finally... someone that reviews this beautiful thing without it being AWD and turbo ultra premium... was looking for the standard to mid level version of this car cause lemme tell ya... not everybody can afford the premium like all those reviewers are showin off seriously appreciate this godsent of a video definitly gonna get this car once i got the money haha
Thank you! We appreciate that feedback. Yes, the non turbo trim levels, the carbon and even the lower priced preferred plus are excellent at their prices. Car prices have gone bonkers so even this carbon is still pricey compared to just a few years ago. All the best and keep in touch.
Anyone like the sedan more than the hatchback? I think the hatchback looks out of proportion...like the car is trying to hatch an egg back there or something! But the sedan is beautiful.
I've had 3 Mazda's over the years and I've always loved the quality of the build for the money. I like the appearance of the Mazda more so than the Honda's and Toyota's as well.
I just love the Mazda style of steering wheel with the smaller horn/airbag area. I think that the interior looks super nice. I've been in a friend's and it definitely left a good memory.
Yea, the steering wheel bucks the trend of thick flat bottomed smaller wheels. A little old school but very nice in the hand and looks great. Thanks for watching and the comment.
You're definitely going places with reviews like this. I didn't think anyone would come close to the Topher for review quality and you are right up there with him. I can't say it enough, great video and thank you!
Thanks again Josh. Go Topher, one of my favs. We have plans for a review of the reviewers or a list of our favorite UA-camrs. So much footage on different topics waiting for edits. Editing is the bottleneck right now. Thanks again.
Just took delivery of my brand new 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan in Sonic Silver Metallic. Ordered it in March..... so it's been a 7 month wait for it here in Melbourne, Australia. I am beyond thrilled with the car. It is absolutely stunning, gorgeous, classy, premium and luxurious. Could not have made a better choice for myself. I am a Mazda fan. My father bought me a brand new Mazda 626 sedan back in 1990 when l was 18 years old. That car is now 32 years old, has achieved 500,000km (310,000 miles!!!!!). Has never failed me and still looks, drive and feels like new. It is beyond unbelievable and l will never part with it. I intended to drive both cars, my 1990 Mazda 626 sedan and my stunning, breathtaking 2022 Mazda 3 sedan. Warm regards from Melbourne 🇦🇺
Congratulations. Glad your patience paid off. Wow. That is some impressive mileage on that 626. Very cool. Thanks for watching and sharing and keep in touch on your new 3. And thanks for the warm Aussie greetings. Great to hear from 3 owners from around the globe.
I just got my Mazda 3 sedan top trim (it doesn’t come with turbo or 4-wheel drive here in Denmark), and I absolute love the design, the comfort, the price - and it’s just FUN to drive! However, there’s no rear wiper, which is slightly annoying, and there are absolutely no hooks in the trunk, so all your stuff is moving around. Other than that I am smiling when I’m driving this car. 😊
Very nice of you to say. Thanks for watching! Be sure to check out our full series of videos on the 3 we purchased and all the other Mazdas we have reviewed. Thanks again!
I've been looking at trims and watching reviews as well as reading opinions of people who have purchased the Civic, Corolla and the Mazda 3 but the trims on the civic and corolla could not meet what I wanted from a sub 30k compact sedan. The depth of your review has really locked it in for me. Well done on the video! Keep it up!
@@joshuaewalker the carbon edition is basically what sold it for me. But I wanted something just ever so slightly zippier than the corolla and civic since living in the dfw area means I drive for my life every day lol. I also wanted an upgraded audio system and a bit more responsive steering. Albeit I do give up some long term reliability possibly but Mazda has certainly come a long way in that regard and I take good care of my vehicles. Truthfully I just like the interior of the mazda much more than the others as well, the honeycomb stuff on the civic just never grew on me. And the 8 way power driver seat with lumbar support was a big plus for me as well
I got my 2020 hatchback awd version and yurp I’m completely in love. Everything you could want and more, the pros far outweigh the cons, it’s so much value for the money. Drives like a dream every time, it’s built with an engaging driving experience in mind.
Last April I purchased the premium edition and love it. After driving ours, my son went and purchased the Carbon Trim. The only thing bad about it is my wife now is driving like a nascar driver and is killing the mpg when it's mainly her driving.
Thanks for this review! I'm looking into a new car and Mazda eluded me for a while. After watching this I think I'll go take one of these for a test drive!
I am in the process of purchasing a 22 Mazda 3 hatchback in the Carbon Edition trim, and I totally agree with you that some things are not needed--head-up display, paddle shifters, etc. I must have the Bose sound system, the moonroof and the red leather seats, so this trim is perfect for me. Thanks for the awesome review.
A little long at 25 minutes and I mention the new Honda Civic quite a bit. But this 2wd non turbo sedan is often overlooked by car shoppers. It’s amazing how competitive this four year old design is with the new Honda Civic. Both the Civic and 3 lead the class and you cannot go wrong with either. Both are fun to drive and only the performance variants in the class (Si, Elantra N line, Turbo 3, GLI) offer more driving fun but this 3 will always give you a smile with its smooth linear engine and quick shifting regular old torque converter transmission. And the Carbon Edition with its Polymetal Grey paint makes for one of the sharpest looking sedans on the road.
Noticed the Kirkland water bottle. I drive this car as a company car and always have my Kirkland water bottle right in that exact cup holder. It sucks. Those cup holders are terrible for water bottles. As a coincidence my personal daily driver is a 2018 Civic Hatch. You couldn't pay me to trade my almost 5 year old Hatch for a new Mazda 3.
@@joshuaewalker well your civic hatch is a great car with many years left. Agree that there is nothing compelling enough in the class, even the new Civic, to get rid of your hatch. They drive great and are bullet proof. Cup holder wise the 3 s are on the large size and barely gripped that Kirkland bottle. But I don’t recall a problem with it. Maybe older or different trims do not have the adjustable grippy things.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive It's funny, I made the comment while watching the video and right after I posted a part came up with you driving and you can see the water bottle trying to fall over. Lol not a big deal, I've never had anything fall out completely, it's just annoying that my water's never standing up straight, seems weird that a cup holder got past QC and QA not being able to hold one of the most, if not the most, common type of bottle.
That is extremely kind of you to say. Thanks you.! Our goal is to provide completely independent auto commentary. Check out our first Q&A video coming out today and our other Mazda 3 vids. Again thanks for watching and commenting.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I drive the previous mazda 3 from 2015 as a hatchback. In my opinion the better looking car from the outside. The Interior of the new one is of course nicer. But still. The "old" looks still very nice and it has everything I need. Including android auto (wireless with adapter). And physical climate control! Love my Mazda
Thank you very much. These 2wd sedans in all trim levels are really good. Even the Select trim 2.5 is a good value for fans of driving, in todays climate of course.
I just had my first snow experience today here in northeast Ohio and the handling is just so good. It's really easy to control and the feedback on what the car is doing is amazing. It gave me confidence in my ability to control kicks and slides. The curb appeal is great as I've gotten a ton of compliments since Mazda 3 sedans are surprising rare around where I live. A lot of 5s, but not a lot of 3s. My biggest gripe so far is the stock tires. They suck in the rain, and so far, in the snow. Can't wait to put on some Michelin 4S or CC2s and push the car a little more.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive Merry Christmas! No, I have the 22' Select, so one below AWD. I had to get the car since my 16' Sonata engine blew in April. I'm thinking about upgrading to the 23' Carbon Edition.
@@gavynarmstrong6599 oh no on your Sonata. That’s not very old for an engine failure but I guess there are those bad apples in the Kia/Hyundai world. Glad to hear you’re enjoying your 3. We love our Carbon sedan but it’s primarily a styling trim with a Bose stereo upgrade. I think Mazda may have added AWD to the Carbon line so that would be nice where you live. Thanks again for sharing your 3 experience.
