Mazda 3 (BL) - If you're after a small car, you'd be MAD to ignore it | ReDriven used car review
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- Опубликовано: 30 май 2024
- Check out the Mazda 3 Cheat Sheet here: redriven.com/mazda-3-bl/
Looking for a used Mazda 3? - carsforsale.com.au/mazda/3
This week we jump behind the wheel of the Mazda 3 (BL). Spoiler alert, it's pretty damn good.
Did we miss anything/ Let us know in the comments and don't forget to subscribe to stay up to dat with all of our latest content!
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00:00 - Intro
01:29 - What is it?
03:06 - How's the exterior?
04:12 - How's the interior?
06:50 - How's the tech?
07:53 - Is it practical?
09:56 - What goes wrong?
13:06 - Is it safe?
14:33 - What's it like to drive?
16:56 - How much is it?
17:46 - Fuel use, warranty & servicing
18:21 - Should you buy it?
#mazda
#mazda3
#review
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At ReDriven, we’ll be taking you through the pros and cons of a huge range of used cars to see how well they’re going now that they’re a few years old, have thousands of kilometres on the clock, and are coming toward the end of their warranty, or maybe don’t have one at all.
Plus, thanks to our resident mechanic, Jim, you’ll find out what commonly goes wrong with them and what might need to be fixed.
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If not the Mazda 3, what car would you pick in the small car category?
It'd have to be a Chery J3 for sure yeah?
@Jake Clinton first time on the internet?
@Jake Clinton it was an attempt at sarcasm but obviously my skills need some polishing.
Cx30 is my pick over the Mazda 3 hatch I initially wanted.
@@jackpowell8155 remind me, what price is the CX30 at? :))
I have a Mazda 3. It's a 2009. It was made in Japan. I have had zero problems in all that time.
No rust?
US 2011 Mazda3 owner here. Original and only owner, i bought mine clean off the lot in 2011 and still own and drive today in 2023. Basic maintenance has been key but the one hiccup i did not expect was a TCM failure. If you dont know what that is it is a small metal device that houses a computer chip that allows the engine to communicate to the tranny. Over years the heat warps and melts the TCM because of poor placement. I had to have my TCM shipped to a special shop in Atlanta to refurbish the part because brand new ones were unavailable due to "supply chain shortage". Anyhow, my 12 year old Mazda3 with 120000 miles is purring better than ever.
There was a video on YT here, showing how to make a bracket behind the battery box & relocating the TCM module ,in order to prevent future failures.
My mum had a 2010 neo that she later passed onto me and it was the best car I've ever had. It did over 270000kms and never needed anything done beyond servicing. Absolutely brilliant car and I still regret to this day getting rid of it.
I own one from new and I approve your comment 😊
This little machine never broke down. Absolutely brilliant car and really nice looking 🤩
the only costly thing that goes arong with these early BL series is the ABS module. You cannot simply visit a wrecket/ breakers yard and get a slightly newer one from a series 2 model. You have to get a replacement one with tbe same specific serial / model number of ABS module. Wreckers know this, and thats why a module is very expensive to buy used. A reconditioned oneis the best way to go, since it comes with 12 months warranty . But just the reconditioned part alone is $1600-$1800.. Its more common on high mileagw cares beyond 250K klm. It happened to mine at 322K klm. Other than that engine has been very relaible , just following the manufacturer's service intervals & recommended parts replacements.
I have one from new but hatchback. Absolutely brilliant sexy looking machine. Never ever let me down in last 11 years of service, the only repair was a clutch at 115k (it’s manual) and no extra repairs other costs other than wear and tear, tyres and service. Love it
From experience, common issues for the BL Chassis Mazdas:
- Belt tensioner tends to fail
- Leaking boots (caused by deterioration of the rear taillight seals)
- Eventually, the brake light switch will go
- Engine mount as mentioned
For maximum enjoyment? Lighter wheels and high-performance summer tyres.
The TCM will fail, as its mounted in the Auto transmission, ans will eventually due from the heat, along with ABS module failure on high mileage cars. You have to replace it according same ssrual/ model number, cant use one of a slightly newer series 2 model. Expensive to repair Get it reconditioned, dont go doen th oath of a used one, as it will fail again.
Ahh I had one of these throughout university. Great little car, really no major issues. One thing to note if you get one with the skyactiv engine - you are likely eventually going to have to deal with carbon buildup issues. I had mine cleaned at ~100k miles after the check engine light came on and it was like a brand new car after.
