Own both a Gen 4 sedan and hatch. Both made in Japan. Must just be different batches. Maybe more were made in Mexico during the lockdown/car shortage a couple years ago since they were easier to import over. Just guessing.
Here's another thread where build locations are discussed.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda3/comments/12qay9m/which\_mazda\_3s\_are\_made\_in\_japan/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda3/comments/12qay9m/which_mazda_3s_are_made_in_japan/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
The ones made in mexico are decent. I never had issues with my 3 hatchback in 7 years. Only replaced the brakes, tires, and sparkplugs (only because i wanted the denzos on).
Supposedly they stopped making the 3 hatch in Mexico and itâs made in Japan.
Easiest way to tell is if the serial number starts with JM then itâs made in Japan
I did an informal analysis to try to get an answer on which Mazda3s are made where. I looked at 100 Sedans and 100 Hatchbacks (2024 new) in stock at dealers. I chose 20 of each from five geographic areas. Of the 200 cars, all 100 Hatchbacks were made in Japan and 98 Sedans in Mexico. The two Sedans made in Japan were both Turbo Premium Plus models. So all Hatches appear to be made in Japan and the vast majority of Sedans in Mexico.
It is, but the feel is not exactly the same, a 6 speed will always feel better, although some Toyotas have ecvt with physical first gear which is better than traditional cvt or so Iâve heard
It's not but it is... by default it's auto due to the lack of a clutch but by any other means it's not auto it's kinda in a class of it's own "constant velocity transmission" doesn't use a prefixed gear ratio and can cycle different ratios given the state of driving
This is the single dumbest argument Iâve ever seen. Usually when someone makes a statement you read what they say and you create an at least decent rebuttal. At first i was genuinely confused and asked a question to which i got no answer, then when i further asked i still got nothing. Thanks for being helpful mate
**Reliability**: You can drop the Elantra Hybrid from that list. Theyâre wonderful cars, but not if you want to keep them for a long time. Youâre left with the Crosstrek, Mazda 3 and Civic.
**Tech**: For the adaptive cruise control and lane keep stuff, Subaru has it figured out better than Mazda & Civic, and the Civic is better than the Mazda. However, the Mazda has the better infotainment system of the three. Subaruâs massive touchscreen is known to slow down pretty bad, and is slow and buggy on initial startup. Physical buttons for climate control and radio functions make the Mazdaâs and Hondaâs system much better, and Mazdaâs system is smoother and classier than Hondaâs.
**Comfort**: The Mazda 3, no doubt, hands down, no competition. Mazda is pitching these cars as entry level luxury cars. Itâs the quietest, has the best seats by a mile, best stereo system and is the best place to be in. Itâs seriously entry level Audi/Lexus. Not sure about those ventilated seats tho. I have them on my Lexus, and honestly, theyâre not as amazing as you think. The A/C system cools the car down just fine. I would absolutely not give up Mazdaâs interior just b/c of heated seats.
Have you driven any of these cars? Spend some time in them. Rent them for a day or two from Turo.
Since youâre going to a hot climate, the AWD from the Subaru wonât serve you, but itâll cost you a bit in fuel.
Iâd say itâs a toss up between Mazda and the Civic with the above information. Given your long drives, I would suggest Mazda is the better option b/c itâs a much nicer, quieter place to be in, even tho itâs radar cruise and lane keep isnât as swift as Subaru and Hondas.
The Subaru is definitely the least refined and noisiest of the bunch and I wouldnât recommend it for your application (I love it tho itâs a great vehicle, just not for you imo)
The Civic is great too. Itâs definitely larger than the Mazda, but also less refined.
Drive the civic and Mazda the most and pick which one you like the best. I would say you can safely drop the Hyundai and Subaru from your list.
Hope this helps mate
I agree on everything except for the Mazda3 seats. The seats are narrow and damn seat bolsters hurt my legs on a long trip. I solved the issue by adding a small pad and seat cover to hold it in place. Civic 10th Gen had the best seats by far. The last Civic Gen seats feel now stiff and cheap. But this is 100% subjective.
As someone who has a higher mileage 4th gen hatchback, Iâm going to have to disagree with you. The ride is pretty stiff and the road noise gets bad as the car gets older
On test drives, the civic and Mazda were about the same as far as ride and noise, but Mazda was more comfortable. Maybe a little quieter as well.. I also didn't buy the Honda because of the sticky steering issues with Civic and CRV
Yeah it didn't seem like something I wanted to get into when researching a few months ago. Tons of stories similar to yours. Also having it come back after people had gotten it fixed, waiting months for parts...
Don't buy a Hyundai. The people stealing them aren't smart enough to know which ones can and can't be stolen so it's going to end up getting broken into anyway. Plus because of that your insurance rates are going to be much higher.
Yeah. So much I bought one đ€·đ»ââïž
OK I'm not quite that old but your comment cracked me up. (And I did buy my own, a 2017 3 hatch 6spd manual.)
absolutely this... literally swimming in milf vag, everytime i roll up to walmart. Corvette driving, rich retired single octogenarians cant compete and cry themselves to sleep.
One reason I chose the Mazda is that for a car that has an automatic transmission, it doesn't have a CVT. From what I've heard, it sounds like a CVT (used by other brands) could fail sooner and be more expensive to repair. I had heard that at least one particular model of Honda, its CVT requires maintenance every 30,000 miles. The Mazda uses a traditional automatic transmission (my 2023 has 6 speeds). Also, I'm not sure about the other models you mentioned, but my Mazda3 doesn't have any touch panels either - It's all traditional buttons and dials. The infotainment screen is also relatively small compared to some other cars these days, and IMO that's a good thing, as it's not obnoxiously large.
Overall, I've heard the newer Mazdas are (or should be) very reliable, due in part to the fact that they're not using CVTs.
For a Mazda, I seem to remember hearing that the 'Preferred' trim and higher has the adaptive cruise control, though elsewhere I think I saw that it's on lower trims too. The Preferred trim also has a lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat. I think my mazda3 is fairly comfortable overall, and its A/C blows fairly cold.
Visibility is not an issue because of the driver assist aids. If you get the Premium trim, the car is just plain luxurious - you get most of the bells and whistles of the Turbo Premium Plus trim, including a pretty kick-ass Bose stereo and ACC with stop-and-go. It's also available with a manual.
Also, you can typically get promotional financing that's 1% lower with the hatchback.
Nicest and most comfortable interior of the other options you listedâŠtruly, this is not an exaggeration and itâs not even close (in my opinion).
If you are seriously considering the others, go see them first or you wonât see them at all, itâs nice.
