Just a note on the "full throttle" when in manual mode, there is a kickdown pedal when you fully press the throttle, it will engage the auto upshift. I have found this out on my CX30 turbo. Very interesting.
The old Mazda speed 3 didn't sell. Their old brand motto wasn't profitable. They are doing much better now. These are the glory days not back then. People who say they miss the old Mazda have another thing in common. They didn't buy one.
I initially had leaser’s remorse after 6 months. I ended up switching the tires to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All Seasons and now I won’t even consider giving the car back as it can now handle a proper spirited drive. My only gripe with this car is that manual upshifts are extremely slow so you have to shift a second or two before where you would normally shift.
This is one of those cars where it’s especially important to separate what the car IS vs. what you WANT the car to be. As this value luxury play more about features/comfort/materials than athleticism, it’s a compelling option. But it’s just not designed to be a sporty hot hatch. That’s actually the primary reason I decided to go for a manual version of one of these with the base 2.5. If I wanted something this fast and powerful, I’d just get a hot hatch instead. As much as I think that this was a missed opportunity in some ways, also gotta keep in mind how small an automaker Mazda is. They really gotta budget carefully, and this was likely the best they felt they could do while still keeping it financially viable.
I own the 2023 turbo plus and had the 2019 NA AWD before it. The turbo is fast as hell. I don't know what you're talking about. The thing MOVES. The torque is nuts. From stand still it takes off. And even highway speeds 130 is done without any effort at all. People saying it's not performance i just absolutely don't agree.
@@Games4Days912 even the non turbo the 186 horspower 2.5liter man that thing can scoot to i modded my 3 took off the restrictions , she pulls nicely for a naturally aspirated engine
Literally, I’m 6’0 and I fit behind myself albeit not a lot of legroom and headroom but my knees aren’t touching the front seat. The civic may have more legroom but it is also substantially bigger.
I get the affection for the zoom zoom days but ‘Zoom Zoom’ was basically a marketing campaign. Other than the rarely bought Mazdaspeeds what about the Mazda’s of old were sportier than today’s? Sure the 3 ditched the independent rear suspension and they also slowed the steering down so there is that. But Mazda really can’t win. How many journalists complained about the loud interiors and road noise of those prior Mazdas? Now Mazda offers a huge dose of refinement and quietness with pretty powerful engines and all we hear is the often repeated, where is the zoom zoom? For this price I think this makes sense to someone who really needs AWD and does not need the space of a CUV, and wants something that drives pretty refined. And luxury is hard to define these days. Maybe it’s is more about refinement and comfort and not features. It’s amazing how many features Audis and BMWs are missing in their lower trims the cheaper mass market cars are now providing as standard.
Other car companies: makes body lines by bending panels Mazda: creates the illusion of body lines by bending light. (Just look at the side profile for a moment and pay attention to how the shadow on the side of the car curves towards the rear wheels)
I saw like 30 test drive here in yt about mazda 3, but your impresion and comments were the most negative so far. you do not understand that this car is nooooot a sport car. was not build for kids to drive 200 km/ hour on the highway!It's all about reliability,finess,elegance for serious people that drive to work every day! i own a sedan 2L from 01.2022 and i love this car. simple, elegant, without 23 inch screen very quiet and very stable on the road.Regarding the steering wheel you are 200% wrong! And that's my opinion.
So true. And reviewing the manual mode without even knowing how to make it do what he wanted just makes the rest of the review some bunch of uninformed nonsense. I find the 6 speed auto trans perfectly adequate and I'm so happy that it is NOT a CVT.
As an owner of a 2021 turbo hatch, I can confirm this car isnt a Mazdaspeed 3, but it wasnt designed to be. The biggest misstep Mazda made is not waiting until their homegrown 8 speed auto was ready before releasing this car, or offering a manual. The 6 speed auto is fine as far as older transmission designs go, shifts are reasonbly quickly using sport mode and paddles...but it definitely blunts the class leading 320 ftlbs torque which combined with AWD should theoretically make this car very fast off the line, but as it is, only quick. Dont get me wrong, you never feel like this car is underpowered and you will find yourself at the speed limit before you know it, but it could have been so much more. All in all I love the car and dont really care cars with less power and torque can match or even beat the 0-60 time, but it does seem like theres some missed performance potential even if Mazdaspeed wasnt the goal.