Mine is not skyactiv, but 111 KW Disi engine, still how did you get the carbon build up cleaned up? Sand blasting, or ? I don't think the HHO cleaning machines would work
@@yavorm.7503 From what I remember, they soaked the values in a cleaning solution overnight to soften the buildup then cleaned it off with brushes, etc. I've seen walnut blasting be used to 100% clean really stubborn buildup on valves, intake manifold, etc.
Yeah, I cleaned my intake at about 100k, it was VERY gunked up. I alternative between intake cleaner and some soapy solution (can't remember which), using compressed air and towels to blow and catch the gunk coming out. It was quite a job, but on the other hand it made it 100k miles, and the direct injection allows a lot of control over combustion for like custom tunes.
2012 sp25 manual, owned since new. Done about 90,000km and have had 0 issues. Great car
Loving the extra jokes and information you’ve added into this one. Car reviews can be boring but this is funny but also informational. Perfect car review channel. Good job boys!
Having watched a couple reviews I gotta say, you guys give a great mix of thorough review details whist not wasting any time, and you’ve given at least some realistic reason for a person to buy each of the cars you’ve reviewed over their direct rivals . I would love to see a review on the Rb1 Honda Odyssey or the J31 Nissan Maxima in the near future. Convinced a new subscriber today
Thanks for the kind words, mate! An Odyssey is 100% on the list so stay tuned!
Great video guys!
I have a 2013 SP25 hatch and it’s never missed a beat, it’s such a good car to drive. And from both personal experience of driving it every day and what others mention too, the transmissions in the manuals are fantastic!
These things sold like crazy for many years so fantastic to see they are holding up. I can only imagine all design/engineering deficiencies will have been exposed by now with many examples hitting 300,00+ km. We'll be seeing these on the road for many years to come.
With examples getting to that price point now where these are becoming the second car/run-around/hack/station car. Care and servicing tends to be drop in priority, but sounds like these are likely to handle that well.
I have a 2013 BL series 2 neo sport
With a the six speed manual & a spoiler on the back. This is hands down the best car I have ever owned. I have had it since new I have done 145,000kms it hasn’t missed a beat. It still has the original clutch. I haven’t done anything to it. Only normal stuff change the battery & a new set of tyres.
I would buy one of these in heartbeat you would be foolish to ignore it.
Love the in depth review, it has cemented my love for my sp25 daily ❤️
Wife had a 2nd hand BL now for about 4 years. Faultless. Amazing car. Nothing flash but just works & well, a joy to drive. Myself have a BM 👍🏻
I own a 2012 5 door model. I’ve had no issues so far - not even a flat tire. Fun to drive.
I like that you got dressed up to do the interior review of the car, while keeping a more casual outdoorsy look for the exterior filming.
Ahhh I have this car. It's so reliable and I have had no problems at all
Well your commenting on that one particular car. Wear and tear is particular to the person that owned the vehicle. Some people are harder on things than others. Some people maintain things and respect their property, others don’t give a crap.
I have a 2010 Mazda 3, and it’s immaculate, it goes like stink, ( ie, peppy and fast, almost sports car like). It’s “Solid” and just all around well put together. It puts other cars of that year to shame, it’s a million times better than a similar Honda, Nissan or Toyota .
They really don’t even come close.
I got my drivers license in 2019 and at the time a Mazda 3 1.6 Center-Line (EU-Spec) was our only car...nothing ultra-fancy but I loved every inch of it. Drove this car for 3 years without any major problems and decided to upgrade past January to the same car, but as the MPS model (or Speed3 as it is known in the US). Lovely cars.
The 2013 version also had blind spot monitoring with the tech package and it's been a very reliable system for the past 6 years.
Great car, on my current count there have been 13 Mazda 3’s owned amongst the extended family ranging from a 2004 maxx auto hatch that my grandmother currently owned to a brand new g25 gt Auto hatch, my first car was a 2006 sp23 manual sedan, Not one has had any mechanical failures apart from normal maintenance. And yes the boot realease on the bl sedan didn’t have a release on the actual boot, even though the hatch did, my 2006 sp23 sedan had a physical key slot on the boot, which they must have removed on the bl,
Btw keep up the great work your channel is excellent 👍
I'm a proud owner of a 2005 Mazda 3 sedan 2.0 ltr ex export car that needed some rust removal + welding and new front arms. Her motor runs smoothly and interior wise, she looks fab. I love driving her and she is such a fast lil car. Great first car to own that gives confidence in driving on your own. Everything is within reach and sitting behind the steeringwheel feels very comfortable. The suspension is stiff, which makes steering the corners a pleasure as she sticks to the road. I just love my Mazda 3.
