I see so many comments about how “overpriced” this car is. It’s absolutely mindful boggling to me because it is such a good value. The Mazda Turbo starts at $29,900 for the sedan and $30,9000 for the Hatch. You have to spend $35,995 on a GTI to get the same equipment the Mazda has at 5-6k cheaper. What you get for 5-6k cheaper is a better design(subjective), much nicer interior, quieter cabin, smooth ride, AWD, more reliability, cheaper repair costs, and almost the same amount of fun. If fun is your top priority then yes I AGREE the GTI is definitely the better choice but the Mazda has all of the benefits I listed above plus it is pretty close to the fun factor all for 5-6k less. If fun is your top priority then get a Veloster N wayyyyy more fun then both. In the end the 3 Turbo and GTI aren’t really competitors. The 3 competes with the A3, A220, and 228i. The GTI competes with the Veloster, and WRX.
It's overpriced because of brand perception. Just look at the VW Phaeton. Mazda is playing a very risky game, especially since the Mazda 3 brand is not selling well at all.
The GTI. Drives better, is fun to drive, and is cheaper. It is mind boggling why would anyone consider Mazda3 at this point. Signed: former Mazda3 owner.
@@nsbioy Given my insane nightmare experience with GTI ownership and VW's beyond incompetent dealers, I can tell you why. But I will give you the price point which is 100% valid.
@@nsbioy Because it is actually cheaper when the GTI gets the equipment that the 3 turbo gets standard, it has AWD, looks better, has a much nicer quieter interior, and is more refined. But yes I agree with you the GTI I’s more fun but the Mazda 3 has all of the benefits listed above and is pretty close to the fun factor.
One of the best designs from the last decade. Simple, clean, elegant, aggressive, and different all at the same time. The way the body panels just flow is breathtaking especially when you see them rolling down the road.
*Everyone wants to complain about the lack of manuals... and then don't actually buy them new. They want manufactures to take losses on cars so they can buy them cheap, used as manuals.
One thing in the Mazda's favor for me is that it's pretty unique. I don't see many current-gen Mazda 3's on the road, and having this Turbo model would pretty cool in a sea of german's or GTI's that I see quite often.
From someone who can't afford the nice sports cars, I appreciate you reviewing this car. I've no need for badges and I'm seriously considering this or the 2022 as my next purchase based on your review. Thanks Matt!
@@MattMaranMotoring Absolutely, awesome review!! I just saw Throttle House did a drag race vs WRX and Golf R - very impressive launch from Mazda 3 turbo. Desperately want to try it out once they arrive at my local dealer.
Great review Matt as always! I purchased my 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo (standard trim) in Soul Red a couple of days ago and I'm absolutely loving it! I traded in my 2016 Mazda 3 and I must say this is a huge upgrade compared to that car and it was great as well. I was torn between getting this and going into the premium brands, but I'm so happy with my purchase. It's beautiful inside and out, looks and feels premium and a joy to drive!
As a senior citizen I prefer an automatic with awd and a turbo. I prefer the hatchback model. This has everything I want for the price. I'm going to buy this car in red.
@@BoopSnoot A scoop isn't a deal breaker but would just look cool. I tried getting a manual machine gray hatch and let the dealer know. They never found one for me. No wonder people don't buy manuals, it's because they don't sell them. What a shame.
@@TheAdventureAuto Yeah, for quite a while even when a manual was produced, it was really just for advertising purposes so they could put on radio ads "starting at $X" even though that was only possible with a stripper model with no air conditioning and a manual transmission, something they only make a handful of. Then they bait and switch you with a $1K upcharge for automatic and the price balloons with options. In this case though, you could only get manual in a high-trim, and without the turbo, which makes you wonder who the heck its catering to because enthusiasts that would be interested in it will want the more powerful engine.
Matt, you're having too much fun in this thing! Your voice goes up a pitch when you're going thru the twisties. I can tell you're having a good time and like this ride a lot! I enjoy it too. Great review!