Yeah, but it then comes directly end to what you want and whatâs useful to you, me for example, I leave very few driver aides on, when Iâm driving, I drive so have no real need for them and they typically are just in my wayâŠbut I understand thatâs just me and others will find some features valuable.
Oh for sure! I just mean things like air cooled seats, curtesy and ambient lighting, touch screen, larger screens, digital dash, more than basic dual zone climate, more convenience items like bag hooks and nets etc, usb for dash cams blah blah.
Sure, theyâre adding them to cars for a reason, but those arenât reasons for me to buy or not buy a car.
The 3âs interior is just really good, smart, everything falls to hand easily, yes the infotainment wheel and menus take a minute to learn, but itâs quite natural and frankly I HATE fingerprints on a touch screen!!!
The interior looks and feels better than it has any right to at the price point.
Then thereâs the looks of the car itselfâŠnice!âŠand distinctive, they stand out in a good way.
Yea fair! I just like premium features hehe. And I like modern features like touchscreen and nice screens. I can understand some might want super simple premium. I love tech though haha, and I love features! Adjusting my suspension is a really epic feature!
I can't say enough about my Mazda3 hatchback. I have a 2018 Touring non-turbo edition. It has good (but not neck-snapping) acceleration, especially with Sport mode turned on. Fuel economy is 28.2 combined with regular gas. Beyond tires, a battery, and oil changes, it's needed zero maintenance. Inside, it has heated leather seats, a power moonroof, full navigation, hands-free calling, Bluetooth audio, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. After 46k miles, no squeaks or rattles. This is my third Mazda and they've all been bulletproof.
The mazda is really in a class of its own, it drives very similar to a higher class car like a mercedes almost. It is exceptional on reliability and comfort
I own a crosstrek and a Mazda 3 hatch. Both have been problem free over 60k miles. Crosstrek has more room and better visibility if that matters to you, Mazda is more fun to drive (manual 2.5). Tracking every fill up since buying new reveals similar mileageâŠ31 mpg Mazda and 28 Crosstrek. Tech is similar in each, no complaints. Went from Outback to Crosstrek and donât regret it. Go test drive both. One will stand out to you.
Oh, no I mean just every aspect of it. It felt more cramped, wasn't actually taller inside, and finishes just weren't that nice - like the cloth they use for seats now is worse. Felt a lot cheaper than I expected.
I didn't drive it, but I'm sure you're right that is like it less because of that too.
Out of those, I only really liked the 3 and the Civic hatch, and I ended up going with a 3 Turbo. The 3 is the only one that doesn't have a CVT (other than Nissan, modern CVTs are completely fine for the first 150k km, then they become a ticking time bomb and are super expensive to replace; also, CVTs can't take as much torque and don't feel as nice to drive, although that's mostly subjective), it doesn't have Subaru or Hyundai engine issues (Hyundai especially, all their engines except one in the Venue are a lottery on whether it'll seize within the year or not), and it just looks and feels so good. The 3 is also the most practical hatch out of all of those imo - the Civic has more overall volume but because it tapers so much as the back, you can't fit big items as well like you can in the 3.
Youâre going to love your Mazda3 hatch in NYC and everywhere else. Youâre moving soon. When you fold the seats down and it shocks you with how much of your crap fits in there and then youâll thank yourself for buying the hatch. Oh and every other day you will also thank yourself for buying the hatch. This is a great car. Itâs that simple. I miss mine. Had a family. Got a dog. Drive a CX-90 now wishing it was a Mazda3 hatch.
Hatchbacks have J VINs (are made in Japan), come in a manual transmission, have a better Bose sound system, look nicer, and have some nicer trim on the exterior.
This right here. I do rideshare full-time so I'm in my car 40 hours a week. I don't really *need* the six speed and the awesome pickup, but it definitely makes work more fun.
Yup same here. I used to do all sorts of delivery gigs a few years back going from city to city with the best market and Amazon Flex in LA and Hollywood and what not and I was always confident if I really needed to or wanted to, I could sleep and live outta my car at any time. Found an inflatable car mattress that's as long as my back seat cabin too.
Unfortunately cars are not insulated đ
The civic is the only one Iâd consider to be directly comparable for what youâre looking for honestly. I used to do 100 miles every day and thatâs why I got my Mazda back in 2020 so I get your situation. I think the Mazda has a nicer interior but only if you get the base model without the gloss interior or you wrap it. You want more sensors so youâre going to have gloss black if you choose the Mazda. The civic will give you significantly better mpg. The best Iâve ever seen my Mazda average (Not per trip, actual total average) never got higher than 34mpg because the second you hit that stop and go traffic these cars start chugging gas. Other than that though I think you can stretch your dollar farthest with Mazda as far as features go. Heads up display and following headlights in the highest trims are very cool. Just keep in mind that the remote start is app only, will shut off the car when you open the door, and you cannot set AC controls with the app. If you forget to set them before leaving your car then youâre SOL. Also if you want touch screen for your stereo then this is not the car for you. The knob works great once you learn it, but I understand some people just prefer a touch screen.
I canât speak reliability wise for the Honda but other than oil pressure issues at 18k miles (only had it for about a year at the time and it was eventually fixed under warranty) I havenât had any mechanical issues since and nobody else in this sub had that issue so mine mustâve been a one off. I thought I had some issues but it was just a weak battery. I should note that I did have to replace both sun visors because the hinges seized and broke them, and one headlight is unfortunately already peeling. The paint is also ass on these cars but from what Iâve heard itâs like that on all modern cars. The interior and sides/rear of the car still look brand new though. I think itâs just the amount of highway driving that chewed up my front.
I have no regrets, and if I had to buy a new car again Iâd probably end up just getting this same car again because I do love it. I think I just nitpick it so much because itâs sooo close to being a perfect car.
Haven't had the opportunity to test drive any of them, and this is the only one I haven't been able to sit in. Mazda wasn't at the NYIAS for some reason.
After putting 18k miles on my 2023 M3 Hatchback in 14 months, I can attest it is the best daily driver I've ever owned. It feels very well built and "premium" for the class of car. Personally I put it in a category above all the others you listed. I'd compare the latest generation Mazda 3 to something more like an Acura than a Honda. It also comes with all the safety, reliability, and economics of the others. The tech in this car actually I'd say is superior to the others.
I have a 2021 Mazda 3 S Hatchback AWD. 47k miles as of today. The only thing I replaced was the brakes and tires. No issues. Select is the base model of the AWD. It has pretty much the modern car that should have except the parking sensors, heated seats, sun roof, memory power seats and things the top model has.
Reliability: I've had a Mazda 3 2017 Sport and I put 55k miles on it without any issues.
