Mazda 3 Hatchback vs Subaru Impreza wagon vs Toyota Matrix

[dxkj]

This is a poll, but if you vote please consider posting why.

Ive been researching these and they each have their points. Just looking for any key points that I might not notice when I go to test drive them(especially the bad). Probably going to start with the Mazda 3.


Thanks


PS Also if there are any other equivalent models that might be worth looking at feel free to mention them. Considering checking out the Civic wagon as well.

PPS I know half the responses are going to be "honda", and another part will be "mazda 3 rocks" Ive read a lot of the threads. Main question is what are the bad points of each as well.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Where do you live? Does it snow a lot? If so then go with the impreza, if not the 3

 

[vi edit]

I'm going to get laughed the hell out of here, but I am in the market for a hatch/wagon/compact SUV for a company car. Just for sh!t's and giggles I stopped in and looked at the Chevy Malibu Maxx. You know what? It really isn't that bad of a car at all. Especially for the price. The engine is very smooth and gets up and goes quite well. The seats are quite comfortable for a GM vehicle. It has heated seats, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, power seats, adjustable pedals, ect.

The back seat is cavernous. It has over 41" of back seat space which is insane for a midsize car. Only complaint is that it's not an overly good looking car and the interior was a bit lackluster.

But hey, I could have walked out of the dealer with a completely decked out one with leather, power everything, nice torquey V6 that pulled 30MPG on the highway, and nice storage space for $19,550 (and that was the LT top trim level).

For the price I don't know how I could have gone wrong.

 

[NFS4]

I chose the 3 hatch. It looks the best and has the best interior.

As for the snow comment, FWD is almost as good.

 

[dxkj]

Yes lots of snow, but Ive driven FWD vehicles all my life through this crap and im used to it.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm going to get laughed the hell out of here, but I am in the market for a hatch/wagon/compact SUV for a company car. Just for sh!t's and giggles I stopped in and looked at the Chevy Malibu Maxx. You know what? It really isn't that bad of a car at all. Especially for the price. The engine is very smooth and gets up and goes quite well. The seats are quite comfortable for a GM vehicle. It has heated seats, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, power seats, adjustable pedals, ect.

The back seat is cavernous. It has over 41" of back seat space which is insane for a midsize car. Only complaint is that it's not an overly good looking car and the interior was a bit lackluster.

But hey, I could have walked out of the dealer with a completely decked out one with leather, power everything, nice torquey V6 that pulled 30MPG on the highway, and nice storage space for $19,550 (and that was the LT top trim level).

For the price I don't know how I could have gone wrong.

I priced them and thought they were a bit higher than that. will take another look/

edit

kbb link

shows them to be more like 21k base price.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm going to get laughed the hell out of here, but I am in the market for a hatch/wagon/compact SUV for a company car. Just for sh!t's and giggles I stopped in and looked at the Chevy Malibu Maxx. You know what? It really isn't that bad of a car at all. Especially for the price. The engine is very smooth and gets up and goes quite well. The seats are quite comfortable for a GM vehicle. It has heated seats, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, power seats, adjustable pedals, ect.

The back seat is cavernous. It has over 41" of back seat space which is insane for a midsize car. Only complaint is that it's not an overly good looking car and the interior was a bit lackluster.

But hey, I could have walked out of the dealer with a completely decked out one with leather, power everything, nice torquey V6 that pulled 30MPG on the highway, and nice storage space for $19,550 (and that was the LT top trim level).

For the price I don't know how I could have gone wrong.

I priced them and thought they were a bit higher than that. will take another look/

edit

kbb link

shows them to be more like 21k base price.

That's before GM throws about $6,000 in incentives at you. That, and the Malibu interior looks about as grey and antispetic as a pysch ward.

 

[vi edit]

I priced them and thought they were a bit higher than that. will take another look/

The dealers near me were offering the following -

Invoice price of - $22,052
- $500 dealer discount
- $1000 GM incentive
- $1000 in GM points that I've accumulated

Puts it right at $19,550.

Not bad.

 

[kami333]

If AWD isn't an issue, then the 3 takes it.

Out of curiosity, were you looking at the Impreza TS or OBS?

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm going to get laughed the hell out of here, but I am in the market for a hatch/wagon/compact SUV for a company car. Just for sh!t's and giggles I stopped in and looked at the Chevy Malibu Maxx. You know what? It really isn't that bad of a car at all. Especially for the price. The engine is very smooth and gets up and goes quite well. The seats are quite comfortable for a GM vehicle. It has heated seats, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, power seats, adjustable pedals, ect. The back seat is cavernous. It has over 41" of back seat space which is insane for a midsize car. Only complaint is that it's not an overly good looking car and the interior was a bit lackluster. But hey, I could have walked out of the dealer with a completely decked out one with leather, power everything, nice torquey V6 that pulled 30MPG on the highway, and nice storage space for $19,550 (and that was the LT top trim level). For the price I don't know how I could have gone wrong.