No one talks about it and I’m sure most other cars do it too, but the car genuinely learns your driving habits. Driving in the snow with traction control on I tested mine by aggressively turning and seeing it try and maintain traction whilst going straight. Now it DID do a pretty good job considering. Once I did the exact same thing again, it handled itself in a much more confident manner. As if it expected based on its last interaction with me, that that’s what I needed to do to maintain traction and stay straight. I see it learn and correct itself so often and that alone makes me really happy and confident driving in the winter months here in Canada. Mazda themselves talked about it in a video on snow testing with the AWD engineer. (The same engineer that has doing Porsche and Audi’s). I’ve definitely noticed that it does that. Props to them for sure. It can also tell when you’re driving more aggressively in standard driving mode and will hold gears longer until it can tell you’ve let off. Love it. ALSO; I like the E-brake. Just click it down whilst holding the break. Really easy and you’ll get used to it fast. I’ve tried to drive against it TWICE before getting used to it. It’s not annoying. Especially if you’re parking at an incline or decline, it’s preventing damage from the park gear having to hold everything. Remember it weighs 3000+ pounds.
Hi….do you have the turbo? I’m in Canada, currently have a 2020 non turbo, luv it, but lease ending, and considering the turbo….my hesitation is the gas mileage….would appreciate your thoughts on that….thx!
@@peterslobodzian2116 I don’t unfortunately. You can expect 2 litres per 100km worse on average. The power is thrilling though. Highway driving is good. Particularly when it’s straight and flat as Mazda has a very reliable cylinder deactivation standard to improve fuel economy. I can’t add much knowledge but I’d imagine it’s heavily based on your driving habits as an individual, and where you drive it. Id suggest testing one though. They’re beasts and incredibly fun to drive.
@@alexl.102 This will destroy Civic. It is not cheap econo box like Civic . No respectable car comes with CVT . This Mazda3 after 5000 miles of engine break in runed on 93 Shell should get to 5.5sec and maybe better than that on wider and summer tires. Civic has to cheat for grip with wider tires but Mazda does it with suspension even Torsion beam set up when done right is very capable .
Thank you Mazda for getting the manual mode shift select correct. Pull back to upshift, push forward to downshift. I get so mad when car companies botch that.
the car is beaitiful on the desighn and the interior , the turbo pakage is nice but so is the regular version 186 hoespower it actully skoots the bigggest winner is the NON CVT already won hands dwwn and the reliability is off the charts its very eye catcing when you leave work and see the desighn its clean looks mean i did some mods to mine, for 186 she can cooot mazda man makes driving fun gotta love em
The new Mazda 3 is an amazing contender to entry level luxury. Makes me wonder how far they’ll push the boundaries in the new 6. Exciting stuff to think about.
@@flat4wankel 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and it beats a WRX the new one from a dig but it was close in a roll the mazda walked it. Lost to a Golf R tho but beat it right off the line
@@flat4wankel for a 30,000 car it’s not slow. It’s not fast but it’s quick. This car wasn’t made to break records it was made to a full spirited daily driver that can Mabye be auto crossed if really wanted. Everyone wants the Manuel but nobody buys the manual also. Mazda isn’t a huge company so they have to pick and choose
@@flat4wankel 5.7 in 0-60 ? how is that slow? that impressive , sounds to me you just hating your subaru makes there enitre line up OUT OF CVT ,,, u wanna talk reliable ? mazda destroys subaru on reliability all day everyday an twice on sunday
Bought this exact car but with red leather seats. It is such a great combination of fun to drive and good looks. The materials feel very premium. Love it
@@MattMaranMotoring me too it looks much more refined. But would you get it in this automatic transmission with and turbo or the manual front wheel drive? I'm thinking of getting 1 for a daily driver up here in Montreal Quebec
Mazda knows there’s about 8 or 9 people in this country that still love hatchbacks. And they doubled down with awd. Beautiful car. (Coming from a 2015 Ford Focus 2.0 hatch owner)
I'm currently getting 320 miles of range and still in the first 1,000 miles. As this breaks in it'll definitely improve and I would wager that for those doing more highway than not, you'll get 320+ no problem. My current mileage is in mixed driving, 70% highway and 30% in town and am getting around 27.8mpg. I'd wager that with more time this will hover right around 29-to-30mpg if you don't get into it frequently. The power is great for passing, on ramps and out of the throttle it's not far off from the normal 3. Although I've heard the non-turbo 2.5 has some people averaging around 33-35mpg and on long trips as high as 40mpg averaging.
OMG! Thanks for talking about the right rear-view!!! car reviews just never mention this and driving, well, demands the ability to see...and see damn quickly! as a highway, high-speed driver, traffic maneuvers and quicky changes to survive require...no, demand this information.