Love the part of the Airplane crew guys! Creative and easy to digest.
I think the previous generation of Mazda 3 has Automatic Gearbox failures in 120k kms or more also rust could be a big problem.
I still love the 323 more. Its still solid and an impressive machine.
Great lowdown as always guys! :)
Totally agree with most of the points in this after owning a 2010 Mazda 3 (2L) and 2007 Mazda Atenza (2.3L Sport) for 5+ years each. We had just about all the same stuff with interior and driving etc.
I think we were a bit unlucky on our 2010 Mazda 3 as it came up with an airbag warning lighting, which fails a WOF, and it would have cost $3000 to replace from the dealership and $2000 from our local friendly garage. Cheaper but still a big ouch. The other thing we noticed, and this seems to be common around NZ is the paint systems are failing. Maybe it's our super harsh UV bleaching sunlight that's the issue, but I see many clear coats peeling off now from these years. Something to check, if you see tiny bumpy lines on say the roof... avoid.
I'd also say along these lines that the Mazda's that come over from Japan (imports), like the Atenza seem to have a better paint system. My 2007 Mazda Atenza said it had a "gold standard" paint system, whatever that was. But, it's paint was in better nick than the 2010 Mazda 3, so maybe there's something in it.
The lights all leak. They did for years. The inlaws had a 2012 Mazda 3 and an older mazda than before the 2007 and the water just makes its way in. No biggy though as it makes it's way out again, but just odd they didn't seal them better. Another thing to mention is the lights will fog on the outside after a few years. This will eventually fail a WOF, as happened to us. But this is easily fixed with some light buffing compound you can get from Repco etc. A bit of elbow grease and they came up mint, and they cast a much cleaner light beam after as well. So check that out if have the same with yours.
The steering and precision on the road is super nice on these cars. I'd say the 2010 Mazda 3 had a step up in steering feel from the 2007 Mazda Atenza. The Atenza was slightly more dead and heavy and the 3 was just more nimble and better feel. Well done Mazda on this, because that's rare! Not that many people notice, but if you do, you'll love these.
The Mazda 3 2L I thought was only just powerful enough, for me, but it'll overtake on our open roads no worries. I prefered the 2.3L Atenza, it was just the right power I thought. Obviously super linear power curve (naturally aspirated) rather than my current turboed Skoda Octavia which has that kick later on. The down side of these engines though, is they are thirsty. Going up and down NZ hills was killer for us and one of the reasons for letting them go in exchange for the way leaner Skoda and VW equivalents. Can't beat the EA888 engines for a nice mix of performance and economy.
But yea, they were super solid cars for us. We found the pre-2011 Mazdas had a good lot of power, but post-2011 they were trying too hard to save fuel, I assume to pass regulations. So they went from their old "zoom, zoom, zoom" marketing to like "meh, meh, meh" for use. Haven't bought a more recent one yet, but we'll see. ;)
Cheers guys!! :)
Mazda 3 sp25 review was bang on. I love mine had it for 3 years.
As good as they are, not many around my area. Can't wait to watch the MS3 review!
So my first car was a 2009 BL SP25 hatchback and it was simply amazing, now belongs to my mum and nearly hit 200k on the odometer.
Never had any major issues with the car to this day.
Highly recommend one
Thanks for the great video mate, I am actually considering getting one right one.
I bought a 2013 sedan 5 speed a few months ago after someone rear ended and totaled my 4 month old Kia Niro. No more new cars for me, New Jersey drivers are awful ! This is my 3rd Mazda and despite 96K miles it rides like a dream. I did replace the tires because the tires it came with were old and noisy. My only dislike about this car is the 5 speed. I presume it was a cost cutting measure but it really needs a 6th gear for highway driving. Your video is great and informative !
