My hubby and I are in the early researching stages of looking into getting a new car and these three have caught our eye. I know this is a mazda-enthusiast site so the answers may be biased, but what are your opinions about the differences between these 3? We are ignorant on cars, and have pretty much been leaning toward the mazda3 for appearance purposes. I would appreciate any feedback. thanks. (dunno)
mazda3 vs. vibe or matrix
- Thread starter Mela27
- Start date
- :
- '16 CX-9 GT
im a fan of mazda's obviuously...but honestly i would chose a 3 over the other 2 just cause i dont like the outside of the matrix and i dont like the interior of the vibe...btw are u gonna go 3 hatch or sedan?
ZippityZoomZoom
Member
My main issue with the Vibe/Matrix is its' engine: all the torque and HP is reached at high RPMs which makes an automatic tranny and around town driving not very much fun at all. Then there's the rattles and squeaks. The Vibe/Matrix supposedly has more cargo space available though.
BerkshireMz3
Member
Mela27 said:
Yes 5 door = hatchback.
Check with your insurance company...but you'll find insurance quite cheap for the Mazda 3. Mine only went up $40/yeat vs. my old car...a 7 year old Passat.
Have you driven the Mazda yet? Once you drive it, you'll fall in love. Believe me. It's not just good looking...it is so fun to drive.
DigitalHeadShot
Member
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- 05 EVO "MR", 04 mazda3
BerkshireMz3 said:
It is a great car to drive, the interior and exterior look awsome. Make sure you get an S though..
Mela27 -
I had a 2003 Matrix xR prior to the 2004 3 four door that I now have.
The Matrix high points are Zero rattles, fantastic handling, brakes and safe in a bad accident. Pic of car after accident
Low points, not enough power
The 3's High points, descent power and torque, good brakes and nice dash lay out.
Low points, glove box rattle that the dealer can't seem tow be able to find, check engine light with a mind of it's own.
After having both I would most likely lean towards the 3 if I were starting over but that said just last week I ordered a Scion tC. The new car will not replace the 3 just share garage space with it. After taking a look at the tC I think Scion has beat Mazda at it's own game at high bang for the buck!
I had a 2003 Matrix xR prior to the 2004 3 four door that I now have.
The Matrix high points are Zero rattles, fantastic handling, brakes and safe in a bad accident. Pic of car after accident
Low points, not enough power
The 3's High points, descent power and torque, good brakes and nice dash lay out.
Low points, glove box rattle that the dealer can't seem tow be able to find, check engine light with a mind of it's own.
After having both I would most likely lean towards the 3 if I were starting over but that said just last week I ordered a Scion tC. The new car will not replace the 3 just share garage space with it. After taking a look at the tC I think Scion has beat Mazda at it's own game at high bang for the buck!
550Joe said:
I would agree with this, except that the tC is a 2-door, so you really can't compare these cars, its like apples and oranges. The price range and target audience may be the same, but at least in my case I had to get a 5 door because I have a baby and need the space. So a tC would be out of the question even if it was 13K..
That said, if you have to have a 5 door, Mazda 3 beats all other competitors hands down IMO.
harrison888
Member
First of all, I'm a big Toyota fan, I loved my Celica GT-S.
My sister has a Matrix XRS w/ Nav, 6-sp 180hp, and I have a 3s hatch, they're both very nice car. I like the 3s' exterior/interior better than the Matrix, I'm not saying the Matrix is ugly, the outside look very sporty with the factory body kit, but the XRS is definitely faster, once the VVTL-i kicks in, see ya later !! And I also like the ride on the 3s' over the Matrix, and I don't like how the Matrix's intrument panel is very close to the driver!! And I feel the XRS is a smoother ride car. These are only my opinion, peace (2thumbs)
My sister has a Matrix XRS w/ Nav, 6-sp 180hp, and I have a 3s hatch, they're both very nice car. I like the 3s' exterior/interior better than the Matrix, I'm not saying the Matrix is ugly, the outside look very sporty with the factory body kit, but the XRS is definitely faster, once the VVTL-i kicks in, see ya later !! And I also like the ride on the 3s' over the Matrix, and I don't like how the Matrix's intrument panel is very close to the driver!! And I feel the XRS is a smoother ride car. These are only my opinion, peace (2thumbs)
those were some of my options when i started looking and i just felt the mazda was a better looking car inside and out. of the vibe and matrix id have to go with the matrix. its basically a high end vibe. not a big fan of the shifters on the dash look eiter makes me feel like i'm driving a van
goldwing2000
OG Mazda Mafia
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- 2004 Mazda3s Hatch; 346,000 mi (sold)
2024 CX-5 CE; 7,500 mi (so far)
I actually shopped the Matrix before I bought my 3. The XR was slow to the point of being annoying. The XRs was peppy but at 11:1 compression, it requires premium unleaded only.
Screw that.
I sacrificed a minimal amount of cargo space in the 3 but I haven't missed it in the least.
The dash-mounted shifter was indeed sucky. It gave a very vague shifter feel. The Matrix did have some things I liked that the 3 doesn't (power outlets, interior utility rack, etc) but nothing that would make me sacrifice for the wimpy engine.
