 3i Sudan since 12/26 2015. I’ve been research on cars for a new purchase perhaps in 2024/2025. Been looking everywhere. Probably coming back to Mazda. The hatchback looks awesome.
Amazing review! Great highlights of what the car does/doesn't do...tempted to get myself one of these babies
Mazda makes the nicest cars period. I have a 21’ CX5 GT and I LOVE IT
Working at an auto auction I always love being able to drive any mazda that's like 17' and newer. The quality of these cars are crazy good things come from taking notes from Toyota
I bought the naturally aspirated 2021 Mazda 3 as I really enjoy manual and they don't offer the Turbo with the manual transmission, unfortunately. That being said I'm really happy with the car!
Your voice is as nice and soothing as that interior
His voice would be succesful in movie trailers. 😀 😀 😀
Audio so clear and i love the interior color 😍
Bought an AWD back in 2019, needed a new daily. Sucks it took a few years to get these out, it really needed a turbo. Though.. I have the new Mazda 6 to look forward to and the wife can keep the AWD Mazda 3, haha.
@@TheFanboy121 is it a BMW I6? Like the "supra" or is mazda developing one?
I have the hatch 2.5 Select, so smooth as you said. I had to get used to not having a touchscreen, but the infotainment is pretty cool once you get used to it; actually a little more efficient than the touchscreen 😊
This is a really nice car, that unique gray looks great too.
Its called nardo grey if you’re wondering
@@AliAl-Faesly all I’ve seen available at the dealer online is something called “polymetric gray” or something like that. Is nardo gray different?
@@Dunkaroos248 The colour on this particular car is called Polymetal Grey Metallic. But the well known "better looking" option is Nardo Grey which is typically an aftermarket paint job.
finally music to test the car audio
I understand that the mazda3 turbo is meant to be more of a GT than the speeds used to be, but a manual would be so nice for a car like this.
It's also pretty interesting that it has more low end torque and drops off around 5k rpm, as 5500 was peak torque for the speed3 and it was most responsive around 3-4k.
In Italy we have manual but we don't have Turbo, lol
Besides the beauty of the vehicle, I got caught with the beauty of the landscape, your country is beautiful! Cheers from Malaysia 🇲🇾☺️
This video was randomly in my recommended and I don't usually watch this kind of video, so it's weird that right as you pulled out of the parking lot I realized that you're driving close to where I live... lmao TH-cam explain.
I’m really considering this. My Acura TSX of several years is getting to be too much for maintenance and I love these
Great review. I'm sold and AWD is on my top list when I downsize from an SUV soon.
I own a 2021 Mazda 3 Select Sedan and it's been my favorite car. This car just spoke to me when I first bought it at 5k miles used. Unfortunately I should of gotten it at the actual Mazda dealership but it is what it is. I really dig the way the car drives and it's response time! Such a fun car to drive and sexy to look at too !
Excellent review. Just bought one myself and agree with the points you make about it. Wish the Bozo audio system had better mid punch/body but is otherwise better balanced than I expected from them. This may be the car that changes my mind about leather interiors.
I love my 2015 mazda6 GT, the 2.5L skyactiv sounds amazing for a 4cylinder. Can't wait to get my hands on these new mazdas
Idk y but I'm in love with that steering wheel
same tho
You guys are lucky getting the 2.5 Turbo, here in Europe the most high powered motor is the 2.0...Great review once again Topher! Keep up the good work!
The 2.5 turbo is a gas guzzler. It can only be sold in the USA where gas is cheap. The 2.0 Skyactive X we get in Europe has similar horsepower to the 2.5 G without the turbo, but gets improved gas consumption and makes the car lighter in the front. Plus we can pick it without AWD. Yes it is a little slower in acceration but it needs almost half the fuel the 2.5 turbo needs....
Best interior in class.