Another exceptionally researched, unbiased, and delivered review ReDriven! Loved my BL SP25 hatch as I was lucky enough to buy one as my first car. I’m sure the cheat sheets cover this, but ensure that the recalls have been completed on this vehicle (seat lifter link and rear boot struts). Another note is that in 2010 (I think) Mazda actually changed the service intervals to 12 months/10,000km as opposed to 6 months, and just be aware, if buying, that the cabin air filter and brake fluid are recommended to be replaced ever 40k kilometres or 2 years (whichever comes first), the engine air filter every 60k or 3 years, the spark plugs every 120k, the engine fuel filter (for the BL Series 1) every 120k (or 150k for the Series 2). The 120k service is the most expensive on the Series 1 (just under $1,000 due to everything being replaced, at the dealer), and the 150k service for the Series 2 is just over $1,500 (at the dealer) as the fuel filter is trickier to access and a more expensive part to buy. With regards to the sticky dashboard, Mazda did release a Technical Service Bulletin extending the warranty to 10 years (from the original warranty start date) with which they replace the dashboard free of charge (it also has to be within a certain VIN range). If your vehicle is exhibiting this sticky dash, and it’s outside of the extended warranty period/VIN range, a call to Mazda Customer Care is worth a try as Mazda Australia are normally quite accomodating if you present a compelling case. By far and away the most reliable, solid, and fun cars I’ve ever owned. Not to mention it’s cheap to buy, run, and maintain. I hope this helps someone, working in a Mazda dealership service department has its benefits when it comes to this information 😂
Thanks for the info! Do lots of the staff in your department drive Mazdas too? :)
@@wilydimayuga1505 - they sure do! As do most of the people around me in general, knowledge is an excellent negotiator 😉
Awesome info mate any chance your working at a sydney mazda? You can take my money..
@@91Kay thanks! Sadly no, I was working at Wollongong Mazda and they’re very knowledgeable and efficient, even since leaving I trust them completely with my fleet of Mazdas. A bit of a drive from Sydney, but definitely worth it.
Upgraded the stereo system and added a reverse camera. Completely new car and love it. ❤️
KEEEN FOR A MPS VIDEO!!
Sticking power windows can also be fixed with a light spray of silicone lubricant, this has worked for me a couple of times.
Almost at 100,000 subwoofers, your channel is gunna snowball, so much quality content to fall back on already once you reach a big audience.
Go guys! 😁
Thanks so much mate!
Keep up the good work guys
I bought my 2012 GT Hatchback back in 2021 and I absolutely love it!! I bought a new android-based stereo (with a touch screen, apps, and all that good stuff) and although it wasn’t necessary, it was the perfect addition to the car 👌🏽 for any of you who may be looking into it, make sure you find one compatible with the sound system in your car though! I had to make sure the one I got would connect to all of the speakers in my car, and there were options I was considering before I realized that they were not fully compatible with my car. Also, not a necessity, but if you’re the outdoors type you should get a rack on top!
My mom has the 1.6l petrol hatchback version from 2009 in a metallic gray paint with slightly over 300k km’s on it and the car’s just fantastic… It still looks good, it drives really well (MUCH better than my 2011 1.33 Auris to be honest) and it’s reliable. The car had multiple accidents with wildlife and it wasn’t serviced on time most of the time, but it still never left my mom hanging. It’s also not showing any signs of rust (unlike the Mazda 3 2004 model I had before, which was literally starting to fall apart after 15 years).
Hey man, just a South Asian in the UK, your content is gold. Gotta do Lexus RX450 (2009-2014)
I started looking for my next car and the budget is small. Being located in Europe, most of the cars are from the VAG group and I hate them which is why I decided to look for a Mazda 3 BL. This video came in right at the perfect timing.
We have the 2010 Maxx Sport and it's a great car, after 6 years of ownership nothing has gone wrong with it at all. Fun and easy to drive.
To answer your question, there is no way to get into the boot without the key.
Arrived late to the party on this video. Here in the US I have a 2010 Mazda 3 2.5L Grand Touring. So far in 14 years and 140K miles its given me zero issues. I had 2 recalls that were for a new dash to replace the "sticky" one. And one HID headlamp that collected moisture. Otherwise not a single blip of trouble. Will drive it till it dies. I'll go before it will.
We have one of these, 2011 manual. We also have a 2011 Ford Fiesta.
The Mazda just feels tight as a drum next to the Ford. Mechanically faultless, but almost no slack in the steering, gearshift, clutch, anything. It’s just a great car.
Only downside is that the ride can be a little bouncy, Bluetooth is shit. Everything else is just fantastic.
I have 2012 ford focus with 84,000 kilometers and the steering rack was replaced then the heater core failed along with the camshaft position sensor. I'm currently looking for a mazda,honda or toyota as I have lost confidence in this focus.