I have driven Alfa Romeos for 20 years. It was a big love. 33, 146, 156, 164, 166. And after the 166 I just... found no more car. The Giulia is a bloated battleship, there are no other Sedans, only even bigger battleships/tractors. I was at a loss. Then sometime 2019 I saw this thing, the rear lights, the lines, the proportions. I was like, wow looks like the Alfa "149" that Alfa never made. This year my cheap old Honda Accord (reliable though) got so rusty that it will not make it for much longer. So I test drove the Mazda. Hell yes. Ordered one on the spot. It doesn't have the badge, but it does have the feel. Even down to the questionable body lean that you get in tight bends - just as my Alfas. I am in love again.
Thanks for sharing your experience and Alfa history. That is quite impressive. Surprised though you think the Giulia is too big. It seems to have similar lines to the 3 and is just a tad larger. But glad you discovered the 3. Enjoy!
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I know, It must be how tall it is, or the way the body is designed. It looks fat. Check the measures of the 166 which was narrower, lower, but longer. and with its straight lines its so much more elegant. And as for the Design. The Giulia shouts at you, loudly. I AM TOY RACE CAR!!!! aaaaaargh! It's quite unitalian. The Mazda is more refined.
@@catriona_drummond yea, that 166 was an elegant design and I agree the 3 is just a work of art. I don’t think we got any Alfa sedans here in the US until they returned to the market with the Guilia. I will do a double look though when I see a Guilia. Especially if it’s red and has those Alfa shamrock wheels. All the best!
I bought 2021 3 HB 6MT 2 years back (I got HB because its only trim coming with 6MT). I am still happy with the car and I don’t care about turbo. I don’t really understand why many critics whined about how bad it is compared with 2022 Honda Civic and praised a lot about new Honda Civic. I was sitting on new 2022 Civic, it’s just okay to me. Only good thing about civic is larger back seats for me and 90% of driving is just myself (I am 5’10”).
Thanks for sharing. Yea the Civic will win on back seat space, but other than that the 3 is right there with it. It’s all a matter of preference. I much prefer the looks and drive if the 3.
Have a 2023 NA sedan and really like it. Design aesthetics inside and out are easily best in class. Performance, both power and handling, is better than you expect, it always feels composed, has virtually no lean around corners, and a 6 speed rather than a CVT is a big plus. It's quiet and has the most comfortable seats I've ever had. Lastly the mpg is quite good, I'm getting about 41 hwy. Design, quality, performance, and price equals a great value.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I'm in the Canadian prairies at the moment (Winnipeg). Wait times for a new one are about 6+ months, and pickings are pretty slim for pre-owned. Pre-owned prices around here are still pretty nuts, too. I've dug around a bit more, and I'm not even sure if the Carbon Edition is even an option here after all (at least, it's not an option on the Mazda Canada website).
Thank you for the videos. Your thorough insights on first impressions and living with the Mazda 3 for the long term were very helpful in my excruciating search for my next vehicle. I type this comment sitting in my driveway in my new 2023 Mazda 3 Carbon Edition FWD sedan I purchased today. I was in a bit of a tough situation as I had been in a 2021 BMW 330i lease and had to turn it in. With BMW’s newly adopted “no third party sales”policy I came out of that car with no trade equity to leverage and really wanted to purchase my daily driver as we have moved to an area where leasing entry level luxury cars is not ideal. We love Mazdas-currently own a CX-9 and a CX-5 l- and I found three 2023 Mazda 3’s at our local dealer. They are really easy to work with and haven’t played any of the markup games throughout COVID like the local Honda, Toyota and Nissan dealers have so it made my decision rather easy. I was going to buy a Mazda. Of course I wanted the 2023 Premium Plus Turbo they had but with two teenagers in the house driving the FWD CE sedan was a nice compromise. I paid $1500 under sticker and feel like I got a pretty good deal. Keep up the content-I’m not sure how feasible it is, but these long term updates are extremely helpful.
Excellent. And congrats on your 3. Thanks for watching and for the nice comment. I am sure it’s a little tough if you really liked your 330, those are excellent driving sedans. But the 3 is a good value with great fuel economy and reliability should be pretty good. We’ll keep covering our 3 and our CX-9 and will have update videos on them both later this spring, early summer. Thanks again and happy motoring.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I drove my commute this morning and I’ll say that all of your comments about a bit of a harsh ride in the 3 were put to rest. The 330, with its low profile run flats, provided an often jarring ride. Any bumps, potholes, etc and I was worried the rim was bent. The 3 took those same spots much better. I do have one issue that has arisen though. I have noticed a rattle in the rear headliner when I’m listening to music. Even with the volume at moderate levels and the bass flat, I’m getting a really bad buzz in the headliner with frequencies from 45-55 hz (did a UA-cam sound frequency sweep). Have you experienced this issue? Don’t remember you ever mentioning it. Thanks again for the content. Keep it up!
@@BeyondTheTestDrive 3 days into owning the Mazda 3 I did a 3 hour road trip in some pretty bad rain. The car did great and I got about 36 mpg. Can’t complain about that.
I’ve been tearing my hair out the last couple weeks trying to decide weather to get the 2022 Honda Civic sport and Mazda 3 carbon edition! Almost everything is pushing me towards the Mazda but the rear torsion beam suspension makes me super nervous. I live in Illinois where roads are…. well, terrible. Worried the rear suspension will offer very poor ride quality. Everything else I completely love about this car! All the safety features, red leather, Bose sound system, the look inside and out, no CVT, even the infotainment system I like. But that new Honda Civic sport is just a super smooth ride even on crappy roads. Bumps and potholes are are smoothed with relative ease. Just feel the civic interior is nowhere near as nice as Mazda and and there are a lot of safety/comfort features Honda Civic sport doesn’t offer, at least in US. Ugh, such a hard decision! Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!!
It’s great to have choices here. Thanks for watching and the great question. Let’s see. Have you been able to test drive them? Price wise the Civic Sport might undercut the Mazda assuming there are no marks ups and you can get one. Mazda’s have been a little more willing to stay at msrp, so hopefully you can locate a civic and get it at msrp. The sport civic engine (158 Hp) is smooth and I like it. It’s just not gonna be as quick as the Mazda. Ride quality wise the Civic is definitely the way to go. It’s sublime and does a great job. If there is a way you can test drive any model Mazda 3 over some rough roads I would do that. Plus the civic is very roomy too. I think if I had to routinely deal with rough pavement, then I would lean Civic. Again if you can get one. I think the key here is a test drive. A Mazda to see if the ride is ok for you and the Civic to make sure you are ok with the slower 2.0 CVT combo.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I’ve only been able to test drive last Gen civic, all the 2022’s in the dealerships around me are called for! Need to put down 1000 dollars then wait 60-90 days for production and transportation. If it drives anything like the 2021 civic then I know it handles crappy roads very well! Mazda 3 has similar wait period for 2022 models but I test drove a 2020. At least the Mazda 3’s are the same over the last few years. I think I will go back and test drive it again and find some bumpy roads to see if it’s tooooo rough for me. MSRP for Honda Civic sport is about $25,400 currently while the Mazda 3 carbon edition is about $27,600. Mazda dealership will give me 1000 dollars more for my trade in tho so the difference only comes to roughly 1200 which isn’t bad at all. I’m single still, no family so all the extra room and stuff doesn’t really jump out to me with the Civic but it may all come down to ride quality. I wish I lived in a state with better roads 😭
@@victorw.330 Yea, if you can get your deposit back, then it may make sense to go ahead and reserve your Civic. In the mean time you can track down used or even new 3s to test drive on those rough roads and do it as much as you can. Find used 3s at different dealers and schedule drives with ones near horrible pavement. One thing the new Civic is versus the older one is it much more quieter but ride is about the same. At the 3 Carbon price you might want to be open to the EX Civic...it is not quite as sporty looking but it has the 1.5 turbo and they do upgrade the stereo a little bit. In the end these are still compact cars with shorter wheel bases. For Mazda I know the CX30 draws from 3 buyers because it is a little more compliant and softer on the suspension side. But more money and less thrifty, but it drives really well. Keep in touch on this. Fully understand what you are going through with deposits, waiting, and the tough decision. Car buying isn't what it used to be. But in the end either one of these are great cars.