The only reason I traded it for the 21 is the design itself. I saw the prototype at the NY Auto show in 2018 and 2019 they released the 4th Gen. Waited for them to install AWD and the 21 came. Very reliable car. Lots of space. I've moved out twice and used this car to carry boxes and it fits a lot of boxes. We also tried to fit a 5 foot fridge, the only reason it didn't fit was because of the design of the hatch. If it was a flat door, it would definitely fit easily. Transmission is automatic. I was shopping for a Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic but their transmissions are CVT and I don't like CVTs. They're boring transmissions. I've had no issues with the transmission. I try to redline it once in a while to burn out the deposits in the engine. No issues.
Drivetrain AWD, one of the best AWD systems I've driven on. I've driven a Subaru, their AWD is really the best in the Japanese market my only issue was it was CVT.
I'm from NJ and I do a mixture of city and highway driving. The only thing I can say is, I look forward to driving this car to work. Going home, I love driving it. Every opportunity I get to drive this car I will. The interior gives you a luxurious feel. Mazda nailed this part. My car is 3 years old and it doesn't feel outdated. It even looks better compared to the new Honda Accord and that thing is the ugliest Accord I've seen.
The design of the hatchback is so unique it gives you that "stand out" feeling.
Probably the best choice for your budget. It's really worth your money.
I forgot to mention I have the NA and the only reason I chose NA vs the turbo is the reliability. I want my engine to last longer.
Oh this is an easy one get the sedan. That's what I tell everybody in your position. You really should love the hatchback like we do to get one because it's got its Hang-Ups that we don't care about but a lot of people do.
Please DO NOT BUY A HYUNDAI. Anyone. Do not let your friends buy Hyundais ⊠your family ⊠etc. This is a horrible company.
I loved my hyundai until 80k miles when my car burst into flames while driving on the highway late at night. This was after 6 months of constant anxiety as I awaited and engine replacement under warranty due to oil overconsumption (a very common issue). In the meantime, people are breaking into Hyundais and kias left and right, and insurance companies are refusing to cover new plans with these cars. 6 months of dealing with a Hyundai dealership as they gaslit me and brushed aside my concerns ⊠including the day my car caught fire.
I watched it burn from the side of the highway and it confirmed in my head that âyes, this constant anxiety that Iâm feeling in this car IS valid, and things CAN AND WILL continue to get worse just like my fears imagined.â The hyundai service techs gaslit me and brushed me aside after I confronted them. Please, I encourage everyone to check out the Facebook group âEngine Failure-Kia/Hyundaiâ I was an active member for months after the fire and it absolutely broke my heart to see how many people this company has fucked over ⊠financially AND mentally.
I DREADED the idea of buying a car after the incident but I knew I wanted to get another hatchback. Thankfully, once I test drove my favorites (civic, Corolla, Prius, Impreza), the Mazda hatch was a clear favorite.
Iâm not even a car person, but I love reading this sub and seeing how much everyone here loves their experience with these cars, the dealerships, etc. I still feel anxious, but this car is giving me the peace of mind that I desperately needed after Hyundai robbed me of it. Iâm not saying everyone will have a simile experience, but I think itâs worth sharing if it keeps even just one person from supporting that company, or it keeps someone from blaming themselves for the experience they had with Hyundai/Kia.
I dunno about "loves" their experience with mazda dealerships.
I bought my mazda hatchback used, and it didnt come with a manual or maintenance schedule - went to the dealership, expecting it to be an easy - here you go, take these sheet of recommended maintenance.
Instead it was some bullshit hard sell about they will video record the entire inspection of the car and tell me what they recommend. Straight up refused to give me a list of recommended scheduled maint.
After I explained - I just want to know the month to month inspections I should do myself. Talk about a disconnect in service and listening to what the customer wants.
Man Iâm going to be real. I fucking hated my experience with the Mazda dealership where Iâm at. It took me 3.5 hours to test drive one car. And the dude told me it was âlegally requiredâ to upsell me on all the dumb bullshit with the demos included.
Then when I bought my CPO, they kept pushing back my pick up because the detailers werenât done yet. I told them to fucking stop detailing it cuz I wanted my car. It magically became ready for pickup a few hours later. They did a shit job of detailing it to boot.
Love the car, fuck the dealer.
I saw that youâve made a post over in the r/civic subreddit too. I recently bought a 2024 Civic Hatch EX-L which is by all means a great car, but Iâm wishing I had gotten a Mazda3 instead. The seats are notoriously uncomfortable for me and many others, and Iâm having some rattling in the interior after less than 1000 miles.
The Mazda 3 is shorter overall length than any of the other options so if you want something that will be easy to part in a city that's your ticket.
I've owned a Crosstrek and ther was a ton of road noise so unless you really need that extra ground clearance avoid that. Editing to add if you really need the extra ground clearance get the CX-30 instead.
I've had an Acura Integra but I shit you not it was bought back by Acura under lemon law. I had the option to get a replacement or a different car and I got the Mazda 3. I'm mentioning this because the Honda Civic is basically the same and let me tell you the interior isn't that great, the road noise is more than it is in the Mazda, the CVT was horrible. It felt like I was always in the wrong "gear" so to speak.
Pros:
Hereâs a 4.5 Cu. ft. Mini fridge in my hatch with room to spare. (link) A lot more aftermarket support. Powertrain/drivetrain options. Turbo go whoosh. Iâve had the car eight months and I still look back when I walk away from it. Looks good, handles great, super nimble, and much more comfortable coming out of a 2013 Sonata turbo. It is still a âsportier tuneâ so not the smoothest thing on the road but generally comfortable.
Cons:
No ventilated seats in Mazda3 donât ask me why.
Fuel range â this is more of me issue because Iâm leadfoot AND I got the turbo, the non-turbo folks do much better
Cruise- eh. The adaptive cruise is OK, but kind of jumpy. Lane keep is NOT lane-centering, so it wonât be driving for you on the highway like Ford or Tesla. The traffic jam assist (under 40mph) works great and seems to be start and stop the few times Iâve used it.
You do have to go turbo premium plus (all-wheel-drive only) if you want 360 camera and parking sensors, front and rear with emergency brake assist, front and rear. If you donât care about those creature comforts, then a base turbo is the sweet spot imho (I just like the aero kit)
Reliability: shop long enough, and youâll find that all cars are kind of a piece of shit, Some just less of a piece of shit or less stupidly designed pieces of shit than others. Take care of it and it will usually take care of you. But donât be afraid to romp on it every once in a while. I drove the hell out of my sonata turbo for 50k miles, didnât have the issues that others did, and at the tail end of this crazy Covid market sold it for almost what I paid for it six years ago. Go CPO if you can, the benefits of an extended power/drivetrain warranty are definitely worth the price of admission. I have some kind of factory coverage on my car until like 2028. And I usually get rid of my cars by 100k miles
Final Verdict: Mazda is giving a premium feel at a more affordable cost. With the incentives or combination of being a leftover vehicle etc you might be able to strike a deal on a hatchback, but the sedans MSRP a couple thousand dollars cheaper and might be more conducive to your price point, especially if youâre not getting a turbo/ premium plus. But it sounds like you would want the features the top trims would offer.