@@dalesmith4985 that Gen 3 South African focus is a shocker
Great review and it is SPOT ON!! I currently own this exact car 2010 Mazda 3 S 2.5 (black color as well & sunroof). Bought a few years ago for $4500 with 79k miles. No problems yet at 100k miles now. Everything said is so true - sticky dash, normal wear & tear spots, space between front seats, road noise, drive performance great, and blind spots! Love this car!!
ABS Modules can fail, and you will a ABS /ESP failurr warning light appear. These are model specific, so you need to your one reconditioned or buy a used one that has done much less miles than yours, with the same , identical model number on the ABS module.
Got an optioned out hatchback as my first car, it's great! The big diesel engine in it is lovely, nearly 200 hp, heaps of torque, and 50 (imperial) mpg!
Some info on said 2.2 diesel; Timing chain's known to wear out (you can get the wear measured at a dealer and the DPF light will illuminate if it's worn out), and fuel injector washers should be replaced as the originals can be bad and leak
My partner has a BK Mazda 3 with 270k on the clock, and you know what, it’s an awesome little car!
It’s an auto sadly, but still a really good thing to drive, even after 18 years!
Bloody well done Mazda!
My wife has a first generation Mazda 3 MPS. It’s about to tick over 300,000km, still on its original engine, turbo, clutch and gearbox. It’s been an incredibly reliable car!
Perhaps irrationally, given I never even drove one, I fell in love with this generation's Mazda 6 5-door hatch version, particularly the diesel.
Love my 2010 Mazda sp 25. Great pick up speed when over taking. Enjoy driving & after 9hrs on the road ,never feel tired when I arrive at my destination. Zoom zoom.
I owned Mazda 3 1.6 diesel hatchback, bought it new in 2013. Drove it for 5 years, covered 120k without a caugh.. Moved on to 2016 Mazda 6 wagon, then 2019 BMW 5 Touring. But ever since I always remember Mazda 3 with the smile on my face. I'm now considering to buy petrol 1.6 as a second/city car
Thumbs up for another great video and elegant hands. Doug Demuro would be proud.
I guess a reason why these weren't loved like the first gen was the looks. They don't look bad, but the first gen had arguably better looks.
Actually that's not true. This was the model that dethroned Commodore as Australia's top selling car.
My Mazda 6 2010 has also a lot of noise in the cabin. I fixed it by putting a lot of isolation in the wheel house and doors. Now it’s near perfect
I own one I don't regret, one I enjoy driving much. Though the ground clearance for the off-road is a thing but this car is just lovely
I’ve had an auto and now a manual, even in neo its a great car! Great handling, great stezza, ps its really easy to replace the head unit for an aftermarket one with carplay.
I have a 2012 mazdaspeed3 2.3l turbo, completely upgraded, built motor, bigger turbo. So much fun to drive :)
Awww i really liked the mazda smile. I currently drive a 2012 cx-9 that was passed down to me and really like the smile
This Mazda was the one that made people fall in love with the brand in South Africa. Everyone I know, who owned a 3 (myself incuded), upgraded to a CX-5
Bro your videos are quality!!!
Thanks so much!
Hi, thanks for this review! I enjoy your channel and also happen to own a 2012 Mazda 3 2.0 Individual here in South Africa (not sure what the matching spec is in Australia) and your review was very accurate!😀 I would like to add that the interior review segment was specifically use case applicable as it's really down to the maintenance of each vehicle. The boot with a smart key has a black button at the back for easy access on some specs such as my own, then again mine doesn't have a handsfree system. it's clear to see they are really a lot of Mazda 3 2009-2013 variants that were pushed out to the market. To end I would like to say that it is a really good vehicle to start off with and would recommend it to any first-time buyer!
In europe i have the 3rd brake light button embedded in it. It works only if the hand brake is on though. So no one can open the trunk at a traffic light
Love a good ReDriven video on friday. Really hoping you do a Toyota Crown Royal Saloon
So I own a 2012 2.0L Skyactive model, and I actually found a supercharger kit for it (VT Racing)! So with a 30-40% increase increase in torque and hp, obviously it needed a lot of other upgrades... except that's NOT true, the car almost feels like it's MEANT to have more power. The spark plugs needed to go up a level in heat tolerance (which is totally normal), but the fuel system and coolant system simply didn't require any upgrades. The whole car felt lighter and more nimble, feels great whether daily driving or pushing it. I even took it out on a light track day (1.7 mile track), and logged the coolant and oil temperatures, and the car handled it beautifully. Not only that, but come to find out, the 2nd-gen platform (the Ford C1 platform) handles corners even better then the 3rd gen Mazda 3's with less oversteer, surprisingly manageable for a FWD car. Really kind of a surprising little gem.
