Mazda MAZDA3 (2004 - 2009) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Extremely reliable daily car. Does not chug e10 gas. Plenty of room for seats AND trunk space. I personally love the look of the hatchback better than its sedan. Has a slight sports look. Beautiful interior and exterior. Can be beat on and stand strong. Very aftermarket supported. 100/10 would recommend for a first car. The only thing that is worrying is that the rear fender/fender wells tend to rust easily, so if you have lots of snow and salt or gravel and rain, rust could be a potential problem. Deserves more than 5 stars.Aug 22, 2024

Loved the look and it was very comfortable. Suprisingly felt bigger than it actually was. The gas mileage wasn't as great as other smaller cars, but the tradeoff was the great ride and handling. Mazda ZOOM ZOOM for sure. Maintenance was low and when needed was very cost effective (always took to Mazda dealer). Great acceleration and braking. Felt very safe and in control at all times. Very fun to drive and was sad to see it go.Feb 27, 2014

Performance - acceleration is okay for a 2.3 non-turbo. I have a short shifter and a new suspension installed that made driving much more fun. Build Quality - It has a few squeaks and rattles in the interior but they are mostly due to an upgraded motor mount and the stiff suspension. Appearance - Interior is beautiful and the exterior is also very eye catching. I am constantly finding things to do to this car. Cost of Ownership - 25-27mpg avg. with mostly back roads and in town driving. Fun Factor - This car is extremely fun to drive. It handles very well and it turns heads wherever it goes. Sep 17, 2010

In terms of appearance, I find the new 2010 Mazda3 less attractive than the old 2009 Mazda3. The there too many lines on the 2010 car and the corners on the lights pertrude out too much like eyeliner on a girl. I'm not saying its bad; it's just doesn't fit my taste. In terms of performance, I am very satisfied with my 2009 Mazda 3. I love fast sports cars and super cars. However, there is such a thing as speed limit. And unless I take the car to the track, I have no place to get everything out of the car. So in my opinion it is better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Thus, 156 horses is enough for getting around. The car stock suspensions are not too stiff, so the ride is very comfortable. The engine sound isn't robust like a muscle car, yet has a reasonable roar. The handling of the car is very smooth and love going around bends and turns. The response of the car is remarkable for its class. It isn't loose like a corolla and won't challenge you back like a civic. Through both corolla and civic are both well established and good cars in their own right. With regards to the interior, I am inpressed. When I realized that I couldn't afford more than a Mazda3 at the time, I wasn't too pleased. However, once I saw what the the car had to offer, I must say I'll have a tough time chosing my next car. I got the GT sport: and that included the Leather seats (and heated front ones) and steering wheel, with a 6 disk CD changer and BOSE speaker system. The acoustics are great and can handle the loudness and vibration of the sounds with driver and passengers shaking in the car simultaneously and seeing doubles of everything. I didn't get the navigation/GPS package so I can't tell you anything about it. To add to this the hatchback offers plenty of cargo space. This past July I move as well as helping my uncles and cousins move too. I was surpise how spacious it was when I dropped the back seats. I was able to carry just as much if not more compared to my uncles' camry and Grand Cherokee(NO JOKE!!!). For me this car is a perfect combination of practicality, fun, basic luxury, and getting it in black with stock 18inch rims from Mazda, classy too.Sep 14, 2010

bought this car used in August 2008 with 51,800 miles on it; I've had it now for 18 months and have put about 12,000 miles on it since then. I originally wrote a review a week after I bought it but figured an update might be in order... Handling is probably this car's best attribute. It's enjoyable just to drive the 3 around town running errands, with quick, precise steering, an absurdly tight turning circle and moderate body roll. The 2.3-liter engine provides reasonable pick-up but won't win you many drag races; still, it's just fine for me. The interior is well built on the whole and looks and feels nicer than you might expect in a <$20k car. However, since I bought it a few annoying rattles have developed, mainly from the glovebox door and somewhere along the headliner, that make the car feel less solid than it used to. I've had no mechanical/maintenance issues with the car other than a burnt out signal light. My main complaint about my 3 is road noise. It's very noisy, even at low speeds; on the highway you practically need to yell to keep up a conversation. Admittedly this is partly due to what I think is a bent right front wheel on my car, but I've heard complaints about road noise from various Mazda3 reviews so I think that's a pretty consistent issue. Other lows include a jittery ride (the payoff for such good handling), and poor rear seat space, at least for anyone over 6ft tall. Otherwise, this is a sporty, practical car that looks good and is reasonably sparing with fuel (I get about 18mpg city, 25mpg combined). Definitely recommended if you enjoy driving but need something practical!Mar 24, 2010

I LOVE HER TO DEATH The whole car is very soul driven, this is not an ordinary car, you buy this car because you love this car. Shifting the gears is such a soothing feeling. Racing away from the lights gets your heart pounding. Flying around on back roads is very settling, this car corners exceptionally. The interior is great, especially when you put the time in to keep it clean, and the exterior looks great from all angles. I sometimes just stop and admire her beauty for a couple minutes. Even when you red line her and push top speed around on highways, i still can get 28 to 20 mpg, great car! SO MUCH FUN! LOVE HERMar 22, 2010

Awesome and affordable...beautiful car...neat styling very quick and fun to drive... great handling and awesome brakes make you feel completely and comfortably in control...great gas mileage,packs plenty of cargo. This nimble chariot does all i could ask and more ! I love my Mazda 3...Get the stick shift, and drive one soon :) ********gets my vote for best in class*********Mar 14, 2010

