My Review

[10spokess]

Hey Guys I am new around here. I have had family members that swear by the mazda name and have had Mazdaspeeds galor.

I saw the new mazda 3 and instantly fell in love with the styling of the hatch back. So I went on over to my local mazda dealer and had a look at a few of them. I test drove the 2.0 6speed and the 2.5 auto hatchback both in red.

I started in the 2.5 auto and I have to say the fit and finish is beyond compare to anything I have owned. (1988 Chevy Van, 2002 Camaro SS, 1997 Saturn Sl1) While all the cars I have owned have been prior to 2005 and are from one company I have driven many cars. I used to test drive cars for fun at my local dealers to pass the time. Now when I review cars the first thing I like to do is let it warm up and then put it through its paces. The 2.5 felt like a very strong engine, actually feeling stronger than the rated Hp that the dealer gave me (184 Hp 185Lb. Tq.) It felt comporable to a Scion TC in acceleration, while I liked the Scion the automatic in the scion left something to be desired but in the sport mode I actually preferred it to the 6 speed in the 2.0 (more on that later). While coming to a off ramp that did a complete 360 degree turn I accelerated and the car held very well. I have to say I love the way the car felt planted and basically had no body roll whatsoever. I was thoroughly inpressed with the way the car felt in the handeling department. Visibility in the car is a big thing for me, when I test drove the 2010 Camaro (as a camaro fanboy) I was so disapointed in the car because I was unable to manuver the car confidently because of the lack of visability from the driverseat. The Mazda 3 however has excelent forward visability, while in my opinion the A pillar is a bit on the thick side I was still able to place the driver tire and the passanger side tire exactly where I wanted it. All and all I have to give the 2.5 auto a 4.7 outta 5. Only reason I would take some points away is I wasn't too much of a fan of the heads up display gimmic that they include. It looks too out of place in my opinion.

Now on to the 2.0 6 speed. Everything that I said about the 2.5 has transfered over the the 2.0. I am partial to 6 speeds. I have always loved to row the gears and it makes me feel much more connected to the car. The feel of the shifter is by far the best shifter I have ever felt on an economy car. It rivals that of the 370z, and 2014 Mustang GT that I have recently driven. Actually exceeding the feel of the mustangs shifter. The clutch on the other hand I was not a fan of, reason being there was absolutly no clutch feel at all in the car. My salesman told me that it was because of the drive by wire system that is in the car. How every pedal is electric now, if there was a way to over come this I would take it in a heartbeat. The 2.0 I was in did not come with the infotainment system and I really missed it. I have to say the screen in the 2.5 was one of the best I have seen on a car. I give the 2.0 a 4.8 out of 5. The feel of that shifter far outweights that of the lack of feel in the clutch and the less power that the 2.5 has.

These are my thoughts on the new mazda 3. Thanks for letting me into your great community.

 

[ceric]

Headsup display is only on sGT. Get the Touring to avoid it.

I guess you would love it even more if there was a 2.5L sT 6-speed manual.

 

[10spokess]

Oh 100% I would take that motor with that exact transmission set up any day of the week. Does anyone know if that is a possibility

 

[ceric]

It was a real possibility when Mazda3 was announced. Not sure about it now.
Never heard of it since. One possible reason is Mazda is focusing on getting diesel into USA.
That takes more effort than Mazda originally anticipated.

 

[10spokess]

Well I would have to say that would be a shame if they decided to scrap the manual in US. The diesel would be a nice addition but I doubt they would put a manual transmission with that.

 

[2.0_Mazda]

Nice review!

My salesman told me that it was because of the drive by wire system that is in the car. How every pedal is electric now, if there was a way to over come this I would take it in a heartbeat.

Your salesman is wrong. The clutch is hydraulic, drive by wire is a completely different system. I think Bosch is working on this tech though.

 

[10spokess]

Oh it just felt so numb I couldnt feel the sticking point consistantly. I'd like to know what they do

 

[WildMidwest]

I haven't noticed clutch problems on my 2014 2.0L MZ3 MT-HB. Am thinking about upgrading to alloy pedals, though, to take my 3 to the next zoominess level.

 

[10spokess]

I don't think that it is a problem, I just prefer to have a stiffer clutch feel

 

[WildMidwest]

Perhaps there is a way to adjust the clutch weighting. Aside from plastic pedals, the clutch feel is perfect for me.

 

[waylonrobert]

Headsup display is only on sGT. Get the Touring to avoid it.

I guess you would love it even more if there was a 2.5L sT 6-speed manual.

The headsup display is also on the sT.

 

[10spokess]

What are your thoughts on the heads up display. I feel if I lived with it on a daily basis I would learn to like it.