But yeah, at 100k the carbon buildup on the intake was NASTY. Needed to spend a couple of hours cleaning that up... though on the flip side, it's certainly surprisingly easy to remove the intake manifold and clean it. Strongly recommend full synthetic oil, they are less volatile, which means less oil gunking up the intake.
My 2011 mazda 3 is still going strong, great little car. In America I have bluetooth and sunroof, the sound system jams with the 10" sub in the trunk, stock i might ad, very cool for mazda to add in such a little car. my gfs 2016 mazda 6 sound system stinks compared to my 2011 system, its crazy. also dont forget the manual mode, very fun especially on a 2011
Just got the same car a week ago, saw this vid today im never more grateful to hear this!!
I'm in the U.S. and I love my 2013 Mazda 3 iSport sedan. Best car I've ever owned.
Great video as always, there is a button on the boot brake light for the boot release was the same on the 6. We had the 6 diesel was a great car just a bastard timing chain issue cost $4k to fix.
I just picked up a 2011 Mazda CX-7 base model which was designed on the same platform as BL 3. It has 160,000 kms and I have put on nearly 10,000 kms in the last 4 months and everything works and it’s as tight as a drum. Love it as it’s more comfortable than the Mazda 3 hatchback I had before.
How is it doing now?
I've owned one of these second gen Mazda 3s (BL body) for about 10 years now. Got kt brand new and now has 155k miles on it (~250k km). Has a 6 speed manual ans the 2.0 skyactiv gasoline engine (they had this engine as an option for this generation for a year). Its been lowered on tien springs and Koni shocks for the passed 110k miles or so, and only recently had any suspension issues (squeaking rear sway bar. Upgraded to a corksport unit while the car was on jackstands). I've autocrosses the car and plan to do a track day with it. It's my daily driver and I have an hour commute to work. These cars are awesome and are really slept on. Only issue I've really had with it is a bad purge valve ($50 fix). Besides that, just routine maintenance and driving it hard everyday. Also, with some upgraded tires and brakes (Mazdaspeed calipers are a cheap bolt on upgrade for the front brakes on these), maxed out front camber (~1.5 degrees lowered), 1 degree rear, a stiffer rear sway bar and upgraded tires, these cars are really surprisingly good on an autocross course or backroad. Highly recommended. (Also, even the base model like I have sounds great with an aftermarket head unit. I have a Pioneer unit in mine with CarPlay). Great review, totally agree with everything said.
Loved the pilot voiceover
We have a 2007 2.0L model. We love ours no probs at all since new. Only issue we have had with ours is our A/C has gone noisy and no longer works properly which was a surprise to us as it let go at around about 90k. We still have the CAE now but we're not impressed that the A/C had only lasted till then. We now have 110k on the clock and still have no real issues with it.
Bought a used 2015 Mazda 3 a couple weeks ago with 93k km on it for 13k
So far I really love driving with it!
The 2013-2016 BM/2016-2019 BN are much better than the 2008-2013 BL. The exterior and interior appearance of the 2013 and 2016 cars are more contemporary and pleasing. The BL is very much a late 2000s car.
I have 19 of this generation Mazda 3 and I list them on Turo. This is by far my best performing car model on Turo and outperforms Mercedes C300 and Chevy Suburban. The highest miles I have on one of them is 230k miles and still going.
We had one of these until 330,000km late last year. Certainly one of the most reliable cars I've ever had. Only thing that went wrong in my 160,000km ownership was the automatic transmission went at 240k and the control arms and bushes around 310k. I'm sure it would last for many more years but I made the jump to an Audi SQ5. Miss the Mazda though - very zippy and easy to drive.
I’ve got one with 275,000 km. Still on its original engine and auto gearbox, both of which are still very healthy. Bought it with 214,000, and only had minor issues so far. It is starting to have some more issues lately, but they’re only minor too
I’ve had 2 SP23 Hatches now and they’ve been awesome cars!