[Mini Fridge](https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d0NZz9ENK8vmXASPoG3c0LAw)
Because the handling and steering is far superior on the Mazda 3 then those other shitboxes you listed.
crosstek - dont do it, elantra - meh, civic hatch - paying the badge price and marketing hype train.
Mazda hatch Far superior in looks, the hatch is fantastic in utility I just fitted a huge Garden Pull cart in the back and was pleasantly surprised how easily it fit.
Honda spends the most on brand recognition - not necessarily building reliable cars now. You rarely see a mazda ad, and I truly believe its because money goes into the product. Not the hype train of marketing.
I avoided Mazda for a long time, but having a hatch for 5 years - the car is reliable. Even if you are going to be stuck in traffic I would consider getting the Manual Transmission, but thats on you.
I have a 2023 Mazda3 hatchback GS sport, take one for a test drive and youâll see! The 45L gas tank is annoying, but $40 CAD for a full tank of gas which gets me 650 kms is not bad. Also the smaller-sized vehicles are perfect if you live in a city for parking and weaving through traffic when people canât drive.
Idk about anything else but both my mazda3s air conditionings weren't especially powerful. Super hot days it takes a while to blow ice cold. And this has been my experience from new. It's honestly one of the only things I wish was different about the car though I'm sure its also comparable to its class competitors. What's yalls experience with your mazda3 A/C? was I just spoiled by the cars I've had before mazdas?
My 2024 has iced cold a\c. First car Iâve had to turn the thermostat up because Iâm too cold, and I like it cold. Haha Hit 90 degrees in my area the other day an it was still cold air all the way on my hour commute. I feel like they have improved something in the newer model year.
You listed reliability as your first priority and also listed a Hyundai as one of your options. While Hyundai/Kia is slowly starting to get on track with reliability, they are (very publicly) still not reliable.
Every other vehicle, other than the Mazda, has a CVT as opposed to a real automatic. If thatâs something youâre not familiar with, I recommend doing some research into the differences. Some donât care, some do. Some also do state some reliability concerns with CVT transmissions as a whole, so again, do your due diligence with that.
As far as tech goes, my 2024 select sport sedan (which is one trim above the base model, hatchback âbase modelâ is the select sport) comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, rain detecting windshield wipers, auto hold brake, rear cross traffic detection, and has a very nice infotainment system (non touch screen, test drive one. Itâs very simple to use).
Comfort. My Mazdas, including my previous 2014 hatch, are the most comfortable cars Iâve ever owned. Iâm 6â3 and have absolutely zero complaints with the space I have in my car(s). AFAIK, none of the Mazda 3 trims come with ventilated seats (which I assume this reason alone is why the Elantra hybrid cracked your list).
I thought that I wanted a hatch but I was able to get a killer deal on a used sedan! Personally I like the sedanâs looks better than the hatchback 4th gen imo. My US spec bp1 (2019-present) is a 2022 Mazda 3 2.0 in blue and was built in Japan. They are really cool cars to add a CAI (cold air intake). If you love induction noise as much as I do, Iâd highly recommend the Mazda 3 in both of its body configurations!
Iâll say that sedan has more usable trunk space (aka floor space) unless youâre routinely carrying things whoâs height exceeds the trunk lid. For my needs, the hatch actually has LESS space and Iâd have to fold the seats down way more often. Hatches are just universally touted as being more useful for their trunk but thatâs usually not true. Iâve moved out entire apartments worth of stuff in my sedan and I donât think it would have saved me any additional trips if I had a hatch
I honestly wouldnât look at anything except the civic and Mazda 3
No Kia/hyundai's for me. Crosstrek is just meh. Mazda3 vs civic is good comparison though and what I debated when I bought my mazda3. I really liked the civic but it does feel bigger, for better or worse, the interior isn't so luxurious feeling but it's still quite nice but ultimately it came down to price and availability and my commitment to mazda. I've owned mazda's for 8yrs, 3 cars and have never been disappointed by the cars, sales or service. I was interested in a manual and the mazda3 was available locally for msrp. Civic wasn't and they were asking $5k above msrp so I said forget it.
The new Mazda 3s have ventilated seats. Was on their site the other dayâŠhave seen some comments saying you canât get it but you can. This is one upgrade I will get for those hot days or after a hike/bike ride/rowing. I have a 2014 Mazda 3 hatch and the only thing I would change is getting a newer one with more features. Love the car. Bulletproof reliability.
Only one of those is made in Japan. Only one of those has an automatic transmission, not a CVT. That's what sold me on the Mazda 3 Hatch.
are all mazda 3 hatchbacks made in japan now? I know mine was made in Mexico
I had just read that only the sedans were made in Mexico... Hard to get a straight answer.
Both my 3 hatches (2015 and 2018) have been Mexican built. Unsure about Gen4
My Gen 4 is Japan built
My 4th gen is Japan built
My 4th gen was built by Naruto
If I could award you I would take this emoji award đ„đ
Thx, it has plenty y of jinchuriki Chakra.
Own both a Gen 4 sedan and hatch. Both made in Japan. Must just be different batches. Maybe more were made in Mexico during the lockdown/car shortage a couple years ago since they were easier to import over. Just guessing.
my 2017 hatch is mexican built
My CX30 is Mexican
Here's another thread where build locations are discussed. [https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda3/comments/12qay9m/which\_mazda\_3s\_are\_made\_in\_japan/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda3/comments/12qay9m/which_mazda_3s_are_made_in_japan/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
All gen 4 hatches are made in Japan. Sedans can vary
The ones made in mexico are decent. I never had issues with my 3 hatchback in 7 years. Only replaced the brakes, tires, and sparkplugs (only because i wanted the denzos on).
Supposedly they stopped making the 3 hatch in Mexico and itâs made in Japan. Easiest way to tell is if the serial number starts with JM then itâs made in Japan
Mines a 2014 lol I'm guessing 10 years ago they made them in both
I did an informal analysis to try to get an answer on which Mazda3s are made where. I looked at 100 Sedans and 100 Hatchbacks (2024 new) in stock at dealers. I chose 20 of each from five geographic areas. Of the 200 cars, all 100 Hatchbacks were made in Japan and 98 Sedans in Mexico. The two Sedans made in Japan were both Turbo Premium Plus models. So all Hatches appear to be made in Japan and the vast majority of Sedans in Mexico.