I recently traded in a 2012 Civic for a 2023 Mazda 3 carbon and am glad I did. I love driving it. But when it comes to gas mileage there really is no comparison. I live in a city with a stop-and-start three-mile commute. I got around 27 mpg in the Civic. I'm getting around 16 in the Mazda.
Congratulations and glad you love it. I think with a short stop and go commute there will be huge variability in city mileage. Overall weight of the car, engine displacement, warm up times, etc will all play into the numbers. I am sure the 3 is a few hundred pounds heavier than your old civic. But that 27 is extraordinary and a testament to the Honda engines of that era. At least your commute is short so dollar wise not a huge impact. Thanks for sharing and keep in touch on your Mazda 3. Happy motoring!
I really love the way both hatchback and sedan look. I just wish that Mazda blacked out that front chrome piece at the front like they did on the hatchback. Other than that I think all Mazdas are just beautiful works of art.
Thanks for watching and commenting. We know that some folks have blacked those out themselves and another who got the hatchback trim piece and replaced it. Should have come from the factory that way. Not sure why. Agreed. They have their own style that ages well. Thanks again and all the best.
Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Most press cars that are reviewed by the bigger channels are usually the highest trim and biggest engine. We make a point to try and get the trim levels that represent the best value and are likely to be the larger sellers. Thanks again and happy motoring.
Thanks for this review. 🙃 I just recently traded my 2021 mazda 3 2.0L for this 2023 Sedan at Carbon trim level. It should be arriving soon and I can't wait!
Excellent. Thanks for the kind words. Appreciate that. And congratulations on your new 3. Sure you will enjoy the extra power of the 2.5. Keep in touch on when you get it! Happy motoring.
Almost forgot to follow up. After riding in it for about a week, I am absolutely in love. Although it is essentially the same vehicle, the increase in power and upgraded interior makes it feel like a whole new vehicle. It's an incredibly smooth and comfortable experience. The exterior paint is starting to grow on me as I had the Jet Black Mica before, this Polymetal Grey Metallic is pretty interesting to look at from different angles.
@@LordGrape thanks for checking in. Congratulations again! Glad you are enjoying it. We really love the Polymetal Grey. The 3 and Miata wear it really well. Once you get to the larger cars like the CX-5 and CX-50, etc. I am not so sure. Larger cars are always hard to get an interesting color on, hence all the whites, greys, and silvers. All the best!
Just got a car this week and had to decide between the civic and the 3. The deciding factor was that civic didn’t have bsm except on the higher trims. And even then Civic was marked up 2-3k while Mazda was offering 2-3k off. Ended up paying 26k for the preferred while civic would have costed 31k. I can see the civic being better at some aspect, but not 5k better
Congrats on your great car. They both are perfect choices, but that price difference makes it a no brainer. Thanks for watching and happy motoring. Be sure to check out our long term 3 ownership series and keep in touch about your ownership experience.
I was certain I was gonna buy a forte GT. One day on whim i test drove one and.. rly liked it. Decided to go test drive a 3 CE cuz a dealer sent me a promo. I showed up and opened the door and said "holy f*ck". test drove it and signed papers that day. The 2.5l is a great motor for the segment. it has surprising pick up. It's honestly maybe a little quicker than my S60 with a turbo 2.0 making 240hp. I've only had it a week but I L O V E this car. My only 2 gripes are the lack of interior lighting and that the lane keep assist is pretty much useless. Videos/pics don't do the red interior justice either it is an absolute stunning deep wine red. I'm obsessed.
Congratulations on a great car. Sounds like the 3 is perfect for you. The power and responsiveness of the non turbo 2.5 gets lost in the noise of turbos, etc. I think you made the right pick. I do like the Forte GT but the 3 has a much more refined experience. Some ambient lighting is definitely needed and you are right about the LKA! All the best and keep in touch on your ownership experience. Our long term 10k update video will be out soon. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@katiecannon8186 Hi Katie, as a stop gap safety system, the LKA is just fine. Many other brands, most notably Kia/Hyundai, have a much more accurate LKA that keeps the car much more centered when not paying attention or removing your hands off the wheel. Neither of those situations is an acceptable way to drive a car, but Mazdas will tend to wander all the way over before a correction. So useless as a lazy driver’s crutch , but perfectly fine from a stop gap safety inhibit. Mazdas will also pre warn you with an optional tone or wheel shake which I have found to be pretty good.
Thanks Robert. I am with you on that. I love the looks of the hatchback but I think ultimately the sedan looks more elegant and timeless. If I really wanted a hatch, I think that is where the Cicvic hatch is a clear winner. My suspicion (and it’s only that) is that we will never see the skyactive x in the 3 here in the states because of low volume and the cost of the engine. I think Mazda is being caught off guard by the quicker than anticipated move to electrics. The us market is so suv and cuv crazed I fear the 3’s days are numbered. Which is a shame. Looks like skyactive x and Toyota hybrid and plug in hybrid technologies may show up in the cx50 and cx60 and maybe cx-5. Mazda is just being really tight lipped about their future engine strategy in the US.
I'm torn between the 2022 Honda Civic Touring and the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition. The Honda has more tech amenities, but it looks like the Mazda 3 is more fun to drive.
Hi Tim. Yes, it’s a tough choice as both are excellent. It’s basically a CVT driving experience versus a more traditional transmission. The 6 speed in the Mazda is one nice transmission so it has the edge in sportiness. The Mazda feels maybe a little quicker as the engine revs sound a little better too. Fuel economy and space are going to go to the civic. Both cars have no real shortcomings which makes the choice tough but a good one to have. It may come down to paint color and which one you think you like the looks of better. The Honda does have better driver assistance and a traditional touch screen. Let me know what you go with.
Mazda often gets overlooked by consumers because they’ll only spend like $100 million on marketing, while Toyota and Honda spend billions. Fine by me as far as I’m concerned. I’m trying to get my hands on this exact model once I’ve saved up and the market cools down. Less people looking for one, the better for me!
Thanks for commenting. Yea, it’s not even close. Toyota produces almost 10 million cars a year globally to Mazda’s 1 million. There is something nice about them staying small and a little more niche as you won’t lose your car in a parking lot sea of Toyotas and Hondas. The exception is the CX-5. They are everywhere and it’s a good thing as sales of CX-5s have kept Mazda afloat in the in North America. Good luck on your Carbon Edition search. The 2024s should be out soon with some nice upgrades on the tech and some extra color combos.
It's crazy how Mazda really is trying to change the game. They went for quality, even select and preferred have amazing quality if you can't fathom spending 30k on a sedan. Little upset they cheaped out on mirrors for the us model(only carbon trim or premium plus have heated mirrors) while Canada has heated mirrors. But compared to other brands I looked at, even my parents had agreed when I said it looks like a sports car or even a luxury car for significantly less price with a tried and true engine/transmission. Mazda only uses 1 type of standard engine, it makes repairs more simple since they only need to learn 1 main type, same for transmission since it isn't cvt or anything special, standard 6 speed. Everything they've done they went for simple quality and had years to improve it without changing it. And also gotta agree with the color choices, they all look so good. Last thing is awd, they actually have awd, sure you might have to go up in trim but awd isn't a cheap addon and they add it while also giving you a better interior quality with some more tech
The best thing is how the Mazdas drive, there is a lot of low end torque and the engine will let you take a hill or even accelerate a little bit without downshifting, very much the way a turbo car with gain speed without downshifting, we also own a Toyota and that thing just downshifts if you even breath on the throttle 0 to 40 consists of a 1-2-3 upshift but if you need to gain just a little more speed it will instantly downshift just to upshift again. Savagegeese talks about it in his rav 4 review it’s really unsettling it feels like something is wrong.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. Yea, I think the 2.5 and 6 speed Mazda combo is a really great match. It may be old but Mazda has really spent the years tuning them together to get the most out of them. The Toyota Aisin 8 speed is a decent transmission but it is tuned for max fuel economy so it will hunt around as you describe. Thanks again!