I was thinking about purchasing this exact car, but since this is the first year for the turbo version I am hesitant. Should I wait for the 2022 model yesr? Maybe Mazda might also add some performance updates by then?
They've already been using this same engine in the CX-90 and Mazda6 for several years now so I think it's pretty solid at this point. I wouldn't hold my breath for performance updates either.
Watch Throttle House's Golf R vs. mazda 3 vs wrx. It's not that slow 5.7 0-60 (car n driver) but it's not a hot hatch either. The acceleration is not dramatic which gives the perception that the car is slow.
I just picked up a Snowflake White Turbo PP with the red interior and we named it Baymax. I have a feeling this car will be my personal (mental) healthcare companion.
i drive a BAYMAX lmao i love it ahahahahaha 😅😅😅😅 i gottae 2021 white non turbo spec of the mazda 3 hatch love LOVE the car dude such a fun and beautiful ride you dont even know the miles i put on the car within JUST 3 years lol , once you get it yyou dont wanna get out sucha comfrotable car
i have the non turbo awd hatch. its "quick enough" but i do wish i had the turbo. depends on what you really want out of it. im annoyed that they released the turbo just one year later. they shouldve had it from the beginning of this generation.
I've driven both. I bought the turbo. Effortless passing power across the rev range. Only 1 MPG different from non turbo. Only $2,000 more expensive. Non turbo is adequate. Turbo is excellent.
I test drove the manual, turbo, and auto FWD, but the manual was simply best value and experience for the money since I didn’t need AWD, plus better gas mileage with only FWD. Do I wish it were a bit quicker? Maybe. Would I buy the turbo? No.
Hey, could you give me some info here since you were reviewing this Mazda 3? I was 2016 GTI with performance packaged which had 220HP and automatic DSG transmission for 3 years. Would you say I will find this new Mazda a comparable vehicle or better than GTI was? (performance wise)
Nailed it! Yea, I’m actually cross shopping the 3 turbo against the upcoming kia stinger. It’s a tough decision but the small gas tank on the 3 might just be the nail in the coffin for commuters.
can you better explain the break vectoring? does it actually apply brakes? if so, is brake wear n rear faster with this system? and even if it is, perhaps long-term cost is less with brake replacement than the SH-AWD system.
Brake vectoring activates the brakes on one or 2 wheels depending on the direct you turn. If you turn right, the right side brakes will activate to cause the wheels slow down and turn in. It is the same principle as a limited slip differential, just don't different.
It does use the brakes but very lightly so pad wear shouldn't really be affected because it's not often that the system is engaging unless you do lots of hard cornering.
don't know if I missed it, but can you get it in a manual? I know you can only get the manual in the FWD GT, but I would not mind trading AWD for a manual and turbo!
@@MattMaranMotoring Kinda sad, even though they don't sell as much of them, would have been nice to see Mazda put an option for the manual, even in a FWD configuration
@@areyoujelton I had the 2012 speed 3 as well - While it was seriously a fun car to drive, the overall look of and the horrid interior made it really undesirable over time. This iteration of is amazing in all aspects!
Mazda doesnt approve of that "boy racer" image anymore. For good reason too. This turbo 3 will do nicely. Also, I had a 2012 Speed 3 and the only positive of the car was the "fun to drive" aspect. The exterior and especially the interior design was absolutey, horrid.
@@desertmike680 I had a 2012 speed3 too, I loved it. The only reason I don’t still drive is that a deer jumped in the middle of the road. I think they could revise the Mazda speed brand.
Maybe if sales are good, they might come out with a more performance-oriented version, even if it's a limited run next model year or something like that, or some performance-oriented options (bigger brakes, manual transmission). Even with a more luxury-oriented approach, they might wanna have an alt to the F-Sport/AMG/M lines down the line. At least I hope they will!
@@FilmMonger Mazda is a relatively small manufacturer so can't afford to keep poorly selling cars in its lineup (as Toyota is doing with its 86). The Mazda 3 line is selling poorly in general, and this car is so niche it will most likely sell worse. Would be great if what you wish for comes true, but more likely you're going to see sport versions of the SUVs (a la Kona N), if at all. Also keep in mind Mazda was going to start a luxury brand like Lexus (called Amati) in the late 1980s/early 1990s but scrapped the idea due to limited resources.
I went for a couple of test drives for Mazda 3 turbo hatchback and both times there was a Strong rubber burning smell. Dealer says it’s coz of the new plastics covers (lamination type) in the engine and smell should leave after some 50-100 miles. Is it something common among brand new cars ?
