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Looking for a small hatchback...is Mazda3 the best option?

9

996GT2

Diamond Member
Currently looking for a small hatchback with decent handling and good mpg for highway trips. Considered the Civic, but unfortunately it doesn't come in a hatch. Considered the Fit, but it seems like the new ones produced at their Mexico plant have had a lot of QC issues. Tried the Ford Focus, but the dual clutch Powershift transmission shifts very awkwardly. Mazda3 is at the top of my list right now. Are there any other cars worth considering in this segment?
 
I own one. Better than the focus imo but back then the impreza hatch wasn't a thing yet (non wrx).
 
z1ggy said:
I own one. Better than the focus imo but back then the impreza hatch wasn't a thing yet (non wrx).
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What's so impressive about the Impreza besides AWD? From what I've read and seen, the Impreza interior looks cheap compared to the Mazda3 interior.

Have you had any issues with your 2014/15 Mazda3 so far?
 
I still like my Mazda 3 Hatch, but it's getting old.

Still looks and drives well for a 2006 4 speed auto 2.3L I bought new though.
 
I have a 2014 (new body style) Mazda 3 hatchback, grand touring trim, 6 speed manual, two liter. I LOVE this car! It's definitely a driver's car. I regularly get over 40 mpg on the highway, 35 mixed without any extra effort. The car is plenty peppy, even with the smaller 2 liter. Honestly, I don't feel like the 2.5 is even necessary if you're looking for a stick, but I suppose more power can't hurt. The car just feels right, which is something you don't see on a spec sheet or a written review. The interior is also nice for the segment, plus the controls feel fantastic. The whole "zoom zoom" mentality is true; the car just makes you want to drive and enjoy it! Super comfortable on long rides, too.

I highly, highly recommend the Mazda 3 hatch, especially if you can spring for the higher trims. You will definitely want a backup camera, so make sure whatever trim/options you pick has it included.

Cars I test drove and cross shopped before going with the Mazda 3 hatch:
- Impreza Wagon
- Hyundai Elantra GT
- Toyota Matrix
- Scion XB
- VW Golf
- Chevy Spark
- Honda Fit

Ultimately, I found it impossible to beat my car for the money. Get the 3. 🙂
 
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slugg said:
I have a 2014 (new body style) Mazda 3 hatchback, grand touring trim, 6 speed manual, two liter. I LOVE this car! It's definitely a driver's car. I regularly get over 40 mpg on the highway, 35 mixed without any extra effort. The car is plenty peppy, even with the smaller 2 liter. Honestly, I don't feel like the 2.5 is even necessary if you're looking for a stick, but I suppose more power can't hurt. The car just feels right, which is something you don't see on a spec sheet or a written review. The interior is also nice for the segment, plus the controls feel fantastic. The whole "zoom zoom" mentality is true; the car just makes you want to drive and enjoy it! Super comfortable on long rides, too.

I highly, highly recommend the Mazda 3 hatch, especially if you can spring for the higher trims. You will definitely want a backup camera, so make sure whatever trim/options you pick has it included.

Cars I test drove and cross shopped before going with the Mazda 3 hatch:
- Impreza Wagon
- Hyundai Elantra GT
- Toyota Matrix
- Scion XB
- VW Golf
- Chevy Spark
- Honda Fit

Ultimately, I found it impossible to beat my car for the money. Get the 3. 🙂
Click to expand...
The backup camera is now standard even on the base models!
 
996GT2 said:
Currently looking for a small hatchback with decent handling and good mpg for highway trips. Considered the Civic, but unfortunately it doesn't come in a hatch. Considered the Fit, but it seems like the new ones produced at their Mexico plant have had a lot of QC issues. Tried the Ford Focus, but the dual clutch Powershift transmission shifts very awkwardly. Mazda3 is at the top of my list right now. Are there any other cars worth considering in this segment?
Click to expand...

Are you SURE about the Honda Fit ?

Apparently (please DOUBLE CHECK, maybe I'm wrong, I'm NOT too knowledgeable about US sold cars), the 2015 Honda Fit WAS made in Mexico.

BUT Honda realized their error (or whatever), and moved production to Japan. So the 2016 ones are Japanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTItxz1IF4c
 
996GT2 said:
What's so impressive about the Impreza besides AWD? From what I've read and seen, the Impreza interior looks cheap compared to the Mazda3 interior.

Have you had any issues with your 2014/15 Mazda3 so far?
Click to expand...

Well, mainly the AWD and my old (sedan) impreza handled like a dream for a $18,000 car. I actually have a 2011 mazda3 hatch, and i'd say handling wise, it's like 80% as good as the impreza was. Not sure how the current hatch impreza handles, but I'd suspect it's pretty good still.

Interior wise, yes my mazda3 is a LITTLE nicer inside, but not leaps and bounds. Although I have heard the newest mazda3 offering is nicer inside than the newest impreza offering.

I also have driven the Golf, but only the GTI. Assuming that's out of your price point, but it was a very nice car. People always question VW reliability, so I guess just keep that in mind.
 
slugg said:
I have a 2014 (new body style) Mazda 3 hatchback, grand touring trim, 6 speed manual, two liter. I LOVE this car! It's definitely a driver's car. I regularly get over 40 mpg on the highway, 35 mixed without any extra effort. The car is plenty peppy, even with the smaller 2 liter. Honestly, I don't feel like the 2.5 is even necessary if you're looking for a stick, but I suppose more power can't hurt. The car just feels right, which is something you don't see on a spec sheet or a written review. The interior is also nice for the segment, plus the controls feel fantastic. The whole "zoom zoom" mentality is true; the car just makes you want to drive and enjoy it! Super comfortable on long rides, too.