Hi and thanks for watching. Yes, it takes 87 octane/regular. We actually ended up buying one of these and now have a whole long term review series of videos. Link is below. In general, Mazdas are one of the more reliable brands. We have had ours a year and no issues. Thanks again! ua-cam.com/play/PLO0bPSIuWSiuzMnnT_zz99pcqoLLYMlWn.html
Thanks for commenting. Yea , folks get consumed with specs and features. The Mazda 3 (turbo and non-turbo) comes together as a brilliant and complete overall package.
I was never into hatchbacks, and i perfer NA engines over turbocharged... Never drove AWD so can't say much on that, but this seems like a perfect package, I'm usually a Honda fanboy, but as far as new cars go, it's either this, or the Toyota GR86 for me
Thanks Luka for your thoughts. The GR86 is an excellent choice. That will be way more of a sports car and faster than the 3. The 3 would be more practical and quieter overall. But both great choices.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive Yeah, true, but I see both as daily-able fun cars, I know it's stupid, but to me, design is the most important aspect of a car. Also the gr86 is probably way more expensive because of msrp skyrocketing on sports cars
@@lukatrdina5108 agreed. I typically focus on driving characteristics over looks, but Mazda's and their colors really draw me in. GR86s may still have a mark up but you can do low 30s on them.. Call several dealers and refuse to pay mark up.. I think the GR86 craze is starting to wind down. While I would love an GR86 I think the 3 is a better choice for daily driving if you have no autocross or tracking intentions.
Congrats on your new car. What type of driving do you mainly do? Is it mainly in an urban environment and stop and go? If you get a chance get it out on the highway for 75-100 miles and it should be high 30’s.
😂. Thanks for watching and commenting. Mazda is pretty unique for the design language they use. Check out this pretty interesting video by James Do. ua-cam.com/video/TqDMlx9fmKE/v-deo.html
Have you figured out how to add favorites using the favorite button besides radio stations? There is a option for entertainment and settings but I can’t figure out how to add them , pressing and holding the favorites button does nothing
Thanks for sharing. That’s a bummer but good for everyone to know. Mazda makes some odd choices on materials when it comes to scratches. I did not look closely but I can see how they would show scratches easily.
Hi. Those are official Mazda accessories. We liked them so much on this tester we added them to the 3 we eventually purchased. The dealer threw them in as part of the purchase. Since we like how they look we keep them in year round.
Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Yea, I would also give the the Civic the nod for long term reliability. And defiantly the Civic for back seat room.
Yes. That is the 3’s main drawback. It’s not that the 3 is small. It’s just that all the competition got larger. The new Civic is as big as Accords from just a few years ago.
Absolutely. If it fits your budget then a 3 should provide many years of trouble free driving and maintenance and fuel costs are reasonable. Maybe avoid the turbo if it’s your first car as it will use more fuel and you absolutely cannot ignore turbo oil change intervals. Even the base model 3 is a good choice. Let us know what you decide. Thanks for watching.
This will be my first car also! A lot of the reviews I’ve watched mention that the ride is stiff due to something with torsion beam suspension. Is it bumpy ride? Are passengers affected by it? Or is it similar to ride quality of a Corolla?
The 3 is a step above the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Jetta and all other economy cars. I actually feel a little insulted when I come across titles like the one in this video.
Hey do someone know how to change mode for the AC in the higher trim levels (especially Premium/GT)? I’ve given attention to it and I don’t see any button for it whatsoever…
@@Imperialist_Boi ah. Ok. Got it. For ours it’s an unmarked button on the horizontal row between the fan speed buttons and AC button. For some reason Mazda did not mark that button or the recirculate button. If you’d like I can post a pic on the channel for you.
😂yea, not my usual cup of tea either. But it is quite muted and more of a darker/wine shade. So not too gaudy. I think being a smaller car and exterior polymetal grey helps also. If this car were white it probably would have that Barbie Vette vibe.
I would agree on that. Engine wise, it’s pretty good. Could use port injection along with the direct and that would catch it up with Toyota’s non turbo engine. The transmission shifts as well as anything out there. I think an 8 speed version would really help with fuel economy and speed. Driving a non turbo free revving 4 cylinder is refreshing.
We liked it so much we ending up buying one. 😊 Check out all of our long term Mazda 3 test videos. ua-cam.com/play/PLO0bPSIuWSiuzMnnT_zz99pcqoLLYMlWn.html
The CX-30 is a great alternative. Equivalent trim level and options run about an extra $2k but you get AWD with that. Higher ride height provides a little softer ride without too much handling penalty. It’s down a couple MPGs and slightly less range. They are all great choices.
Mazda design is seriously underrated. They are quite tastefully designed.
finally... someone that reviews this beautiful thing without it being AWD and turbo ultra premium... was looking for the standard to mid level version of this car cause lemme tell ya... not everybody can afford the premium like all those reviewers are showin off
seriously appreciate this godsent of a video
definitly gonna get this car once i got the money haha
Thank you! We appreciate that feedback. Yes, the non turbo trim levels, the carbon and even the lower priced preferred plus are excellent at their prices. Car prices have gone bonkers so even this carbon is still pricey compared to just a few years ago. All the best and keep in touch.
Anyone like the sedan more than the hatchback? I think the hatchback looks out of proportion...like the car is trying to hatch an egg back there or something! But the sedan is beautiful.
I like them both. But I do think the sedan works better like you said. It does not have a bad angle.
I hate hatchbacks. Look horrible.
I put a deposit down on a '23 sedan version after test driving the hatchback. I too dislike the looks of the hatch.
Love the hatch, one of the most beautiful designa
Just bought the sedan
I've had 3 Mazda's over the years and I've always loved the quality of the build for the money. I like the appearance of the Mazda more so than the Honda's and Toyota's as well.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I just love the Mazda style of steering wheel with the smaller horn/airbag area. I think that the interior looks super nice. I've been in a friend's and it definitely left a good memory.
Yea, the steering wheel bucks the trend of thick flat bottomed smaller wheels. A little old school but very nice in the hand and looks great. Thanks for watching and the comment.
You're definitely going places with reviews like this. I didn't think anyone would come close to the Topher for review quality and you are right up there with him. I can't say it enough, great video and thank you!
Thanks again Josh. Go Topher, one of my favs. We have plans for a review of the reviewers or a list of our favorite UA-camrs. So much footage on different topics waiting for edits. Editing is the bottleneck right now. Thanks again.
Savage Geese ?
@@tuxiekins Another quality channel but a bit of a different style imho
Just took delivery of my brand new 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan in Sonic Silver Metallic. Ordered it in March..... so it's been a 7 month wait for it here in Melbourne, Australia.
I am beyond thrilled with the car. It is absolutely stunning, gorgeous, classy, premium and luxurious. Could not have made a better choice for myself.
I am a Mazda fan.
My father bought me a brand new Mazda 626 sedan back in 1990 when l was 18 years old. That car is now 32 years old, has achieved 500,000km (310,000 miles!!!!!). Has never failed me and still looks, drive and feels like new. It is beyond unbelievable and l will never part with it.
I intended to drive both cars, my 1990 Mazda 626 sedan and my stunning, breathtaking 2022 Mazda 3 sedan.
Warm regards from Melbourne 🇦🇺
Congratulations. Glad your patience paid off. Wow. That is some impressive mileage on that 626. Very cool. Thanks for watching and sharing and keep in touch on your new 3. And thanks for the warm Aussie greetings. Great to hear from 3 owners from around the globe.
I just got my Mazda 3 sedan top trim (it doesn’t come with turbo or 4-wheel drive here in Denmark), and I absolute love the design, the comfort, the price - and it’s just FUN to drive! However, there’s no rear wiper, which is slightly annoying, and there are absolutely no hooks in the trunk, so all your stuff is moving around. Other than that I am smiling when I’m driving this car. 😊
Congrats Peter! Thanks for sharing and enjoy your new 3!