I believe the census puts the 0-60 in this car at about 5.6-5.8 secs. And let’s be honest there’s not a single car in this segment that can come close to the looks of this car, it just blows the rest out of the water.
Only thing close is a FWD veloster N.I bought a CX-30 Turbo premium Plus and it is fantastic.I also could have gotten anything under 60k (to buy outright) and I chose to just buy this and pocket the money.I just came from a 2020 AWD Stinger GT 3.3TT and it was great but sat too low--and the extra power was overkill.Only reason i got rid of the Stinger is the price skyrocketed and I was able to sell it for way more then I bought it for.I paid 35k out the door and own the CX-30 and already have 30k plus in the bank for my next vehicle.I came vey close twice to getting a GLA 45 AMG but wound up with a stinger last year and a CX-30 this year--only GLA 45 near me was 100 miles away and had awful rims on it and was almost 65k.The Mazda is so good that i am happy and BTW 85% of German car owners finance their cars--I love smiling at them in their overpriced vehicles while I own mine outright.BTW I have refilled the CX-30 with premium gas and went on a HWY jaunt and it had no problem easily hitting triple digit speeds.
Do all these youtubers get together and decide to release a video of the same car simultaneously? Love the Mazda3, now with the power it needed. Great!
These were probably recorded days/weeks ago. Mazda has embargo's in place for official reviews and they were just lifted today. Everyone's trying to get those views
We all got the car ahead of time and have to wait until an embargo lifts before we can post driving impressions. It's pretty standard in the review industry and happens a lot. The same thing will happen Sunday night for the Charger Hellcat Redeye and again the following week for the Durango Hellcat lol.
great video man, i'm seriously considering a few cars - (Australia based) Golf GTi mk 7, Civic RS (CVT, no Si down under), this Mazda 3 turbo - really want a GTi but this might come out on top, as you say it punches above its weight into the German class so nicely, very hard choice in the hatch segment
I’d rather have this with an automatic than a manual WRX and I love manuals. That interior is stunning at that price point. Love the sleeper factor and it’ll definitely spank a WRX with the its stupid CVT and probably give a stock WRX with a manual a run for its money. The current WRX is a dime a dozen where I live. Love the odd styling-Odd in a cool way. The new WRX with those plastic wheel arches is odd in an ugly way.
Put a fresh tank of premum in one of these then go drive one--take it on the HWY and you will be surprised at how fast it is.I just sold a 2020 AWD Stinger 3.3TT ligtly modded and bought one of these because under 40k it is the best value for speed and money and efficiency you can buy.I paid 36k for my stinger right (year ago) when covid started and now Stingers are easily 10k pver MSRP and folks are buying them. I sold mine for a profit within 5 days and bought a CX-30 outright and pocketed almost 10k.A nice exhaust--some better bigger tires and this is easily a low to mid 5 vehicle to 60.The front tires actually break loose on this because they are for touring and comfort and it is FWD biased.Type R Civics and golf R's are over 40k--the veloster N is the best value--but i did not want to sit low anymore and even velosters are 35k and up for new ones near me.
I know odds are against Mazda putting out a six speed manual gearbox with this car which breaks my heart. However I’m willing to be if Mazda came out with a good DCT it would sell like hot cakes.
HONDA IS RECALLING ALMOST ALL VEHICLES DUE TO INFOTAINMENT ISSUES/SENSING ISSUES/RADIO ISSUES. I own a 2020 Passport. They knew it had issues and still sold it. And the Dealerships aren't giving rentals. And the fixes aren't working. Good times.
cars like subaru and hondas and all of em are just going cheaper and cheaper on parts espeically the CVT transmissions its cheaper for them to built and expensive for US to fix thats why all there lineups have em why ? BECAuse then the OWNER of the vehicle will be forced TO BUY ANOTher vehicle within 3 years due to the CVT TRANSMISSIONLESS TRANSMISSION BELT TO SNAP like a twig , the more cars you buy the more money they will make thats why all cars have cvt it has nothing to do with gas you can get just as good gas mileage or better in a regualr car or even a hybrid cvt's are like a big MIDDLE FINGER from the manufacturer to make you rebuy there cars once your with the cvt give out wich it will 100% of the tiem
@Smok3 SHO not really, but if you say so. You must know me real good. I can't say I remember you. Sorry if we have a different level of knowing each other. You seem to know me way better than I know you. Thanks for replying to my comment and trying to remind me of you.