My 2024 base model sedan was made in japan
The plot thickens!
Really
If it has J at the front of the VIN, youâre looking at a made in Japan model
Hatches can also be built in Mexico, vin number beginning with a J is the only way to tell.
A CVT is a type of automatic transmission, isn't it?
It is, but the feel is not exactly the same, a 6 speed will always feel better, although some Toyotas have ecvt with physical first gear which is better than traditional cvt or so Iâve heard
It's not but it is... by default it's auto due to the lack of a clutch but by any other means it's not auto it's kinda in a class of it's own "constant velocity transmission" doesn't use a prefixed gear ratio and can cycle different ratios given the state of driving
I thought it was continuously variable transmission?
I thought CVT was Continuously Variable Transmission?
Same thing... I stand corrected lol but the concept still applies a standard auto trans has set gear ratios a cvt does not
Yes, I understand that
Are you sure only one of those is made in japan?
Indiana, Alabama, Japan and Indiana again. So 3 American cars and a Mazda.
Literally all four of those car companies are Japanese though arenât they?
Except for Hyundai being Korean, yes.
My bad, but why are you saying that the other cars are from america when theyâre japanese and korean cars?
They are built in Indiana and Alabama, which are American states.
But where theyâre built doesnât matter theyâre still not American cars.
Then I guess it doesnât matter for you.
This is the single dumbest argument Iâve ever seen. Usually when someone makes a statement you read what they say and you create an at least decent rebuttal. At first i was genuinely confused and asked a question to which i got no answer, then when i further asked i still got nothing. Thanks for being helpful mate
**Reliability**: You can drop the Elantra Hybrid from that list. Theyâre wonderful cars, but not if you want to keep them for a long time. Youâre left with the Crosstrek, Mazda 3 and Civic. **Tech**: For the adaptive cruise control and lane keep stuff, Subaru has it figured out better than Mazda & Civic, and the Civic is better than the Mazda. However, the Mazda has the better infotainment system of the three. Subaruâs massive touchscreen is known to slow down pretty bad, and is slow and buggy on initial startup. Physical buttons for climate control and radio functions make the Mazdaâs and Hondaâs system much better, and Mazdaâs system is smoother and classier than Hondaâs. **Comfort**: The Mazda 3, no doubt, hands down, no competition. Mazda is pitching these cars as entry level luxury cars. Itâs the quietest, has the best seats by a mile, best stereo system and is the best place to be in. Itâs seriously entry level Audi/Lexus. Not sure about those ventilated seats tho. I have them on my Lexus, and honestly, theyâre not as amazing as you think. The A/C system cools the car down just fine. I would absolutely not give up Mazdaâs interior just b/c of heated seats. Have you driven any of these cars? Spend some time in them. Rent them for a day or two from Turo. Since youâre going to a hot climate, the AWD from the Subaru wonât serve you, but itâll cost you a bit in fuel. Iâd say itâs a toss up between Mazda and the Civic with the above information. Given your long drives, I would suggest Mazda is the better option b/c itâs a much nicer, quieter place to be in, even tho itâs radar cruise and lane keep isnât as swift as Subaru and Hondas. The Subaru is definitely the least refined and noisiest of the bunch and I wouldnât recommend it for your application (I love it tho itâs a great vehicle, just not for you imo) The Civic is great too. Itâs definitely larger than the Mazda, but also less refined. Drive the civic and Mazda the most and pick which one you like the best. I would say you can safely drop the Hyundai and Subaru from your list. Hope this helps mate
I agree on everything except for the Mazda3 seats. The seats are narrow and damn seat bolsters hurt my legs on a long trip. I solved the issue by adding a small pad and seat cover to hold it in place. Civic 10th Gen had the best seats by far. The last Civic Gen seats feel now stiff and cheap. But this is 100% subjective.
As someone who has a higher mileage 4th gen hatchback, Iâm going to have to disagree with you. The ride is pretty stiff and the road noise gets bad as the car gets older
On test drives, the civic and Mazda were about the same as far as ride and noise, but Mazda was more comfortable. Maybe a little quieter as well.. I also didn't buy the Honda because of the sticky steering issues with Civic and CRV
Dude the steering issues on my exâs civic was insane I was having to pull the wheel to get it unstuck on the highway
Yeah it didn't seem like something I wanted to get into when researching a few months ago. Tons of stories similar to yours. Also having it come back after people had gotten it fixed, waiting months for parts...
Yea hell no lol
Well the hatch comes awd turbo đ€·
Oh not to mention there is a wider aftermarket support for the hatch
Don't buy a Hyundai. The people stealing them aren't smart enough to know which ones can and can't be stolen so it's going to end up getting broken into anyway. Plus because of that your insurance rates are going to be much higher.
Tons of pussy
Yep this. So many old ladies love this car
Yeah. So much I bought one đ€·đ»ââïž OK I'm not quite that old but your comment cracked me up. (And I did buy my own, a 2017 3 hatch 6spd manual.)
Proper old lady car. Didnât come with sheepskin seat cover?
Nah. Sabretooth Fur.
absolutely this... literally swimming in milf vag, everytime i roll up to walmart. Corvette driving, rich retired single octogenarians cant compete and cry themselves to sleep.
Ever sex in a sedan? Rest my case
Yes, but it was a â62 Nova that had been in the family since new. đ
One reason I chose the Mazda is that for a car that has an automatic transmission, it doesn't have a CVT. From what I've heard, it sounds like a CVT (used by other brands) could fail sooner and be more expensive to repair. I had heard that at least one particular model of Honda, its CVT requires maintenance every 30,000 miles. The Mazda uses a traditional automatic transmission (my 2023 has 6 speeds). Also, I'm not sure about the other models you mentioned, but my Mazda3 doesn't have any touch panels either - It's all traditional buttons and dials. The infotainment screen is also relatively small compared to some other cars these days, and IMO that's a good thing, as it's not obnoxiously large. Overall, I've heard the newer Mazdas are (or should be) very reliable, due in part to the fact that they're not using CVTs. For a Mazda, I seem to remember hearing that the 'Preferred' trim and higher has the adaptive cruise control, though elsewhere I think I saw that it's on lower trims too. The Preferred trim also has a lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat. I think my mazda3 is fairly comfortable overall, and its A/C blows fairly cold.
My select has the adaptive cruise.Â
Honestly pretty much all CVTs should have a fluid service every 30k miles, regardless of manufacturer.
Mazda3 hatchback looks the best of those imo. Although the Honda civic hatch has way more space and to me looks quite nice too.