One of the best reviews of this car. Keep it up.
Very nice of you to say. Thanks for watching! Be sure to check out our full series of videos on the 3 we purchased and all the other Mazdas we have reviewed. Thanks again!
I've been looking at trims and watching reviews as well as reading opinions of people who have purchased the Civic, Corolla and the Mazda 3 but the trims on the civic and corolla could not meet what I wanted from a sub 30k compact sedan. The depth of your review has really locked it in for me. Well done on the video! Keep it up!
Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Best of luck on your car purchase and keep in touch when you get your 3.
What did the Mazda 3 have vs. the Civic or Corolla that did it for you?
@@joshuaewalker the carbon edition is basically what sold it for me. But I wanted something just ever so slightly zippier than the corolla and civic since living in the dfw area means I drive for my life every day lol. I also wanted an upgraded audio system and a bit more responsive steering. Albeit I do give up some long term reliability possibly but Mazda has certainly come a long way in that regard and I take good care of my vehicles. Truthfully I just like the interior of the mazda much more than the others as well, the honeycomb stuff on the civic just never grew on me. And the 8 way power driver seat with lumbar support was a big plus for me as well
@@BMoss99 My wife has a 2010 Mazda 3. 160Km on the odometer. Never needed a repair of any kind, just routine maintenance.
I got my 2020 hatchback awd version and yurp I’m completely in love. Everything you could want and more, the pros far outweigh the cons, it’s so much value for the money. Drives like a dream every time, it’s built with an engaging driving experience in mind.
Thanks for sharing! Glad you are enjoying your 3. ‘Engaging driving experience’ is the perfect description!
Last April I purchased the premium edition and love it. After driving ours, my son went and purchased the Carbon Trim. The only thing bad about it is my wife now is driving like a nascar driver and is killing the mpg when it's mainly her driving.
Excellent. At least she is a car fan and having fun! Glad your whole family is enjoying them and thanks for sharing!
@@BeyondTheTestDrive Funny thing is my daughter also owns one, just one from 1990 purchased used from Hertz. Still just mainly gas and oil.
Thanks for this review! I'm looking into a new car and Mazda eluded me for a while. After watching this I think I'll go take one of these for a test drive!
Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Good luck on your car shopping. Always worth checking out as many options as you can.
I am in the process of purchasing a 22 Mazda 3 hatchback in the Carbon Edition trim, and I totally agree with you that some things are not needed--head-up display, paddle shifters, etc. I must have the Bose sound system, the moonroof and the red leather seats, so this trim is perfect for me. Thanks for the awesome review.
Awesome. Love that hatchback look. You will love that Bose system. Thanks for watching!
Did you end up purchasing that 22 Mazda 3? How do you like it?
A little long at 25 minutes and I mention the new Honda Civic quite a bit. But this 2wd non turbo sedan is often overlooked by car shoppers. It’s amazing how competitive this four year old design is with the new Honda Civic. Both the Civic and 3 lead the class and you cannot go wrong with either. Both are fun to drive and only the performance variants in the class (Si, Elantra N line, Turbo 3, GLI) offer more driving fun but this 3 will always give you a smile with its smooth linear engine and quick shifting regular old torque converter transmission. And the Carbon Edition with its Polymetal Grey paint makes for one of the sharpest looking sedans on the road.
Noticed the Kirkland water bottle. I drive this car as a company car and always have my Kirkland water bottle right in that exact cup holder. It sucks. Those cup holders are terrible for water bottles. As a coincidence my personal daily driver is a 2018 Civic Hatch. You couldn't pay me to trade my almost 5 year old Hatch for a new Mazda 3.
@@joshuaewalker well your civic hatch is a great car with many years left. Agree that there is nothing compelling enough in the class, even the new Civic, to get rid of your hatch. They drive great and are bullet proof. Cup holder wise the 3 s are on the large size and barely gripped that Kirkland bottle. But I don’t recall a problem with it. Maybe older or different trims do not have the adjustable grippy things.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive
It's funny, I made the comment while watching the video and right after I posted a part came up with you driving and you can see the water bottle trying to fall over. Lol not a big deal, I've never had anything fall out completely, it's just annoying that my water's never standing up straight, seems weird that a cup holder got past QC and QA not being able to hold one of the most, if not the most, common type of bottle.
@@joshuaewalker yep....the bottle was flopping...good catch.😂
A really amazing review. I like the in detail review alongside with your opinion. Keep up the amazing work.
Thanks so much for your support and kind words!
Wait.. What? Watched the whole review and after I noticed you only got 600 subs.. How? I mean.. How? Thought it's a channel with at least a million
That is extremely kind of you to say. Thanks you.! Our goal is to provide completely independent auto commentary. Check out our first Q&A video coming out today and our other Mazda 3 vids. Again thanks for watching and commenting.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I drive the previous mazda 3 from 2015 as a hatchback. In my opinion the better looking car from the outside. The Interior of the new one is of course nicer. But still. The "old" looks still very nice and it has everything I need. Including android auto (wireless with adapter).
And physical climate control!
Love my Mazda
@@Kevin-rf9sx thanks for sharing your Mazda experience. That generation 3 is very nice.
Outstanding review,very true and clever remarks.Finaly a smart review about a great underated car!
Thank you very much. These 2wd sedans in all trim levels are really good. Even the Select trim 2.5 is a good value for fans of driving, in todays climate of course.
I just had my first snow experience today here in northeast Ohio and the handling is just so good. It's really easy to control and the feedback on what the car is doing is amazing. It gave me confidence in my ability to control kicks and slides. The curb appeal is great as I've gotten a ton of compliments since Mazda 3 sedans are surprising rare around where I live. A lot of 5s, but not a lot of 3s. My biggest gripe so far is the stock tires. They suck in the rain, and so far, in the snow. Can't wait to put on some Michelin 4S or CC2s and push the car a little more.
Thanks for sharing Gavyn. Yea, 3 sedans are pretty rare overall. Do you have all wheel drive?
@@BeyondTheTestDrive Merry Christmas! No, I have the 22' Select, so one below AWD. I had to get the car since my 16' Sonata engine blew in April. I'm thinking about upgrading to the 23' Carbon Edition.
@@gavynarmstrong6599 oh no on your Sonata. That’s not very old for an engine failure but I guess there are those bad apples in the Kia/Hyundai world. Glad to hear you’re enjoying your 3. We love our Carbon sedan but it’s primarily a styling trim with a Bose stereo upgrade. I think Mazda may have added AWD to the Carbon line so that would be nice where you live. Thanks again for sharing your 3 experience.
I have driven Alfa Romeos for 20 years. It was a big love. 33, 146, 156, 164, 166. And after the 166 I just... found no more car. The Giulia is a bloated battleship, there are no other Sedans, only even bigger battleships/tractors.
I was at a loss. Then sometime 2019 I saw this thing, the rear lights, the lines, the proportions. I was like, wow looks like the Alfa "149" that Alfa never made. This year my cheap old Honda Accord (reliable though) got so rusty that it will not make it for much longer.
So I test drove the Mazda. Hell yes. Ordered one on the spot. It doesn't have the badge, but it does have the feel. Even down to the questionable body lean that you get in tight bends - just as my Alfas. I am in love again.
Thanks for sharing your experience and Alfa history. That is quite impressive. Surprised though you think the Giulia is too big. It seems to have similar lines to the 3 and is just a tad larger. But glad you discovered the 3. Enjoy!
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I know, It must be how tall it is, or the way the body is designed. It looks fat. Check the measures of the 166 which was narrower, lower, but longer. and with its straight lines its so much more elegant.
And as for the Design. The Giulia shouts at you, loudly. I AM TOY RACE CAR!!!! aaaaaargh!
It's quite unitalian.
The Mazda is more refined.
@@catriona_drummond yea, that 166 was an elegant design and I agree the 3 is just a work of art. I don’t think we got any Alfa sedans here in the US until they returned to the market with the Guilia. I will do a double look though when I see a Guilia. Especially if it’s red and has those Alfa shamrock wheels. All the best!