I don't agree with the Mercedes, BMW, Audi comparison because they don't offer those in hatch back. Maybe a sedan comparison is valid but they do not offer a hatch (other than the AMG).
It’s your opinion that the GTI’s dual clutch auto is better at what? Shifting? Reliability? Also this Mazda 3 doesn’t compete with the WRX. It’s not a hot hatch and it’s not a Speed3.
@@MattMaranMotoring I’m going to respectfully disagree. If I’m shopping for a similar car to the WRX, a Mazda 3 Turbo HB wouldn’t be my other option. I’ve owned the WRX and now own a Premium Plus turbo 3 HB. The driving experience is totally different, the Mazda drives and handles better than the WRX and so does the GTI. The WRX was a great car, but it’s not a driver centric focused car like a Mazda is. Mazda is killing it right now, keep up the good work bro.
@@MrAntoniorey Oh I agree, I would definitely take the Mazda3 Turbo over the WRX as well. I just think there's lot of WRX owners that are tired of waiting for Subaru to do something new and Mazda may have the answer for some of them if they're okay giving up the manual.
I think most of us would appreciate a camera to show the speedometer when accelerating from 0-60, as a benchmark against other cars. Or, you could tell us what time you got.
Throttle house did a (no launch control) drag race with the Mazda 3 turbo, cvt Wrx and golf r. The Mazda 3 was faster off the line than the rest of them
What is that new metric "first off the line" LMAO? Who cares? It got absolutely walked by Golf R 2 seconds later, and almost lost to a CVT WRX with 20 year old engine in it. Btw only a idiot would buy a CVT equipped WRX. Over 80% of them sell with manual trans which is at least a second faster, so Mazda would have lost for sure if it was vs manual. This Turbo Mazda is car for nobody. Instead of giving it a manual trans and making it compete with Veloster N in under 30k segment, they shoved a bunch of useless tech for Karens in it, and try to compete with Audi and BMW. BMW and Audi buyers don't cross shop with econobox brands like Mazda LMAO, no matter how much leather they will put in the interior.
I've owned WRX, Audi A3, RS3, A4, driven BMW M240i, I bought a Mazda3 Turbo sedan because it's like an A3 but much better value to purchase, maintain and repair. Great daily driver car.
@@MattMaranMotoring - I wasn’t driving it much and the price from CarMax made it too tempting to pass up but thanks. Plus, I only have a two car garage. The Mazda is more of a daily and it’s fun to drive.
Torque feels great but this isn't a faster car than the likes of the wrx, gti etc. Also I looked at dynos of the 2.5t and the tq sharply dies after 4-4.5k. Amazing for a dd but won't have the rush going wot near redline. Though this is a great blend of comfort, awd and a bit of sportiness for the price.
They should've tuned it like my 10th gen civic where it has more top end power and also lightened the body. Now its on par if not faster than entry level sports sedans.
@@nsbioy Yes, and you missed the next sentence which is "Overall, manual transmission sales accounted for 5% of VW's total 2018 sales." 40% of a tiny number of vehicles is a... tiny number of vehicles. Given the additional cost to test, certify, manufacturer, and stock manuals that don't sell... it makes sense for them not to.
I see so many comments about how “overpriced” this car is. It’s absolutely mindful boggling to me because it is such a good value. The Mazda Turbo starts at $29,900 for the sedan and $30,9000 for the Hatch. You have to spend $35,995 on a GTI to get the same equipment the Mazda has at 5-6k cheaper. What you get for 5-6k cheaper is a better design(subjective), much nicer interior, quieter cabin, smooth ride, AWD, more reliability, cheaper repair costs, and almost the same amount of fun. If fun is your top priority then yes I AGREE the GTI is definitely the better choice but the Mazda has all of the benefits I listed above plus it is pretty close to the fun factor all for 5-6k less. If fun is your top priority then get a Veloster N wayyyyy more fun then both. In the end the 3 Turbo and GTI aren’t really competitors. The 3 competes with the A3, A220, and 228i. The GTI competes with the Veloster, and WRX.
It's overpriced because of brand perception. Just look at the VW Phaeton. Mazda is playing a very risky game, especially since the Mazda 3 brand is not selling well at all.
The GTI. Drives better, is fun to drive, and is cheaper. It is mind boggling why would anyone consider Mazda3 at this point. Signed: former Mazda3 owner.
