Used 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 for Sale near North Carolina

How much does the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 cost?

Prices are up 5.41% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 696 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 earns 4.3/5 from owners and 7.8/10 from our experts. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

Drivers consistently praise its great fuel economy, reliability, and fun driving experience, and they also like its attractive design and affordable features compared with competitors. For you, that means this is a strong fit if you want a compact car that makes the commute feel more engaging without giving up everyday value. With 29.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s still some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.3/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction. User feedback points to reliability, great fuel economy, and a fun driving experience, while the expert review also describes the car as a practical, efficient, and fun little car that can inspire pride of ownership. The ownership picture is generally reassuring, but you should still focus on maintenance history and overall condition when shopping used, since long-term dependability depends heavily on how the car was cared for.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Mazda MAZDA3?

At 54% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a close inspection of body panels, paint consistency, and signs of prior repair. Pay extra attention to the cabin, since the interior is a common criticism, especially the instrument cluster setup and the enclosed feel of the hatchback space. If you’re comparing multiple listings, condition and equipment level matter a lot because this car’s value changes quickly with added features.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Sport trim is the entry point, while Touring and Grand Touring add more equipment and safety tech. The base trim can leave out some desirable features, so you should compare equipment carefully if you want the best value.
• Powertrain: The 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is the standard choice, while the 184-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder in the s models trades a slight fuel-economy penalty for stronger acceleration.
• Safety package: Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on Touring and Grand Touring, optional on Sport. The Technology Package on Grand Touring automatic models adds dynamic cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive HID headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and lane-departure warning.
• Infotainment: Mazda Connect is standard and includes Bluetooth with music streaming, HD Radio, satellite radio, Internet radio, social media access, text-message delivery and reply, and two USB ports. The system uses a touchscreen, but touch input is disabled while driving.
• Fuel efficiency: The review says the car can average below its official city fuel-economy rating, with a 28.5 mpg test result for the 2.0-liter manual and 26.7 mpg for the 2.5-liter automatic.

Which 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 trim should I buy?

The 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 is offered in 6 trim levels: Mazda3 i Sport, Mazda3 i Touring, Mazda3 i Grand Touring, Mazda3 s Sport, Mazda3 s Touring, Mazda3 s Grand Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Mazda3 i Sport: This is the entry point, and it makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the Mazda3 lineup. It gives you the core driving character, but you’ll want to check whether the equipment level is enough for your needs.
• Mazda3 i Touring: This is the better-value choice for many shoppers because it adds more everyday usability and safety equipment without jumping all the way to the top of the range. If you want a balanced used buy, this is the trim to focus on first.
• Mazda3 i Grand Touring: This is the most upscale version of the 2.0-liter lineup, and it suits you if you want more comfort, technology, and a richer feel. It’s the trim to consider if you want the most complete non-s model.
• Mazda3 s Sport: Choose this if you want the stronger 2.5-liter engine and care more about acceleration than maximum efficiency. It’s the right pick if driving feel matters more than keeping costs as low as possible.
• Mazda3 s Touring: This is the sweet spot for shoppers who want the more powerful engine plus a better equipment mix. It should appeal if you want a more satisfying daily driver without going all the way to the top trim.
• Mazda3 s Grand Touring: This is the most fully equipped version and the best fit if you want the most features, the strongest available presentation, and the most premium feel in the lineup.

Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on Touring and Grand Touring, and optional on Sport.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Mazda MAZDA3?

This is a seller’s market, so you should act selectively and be ready to move when a strong listing appears.

• Deal availability: 29.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 696 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 5.41% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 54.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $10,773, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3's resale value?

The current average of $12,202 sits slightly above last year's $11,576.

That upward move suggests the market has been willing to pay a bit more for this model year, which is a positive sign if you plan to sell later. The current price range also shows that well-priced examples can move quickly, especially when they’re clean and well equipped. For you, that means condition and trim level will matter a lot when it comes time to resell.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.3/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 safe?

The Mazda MAZDA3 earns top crash-test ratings from the federal government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

Mazda Connect includes an E911 automatic emergency notification system, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on Touring and Grand Touring, optional on Sport. The Technology Package on Grand Touring automatic models adds dynamic cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive HID headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and lane-departure warning. If you’re shopping a lower trim, make sure the safety equipment you want is actually included.

Should I buy a 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 29.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 54% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 5.41% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 4.3/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It balances fun driving feel with strong safety and value.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $11,114, the 2015 costs less than the current year's $12,202 average.
• It feels more upscale than its badge suggests.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $13,288, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $12,202 average.
• The refresh adds design updates and G-Vectoring Control.

The bottom line: If you want the best mix of value, safety, and driving enjoyment, the 2016 is the main target. If your budget is tighter, the 2015 is the cheaper path; if you want the newer update and can spend more, the 2017 is worth a look.

How does the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 compare to the 2016 Honda Civic?

Our experts score the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 7.8/10 and the 2016 Honda Civic 8/10. The Civic has the edge on overall expert score, starting price, and average used price, while the Mazda3 counters with a lower used price and a stronger accident-free share in the comparison data. You should lean toward the Civic if you want the slightly stronger all-around score and broader market presence, but the Mazda3 is the better pick if you value a more engaging driving feel and lower used-market cost.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.