I bought 2021 3 HB 6MT 2 years back (I got HB because its only trim coming with 6MT). I am still happy with the car and I don’t care about turbo. I don’t really understand why many critics whined about how bad it is compared with 2022 Honda Civic and praised a lot about new Honda Civic. I was sitting on new 2022 Civic, it’s just okay to me. Only good thing about civic is larger back seats for me and 90% of driving is just myself (I am 5’10”).
Thanks for sharing. Yea the Civic will win on back seat space, but other than that the 3 is right there with it. It’s all a matter of preference. I much prefer the looks and drive if the 3.
Have a 2023 NA sedan and really like it. Design aesthetics inside and out are easily best in class. Performance, both power and handling, is better than you expect, it always feels composed, has virtually no lean around corners, and a 6 speed rather than a CVT is a big plus. It's quiet and has the most comfortable seats I've ever had. Lastly the mpg is quite good, I'm getting about 41 hwy. Design, quality, performance, and price equals a great value.
Thanks for sharing. You describe the charms of the 3 very well! Thanks again and happy motoring.
Fantastic review brother. I own the 2022 Mazda3 Premium Hatchback non turbo. Could not agree with you more.
Thanks John for watching. Congrats on your premium hatchback. Great car.
That carbon edition is hot lol just wish it had the sunroof and Bose
Thanks for the comment. Here in the US Mazda is still showing the sunroof and. Bose as standard on the carbon edition. Is that not correct?
Man, that's the perfect version of the Mazda 3 in my opinion. Wish it weren't so hard to find one now! (At least where I live.)
Thanks. And would agree based on all things (price, features, performance and fuel economy). Where are you located, region wise?
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I'm in the Canadian prairies at the moment (Winnipeg). Wait times for a new one are about 6+ months, and pickings are pretty slim for pre-owned. Pre-owned prices around here are still pretty nuts, too.
I've dug around a bit more, and I'm not even sure if the Carbon Edition is even an option here after all (at least, it's not an option on the Mazda Canada website).
Thank you for the videos. Your thorough insights on first impressions and living with the Mazda 3 for the long term were very helpful in my excruciating search for my next vehicle. I type this comment sitting in my driveway in my new 2023 Mazda 3 Carbon Edition FWD sedan I purchased today. I was in a bit of a tough situation as I had been in a 2021 BMW 330i lease and had to turn it in. With BMW’s newly adopted “no third party sales”policy I came out of that car with no trade equity to leverage and really wanted to purchase my daily driver as we have moved to an area where leasing entry level luxury cars is not ideal. We love Mazdas-currently own a CX-9 and a CX-5 l- and I found three 2023 Mazda 3’s at our local dealer. They are really easy to work with and haven’t played any of the markup games throughout COVID like the local Honda, Toyota and Nissan dealers have so it made my decision rather easy. I was going to buy a Mazda. Of course I wanted the 2023 Premium Plus Turbo they had but with two teenagers in the house driving the FWD CE sedan was a nice compromise. I paid $1500 under sticker and feel like I got a pretty good deal. Keep up the content-I’m not sure how feasible it is, but these long term updates are extremely helpful.
Excellent. And congrats on your 3. Thanks for watching and for the nice comment. I am sure it’s a little tough if you really liked your 330, those are excellent driving sedans. But the 3 is a good value with great fuel economy and reliability should be pretty good. We’ll keep covering our 3 and our CX-9 and will have update videos on them both later this spring, early summer. Thanks again and happy motoring.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I drove my commute this morning and I’ll say that all of your comments about a bit of a harsh ride in the 3 were put to rest. The 330, with its low profile run flats, provided an often jarring ride. Any bumps, potholes, etc and I was worried the rim was bent. The 3 took those same spots much better. I do have one issue that has arisen though. I have noticed a rattle in the rear headliner when I’m listening to music. Even with the volume at moderate levels and the bass flat, I’m getting a really bad buzz in the headliner with frequencies from 45-55 hz (did a UA-cam sound frequency sweep). Have you experienced this issue? Don’t remember you ever mentioning it. Thanks again for the content. Keep it up!
@@BeyondTheTestDrive 3 days into owning the Mazda 3 I did a 3 hour road trip in some pretty bad rain. The car did great and I got about 36 mpg. Can’t complain about that.
I’ve been tearing my hair out the last couple weeks trying to decide weather to get the 2022 Honda Civic sport and Mazda 3 carbon edition! Almost everything is pushing me towards the Mazda but the rear torsion beam suspension makes me super nervous. I live in Illinois where roads are…. well, terrible. Worried the rear suspension will offer very poor ride quality. Everything else I completely love about this car! All the safety features, red leather, Bose sound system, the look inside and out, no CVT, even the infotainment system I like. But that new Honda Civic sport is just a super smooth ride even on crappy roads. Bumps and potholes are are smoothed with relative ease. Just feel the civic interior is nowhere near as nice as Mazda and and there are a lot of safety/comfort features Honda Civic sport doesn’t offer, at least in US. Ugh, such a hard decision!
Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!!
It’s great to have choices here. Thanks for watching and the great question. Let’s see. Have you been able to test drive them? Price wise the Civic Sport might undercut the Mazda assuming there are no marks ups and you can get one. Mazda’s have been a little more willing to stay at msrp, so hopefully you can locate a civic and get it at msrp. The sport civic engine (158 Hp) is smooth and I like it. It’s just not gonna be as quick as the Mazda. Ride quality wise the Civic is definitely the way to go. It’s sublime and does a great job. If there is a way you can test drive any model Mazda 3 over some rough roads I would do that. Plus the civic is very roomy too. I think if I had to routinely deal with rough pavement, then I would lean Civic. Again if you can get one. I think the key here is a test drive. A Mazda to see if the ride is ok for you and the Civic to make sure you are ok with the slower 2.0 CVT combo.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I’ve only been able to test drive last Gen civic, all the 2022’s in the dealerships around me are called for! Need to put down 1000 dollars then wait 60-90 days for production and transportation. If it drives anything like the 2021 civic then I know it handles crappy roads very well! Mazda 3 has similar wait period for 2022 models but I test drove a 2020. At least the Mazda 3’s are the same over the last few years. I think I will go back and test drive it again and find some bumpy roads to see if it’s tooooo rough for me. MSRP for Honda Civic sport is about $25,400 currently while the Mazda 3 carbon edition is about $27,600. Mazda dealership will give me 1000 dollars more for my trade in tho so the difference only comes to roughly 1200 which isn’t bad at all. I’m single still, no family so all the extra room and stuff doesn’t really jump out to me with the Civic but it may all come down to ride quality. I wish I lived in a state with better roads 😭
@@victorw.330 Yea, if you can get your deposit back, then it may make sense to go ahead and reserve your Civic. In the mean time you can track down used or even new 3s to test drive on those rough roads and do it as much as you can. Find used 3s at different dealers and schedule drives with ones near horrible pavement. One thing the new Civic is versus the older one is it much more quieter but ride is about the same. At the 3 Carbon price you might want to be open to the EX Civic...it is not quite as sporty looking but it has the 1.5 turbo and they do upgrade the stereo a little bit. In the end these are still compact cars with shorter wheel bases. For Mazda I know the CX30 draws from 3 buyers because it is a little more compliant and softer on the suspension side. But more money and less thrifty, but it drives really well. Keep in touch on this. Fully understand what you are going through with deposits, waiting, and the tough decision. Car buying isn't what it used to be. But in the end either one of these are great cars.
Think big,be smart and go for Mazda.U will never regret.... i own a 2 l white pearl from january and i am realy pleased with this car!
just buy the mazda.. you won't regret anything
Love the way you speak. Its relaxing
Thanks for watching and the very nice comment!
Just bought this car. In love with it already
Congrats! Great car and smart purchase.
We are getting our Carbon Edition Hatchback in two more weeks. Pretty excited.
Awesome. Congrats and stay in touch on how you like it.