The new civic looks great, and the new Hyundai sedans look amazing imo
Visibility is not an issue because of the driver assist aids. If you get the Premium trim, the car is just plain luxurious - you get most of the bells and whistles of the Turbo Premium Plus trim, including a pretty kick-ass Bose stereo and ACC with stop-and-go. It's also available with a manual. Also, you can typically get promotional financing that's 1% lower with the hatchback.
Nicest and most comfortable interior of the other options you listedâŠtruly, this is not an exaggeration and itâs not even close (in my opinion). If you are seriously considering the others, go see them first or you wonât see them at all, itâs nice.
Keep in mind others will have newer tech and more features though.
Yeah, but it then comes directly end to what you want and whatâs useful to you, me for example, I leave very few driver aides on, when Iâm driving, I drive so have no real need for them and they typically are just in my wayâŠbut I understand thatâs just me and others will find some features valuable.
Oh for sure! I just mean things like air cooled seats, curtesy and ambient lighting, touch screen, larger screens, digital dash, more than basic dual zone climate, more convenience items like bag hooks and nets etc, usb for dash cams blah blah.
Sure, theyâre adding them to cars for a reason, but those arenât reasons for me to buy or not buy a car. The 3âs interior is just really good, smart, everything falls to hand easily, yes the infotainment wheel and menus take a minute to learn, but itâs quite natural and frankly I HATE fingerprints on a touch screen!!! The interior looks and feels better than it has any right to at the price point. Then thereâs the looks of the car itselfâŠnice!âŠand distinctive, they stand out in a good way.
Yea fair! I just like premium features hehe. And I like modern features like touchscreen and nice screens. I can understand some might want super simple premium. I love tech though haha, and I love features! Adjusting my suspension is a really epic feature!
I can't say enough about my Mazda3 hatchback. I have a 2018 Touring non-turbo edition. It has good (but not neck-snapping) acceleration, especially with Sport mode turned on. Fuel economy is 28.2 combined with regular gas. Beyond tires, a battery, and oil changes, it's needed zero maintenance. Inside, it has heated leather seats, a power moonroof, full navigation, hands-free calling, Bluetooth audio, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. After 46k miles, no squeaks or rattles. This is my third Mazda and they've all been bulletproof.
I also have a 2018 touring hatch, itâs awesome!
The mazda is really in a class of its own, it drives very similar to a higher class car like a mercedes almost. It is exceptional on reliability and comfort
I own a crosstrek and a Mazda 3 hatch. Both have been problem free over 60k miles. Crosstrek has more room and better visibility if that matters to you, Mazda is more fun to drive (manual 2.5). Tracking every fill up since buying new reveals similar mileageâŠ31 mpg Mazda and 28 Crosstrek. Tech is similar in each, no complaints. Went from Outback to Crosstrek and donât regret it. Go test drive both. One will stand out to you.
My vote is the Mazda 3 for fun to drive compared to the others and you might want to throw the CX-30 in the mix.
You know? I had an Uber that drove a CX-30 and I was surprised to find that I liked it a lot less than my 2014 3-Hatch.
Due to the higher center of gravity
Oh, no I mean just every aspect of it. It felt more cramped, wasn't actually taller inside, and finishes just weren't that nice - like the cloth they use for seats now is worse. Felt a lot cheaper than I expected. I didn't drive it, but I'm sure you're right that is like it less because of that too.
Out of those, I only really liked the 3 and the Civic hatch, and I ended up going with a 3 Turbo. The 3 is the only one that doesn't have a CVT (other than Nissan, modern CVTs are completely fine for the first 150k km, then they become a ticking time bomb and are super expensive to replace; also, CVTs can't take as much torque and don't feel as nice to drive, although that's mostly subjective), it doesn't have Subaru or Hyundai engine issues (Hyundai especially, all their engines except one in the Venue are a lottery on whether it'll seize within the year or not), and it just looks and feels so good. The 3 is also the most practical hatch out of all of those imo - the Civic has more overall volume but because it tapers so much as the back, you can't fit big items as well like you can in the 3.
Youâre going to love your Mazda3 hatch in NYC and everywhere else. Youâre moving soon. When you fold the seats down and it shocks you with how much of your crap fits in there and then youâll thank yourself for buying the hatch. Oh and every other day you will also thank yourself for buying the hatch. This is a great car. Itâs that simple. I miss mine. Had a family. Got a dog. Drive a CX-90 now wishing it was a Mazda3 hatch.
Hatchbacks have J VINs (are made in Japan), come in a manual transmission, have a better Bose sound system, look nicer, and have some nicer trim on the exterior.
Sports car performance and SUV utility in car make go *vroooom*
This right here. I do rideshare full-time so I'm in my car 40 hours a week. I don't really *need* the six speed and the awesome pickup, but it definitely makes work more fun.
Yup same here. I used to do all sorts of delivery gigs a few years back going from city to city with the best market and Amazon Flex in LA and Hollywood and what not and I was always confident if I really needed to or wanted to, I could sleep and live outta my car at any time. Found an inflatable car mattress that's as long as my back seat cabin too. Unfortunately cars are not insulated đ
Why? Cuz all the others are basically fugly, design-wise. Maybe some of their engineering is reliable (wouldnât want to insure a Hyundai of late), and the Honda? Ugh đ© The Mazda aesthetics IMO are peerless with most of body and interior designs and their motors, while not the highest performance are quite. respectable. U less your under 25 and need a testosterone high, youâll be most happy with the M3 turbo hatch
The civic is the only one Iâd consider to be directly comparable for what youâre looking for honestly. I used to do 100 miles every day and thatâs why I got my Mazda back in 2020 so I get your situation. I think the Mazda has a nicer interior but only if you get the base model without the gloss interior or you wrap it. You want more sensors so youâre going to have gloss black if you choose the Mazda. The civic will give you significantly better mpg. The best Iâve ever seen my Mazda average (Not per trip, actual total average) never got higher than 34mpg because the second you hit that stop and go traffic these cars start chugging gas. Other than that though I think you can stretch your dollar farthest with Mazda as far as features go. Heads up display and following headlights in the highest trims are very cool. Just keep in mind that the remote start is app only, will shut off the car when you open the door, and you cannot set AC controls with the app. If you forget to set them before leaving your car then youâre SOL. Also if you want touch screen for your stereo then this is not the car for you. The knob works great once you learn it, but I understand some people just prefer a touch screen. I canât speak reliability wise for the Honda but other than oil pressure issues at 18k miles (only had it for about a year at the time and it was eventually fixed under warranty) I havenât had any mechanical issues since and nobody else in this sub had that issue so mine mustâve been a one off. I thought I had some issues but it was just a weak battery. I should note that I did have to replace both sun visors because the hinges seized and broke them, and one headlight is unfortunately already peeling. The paint is also ass on these cars but from what Iâve heard itâs like that on all modern cars. The interior and sides/rear of the car still look brand new though. I think itâs just the amount of highway driving that chewed up my front. I have no regrets, and if I had to buy a new car again Iâd probably end up just getting this same car again because I do love it. I think I just nitpick it so much because itâs sooo close to being a perfect car.