This is my current car and I love this one too. The performance of the car is pretty decent, it has a decent acceleration, has amazing breaking, rated first in its class, and the handling is very good as well. The build quality is very good. Its quiet, loud when i want it to be, and overall pretty cool. Only repair needed was the power steering pump system which was a standard repair for 2008. The appearance of the car is awesome. Its real sporty looking, and the interior of the car is also remarkable. The gas mileage is better than my Tacoma, but not remarkable better. All maintenance is covered by warranty. Overall the car is a great pick, and is awesome to drive. Its a great drive and I fully recommend it.Sep 21, 2009

Performance- Acceleration is good for a 4-cyl, but the fact that it's FWD isn't the best. Braking is very good, and handling is fantastic. Even with a mediocre set of tires, the Mazda3 is practically glued to the road. Build Quality- There are some rattles, specifically "glovebox rattle", a common occurrence in Mazdas, I've heard. Easy to fix, but obnoxious nonetheless. Appearance- Interior is very tasteful. Build specifically for drivers. Good amount of interior space, too. The 2004-2009 front fascia is much more aggressive than the new, smiley 2010s. Cost- Great gas mpg, cheap maintenance. Overall, awesome. Fun Factor- This car is a blast. It will surprise you how great it handles on back-roads, and is very nimble.Sep 07, 2009

This Mazda has been our reliable companion since my Sentra was totaled. I bought it because it was the most stylish, best performing car I could afford brand new. After about 55,000 miles, the only reliability issues I've had were minor annoyances related to my own modifications. Mazdas are known for their sharp driving dynamics, and this car is no exception. My Mazda3 does great on twisty roads, especially after equipping Mazdaspeed sport springs and dampers and W rated Kuhmo tires. The way it shifts, steers, and brakes far exceeds the standard for base price sedans. And because of my custom exhaust, everyone knows I'm coming when they hear the signature "BWAAAAAAR!" The Mazda3's styling, inside and out, is also a cut above other small cars. Everyone who rides in it comments about how nice the interior is. My only two issues with it, (and I'm being really picky here) are the lack of power, and that it sometimes experiences wheel hop when accelerating from a stop on wet pavement. So if you can afford it, buy a Mazdaspped3! I drive it pretty hard and it still gets 26mpg and has never needed major repair. It's fun to drive and it still carries my family and our stuff. We love our Mazda3!May 30, 2009

I bought my Mazda3 in July of 2008 after I had rented one when my previous car was in the shop. I immediately loved it. When one drives this car you get the sense of driving a race car while maintaining the funtionality and comfort of a 4- door sedan. I opted for the hatchback because this seems to increase this sport feel and look even more for me. The car is very well built in all areas. since this car is a 4-cylinder great gas mileage is assumed and maintenance is low but cost of ownership really depends on how you drive the car. My only complaint is about the stock tires. These are Goodyear Eagle RS-A's and are great tires is you area a fast aggressive driver, but poor for the rest of the world. I'm coming up to 13,000 miles and am already down to 7/32" and will have to replace them before I get to 15,000 miles. Other than that I am still completely blown away from this car. The inside lights up beautifully at night and on the outside you have HID headlights and LED taillights. this car is by far the best choice in its class. Oh and if you decide to buy it check out the Costco Auto program. Mar 10, 2009

It's sporty and quick around the corners, plus there's plenty of room for people and their gear, apparently handles pretty good in the snow (with snow tires), the 2.3L engine is powerful enough to have fun but also gets pretty good mileage. when regularly serviced, I have seen some '05 cars upward of 200K. the interior materials are of good quality and are easy to reach without looking down. Being 6'6" it's easy to say that ,as long as I can drive the car with room to spare, many people will find it to be a spacious vehicle.Dec 19, 2008

My baby is reliable, cute and excellent value for money for a single person household. One person feels comfortable in using it and it rather nicely accommodates 4 people and luggage. Handles nicely, unfortunately slightly noicy inside. Maintenance cost is ok and as a Japanese car Mazda 3 is very good quality. Fun factor reasonable... could be better. Nevertheless, realiable and good value for money. Nov 27, 2008

Fun to drive, handles great, steering feedback is pure mazda and amongst the best in the industry. Acceleration, braking, and cornering are top of it's class. Build quality is lackluster, rattles galore and I'm on my 2nd engine. Not a tuner car by any means, suspension geometry cannot be tampered with unless you're really willing to spend big $$$ on coilovers, arms and links.Jul 31, 2008

The Mazda 3s GT gives you more for about 21K than any other car, period. It is a pure pleasure to drive, slow or fast, and the car's looks are aggressive, yet soft so that it appeals to both genders. And man, can it handle! What an amazing suspension system. The car corners like if it were on rails! And the braking is eye-popping! The acceleration is decent, and feels great anywhere above 3000RPM. Definitely zoom zoom worthy! Again, we're only talking about 21K here. As far as comfort and safety goes you can check on the mazda website, since the list never ends. Just know that there are airbags all around the car so that in case of accident you end up envelopped like in a little cocoon. The leather is awesome, with front seat warmers, climate control, computer trip, Bose sound, wheel controls, mp3 player attachment, etc... the list goes on and on. Well, to me it was a no brainer: I bought one! In this segment the Mazda 3s GT has NO competition.Feb 22, 2007