You could have bought it.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm going to get laughed the hell out of here, but I am in the market for a hatch/wagon/compact SUV for a company car. Just for sh!t's and giggles I stopped in and looked at the Chevy Malibu Maxx. You know what? It really isn't that bad of a car at all. Especially for the price. The engine is very smooth and gets up and goes quite well. The seats are quite comfortable for a GM vehicle. It has heated seats, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, power seats, adjustable pedals, ect. The back seat is cavernous. It has over 41" of back seat space which is insane for a midsize car. Only complaint is that it's not an overly good looking car and the interior was a bit lackluster. But hey, I could have walked out of the dealer with a completely decked out one with leather, power everything, nice torquey V6 that pulled 30MPG on the highway, and nice storage space for $19,550 (and that was the LT top trim level). <STRONG>For the price I don't know how I could have gone wrong</STRONG>.

You could have bought it.

:beer:

 

[poopaskoopa]

Impreza. The other 3 are too ugly for me pay for them.

 

[vi edit]

That's before GM throws about $6,000 in incentives at you. That, and the Malibu interior looks about as grey and antispetic as a pysch ward.

The one I looked at had a tan interior. No where as bad as the grey that most reviews show in their pics.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: kami333
If AWD isn't an issue, then the 3 takes it.

Out of curiosity, were you looking at the Impreza TS or OBS?

I forget the model I have it written down somewhere. It was the lowend model, 165 hp. 2.5L I think

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: poopaskoopa
Impreza. The other 3 are too ugly for me pay for them.

Riiiiiiight. You need a poopaskoopa to pick the Impreza's ugly ass off the floor. YUCK!!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTIFUL

 

[vi edit]

You could have bought it.

Bah! It had better features, more room, way better gas milage, and didn't take premium. It was also over $4,000 cheaper than the Forester XT.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: poopaskoopa
Impreza. The other 3 are too ugly for me pay for them.

Like the GG looks any better...

The GF was sweet though, old school forever.

 

[brigden]

My GF just bought a 3. It's a wonderful car. The attention to interior detail is excellent. The ride is comfortable, and quiet. Nice car.

 

[dxkj]

Any opinions on the matrix? Going to test the 3 and probably matrix tommorrow *hopefully*.


Thanks for the comments so far.

 

[kami333]

The Matrix was ok, I looked at one when I was looking for my car. There wasn't anything that drew me to her though, it was just a car, unlike the Mazda (nice stying and comfortable) and the Impreza that I ultimately fell in love with and bought.

I think it has the lowest price though, which could be a major selling point.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: dxkj
Any opinions on the matrix? Going to test the 3 and probably matrix tommorrow *hopefully*.


Thanks for the comments so far.

The Matrix is gutless and pretty fugly IMHO. Crappy options packages as well. But it does get decent milage, has some neat thoughts put into it - lockdown rails and hard plastic on the cargo area and backside of the seats. 110 volt plug in the dash for various electronics. Nice and high upright seating not common to a small car. *Decent* hauling room for a small car.

I intend to look at the "3" hatchback, but the more I look at, the more I find it's overpriced for what it offers. I'm curious to see how the Mazda 6 hatches and wagons will be priced.

 

[Eli]

The 3 looks the best, but I would probably get the Subie.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

There were about 3 things I didn't like about the Mazda3. Performance wise it was alright, but I didn't like....

- The shape of the rear and the tail lights, reminds me too much of the Cavalier design.
- The 3 circular design of the driver console (looks horrendus IMO)
- The clutch, brake, and gas pedal pads were too small and too close together

Haven't seen or test driven the other vehicles you've mentioned, so can't comment on those.

Another thing was I didn't want to take the plunge to buy a first generation vehicle and deal with the possible hassles that came with it.

 

[VTEC01EX]

I chose the Impreza. Now, the 3 is the only one out of the options I haven't driven, so it's not exactly a qualified opinion. I wasn't at all impressed by the Matrix. The 3 in pictures looked awesome and I was really looking forward to checking it out at the auto show, but the interior wasn't nearly as nice as it looked online IMO. Yeah, it's nice, but it just didn't do it for me. I like the clean, straightfoward look of the Impreza's interior. Also, you can't beat the beauty of AWD.

Of course, that could change when I drive a 3 ;-)

 

I drove all three.
I now own a subaru impreza wagon.

AWD was one of the big sellers for me. I also like the feel and sound of the flat4.

The 3 would be my next choice, then the matrix. The matrix really doesn't have the power it needs. But it's a toyota and bound to last forever.