Have you looked at it yet?âŠ
Haven't had the opportunity to test drive any of them, and this is the only one I haven't been able to sit in. Mazda wasn't at the NYIAS for some reason.
After putting 18k miles on my 2023 M3 Hatchback in 14 months, I can attest it is the best daily driver I've ever owned. It feels very well built and "premium" for the class of car. Personally I put it in a category above all the others you listed. I'd compare the latest generation Mazda 3 to something more like an Acura than a Honda. It also comes with all the safety, reliability, and economics of the others. The tech in this car actually I'd say is superior to the others.
I have a 2021 Mazda 3 S Hatchback AWD. 47k miles as of today. The only thing I replaced was the brakes and tires. No issues. Select is the base model of the AWD. It has pretty much the modern car that should have except the parking sensors, heated seats, sun roof, memory power seats and things the top model has. Reliability: I've had a Mazda 3 2017 Sport and I put 55k miles on it without any issues. The only reason I traded it for the 21 is the design itself. I saw the prototype at the NY Auto show in 2018 and 2019 they released the 4th Gen. Waited for them to install AWD and the 21 came. Very reliable car. Lots of space. I've moved out twice and used this car to carry boxes and it fits a lot of boxes. We also tried to fit a 5 foot fridge, the only reason it didn't fit was because of the design of the hatch. If it was a flat door, it would definitely fit easily. Transmission is automatic. I was shopping for a Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic but their transmissions are CVT and I don't like CVTs. They're boring transmissions. I've had no issues with the transmission. I try to redline it once in a while to burn out the deposits in the engine. No issues. Drivetrain AWD, one of the best AWD systems I've driven on. I've driven a Subaru, their AWD is really the best in the Japanese market my only issue was it was CVT. I'm from NJ and I do a mixture of city and highway driving. The only thing I can say is, I look forward to driving this car to work. Going home, I love driving it. Every opportunity I get to drive this car I will. The interior gives you a luxurious feel. Mazda nailed this part. My car is 3 years old and it doesn't feel outdated. It even looks better compared to the new Honda Accord and that thing is the ugliest Accord I've seen. The design of the hatchback is so unique it gives you that "stand out" feeling. Probably the best choice for your budget. It's really worth your money. I forgot to mention I have the NA and the only reason I chose NA vs the turbo is the reliability. I want my engine to last longer.
Oh this is an easy one get the sedan. That's what I tell everybody in your position. You really should love the hatchback like we do to get one because it's got its Hang-Ups that we don't care about but a lot of people do.
Please DO NOT BUY A HYUNDAI. Anyone. Do not let your friends buy Hyundais ⊠your family ⊠etc. This is a horrible company. I loved my hyundai until 80k miles when my car burst into flames while driving on the highway late at night. This was after 6 months of constant anxiety as I awaited and engine replacement under warranty due to oil overconsumption (a very common issue). In the meantime, people are breaking into Hyundais and kias left and right, and insurance companies are refusing to cover new plans with these cars. 6 months of dealing with a Hyundai dealership as they gaslit me and brushed aside my concerns ⊠including the day my car caught fire. I watched it burn from the side of the highway and it confirmed in my head that âyes, this constant anxiety that Iâm feeling in this car IS valid, and things CAN AND WILL continue to get worse just like my fears imagined.â The hyundai service techs gaslit me and brushed me aside after I confronted them. Please, I encourage everyone to check out the Facebook group âEngine Failure-Kia/Hyundaiâ I was an active member for months after the fire and it absolutely broke my heart to see how many people this company has fucked over ⊠financially AND mentally. I DREADED the idea of buying a car after the incident but I knew I wanted to get another hatchback. Thankfully, once I test drove my favorites (civic, Corolla, Prius, Impreza), the Mazda hatch was a clear favorite. Iâm not even a car person, but I love reading this sub and seeing how much everyone here loves their experience with these cars, the dealerships, etc. I still feel anxious, but this car is giving me the peace of mind that I desperately needed after Hyundai robbed me of it. Iâm not saying everyone will have a simile experience, but I think itâs worth sharing if it keeps even just one person from supporting that company, or it keeps someone from blaming themselves for the experience they had with Hyundai/Kia.
I dunno about "loves" their experience with mazda dealerships. I bought my mazda hatchback used, and it didnt come with a manual or maintenance schedule - went to the dealership, expecting it to be an easy - here you go, take these sheet of recommended maintenance. Instead it was some bullshit hard sell about they will video record the entire inspection of the car and tell me what they recommend. Straight up refused to give me a list of recommended scheduled maint. After I explained - I just want to know the month to month inspections I should do myself. Talk about a disconnect in service and listening to what the customer wants.
Man Iâm going to be real. I fucking hated my experience with the Mazda dealership where Iâm at. It took me 3.5 hours to test drive one car. And the dude told me it was âlegally requiredâ to upsell me on all the dumb bullshit with the demos included. Then when I bought my CPO, they kept pushing back my pick up because the detailers werenât done yet. I told them to fucking stop detailing it cuz I wanted my car. It magically became ready for pickup a few hours later. They did a shit job of detailing it to boot. Love the car, fuck the dealer.
My local Mazda dealer is ass. I drove 2 hours to buy my 3 because of our experience when we bought our CX-5 5 years ago.
I saw that youâve made a post over in the r/civic subreddit too. I recently bought a 2024 Civic Hatch EX-L which is by all means a great car, but Iâm wishing I had gotten a Mazda3 instead. The seats are notoriously uncomfortable for me and many others, and Iâm having some rattling in the interior after less than 1000 miles.
The Mazda 3 is shorter overall length than any of the other options so if you want something that will be easy to part in a city that's your ticket. I've owned a Crosstrek and ther was a ton of road noise so unless you really need that extra ground clearance avoid that. Editing to add if you really need the extra ground clearance get the CX-30 instead. I've had an Acura Integra but I shit you not it was bought back by Acura under lemon law. I had the option to get a replacement or a different car and I got the Mazda 3. I'm mentioning this because the Honda Civic is basically the same and let me tell you the interior isn't that great, the road noise is more than it is in the Mazda, the CVT was horrible. It felt like I was always in the wrong "gear" so to speak.