@@rembo183 Let it go. Mazda said they don't have a manual that can handle the turbo. They design their own transmissions and there isn't any money in it as no one is buying manuals anymore.
Wrong, it's not the best red on the market but definitely the second best. Trust me, I know. I own a 2019 Mazda6 Signature and a 2021 Turbo Mazda3 both in the same Soul Red Crystal Metallic 46V color. The best in the market is from Honda/Acura and it's called VALENCIA RED the most beautiful red I've ever seen in person. I saw it on an Acura 2018 TLX PMC Edition I can't look at both my mazdas the same anymore... you gotta see it in person to believe it
I wish you guys would stop wasting our time (and yours) by evaluating rear seat room in these small hatches. Nobody who buys this class vehicles does so with the expectation of carrying a normal sized human in the rear seat. I love my Mazda 3 Turbo but unfortunately local mileage is ABYSMAL (17/29MPG). Combined with the mini gas tank most BEV’s have greater range. Fortunately highway mileage improves dramatically (31/33MPG).
speak for yourself honestly just because you dont find value in that part doesnt mean others dont. the rear seats arent even that bad and are usable taller people will need to slouch is all
Agreed, and I say that as an owner of a 2021 turbo hatch. If I had a child or even regular backseat passengers I would have bought something else. I look at kind of like a Porsche 911 (no, not comparing the performance lol) that technically has rear seats, but likely never used except on vary rare occasions. Of course the Mazda 3 seats are far more useable..passengers get their own door and it only requires front passenger/driver to scoot up slightly to make the legroom bearable, not so in the 911. Mazda sacrificed a small bit of function for form, and I'm personally happy they did that as the car looks unique..and not just in it's class.
@@LlamaSpeeed Anyone who places any value on backseat comfort (air vents arent offered on any trim level in the US) should probably either go up a size in their car, or get a Civic Si that has decent space back there.
Agreed. I bought a Mazda because I like the cockpit feeling where there's no unnecessary wiggle room. If you want space to spread your legs and lean your arms everywhere, just do us few Mazda lovers a favour and get a Camry or an Si. No other car company will listen to our prayers.
I traded my 2022 Mazda 3 Turbo AWD hatchback for a 2022 230i base with Convenience package and no other options. About same price but the BMW is clearly a higher performing luxury car! Check it out!
@@joshuas3897 - I purchased the Turbo AWD 3. It was $35k MSRP. My 230i was $39k. The BMW is a handles better feels better and get better gas mileage too. It’s more of a luxury vehicle at a comparable price as long as you don’t get many options. I agree that the 3 is also very nice. I was a bit disappointed in the MPG for the 3 due to AWD. Overall I feel that the 230i is a good value if minimally optioned. Otherwise it’s too expensive.
For this money you can buy a BMW 230i. I just did. I traded tv car for a base 230i. About the same price you keep options minimal the 230i. The BMW is better in every way as enthusiast’s driver’s car
230i is a coupe rather than a 5 door hatch. And a supra is the better enthusiast choice in comparison to that. Check any review of 230i vs supra and they'll say the same
Problem is you bought a BMW. Plastic cooling lines galore quality control is awful. No offense you just sound like a BMW fanboy or you got glitter in your eyes from just buying it. Nothing about BMW screams enthusiasts car unless it’s a M series. Problem with BMW people is it’s the same as charger people. They get a V-6 and all think it’s the same as a hellcat. I’m sorry but it’s a base BMW not a M series.
@@shivamarya5225 - The Supra is much smaller, automatic plus it’s about $55-60k. The 230i Coupe is a lot of fun to drive too and about $40k. Less money for a great car. But it’s all very subjective. I like the Supra … but I’ll wait for the manual!