I recently traded in a 2012 Civic for a 2023 Mazda 3 carbon and am glad I did. I love driving it. But when it comes to gas mileage there really is no comparison. I live in a city with a stop-and-start three-mile commute. I got around 27 mpg in the Civic. I'm getting around 16 in the Mazda.
Congratulations and glad you love it. I think with a short stop and go commute there will be huge variability in city mileage. Overall weight of the car, engine displacement, warm up times, etc will all play into the numbers. I am sure the 3 is a few hundred pounds heavier than your old civic. But that 27 is extraordinary and a testament to the Honda engines of that era. At least your commute is short so dollar wise not a huge impact. Thanks for sharing and keep in touch on your Mazda 3. Happy motoring!
I really love the way both hatchback and sedan look. I just wish that Mazda blacked out that front chrome piece at the front like they did on the hatchback. Other than that I think all Mazdas are just beautiful works of art.
Thanks for watching and commenting. We know that some folks have blacked those out themselves and another who got the hatchback trim piece and replaced it. Should have come from the factory that way. Not sure why. Agreed. They have their own style that ages well. Thanks again and all the best.
Nice to see a mid-trim review for once.
I like how you don't buy all the group think.
Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Most press cars that are reviewed by the bigger channels are usually the highest trim and biggest engine. We make a point to try and get the trim levels that represent the best value and are likely to be the larger sellers. Thanks again and happy motoring.
super detailed explanation for my dream car, thanks a lot
Thanks for the nice comment. All the best from BTTD.
Thanks for this review. 🙃 I just recently traded my 2021 mazda 3 2.0L for this 2023 Sedan at Carbon trim level. It should be arriving soon and I can't wait!
Excellent. Thanks for the kind words. Appreciate that. And congratulations on your new 3. Sure you will enjoy the extra power of the 2.5. Keep in touch on when you get it! Happy motoring.
Almost forgot to follow up. After riding in it for about a week, I am absolutely in love. Although it is essentially the same vehicle, the increase in power and upgraded interior makes it feel like a whole new vehicle. It's an incredibly smooth and comfortable experience. The exterior paint is starting to grow on me as I had the Jet Black Mica before, this Polymetal Grey Metallic is pretty interesting to look at from different angles.
@@LordGrape thanks for checking in. Congratulations again! Glad you are enjoying it. We really love the Polymetal Grey. The 3 and Miata wear it really well. Once you get to the larger cars like the CX-5 and CX-50, etc. I am not so sure. Larger cars are always hard to get an interesting color on, hence all the whites, greys, and silvers. All the best!
Just got a car this week and had to decide between the civic and the 3. The deciding factor was that civic didn’t have bsm except on the higher trims. And even then Civic was marked up 2-3k while Mazda was offering 2-3k off. Ended up paying 26k for the preferred while civic would have costed 31k. I can see the civic being better at some aspect, but not 5k better
Congrats on your great car. They both are perfect choices, but that price difference makes it a no brainer. Thanks for watching and happy motoring. Be sure to check out our long term 3 ownership series and keep in touch about your ownership experience.
Great review! I had the 2016 Mazda 3 and I'm thinking about going back to this newer model.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Definitely check out this generation 3.
I was certain I was gonna buy a forte GT. One day on whim i test drove one and.. rly liked it. Decided to go test drive a 3 CE cuz a dealer sent me a promo. I showed up and opened the door and said "holy f*ck". test drove it and signed papers that day. The 2.5l is a great motor for the segment. it has surprising pick up. It's honestly maybe a little quicker than my S60 with a turbo 2.0 making 240hp. I've only had it a week but I L O V E this car. My only 2 gripes are the lack of interior lighting and that the lane keep assist is pretty much useless. Videos/pics don't do the red interior justice either it is an absolute stunning deep wine red. I'm obsessed.
Also.... This is just as peppy as a forte GT on the throttle. Steering was better in the forte but this is a much nicer ride overall.
Congratulations on a great car. Sounds like the 3 is perfect for you. The power and responsiveness of the non turbo 2.5 gets lost in the noise of turbos, etc. I think you made the right pick. I do like the Forte GT but the 3 has a much more refined experience. Some ambient lighting is definitely needed and you are right about the LKA! All the best and keep in touch on your ownership experience. Our long term 10k update video will be out soon. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive. What’s wrong with the lane keep assist?
@@katiecannon8186 Hi Katie, as a stop gap safety system, the LKA is just fine. Many other brands, most notably Kia/Hyundai, have a much more accurate LKA that keeps the car much more centered when not paying attention or removing your hands off the wheel. Neither of those situations is an acceptable way to drive a car, but Mazdas will tend to wander all the way over before a correction. So useless as a lazy driver’s crutch , but perfectly fine from a stop gap safety inhibit. Mazdas will also pre warn you with an optional tone or wheel shake which I have found to be pretty good.
I would go for the sedan over the hatchback. Appreciate the very detailed review. Have you heard anything about the Skyactiv X coming to the USA?
Thanks Robert. I am with you on that. I love the looks of the hatchback but I think ultimately the sedan looks more elegant and timeless. If I really wanted a hatch, I think that is where the Cicvic hatch is a clear winner. My suspicion (and it’s only that) is that we will never see the skyactive x in the 3 here in the states because of low volume and the cost of the engine. I think Mazda is being caught off guard by the quicker than anticipated move to electrics. The us market is so suv and cuv crazed I fear the 3’s days are numbered. Which is a shame. Looks like skyactive x and Toyota hybrid and plug in hybrid technologies may show up in the cx50 and cx60 and maybe cx-5. Mazda is just being really tight lipped about their future engine strategy in the US.
I'm torn between the 2022 Honda Civic Touring and the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition. The Honda has more tech amenities, but it looks like the Mazda 3 is more fun to drive.
Hi Tim. Yes, it’s a tough choice as both are excellent. It’s basically a CVT driving experience versus a more traditional transmission. The 6 speed in the Mazda is one nice transmission so it has the edge in sportiness. The Mazda feels maybe a little quicker as the engine revs sound a little better too. Fuel economy and space are going to go to the civic. Both cars have no real shortcomings which makes the choice tough but a good one to have. It may come down to paint color and which one you think you like the looks of better. The Honda does have better driver assistance and a traditional touch screen. Let me know what you go with.
Mazda often gets overlooked by consumers because they’ll only spend like $100 million on marketing, while Toyota and Honda spend billions.
Fine by me as far as I’m concerned. I’m trying to get my hands on this exact model once I’ve saved up and the market cools down. Less people looking for one, the better for me!
Thanks for commenting. Yea, it’s not even close. Toyota produces almost 10 million cars a year globally to Mazda’s 1 million. There is something nice about them staying small and a little more niche as you won’t lose your car in a parking lot sea of Toyotas and Hondas. The exception is the CX-5. They are everywhere and it’s a good thing as sales of CX-5s have kept Mazda afloat in the in North America. Good luck on your Carbon Edition search. The 2024s should be out soon with some nice upgrades on the tech and some extra color combos.
It's crazy how Mazda really is trying to change the game. They went for quality, even select and preferred have amazing quality if you can't fathom spending 30k on a sedan. Little upset they cheaped out on mirrors for the us model(only carbon trim or premium plus have heated mirrors) while Canada has heated mirrors. But compared to other brands I looked at, even my parents had agreed when I said it looks like a sports car or even a luxury car for significantly less price with a tried and true engine/transmission. Mazda only uses 1 type of standard engine, it makes repairs more simple since they only need to learn 1 main type, same for transmission since it isn't cvt or anything special, standard 6 speed. Everything they've done they went for simple quality and had years to improve it without changing it. And also gotta agree with the color choices, they all look so good. Last thing is awd, they actually have awd, sure you might have to go up in trim but awd isn't a cheap addon and they add it while also giving you a better interior quality with some more tech
Thanks for watching and for your thoughtful observations. All excellent points.