@@nsbioy Given my insane nightmare experience with GTI ownership and VW's beyond incompetent dealers, I can tell you why. But I will give you the price point which is 100% valid.
@@nsbioy Because it is actually cheaper when the GTI gets the equipment that the 3 turbo gets standard, it has AWD, looks better, has a much nicer quieter interior, and is more refined. But yes I agree with you the GTI I’s more fun but the Mazda 3 has all of the benefits listed above and is pretty close to the fun factor.
@@LearnAboutFlow well once you add the AWD system in the GTI, the prices grows larger than the 3.
One of the best designs from the last decade. Simple, clean, elegant, aggressive, and different all at the same time. The way the body panels just flow is breathtaking especially when you see them rolling down the road.
The front looks like it could be part of a super car. Really handsome
How 'bout the back?
@@juliuspaolocabarles9941 padet cuks
@@juliuspaolocabarles9941 I’ll make it simple in the compact car segment this is thee absolute best looking car out there.
Thanks, Matt, for never being afraid to highlight the areas in which a mainstream car is better than a luxury car. Others often try to find an excuse.
Everyone wants a manual but no one is actually buying them.
Unless it’s a civic type r or a Veloster N
People who complain about keep manuals make up about 1% of buyers. No company is going to keep putting a lot of money into a small batch product.
I love the holier-than-thou comments about how exclusive driving a manual feels too
@@Liatin1 yes and not all manual are that good eg heavy clutch notchy gears that are not spased well
*Everyone wants to complain about the lack of manuals... and then don't actually buy them new.
They want manufactures to take losses on cars so they can buy them cheap, used as manuals.
One thing in the Mazda's favor for me is that it's pretty unique. I don't see many current-gen Mazda 3's on the road, and having this Turbo model would pretty cool in a sea of german's or GTI's that I see quite often.
From someone who can't afford the nice sports cars, I appreciate you reviewing this car. I've no need for badges and I'm seriously considering this or the 2022 as my next purchase based on your review. Thanks Matt!
Hope you got it yo!
There you go Matt!! I was the one asking when the Mazda 3 review will be coming out, lol
Haha I hope you liked it!
@@MattMaranMotoring Absolutely, awesome review!! I just saw Throttle House did a drag race vs WRX and Golf R - very impressive launch from Mazda 3 turbo. Desperately want to try it out once they arrive at my local dealer.
Pause it at 14 seconds and just admire that beautiful grill. Just magnificent
@Marc A yeah no fake vents or useless fog lights. Mazda is killing it right now
Great review Matt as always! I purchased my 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo (standard trim) in Soul Red a couple of days ago and I'm absolutely loving it! I traded in my 2016 Mazda 3 and I must say this is a huge upgrade compared to that car and it was great as well. I was torn between getting this and going into the premium brands, but I'm so happy with my purchase. It's beautiful inside and out, looks and feels premium and a joy to drive!
As a senior citizen I prefer an automatic with awd and a turbo. I prefer the hatchback model. This has everything I want for the price. I'm going to buy this car in red.
Haha, here’s another senior with the same thoughts….Soul Red too👍😄
Great job Matt. I appreciate the enthusiasm and the right amount of details in your reviews. The Mazda3 Turbo is awesome!
I love the way this car looks. I think it could still use a hood scoop for styling, but overall still great. Now it has performance to match.
Who cares about a scoop... no manual, no care. Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....
@@BoopSnoot A scoop isn't a deal breaker but would just look cool. I tried getting a manual machine gray hatch and let the dealer know. They never found one for me. No wonder people don't buy manuals, it's because they don't sell them. What a shame.
@@TheAdventureAuto Yeah, for quite a while even when a manual was produced, it was really just for advertising purposes so they could put on radio ads "starting at $X" even though that was only possible with a stripper model with no air conditioning and a manual transmission, something they only make a handful of. Then they bait and switch you with a $1K upcharge for automatic and the price balloons with options. In this case though, you could only get manual in a high-trim, and without the turbo, which makes you wonder who the heck its catering to because enthusiasts that would be interested in it will want the more powerful engine.
Looks very beautiful! What a design!
Matt, you're having too much fun in this thing! Your voice goes up a pitch when you're going thru the twisties. I can tell you're having a good time and like this ride a lot! I enjoy it too. Great review!
Thanks Hoang!