Such a happy looking car! 😃
Hey Jim you raced at eastern creek and was next to my dad in the pits (Ken)
I paid $10k cash to a private seller for a 2013 Mazda 3 Neo sedan with 5 speed auto 2.0 petrol engine in Canberra in Aug 2020 with 117,000 km. It was in good mechanical condition, but the body was extensively hail damaged. The tyres lasted about another 5000 km. Similar models were selling through dealers for around $12k, without hail damage. I thought I could remove the hail damage with a PDR kit, but the YT videos looked much easier and showed better results than I was able to achieve - very disappointing. The dash pad also lifted away from the centre dash display. I should have paid more like $8k. 12 months later my mechanic replaced an engine mount, hoping this might stop a rattling vibration somewhere under the car, sounding like a loose exhaust pipe mount. The annoying buzzing rattle is still most noticeable when the engine accelerates at low speed. Then the faulty oxygen sensor was replaced after it set off the engine warning light. On the plus side, 33,000 km later, the engine is still strong at 150,000km (after servicing every 6 months), travels very comfortably at 110 km/h on the freeway, with plenty of extra power for overtaking, handles well at any speed, all the electrics still work, blue tooth connection with my iPhone 12 works well, rear vision is poor without reversing camera, fuel economy averages 9 L/100km.
Our BM SP25GT is an awesome piece of kit. Got enough poke in a straight line and is at its best around corners. The only other car I’ve owned that’s been better around corners was my series 3 RX7.
Don’t think you can go wrong with Mazdas. Great units.
I have the model before this which was amongst the last of the BK's.the first original owner must have bought it as a run out model given the BL only came out in early 09 or placed the order in late 08.This was the third Mazda in our home the others being my late fathers series 5 89 RX7,My 99 121 Metro and then a 02 323 Astina.I defected to Nissan and one Korean Holden for 15 years after that.Enough power to escape in an emergency and what have you.How did I end up in a used 3.It was just after my Holden Spark was written off by a truck beyond repair and deemed a total loss I was sent to look for replacements.I started thinking new Fiat 500's or Mazda 2's or even Mg3's while driving around in some accident replacement vehicle restarting with a new loan from Macquarie leasing but then I thought using insurance payout money there must be things much safer than those tiny tots.
Not pretty, not ugly, not fast, not slow, not expensive. Good A to B car.
(MPS is a true sleeper)
Had one and golf r blows it away.
@@Nick-wb2mc So it should. A 7.5 R is 10 years newer and costs three times more.
Comparing apples with oranges there Nick.
@@Nick-wb2mc the MPS might only be compared to the GTI tho
Woohoo, replacing my defunct 2003 Accord with a 2012 Mazda 3. So happy it has a timing chain.
Evil Empire would certainly NOT be a good example of Second Album Syndrome, I'm glad you mentioned it as an example of legendary second albums!
Would love to see a run-through on that first edition Mazda 3! (Sp23?) The model that "made the Mazda 3!" Looking forward to your coverage on the MPS tho!
I love my mazda!
2012 6 speed manual
It is so fun to drive!!
I drove a few of these recently when looking for a car for my wife. I didn't like it, I thought the interior was ugly the car didn't drive anywhere near as good as the competition. I settled on a i30 and love the thing.
I have and drove this car for 7 years no issues.
great review. Is there much of a difference in reliability or maintenance costs with the autos vs the manuals for these ?
can any one help me, I found a 2012 mazda 3 with 280k KM, it's in a good shape, is it good to buy it with 280k KM ??
IMO... 1st gen was the best. I was the 2nd driver to my sister's sedan variance. It was reliable and zero issues compared to the newer update. You here owners complain about rust down the years along the wheel arches.... those owners just don't wash and clean it like the rest of the body panels. Great on gas mileage. Interior wear, depends how well you take care of it ;)
Rust is usually an issue listed by Americans driving it through road salt. Mazda paint has never been particularly thick either so they’re the first to rust.
@@User-cb4jm yeah even today it's the same lol 😂 must have some thick primer though lmao have a bunch of chips in my hood
As per usual, another really good review. My sister has owned a 2008 manual version since new. It has only done city driving and, despite the fact that she is old enough to know better, it hasn't been driven too gently for a bit over 100,000 km, now.
The vehicle has been fully serviced since new by an independent mechanic and it has not had one single fault occur.
Despite being and "outside" vehicle, the interior has held up well. There is however paint deterioration on the rear hatch as it cops the worst of the West setting Sun in Summer. The interior is in far better condition than the vehicle reviewed here.