53k is for the 3l V6, no one ever compared that to the 230i which has the 2.0l turbocharged and they stopped making a manual, The supra 2.0l has the same engine, less expensive, faster and better handling, that's the enthusiast choice
@@shivamarya5225 - The 3.0 Supra is generally compared to the M240i which has the 6 six cylinder. It’s a close choice between enthusiasts. Those who want more comfort and practicality choose the M240i. Those who want a less practical two seater with less room and a claustrophobic cabin with a lower and very narrow entry point , choose the Supra.
I love Mazda and their quality but I never understood this latest 3. Not great power, not great gas mileage, not great infotainment, not great Visibility, not great storage space, not great interior space, not great rear seating, not great transmission, not great price, it should be their bread and butter car that excels in most of these areas and it just doesn’t. I want to like it but it's a competitive market and there are better choices.
Have you been in one and driven one? The interior fit, finish, and design is far superior to the competition. And the fun to drive factor is far more! Bought one a month ago, about to get its cousin, the CX30. (Coming from many years of BMWs)
Just a note on the "full throttle" when in manual mode, there is a kickdown pedal when you fully press the throttle, it will engage the auto upshift. I have found this out on my CX30 turbo. Very interesting.
auto downshift?
The old Mazda speed 3 didn't sell. Their old brand motto wasn't profitable. They are doing much better now. These are the glory days not back then. People who say they miss the old Mazda have another thing in common. They didn't buy one.
I initially had leaser’s remorse after 6 months. I ended up switching the tires to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All Seasons and now I won’t even consider giving the car back as it can now handle a proper spirited drive. My only gripe with this car is that manual upshifts are extremely slow so you have to shift a second or two before where you would normally shift.
Same thing here. All it needed is a change of tires, and yeah theres a shift delay but once you learn it it's very easy to manage.
Considering that this is stock for stock faster the a speed3 id say this is a absolutely fantastic car.
This is one of those cars where it’s especially important to separate what the car IS vs. what you WANT the car to be. As this value luxury play more about features/comfort/materials than athleticism, it’s a compelling option. But it’s just not designed to be a sporty hot hatch. That’s actually the primary reason I decided to go for a manual version of one of these with the base 2.5. If I wanted something this fast and powerful, I’d just get a hot hatch instead. As much as I think that this was a missed opportunity in some ways, also gotta keep in mind how small an automaker Mazda is. They really gotta budget carefully, and this was likely the best they felt they could do while still keeping it financially viable.
I own the 2023 turbo plus and had the 2019 NA AWD before it. The turbo is fast as hell. I don't know what you're talking about. The thing MOVES. The torque is nuts. From stand still it takes off. And even highway speeds 130 is done without any effort at all. People saying it's not performance i just absolutely don't agree.
@@Games4Days912 even the non turbo the 186 horspower 2.5liter man that thing can scoot to i modded my 3 took off the restrictions , she pulls nicely for a naturally aspirated engine
@@akgonen60 oh heck yeah. I had a 2019 NA before my Turbo now. Definitely quick for being a 4 cylinder NA!
If your 5’11” your driver’s seat is too far back
I agree.
Literally, I’m 6’0 and I fit behind myself albeit not a lot of legroom and headroom but my knees aren’t touching the front seat. The civic may have more legroom but it is also substantially bigger.
I get the affection for the zoom zoom days but ‘Zoom Zoom’ was basically a marketing campaign. Other than the rarely bought Mazdaspeeds what about the Mazda’s of old were sportier than today’s? Sure the 3 ditched the independent rear suspension and they also slowed the steering down so there is that. But Mazda really can’t win. How many journalists complained about the loud interiors and road noise of those prior Mazdas? Now Mazda offers a huge dose of refinement and quietness with pretty powerful engines and all we hear is the often repeated, where is the zoom zoom? For this price I think this makes sense to someone who really needs AWD and does not need the space of a CUV, and wants something that drives pretty refined. And luxury is hard to define these days. Maybe it’s is more about refinement and comfort and not features. It’s amazing how many features Audis and BMWs are missing in their lower trims the cheaper mass market cars are now providing as standard.
Other car companies: makes body lines by bending panels
Mazda: creates the illusion of body lines by bending light.