Screw that.
I sacrificed a minimal amount of cargo space in the 3 but I haven't missed it in the least.
The dash-mounted shifter was indeed sucky. It gave a very vague shifter feel. The Matrix did have some things I liked that the 3 doesn't (power outlets, interior utility rack, etc) but nothing that would make me sacrifice for the wimpy engine.
Matrix verses Mazda 3
We were actually on the way to the Toyota dealer to order a Matrix when we stopped in at the Mazda dealer out of curiousity to see if Protege 5s were on sale and fell for the Mazda 3 Sport instead.
A couple of minutes into the test drive I knew by the huge grin on my wife's face that we were going to get the Mazda. Acceleration, steering and braking were all way more responsive on the Mazda.
I don't know if it's still the case, and it may have been a Canuckistan thing, but it seems to me that only way to get ABS and keyless remote on the Matrix was to buy the top model (XRS?) or a pricey option package whereas both were standard on the Mazda.
My only regret is that the passenger seat on the Mazda 3 doesn't fold flat for cargo like the one on the Matrix does, and that the 2004 Mazda 3 wasn't available with leather seats without also getting the moonroof (definitely a liability on the Wet Coast, IMHO).
We were actually on the way to the Toyota dealer to order a Matrix when we stopped in at the Mazda dealer out of curiousity to see if Protege 5s were on sale and fell for the Mazda 3 Sport instead.
A couple of minutes into the test drive I knew by the huge grin on my wife's face that we were going to get the Mazda. Acceleration, steering and braking were all way more responsive on the Mazda.
I don't know if it's still the case, and it may have been a Canuckistan thing, but it seems to me that only way to get ABS and keyless remote on the Matrix was to buy the top model (XRS?) or a pricey option package whereas both were standard on the Mazda.
My only regret is that the passenger seat on the Mazda 3 doesn't fold flat for cargo like the one on the Matrix does, and that the 2004 Mazda 3 wasn't available with leather seats without also getting the moonroof (definitely a liability on the Wet Coast, IMHO).
it's the engine, and the bang for the buck
I didn't look at the Matrix--ruled it out because the base is only 130HP and the XRS cost a lot more (my assumption is that I'm always going to pay more for the Toyota name too). I also like having more cubes in my engine vs. more total horsepower, because it's nice to have the torque when I want it. I was considering the Focus SVT at one point, which is a similar engine to the XRS--1.8L, 170 HP--and it was fun as hell on the test drive but I was shifting all the time.
Also, it'd be hard to beat the package that Mazda puts together--engine, handling, interior, looks! I ended up getting a hatch with moonroof, 6 cd changer, ABS, and side airbags for under 19k (msrp was 19,105). The XRS starts at around 19k without all that stuff.
I didn't look at the Matrix--ruled it out because the base is only 130HP and the XRS cost a lot more (my assumption is that I'm always going to pay more for the Toyota name too). I also like having more cubes in my engine vs. more total horsepower, because it's nice to have the torque when I want it. I was considering the Focus SVT at one point, which is a similar engine to the XRS--1.8L, 170 HP--and it was fun as hell on the test drive but I was shifting all the time.
Also, it'd be hard to beat the package that Mazda puts together--engine, handling, interior, looks! I ended up getting a hatch with moonroof, 6 cd changer, ABS, and side airbags for under 19k (msrp was 19,105). The XRS starts at around 19k without all that stuff.
Grey Ghost
Member
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- 04 3s 5Door
Supercharged Vibe
Just read where Pontiac offers a factory (Dealer Installed) supercharger for 03 and 04 Vibes. Looks like there is more horsepower available...
Grey Ghost
4th horse said:
Just read where Pontiac offers a factory (Dealer Installed) supercharger for 03 and 04 Vibes. Looks like there is more horsepower available...
Grey Ghost
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- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
Grey Ghost said:
thats only on the base 130 hp corolla motor it does not go onto the XRS 180 hp celica engine and it basically brings the base engine up to spec with the XRS engine - pretty pointless
Badger Biker
Member
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- 2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited
As I have seen, the supercharger on the base Vibe/Matrix will make them about as fast as a 3 for the most part.
The SC makes the cars about a tenth of a second faster than the XRS, and the XRS, depending on the driver, can beat the 3 or lose to it in the 1/4 mile.
The SC makes the cars about a tenth of a second faster than the XRS, and the XRS, depending on the driver, can beat the 3 or lose to it in the 1/4 mile.
If you don't care about handling/driving charateristics and only need the space, the Matrix is for you, since it can hold a lot of stuf fwith the seats folded down because it is taller.
I drove my friend's XR. The handling is nowhere near as good as my P5, and the driving position is all wrong (the steering wheel is very far away). It feels as though you are driving a van since you feel so disconnected to the road.
Drive both, you'll see what I mean.
I drove my friend's XR. The handling is nowhere near as good as my P5, and the driving position is all wrong (the steering wheel is very far away). It feels as though you are driving a van since you feel so disconnected to the road.
Drive both, you'll see what I mean.