I highly, highly recommend the Mazda 3 hatch, especially if you can spring for the higher trims. You will definitely want a backup camera, so make sure whatever trim/options you pick has it included.

Cars I test drove and cross shopped before going with the Mazda 3 hatch:
- Impreza Wagon
- Hyundai Elantra GT
- Toyota Matrix
- Scion XB
- VW Golf
- Chevy Spark
- Honda Fit

Ultimately, I found it impossible to beat my car for the money. Get the 3. 🙂
Click to expand...

Sounds like you did some decent research and got yourself a fun car. Those choices you looked at are mostly the same as what I have been considering. Except I would never buy VW or Hyundai again unless I had no other choice because I am little skeptical of their service intervals.

My 2004 Mazda3 Hatchback (stick) was a fun car. I do miss it from time to time. Except for the rust problem those cars had, they were great cars for the most part (the 2.3 engine was a little pathetic on the highway).

Been thinking of picking up a newer one again. Most likely would be stick again too. I assume yours has the 2.0 SkyActiv engine? Thats probably what I would be getting too. Does it have enough grunt on the highway to pass in top gear or do you need to downshift all the time? How about with the Air on?

Honda hatchback coming out will likely be overpriced for the first year due to the hype.
 
996GT2 said:
What's so impressive about the Impreza besides AWD? From what I've read and seen, the Impreza interior looks cheap compared to the Mazda3 interior.

Have you had any issues with your 2014/15 Mazda3 so far?
Click to expand...

Impreza is in its last model year and apart from awd it's not as competitive anymore.

Going to echo slugg about the 3, so far it's been a great car for us! My only complaints are that I don't find the seat comfortable for long drives. It's also got a significant amount of road noise in it, especially on the highway. I'm also not a huge fan of how long the hood is, makes parking more interesting.

I've also got a gti, so comparable to the golf. Thus far it's been reliable and apart from complaints about the strange auto trans programming it seems the base golf is also pretty reliable. The golf probably has the better infotainment system (car play Android auto, if that matters to you), and the Bluetooth voice seems to pickup better. However, the base golf is a bit shorter than the 3 so you'll notice that inside, but it's more square so vertical space is better (the 3s rear slopes dramatically). It also is quieter inside and I think the seats are better. Worth a drive I'd think, and with recent events you could probably get a really good deal on one.
 
Demo24 said:
It's also got a significant amount of road noise in it, especially on the highway.
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Owned two Mazdas (early 2000s) and that was my main gripe about them back then too. It gets wearing during long trips on California's shitty road surfaces. If at all possible I'd wait for the Honda Civic Hatchback to arrive in the fall. Totally redesigned and pretty awesome it is sedan form that's already here.
 
Leyawiin said:
Owned two Mazdas (early 2000s) and that was my main gripe about them back then too. It gets wearing during long trips on California's shitty road surfaces. If at all possible I'd wait for the Honda Civic Hatchback to arrive in the fall. Totally redesigned and pretty awesome it is sedan form that's already here.
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Yeah, I have a 2012 Mazda 3 hatch loaded and it has road noise. When I was shopping I tried out literally everything like it on the market. I have two other gripes about it, the outside hatch area gets dirty instantly. It must be something with the aerodynamics that makes dust swirl back there. The other complain is minor, I wish the seat went about an inch lower.

Remember to keep in mind the reason you are shopping for a hatch. Many of them have no room at all in the hatch area, especially the hybrids. The Fit was a very close second.
 
Guurn said:
Remember to keep in mind the reason you are shopping for a hatch. Many of them have no room at all in the hatch area, especially the hybrids. The Fit was a very close second.
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This is important. My 2006 Jetta TDI has a lot more room to put things into the trunk than my wife's 2007 Impreza WRX Hatch.

Now the Impreza Hatch is small even for a hatchback but the point is that the available space is often smaller than you'd expect.
 
The current car & driver ranked the Mazda #1 of a test of 5 cars, might take a look for the magazine and read their report.

Also FWIW when my wife and I shopped for a small SUV for her, she chose the Outlander Sport (which I think was nice too) for its low cost, but IMO by far the Mazda CX5 was the best of anything we drove. I feel like Mazda really has their act together right now. I'd be the 3 would be a good car as well.
 
I went with a focus back in November when looking for the same thing. I was looking for a two or three year old car though and Mazda 3s where way more expensive than the focus. I also saved about $3k because I wanted a manual trans and the resale on those are crap despite being a much better trans than the dual clutch thing. Sync is pretty nifty and it has a timing chain which I greatly prefer to belts.
 
mazda hasn't bothered to put sound deadening nor much acoustic glass in anything but the new CX-9, that's why they're a bit noisy. c&d loves them anyway. i wonder if c&d would prefer to turbo civic to the 2.5L mazda?

the new civic sure does look like a hatch.
 
ElFenix said:
mazda hasn't bothered to put sound deadening nor much acoustic glass in anything but the new CX-9, that's why they're a bit noisy. c&d loves them anyway. i wonder if c&d would prefer to turbo civic to the 2.5L mazda?

the new civic sure does look like a hatch.
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My biggest gripe with the new Civic is the CVT. I'd get the manual but I do a considerable amount of city driving. I prefer the way the Mazda3's 6-speed auto behaves compared to a CVT. The Mazda3 transmission also has an extended lock-up range meaning the torque converter can stay locked about 90% of the time, even at lower speeds.
 
My impression is that the Impreza gets the same or better MPG than the hybrid electric crosstrek. It probably gets better MPG than the hybrid escape too.
 
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