The best thing is how the Mazdas drive, there is a lot of low end torque and the engine will let you take a hill or even accelerate a little bit without downshifting, very much the way a turbo car with gain speed without downshifting, we also own a Toyota and that thing just downshifts if you even breath on the throttle 0 to 40 consists of a 1-2-3 upshift but if you need to gain just a little more speed it will instantly downshift just to upshift again. Savagegeese talks about it in his rav 4 review it’s really unsettling it feels like something is wrong.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. Yea, I think the 2.5 and 6 speed Mazda combo is a really great match. It may be old but Mazda has really spent the years tuning them together to get the most out of them. The Toyota Aisin 8 speed is a decent transmission but it is tuned for max fuel economy so it will hunt around as you describe. Thanks again!
@@BeyondTheTestDrive yes I should of mentioned it’s the previous gen 2ar fe and the 6 speed. Even then it just shows you how different the feel is
Thank you for such a detailed video. Two questions. Does it take regular gas. What do you think of the reliability? Thank you again. Great video.
Hi and thanks for watching. Yes, it takes 87 octane/regular. We actually ended up buying one of these and now have a whole long term review series of videos. Link is below. In general, Mazdas are one of the more reliable brands. We have had ours a year and no issues. Thanks again!
ua-cam.com/play/PLO0bPSIuWSiuzMnnT_zz99pcqoLLYMlWn.html
Gas pedal hinged on floor is a safety feature. Will not catch the carpet
If you are an outdoor person suv with more back space suits more that's why they are better sellers
Totally agree. The sedan’s days seem to be numbered.
💯 sick n tired of ppl whining about the torsion beam or when it didn’t have a turbo. Ironically those ppl that complain wouldn’t even buy one anyways.
Thanks for commenting. Yea , folks get consumed with specs and features. The Mazda 3 (turbo and non-turbo) comes together as a brilliant and complete overall package.
I was never into hatchbacks, and i perfer NA engines over turbocharged... Never drove AWD so can't say much on that, but this seems like a perfect package, I'm usually a Honda fanboy, but as far as new cars go, it's either this, or the Toyota GR86 for me
Thanks Luka for your thoughts. The GR86 is an excellent choice. That will be way more of a sports car and faster than the 3. The 3 would be more practical and quieter overall. But both great choices.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive Yeah, true, but I see both as daily-able fun cars, I know it's stupid, but to me, design is the most important aspect of a car. Also the gr86 is probably way more expensive because of msrp skyrocketing on sports cars
@@lukatrdina5108 agreed. I typically focus on driving characteristics over looks, but Mazda's and their colors really draw me in. GR86s may still have a mark up but you can do low 30s on them.. Call several dealers and refuse to pay mark up.. I think the GR86 craze is starting to wind down. While I would love an GR86 I think the 3 is a better choice for daily driving if you have no autocross or tracking intentions.
I bought a 22’ MAZDA 3 Carbon edition about 2 weeks ago. I’ve been getting 22-23mpg. What are you getting ? Was yours similar ?
Congrats on your new car. What type of driving do you mainly do? Is it mainly in an urban environment and stop and go? If you get a chance get it out on the highway for 75-100 miles and it should be high 30’s.
Who kicked in the door panels? How did that happen?
😂. Thanks for watching and commenting. Mazda is pretty unique for the design language they use. Check out this pretty interesting video by James Do. ua-cam.com/video/TqDMlx9fmKE/v-deo.html
Mazda 3 no second thoughts.
I might need this
Yes. It’s highly recommended!
Unfortunately in Europe you can have red leather only in hatch version.
Well that’s a bummer. It really is a nice shade and looks great.
very detailed. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Have you figured out how to add favorites using the favorite button besides radio stations? There is a option for entertainment and settings but I can’t figure out how to add them , pressing and holding the favorites button does nothing
Hi and thanks for the great question. Unfortunately no. It’s on my list to research. Stay tuned.
Honda Civic Sport Touring $32k and no lumbar support?? That is crazy
The piano black mirrors caps, etc scratch way to easily. I was so careful washing my car and it still scratched……..
Thanks for sharing. That’s a bummer but good for everyone to know. Mazda makes some odd choices on materials when it comes to scratches. I did not look closely but I can see how they would show scratches easily.
Where did you get those front rubber mats?
Hi. Those are official Mazda accessories. We liked them so much on this tester we added them to the 3 we eventually purchased. The dealer threw them in as part of the purchase. Since we like how they look we keep them in year round.
Nice vid. I like its design but I'll take Civic's reliability.
Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Yea, I would also give the the Civic the nod for long term reliability. And defiantly the Civic for back seat room.
I wish it was longer. Back seats and truck could be longer
Yes. That is the 3’s main drawback. It’s not that the 3 is small. It’s just that all the competition got larger. The new Civic is as big as Accords from just a few years ago.
I have a question do you think this is a good car for a first car
Absolutely. If it fits your budget then a 3 should provide many years of trouble free driving and maintenance and fuel costs are reasonable. Maybe avoid the turbo if it’s your first car as it will use more fuel and you absolutely cannot ignore turbo oil change intervals. Even the base model 3 is a good choice. Let us know what you decide. Thanks for watching.
This will be my first car also! A lot of the reviews I’ve watched mention that the ride is stiff due to something with torsion beam suspension. Is it bumpy ride? Are passengers affected by it? Or is it similar to ride quality of a Corolla?
What bulb did you use to replace the trunk light bulb?
Hi. I will have some details in the 20k miles update video. But any T10 LED will work. I used these Auxitos from Amazon.
a.co/d/gIZxjWW
The 3 is a step above the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Jetta and all other economy cars. I actually feel a little insulted when I come across titles like the one in this video.
How much this car cost in your country ?
In US dollars this specific Mazda 3 is about $27,000.
Hey do someone know how to change mode for the AC in the higher trim levels (especially Premium/GT)? I’ve given attention to it and I don’t see any button for it whatsoever…
Hi. Would like to try and help but I do no quite understand your question. Can you rephrase it or rewrite it with more info? What do you mean by mode?
@@BeyondTheTestDrive I meant like the to modify where the flow of air shoots (head/feet/both/etc)
@@Imperialist_Boi ah. Ok. Got it. For ours it’s an unmarked button on the horizontal row between the fan speed buttons and AC button. For some reason Mazda did not mark that button or the recirculate button. If you’d like I can post a pic on the channel for you.
@@BeyondTheTestDrive no it’s okay I’ll figure it out when I’ll buy one at the end of this year (thx for your quick replies)
Süper
How tall are you?
🤔. Let’s say 68” on a good day.
I just can't do the red leather. This isn't a white 1980s Barbie Vette.
😂yea, not my usual cup of tea either. But it is quite muted and more of a darker/wine shade. So not too gaudy. I think being a smaller car and exterior polymetal grey helps also. If this car were white it probably would have that Barbie Vette vibe.
Lol change the trunk light to led
Yep. Ordered the new bulb a little while ago. Just need to install it. Thanks for watching.
Old engine and transmission technology. That's my problem with it.
I would agree on that. Engine wise, it’s pretty good. Could use port injection along with the direct and that would catch it up with Toyota’s non turbo engine. The transmission shifts as well as anything out there. I think an 8 speed version would really help with fuel economy and speed. Driving a non turbo free revving 4 cylinder is refreshing.
old engine,old transmission but 100 percent reliable! this is the best thing!
I had a 2014 and put 90k miles on it with absolutely no problems whatsoever, so Mazda has my trust with the engines
We liked it so much we ending up buying one. 😊 Check out all of our long term Mazda 3 test videos.
ua-cam.com/play/PLO0bPSIuWSiuzMnnT_zz99pcqoLLYMlWn.html
Just get a mazda cx30 for the same or less money, lose the ego, gain the resale… same motors/ trans in all +~ turbo
The CX-30 is a great alternative. Equivalent trim level and options run about an extra $2k but you get AWD with that. Higher ride height provides a little softer ride without too much handling penalty. It’s down a couple MPGs and slightly less range. They are all great choices.
🇹🇷🇦🇿😳
The k5 and accord aren’t even in this class.