2014 Mazda Mazda3

Very dependable for 7 years

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

I have loved this car the entire time I’ve owned it. No significant mechanical problems. But the paint job/finish? I’ve never had a car that scratches so easily. It has more scratches than all my past cars put together. Also little dings all over: no idea how? Shopping carts? It gets dented and chipped no matter what I do.

I love this car

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

I've had this car for well over a year now and I love it just as much as when I first bought it. It's a gorgeous design inside and out. There's enough power to get you where you need to go and it has a really good handling and nice tight turning. When the tire air pressure sensor goes off it can be alarming and makes you think that you have a flat even if you're just a little low so don't panic when it goes off. In the snow it struggles a little, in the end it's still safe and can probably get you where you need to go but it tends to struggle up some hills. Overall a great car that is a joy to drive.

Zoom Zoom Really Describes This Vehicle

Tuesday, November 09, 2021

I looked repeatedly for a stylish vehicle that offers all the bells and whistles I wanted and STILL came with a standard transmission. Admittedly, that manual transmission option is VERY tough to find these days, but I switched brands and found this Mazda3 Hatchback that fit the bill perfectly. While it is a bit smaller than I would have preferred, it has worked out perfectly for me in so many ways. It has tremendous power with a 2.5L engine and moves especially quick with a stick shift. The stick shift is also a huge traction bonus in winter driving. I special-ordered this from Japan because the S-Grand Touring was not initially available, and it took nearly four months to arrive, in early December 2015. My only regret is that I did not pay the upcharge to get the red metallic paint instead of the dark blue I selected. The red is stunning. It has been a wonderful car, very reliable and I have a terrific dealership. Fuel mileage is good (30 mpg around town) on regular gas. I put very few miles on it now that I'm retired, and it has everything that I need ... moon roof, a great sound system, leather heated power seats, good A/C, etc., and one of my most favorite features ever -- something called "hill assist." This feature automatically holds the car on a steep hill until it's time to move (especially difficult in a stick shift, of course); there are a couple of steep hills near my home that I have avoided because I worry about "drifting" over the years even though I've driven manual transmissions for decades. It works perfectly every time. I will get a CX-5 at some point (sadly, no manual transmission is offered with a SUV), but my Mazda3 will rank as one of my favorite vehicles ever. I don't recommend it for taller/larger drivers, though, and be aware that seeing over/past SUVs is an issue in a vehicle this size.