Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hatchbacks Mazda3 2010 Mazda3
653 messages, Last post on Nov 12, 2009 at 2:07 PM
You are in the Mazda3 Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
Replying to: murray15 (Aug 02, 2009 5:56 am) |
|
|
|
|
I thought I was just a few days from buying a new Mazda 3, but now I'm not so sure. I've read that JD Power & Associates rates the Mazda 3 as being much less reliable than some of the other cars I'm considering (e.g., Corolla, Civic). I also just read an article that came out today that Mazda is among the worst in terms of a recent customer satisfaction survey. Yet, this car seems to get great reviews everywhere. Are the reviewers weighing performance and other factors much more heavily than reliability? This is not the way I'd prioritize things as a long-time Toyota guy who can't seem to get a fair price on a Corolla these days. Is there some sort of bias against Mazda in the way they came up with the ratings? Thanks. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 18, 2009 2:36 pm) Car review generally are not about "reliability" at all. As far as I know CR is the only one that considers that in their recomendations, but even there it has nothing to do with how they rank the vehicles it's just that they will not recommend a car unles it gets at least an average rating on their reliability surveys.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jeffyscott (Aug 18, 2009 3:39 pm) Just out of curiosity, do you know where this car stands with respect to CR's recommendation?
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 18, 2009 4:13 pm) "small wagons and hatchbacks". Ahead of it were: Mazda5 Touring Volkswagen Rabbit S Toyota Prius Touring (2009) Volkswagen Jetta SE (2.5) Hyundai Elantra Touring They also listed predicted reliability as above average. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 18, 2009 2:36 pm) The Mazda3 is one of the most reliable cars one can buy. There are, of course, caveats. Any new model is more prone to reliability issues than a model that has been around for a number of years. Since this model year is new for both the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, you may consider waiting until the bugs are ironed out from a new model year. For more information, consult Consumer Reports. Other important factors you may want to consider in comparing these vehicles are fuel efficiency and resale value, if you are planning to sell the car in the future. Mazda3 has good but not great fuel efficiency; the Corolla is better, the Civic Hybrid best. From a resale point of view the dynamic duo, Toyota and Honda, still reign supreme.
|
|
The Mazda3 is supposed to be a fun car. If I want to save gas alone, I'd walk or ride my bike for short trips.  I think we have beaten the MPG to death. Backy can by the Rogue or Corolla.
|
|
|
Replying to: autonomous (Aug 21, 2009 10:33 am) How funny everyone forgets that the Mazda3 i has a 25/33 mpg rating with MORE power then Corolla and Civic. Last I checked, a 25/33 rating is not considered "not great". Please, do not bring up the Mazda3 s either, it gets the same fuel economy as the Corolla S and has more power then the Corolla S. As for resale, the Mazda3 is on par with the Corolla and Civic. MAZDA3 GETS GOOD FUEL ECONOMY!!!!! PERIOD, END OF CONVERSATION!!!!!!!! GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer Reports is also a great source of real fuel economy ratings! Based on their tests, here's a look at the Mazda3 and some competitors- City/Highway/Overall Average (all tested on the same roads, same speed, etc.) Corolla LE 4AT - 23/40/32 Civic EX 5AT - 18/43/28 Mazda3 i 5AT- 21/39/28 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4AT- 18/36/27 Nissan Sentra 2.0S CVT- 18/34/26 Ford Focus SES 4AT- 18/35/26 Mitsubishi Lancer ES CVT- 17/34/25 So the Corolla is the champ of them all by 4mpg overall...but you should also factor in the co-pay for the anti-depressant you'll be needing very soon! The Mazda3 i is a match for the Civic overall at 28mpg; and the Civic does a bit better on the highway, but the MZ3 is quite a bit better in the city! The Elantra, Sentra, Focus and Lancer all trail behind the top three. Obviously the Mazda3 s isn't quite as fuel efficient as the 2.0L 148hp i model. But compared to other models with engines of similar size and/or power, it's very competitive- Toyota Matrix S 5AT- 19/35/26 (2.4L 158hp) Mazda3 s Sport 5AT- 17/34/25 (2.5L 170hp) VW Rabbit S 6AT – 16/32/24 (2.5L 170hp) Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4AT- 17/31/24 (2.5L 170hp) As for resale value, the Mazda3 depreciates less than any other Mazda vehicle. I have been very surprised at how well my 2006 Mazda3 s 5-door has held its value, especially since I had only owned Hondas in the past! According to the Edmunds TCO depreciation projections, the Civic, Corolla and Mazda3 will be will be worth the following percentage of their original cost: Civic LX-S 5AT- 65.4% Toyota Corolla XLE 4AT- 64.8% Mazda3 i Touring 5AT- 66.0% Considering that projections have some margin of error, I think it's fair to say that any difference in residual values will be immaterial! Note- I chose the specific trim levels above because their purchase prices were the closest ($19,358-$19.836). A Civic EX is almost identical at 66.1%, while a Corolla LE drops 2.6% to 62.2%... Now I've done way too much math for an early Sunday morning and I need a nap. 
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: aviboy97 (Sep 12, 2009 11:42 am) Agreed. Good ... not great fuel economy. As consumers let's continue to demand that auto manufacturers do better here. Bumping up the horsepower and keeping the same fuel economy is not an improvement; my 2002 Mazda Protege5 has the same rating (25mpg) as the 2010 Mazda3 s. Toyota is on its 3rd generation of Prius, Honda has produced a hybrid Civic. Mazda's response seems out of step with the times. On the other hand, I welcome the arrival of the lighter Mazda2!
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hatchbacks Mazda3 2010 Mazda3
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Mazda MAZDA3
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