(Just look at the side profile for a moment and pay attention to how the shadow on the side of the car curves towards the rear wheels)
That one of the things that got me interested in it, just how absolutely stunning
I saw like 30 test drive here in yt about mazda 3, but your impresion and comments were the most negative so far. you do not understand that this car is nooooot a sport car. was not build for kids to drive 200 km/ hour on the highway!It's all about reliability,finess,elegance for serious people that drive to work every day! i own a sedan 2L from 01.2022 and i love this car. simple, elegant, without 23 inch screen very quiet and very stable on the road.Regarding the steering wheel you are 200% wrong! And that's my opinion.
So true. And reviewing the manual mode without even knowing how to make it do what he wanted just makes the rest of the review some bunch of uninformed nonsense. I find the 6 speed auto trans perfectly adequate and I'm so happy that it is NOT a CVT.
Not a hot hatch because Mazda said so, but in reality the cars specs are in line with similar price points of entry level sports cars
Wish they would give a manual option for the Turbo.
As an owner of a 2021 turbo hatch, I can confirm this car isnt a Mazdaspeed 3, but it wasnt designed to be. The biggest misstep Mazda made is not waiting until their homegrown 8 speed auto was ready before releasing this car, or offering a manual. The 6 speed auto is fine as far as older transmission designs go, shifts are reasonbly quickly using sport mode and paddles...but it definitely blunts the class leading 320 ftlbs torque which combined with AWD should theoretically make this car very fast off the line, but as it is, only quick. Dont get me wrong, you never feel like this car is underpowered and you will find yourself at the speed limit before you know it, but it could have been so much more. All in all I love the car and dont really care cars with less power and torque can match or even beat the 0-60 time, but it does seem like theres some missed performance potential even if Mazdaspeed wasnt the goal.
This just needed a manual.
@@rembo183 Let it go. Mazda said they don't have a manual that can handle the turbo. They design their own transmissions and there isn't any money in it as no one is buying manuals anymore.
@@alcovitch - 👍🏻
I'd love to have had a manual too but let's be honest: the vast majority of drivers, esp. in the US do not want or even know how to drive a manual.
It will hold a gear and go right up to fuel cutoff if you turn traction control off.
if you turn traction control off, it will hold a gear!
I'm 5'6 but I walk like I'm 6 foot lol😂
its topher but not topher im confused
From what I’ve read the Mazda6 and the inline 6 are cancelled
Driving with the ac on sport mode high octane gas gives the car lots of power.
8:18 I'm tripping I thought you actually touched the screen to switch views 😂
Excellent review as always. I wish Mazda would bring the Skyactiv X to the United States. Thanks
Won’t ever happen, lacks the torque and hp of the base 2..0 and everyday mileage is no better.
It was far from excellent!That was his opinion only, not a real review!I bet that this guy is a BMW lover so, mazda is nothing for this kid.......
Most modern cars shit up for you it's designed that way so you don't damage the engine or the transmission
can you please do the sedan version ?
You’re “only 5’ 11”? In 2020, the average height of the American male was 5’9”. 🙄
Wrong, it's not the best red on the market but definitely the second best. Trust me, I know. I own a 2019 Mazda6 Signature and a 2021 Turbo Mazda3 both in the same Soul Red Crystal Metallic 46V color. The best in the market is from Honda/Acura and it's called VALENCIA RED the most beautiful red I've ever seen in person. I saw it on an Acura 2018 TLX PMC Edition I can't look at both my mazdas the same anymore... you gotta see it in person to believe it
I wish you guys would stop wasting our time (and yours) by evaluating rear seat room in these small hatches. Nobody who buys this class vehicles does so with the expectation of carrying a normal sized human in the rear seat. I love my Mazda 3 Turbo but unfortunately local mileage is ABYSMAL (17/29MPG). Combined with the mini gas tank most BEV’s have greater range. Fortunately highway mileage improves dramatically (31/33MPG).
speak for yourself honestly just because you dont find value in that part doesnt mean others dont. the rear seats arent even that bad and are usable taller people will need to slouch is all
Agreed, and I say that as an owner of a 2021 turbo hatch. If I had a child or even regular backseat passengers I would have bought something else. I look at kind of like a Porsche 911 (no, not comparing the performance lol) that technically has rear seats, but likely never used except on vary rare occasions. Of course the Mazda 3 seats are far more useable..passengers get their own door and it only requires front passenger/driver to scoot up slightly to make the legroom bearable, not so in the 911. Mazda sacrificed a small bit of function for form, and I'm personally happy they did that as the car looks unique..and not just in it's class.