 

[ceric]

If you do not have the hi-tech package, it only shows:
1: MPH
2. GPS turn direction

If you have the hi-tech package, it can show much more.

 

[10spokess]

What other things does it show?

 

[ceric]

Lane departure warning, for one.
I am not sure of others.

 

[10spokess]

Oh well, I hate all the new assists in my vehicles, I know they are to help people be safer. Honestly I think they just make people lazy

 

[Chibana]

Oh well, I hate all the new assists in my vehicles, I know they are to help people be safer. Honestly I think they just make people lazy

I used to feel that way, and still do about some of them; however, I think drivers (American, at least) continue to get less skilled, more distracted, and less interested in driving. I don't think this technology is necessarily causing that as much as it is that it's more necessary as we decide to reduce traffic deaths and counteract the fact that more and more drivers just can't be bothered to take their responsibilities on the road seriously. Some of them are genuinely good, meaningful improvements, continuing a trend in cars that has gone on since the beginning.

Although some studies have shown that the introduction of ABS did not decrease crash rates, there is no denying that, even on dry pavement, an ABS system can stop a car faster than even the best driver can without it. Tests have been done to prove this. I have no problem with traction control systems as long as they can be disabled by those of us who like to have some fun with our cars and have at least reasonable skill to handle it. I'm actually quite fond of my 2014 Mazda3's cross-traffic alert system. With the high percentage of cars on the road being very large vehicles, this feature helps when I can't see anything to the sides because both vehicles next to my 3 are half the size of my house.

I don't think there will be any stopping this trend, all the way to self-driving cars. I used to dread this future, but I'm so absolutely fed up with dealing with all of the amazingly incompetent and inconsiderate drivers on the road that I have concluded that it will be a much better place to drive when these idiots who don't care about driving won't be doing it anymore.

 

[CXVille]

I used to feel that way, and still do about some of them; however, I think drivers (American, at least) continue to get less skilled, more distracted, and less interested in driving. I don't think this technology is necessarily causing that as much as it is that it's more necessary as we decide to reduce traffic deaths and counteract the fact that more and more drivers just can't be bothered to take their responsibilities on the road seriously. Some of them are genuinely good, meaningful improvements, continuing a trend in cars that has gone on since the beginning.

Although some studies have shown that the introduction of ABS did not decrease crash rates, there is no denying that, even on dry pavement, an ABS system can stop a car faster than even the best driver can without it. Tests have been done to prove this. I have no problem with traction control systems as long as they can be disabled by those of us who like to have some fun with our cars and have at least reasonable skill to handle it. I'm actually quite fond of my 2014 Mazda3's cross-traffic alert system. With the high percentage of cars on the road being very large vehicles, this feature helps when I can't see anything to the sides because both vehicles next to my 3 are half the size of my house.

I don't think there will be any stopping this trend, all the way to self-driving cars. I used to dread this future, but I'm so absolutely fed up with dealing with all of the amazingly incompetent and inconsiderate drivers on the road that I have concluded that it will be a much better place to drive when these idiots who don't care about driving won't be doing it anymore.

You are partially correct. I have been to several driver training sessions where the first test is to approach a section of pavement lined with cones, and they tell you to SLAM on the brakes. Stop as quickly as possible. It is not your car, beat the crap out of it!! 90% of the participants don't activate ABS on the first or second time through the course. Yes, 90%. People just won't. It was comical watching people take twice as long to stop as they should. A skilled driver with out ABS can easily outstop a non-skilled (ignorant) driver with ABS. Kind of sad, really.

Yes, the cross traffic alert is way cool!

 

[Chibana]

Yes, I've read the same thing. That's a driver education issue. I expect that's why ABS didn't change the crash statistics.

 

[rochrunner]

While all the cars I have owned have been prior to 2005 and are from one company I have driven many cars.

LOL (in a friendly way!). If you have only ever owned GM cars, you are in for a big eye-opener (also in a good way!). I'm 67 and have owned a lot of GM cars starting in the 1960s -- even worked for them for a while -- and I have almost never had one that did not create big headaches in the end. The best one I owned was an Olds Intrigue, and 3 months after I bought it they closed down the division!

Anyway, none of the "import" cars I've owned have ever given me trouble, and this includes Mazda, Nissan, Audi, and BMW. Our '08 Mazda3 has been stone reliable. In fact, in order to get the '14 that I'm planning on, we're going to give the '08 to our son to replace his Saturn Ion (yes, the one with the "killer" ignition switch) and expect that he'll put many more miles on it.

Also, having looked at and driven the '14 sGT that we will probably buy in a few months, I am definitely of the opinion that this car is equipped and built to a level where it really can be competing with some of the "luxury" brand cars such as the Audi A3 and BMW 1 series!