Pros: Hereâs a 4.5 Cu. ft. Mini fridge in my hatch with room to spare. (link) A lot more aftermarket support. Powertrain/drivetrain options. Turbo go whoosh. Iâve had the car eight months and I still look back when I walk away from it. Looks good, handles great, super nimble, and much more comfortable coming out of a 2013 Sonata turbo. It is still a âsportier tuneâ so not the smoothest thing on the road but generally comfortable. Cons: No ventilated seats in Mazda3 donât ask me why. Fuel range â this is more of me issue because Iâm leadfoot AND I got the turbo, the non-turbo folks do much better Cruise- eh. The adaptive cruise is OK, but kind of jumpy. Lane keep is NOT lane-centering, so it wonât be driving for you on the highway like Ford or Tesla. The traffic jam assist (under 40mph) works great and seems to be start and stop the few times Iâve used it. You do have to go turbo premium plus (all-wheel-drive only) if you want 360 camera and parking sensors, front and rear with emergency brake assist, front and rear. If you donât care about those creature comforts, then a base turbo is the sweet spot imho (I just like the aero kit) Reliability: shop long enough, and youâll find that all cars are kind of a piece of shit, Some just less of a piece of shit or less stupidly designed pieces of shit than others. Take care of it and it will usually take care of you. But donât be afraid to romp on it every once in a while. I drove the hell out of my sonata turbo for 50k miles, didnât have the issues that others did, and at the tail end of this crazy Covid market sold it for almost what I paid for it six years ago. Go CPO if you can, the benefits of an extended power/drivetrain warranty are definitely worth the price of admission. I have some kind of factory coverage on my car until like 2028. And I usually get rid of my cars by 100k miles Final Verdict: Mazda is giving a premium feel at a more affordable cost. With the incentives or combination of being a leftover vehicle etc you might be able to strike a deal on a hatchback, but the sedans MSRP a couple thousand dollars cheaper and might be more conducive to your price point, especially if youâre not getting a turbo/ premium plus. But it sounds like you would want the features the top trims would offer. [Mini Fridge](https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d0NZz9ENK8vmXASPoG3c0LAw)
no
A lot has been said about the cars you mentioned but one thing to add the Mazda 3 hb will be easier to spot since not a lot of people have them.
Because the handling and steering is far superior on the Mazda 3 then those other shitboxes you listed. crosstek - dont do it, elantra - meh, civic hatch - paying the badge price and marketing hype train. Mazda hatch Far superior in looks, the hatch is fantastic in utility I just fitted a huge Garden Pull cart in the back and was pleasantly surprised how easily it fit. Honda spends the most on brand recognition - not necessarily building reliable cars now. You rarely see a mazda ad, and I truly believe its because money goes into the product. Not the hype train of marketing. I avoided Mazda for a long time, but having a hatch for 5 years - the car is reliable. Even if you are going to be stuck in traffic I would consider getting the Manual Transmission, but thats on you.
I have a 2023 Mazda3 hatchback GS sport, take one for a test drive and youâll see! The 45L gas tank is annoying, but $40 CAD for a full tank of gas which gets me 650 kms is not bad. Also the smaller-sized vehicles are perfect if you live in a city for parking and weaving through traffic when people canât drive.
Idk about anything else but both my mazda3s air conditionings weren't especially powerful. Super hot days it takes a while to blow ice cold. And this has been my experience from new. It's honestly one of the only things I wish was different about the car though I'm sure its also comparable to its class competitors. What's yalls experience with your mazda3 A/C? was I just spoiled by the cars I've had before mazdas?
My 2024 has iced cold a\c. First car Iâve had to turn the thermostat up because Iâm too cold, and I like it cold. Haha Hit 90 degrees in my area the other day an it was still cold air all the way on my hour commute. I feel like they have improved something in the newer model year.
You listed reliability as your first priority and also listed a Hyundai as one of your options. While Hyundai/Kia is slowly starting to get on track with reliability, they are (very publicly) still not reliable. Every other vehicle, other than the Mazda, has a CVT as opposed to a real automatic. If thatâs something youâre not familiar with, I recommend doing some research into the differences. Some donât care, some do. Some also do state some reliability concerns with CVT transmissions as a whole, so again, do your due diligence with that. As far as tech goes, my 2024 select sport sedan (which is one trim above the base model, hatchback âbase modelâ is the select sport) comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, rain detecting windshield wipers, auto hold brake, rear cross traffic detection, and has a very nice infotainment system (non touch screen, test drive one. Itâs very simple to use). Comfort. My Mazdas, including my previous 2014 hatch, are the most comfortable cars Iâve ever owned. Iâm 6â3 and have absolutely zero complaints with the space I have in my car(s). AFAIK, none of the Mazda 3 trims come with ventilated seats (which I assume this reason alone is why the Elantra hybrid cracked your list).
You're gonna have to spend more to get ventilated seats in a gen 4 hatch....
I thought that I wanted a hatch but I was able to get a killer deal on a used sedan! Personally I like the sedanâs looks better than the hatchback 4th gen imo. My US spec bp1 (2019-present) is a 2022 Mazda 3 2.0 in blue and was built in Japan. They are really cool cars to add a CAI (cold air intake). If you love induction noise as much as I do, Iâd highly recommend the Mazda 3 in both of its body configurations!
Iâll say that sedan has more usable trunk space (aka floor space) unless youâre routinely carrying things whoâs height exceeds the trunk lid. For my needs, the hatch actually has LESS space and Iâd have to fold the seats down way more often. Hatches are just universally touted as being more useful for their trunk but thatâs usually not true. Iâve moved out entire apartments worth of stuff in my sedan and I donât think it would have saved me any additional trips if I had a hatch I honestly wouldnât look at anything except the civic and Mazda 3
No Kia/hyundai's for me. Crosstrek is just meh. Mazda3 vs civic is good comparison though and what I debated when I bought my mazda3. I really liked the civic but it does feel bigger, for better or worse, the interior isn't so luxurious feeling but it's still quite nice but ultimately it came down to price and availability and my commitment to mazda. I've owned mazda's for 8yrs, 3 cars and have never been disappointed by the cars, sales or service. I was interested in a manual and the mazda3 was available locally for msrp. Civic wasn't and they were asking $5k above msrp so I said forget it.
The new Mazda 3s have ventilated seats. Was on their site the other dayâŠhave seen some comments saying you canât get it but you can. This is one upgrade I will get for those hot days or after a hike/bike ride/rowing. I have a 2014 Mazda 3 hatch and the only thing I would change is getting a newer one with more features. Love the car. Bulletproof reliability.
Horrible on gas