@@LlamaSpeeed Anyone who places any value on backseat comfort (air vents arent offered on any trim level in the US) should probably either go up a size in their car, or get a Civic Si that has decent space back there.
Agreed. I bought a Mazda because I like the cockpit feeling where there's no unnecessary wiggle room. If you want space to spread your legs and lean your arms everywhere, just do us few Mazda lovers a favour and get a Camry or an Si. No other car company will listen to our prayers.
Bad audio, low volume.
I traded my 2022 Mazda 3 Turbo AWD hatchback for a 2022 230i base with Convenience package and no other options. About same price but the BMW is clearly a higher performing luxury car! Check it out!
The Mazda will last longer.
The 230 i starts at $36K. You can get a pretty well equipped Mazda 3 Turbo Sedan for $32K. The bmw will be at least $5-7K more
@@joshuas3897 - I purchased the Turbo AWD 3. It was $35k MSRP. My 230i was $39k. The BMW is a handles better feels better and get better gas mileage too. It’s more of a luxury vehicle at a comparable price as long as you don’t get many options. I agree that the 3 is also very nice. I was a bit disappointed in the MPG for the 3 due to AWD. Overall I feel that the 230i is a good value if minimally optioned. Otherwise it’s too expensive.
@@rembo183 The mazda has a way better interior and it is far more reliable.
@@Zugetzu - 😊
For this money you can buy a
BMW 230i. I just did. I traded tv car for a base 230i. About the same price you keep options minimal the 230i. The BMW is better in every way as enthusiast’s driver’s car
230i is a coupe rather than a 5 door hatch. And a supra is the better enthusiast choice in comparison to that. Check any review of 230i vs supra and they'll say the same
Problem is you bought a BMW. Plastic cooling lines galore quality control is awful. No offense you just sound like a BMW fanboy or you got glitter in your eyes from just buying it. Nothing about BMW screams enthusiasts car unless it’s a M series. Problem with BMW people is it’s the same as charger people. They get a V-6 and all think it’s the same as a hellcat. I’m sorry but it’s a base BMW not a M series.
@@shivamarya5225 - The Supra is much smaller, automatic plus it’s about $55-60k. The 230i Coupe is a lot of fun to drive too and about $40k. Less money for a great car. But it’s all very subjective. I like the Supra … but I’ll wait for the manual!
53k is for the 3l V6, no one ever compared that to the 230i which has the 2.0l turbocharged and they stopped making a manual,
The supra 2.0l has the same engine, less expensive, faster and better handling, that's the enthusiast choice
@@shivamarya5225 - The 3.0 Supra is generally compared to the M240i which has the 6 six cylinder. It’s a close choice between enthusiasts. Those who want more comfort and practicality choose the M240i. Those who want a less practical two seater with less room and a claustrophobic cabin with a lower and very narrow entry point , choose the Supra.
I love Mazda and their quality but I never understood this latest 3. Not great power, not great gas mileage, not great infotainment, not great Visibility, not great storage space, not great interior space, not great rear seating, not great transmission, not great price, it should be their bread and butter car that excels in most of these areas and it just doesn’t. I want to like it but it's a competitive market and there are better choices.
Have you been in one and driven one? The interior fit, finish, and design is far superior to the competition. And the fun to drive factor is far more! Bought one a month ago, about to get its cousin, the CX30. (Coming from many years of BMWs)
😁did you even drive a new mazda 3? at least be honest.....
@@Luciano-IL yes, there’s a brand new one in my driveway right now! 😄
@@PeteLenz Pete, i understand that you have a new mazda like me!Enjoy! i asked in fact the "smart" guy Wackit......😄
@@PeteLenz I am now the owner of a 2021 3 and it may not have the best top in buuuuut its so freaking fun and just awesome to drive