As far as fuel is concerned, hers is a sipper. Perhaps this due to it being a manual.
The car is a bundle of fun to drive and honestly, it eggs you on to be a bit of a hoon. Despite it being 14 years old, the steering and suspension are still sharp and the engine is a willing rev happy little unit. The seating is comfortable and the hatchback version has a massive load space.
As noted in this review, road noise is a feature. It's not a problem 'round town but spend and hour and a half on a freeway topped with half inch road metal ( every Australian freeway!!!) and fatigue sets in. The sound system is also only good for listening to the dulcet tones of Neil Mitchell. If you like music, forget it.
I've had a bit of experience ( I'm not an expert) with Honda's and Toyotas. In my opinion, the Honda is the epitome of refinement in this class, the Toyota is the epitome of boring. Yes, both are reliable, but so is the bastard love child, Mazda, and it's a whole lot more fun than its philandering Japanese friends by a big stretch.
My wife had one for 6 years after buying it new in 2012. I would agree with your point of highway noise.
We live a bit north of Maryborough in Qld and most of its travel was on the Bruce Highway - sometimes so quiet & at other times very annoying.
Non the less, a great car only sold to buy an SUV. A delight to drive.
my brother in law had this, sold it last year for a CX5. Very goood car
Recently bought a mazda 2010 Mazda 3 base model. Love this car ! I definitely feel like it's underrated and the steering is one of my favorite parts . It handles like a go kart. I will say my dash is definitely sticky to the point it will stick to your fingers and burn lol
I agree with you on steering. Absolutely amazing going around roundabouts and turns.
I got a stock mazda 3 bl MPS luxury and I'm in SYD, Excellent car
Nice video, mates, keep it up! The background in the voiceover makes it more realistic! Which model of Mazda 3s have the soybean-based (I think they used it for eco reasons) wiring that is attractive to rodents?
Can’t wait to get the keyring!
Coming from the UK, I enjoy the alternative delivery of your videos, Always worth a comparison to the videos by High Peak(Alright guy's how's it going?)Autos.
I can't recommend his videos enough.
The High Peak director and presenter tells it how it is. I would buy from High Peak.
Mine is still working at 112k KM , I bought it at 89k KM, so I was nervous at the beginning, mechanic said the same as this review, dont be afraid, it will be good, and it is!!!
Love your reviews, the Mazda 3 is a great car. You mentioned the Hyundai i30, if possible it would be great to see a review on the first generation i30?
In Hong Kong, Japan and Sri Lanka, there is a variant the Axela 1.5S, with a 1.5 VVT engine, CVT box with seven simulated steps if set to manual/sport mode. Quite a thing to drive Co it’s nippy in city and returns great mileage per Litre. It isn’t slow either.
As to the gearbox, it lasts quite well with no major complaint. On mine, it is serviced DIY with 5W/30 engine oil at 8000km intervals and Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid just done under 49000 kms.
I have a 2017 2.5L Hatch with manual. I like it a lot. Especially with summer HP tires. It's a terrific overall driver's car. And I'm currently getting 35.5 mpg so far for this year. The interior is very high quality for the price. I compared it with a base Audi A3 and it was pretty comparable for feature to feature. And som even said the steering on the Mz3 was better. What I don't like: Lousy instrument binnacle. The older versions were WAY better. No remote hatch release either on the FOB or inside the car. And, 2nd gear doesn't like to be rushed and clutch peddle must be fully on the floor, or there's cog scratch. 0-60 is about 7 sec. 0-100 in just under 20 sec. (imperial). The G-Force vectoring does get in the way of hard driving with the summer tires. It was originally calibrated for the horrid OEM Dunlap 5000M A/S tires. Which were horrible. WIth summer HP tires, it's a car transformed.
Had the 2012 sp25 manual hatch in the celestial blue. Best colour. Great car, sold in 4 years ago in good condition for 7k. No way it’s a 20k car. The hatch version suffered fron the electronic touch switch failing (sedan didn’t have this). Also ABS module failures were common. (Ford part) the dash when hot was easy to cut or scratch. Sold it to buy a focus st.
I have a 2012 Diesel with 220,000 on it. Had a DPF failure at 158,000. It was cleaned off the car and no problem since
When I got it (new), the dealer said they never really sold the diesel because people wanted automatic, and the diesel was manual only. I also believe they are only single turbo, but I may be wrong.