No one talks about it and I’m sure most other cars do it too, but the car genuinely learns your driving habits. Driving in the snow with traction control on I tested mine by aggressively turning and seeing it try and maintain traction whilst going straight. Now it DID do a pretty good job considering. Once I did the exact same thing again, it handled itself in a much more confident manner. As if it expected based on its last interaction with me, that that’s what I needed to do to maintain traction and stay straight. I see it learn and correct itself so often and that alone makes me really happy and confident driving in the winter months here in Canada. Mazda themselves talked about it in a video on snow testing with the AWD engineer. (The same engineer that has doing Porsche and Audi’s). I’ve definitely noticed that it does that. Props to them for sure. It can also tell when you’re driving more aggressively in standard driving mode and will hold gears longer until it can tell you’ve let off. Love it. ALSO; I like the E-brake. Just click it down whilst holding the break. Really easy and you’ll get used to it fast. I’ve tried to drive against it TWICE before getting used to it. It’s not annoying. Especially if you’re parking at an incline or decline, it’s preventing damage from the park gear having to hold everything. Remember it weighs 3000+ pounds.
Hi….do you have the turbo? I’m in Canada, currently have a 2020 non turbo, luv it, but lease ending, and considering the turbo….my hesitation is the gas mileage….would appreciate your thoughts on that….thx!
@@peterslobodzian2116 I don’t unfortunately. You can expect 2 litres per 100km worse on average. The power is thrilling though. Highway driving is good. Particularly when it’s straight and flat as Mazda has a very reliable cylinder deactivation standard to improve fuel economy.
I can’t add much knowledge but I’d imagine it’s heavily based on your driving habits as an individual, and where you drive it. Id suggest testing one though. They’re beasts and incredibly fun to drive.
Thanks for the input….no cylinder deactivation on the turbo, unfortunately. Do mostly highway driving, so should be able to hit the 30mpg
0-60 is 5.75 sec. and yes the torsion beam does get upset when pushed too hard. But its pretty competitive.
Similar time to my 10th gen civic but slower quarter mile time. Nice improvement but way overpriced though
@@alexl.102 It's a premium experience vs other cars in its class. Don't forget the awd system as well. It's fairly priced in that regard.
@@basslover352 they shouldve made the mazda 6 like that. The 3 is still part of the compact class, no need to make it something more than it is.
@@alexl.102 You can get them significantly cheaper...
@@alexl.102 This will destroy Civic. It is not cheap econo box like Civic . No respectable car comes with CVT .
This Mazda3 after 5000 miles of engine break in runed on 93 Shell should get to 5.5sec and maybe better than that on wider and summer tires.
Civic has to cheat for grip with wider tires but Mazda does it with suspension even Torsion beam set up when done right is very capable .
Thank you Mazda for getting the manual mode shift select correct. Pull back to upshift, push forward to downshift. I get so mad when car companies botch that.
the car is beaitiful on the desighn and the interior , the turbo pakage is nice but so is the regular version 186 hoespower it actully skoots
the bigggest winner is the NON CVT already won hands dwwn and the reliability is off the charts
its very eye catcing when you leave work and see the desighn its clean looks mean
i did some mods to mine, for 186 she can cooot
mazda man makes driving fun gotta love em
I been waiting for this one, awesome!
Mazda is the most beautiful car I've seen.
Just bought one! Great revue, thanks!
Car and Driver did 0-60 in 5,6 seconds. Great review! Thanks.
Yes, without the 1 foot rollout on a prepped drag strip, on the street does 6 secs 0-60. I'm happy with mine
Brake boosting it you can get 5.8 or borderline 6 seconds.
The new Mazda 3 is an amazing contender to entry level luxury. Makes me wonder how far they’ll push the boundaries in the new 6. Exciting stuff to think about.
Test drove one myself and it’s truly a monster. Definitely my next car
Is it fast? Im asking cause i have an 05 wrx sti
@@flat4wankel 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and it beats a WRX the new one from a dig but it was close in a roll the mazda walked it. Lost to a Golf R tho but beat it right off the line
@@animeradio9927 5.7 its freaking slow.
@@flat4wankel for a 30,000 car it’s not slow. It’s not fast but it’s quick. This car wasn’t made to break records it was made to a full spirited daily driver that can Mabye be auto crossed if really wanted. Everyone wants the Manuel but nobody buys the manual also. Mazda isn’t a huge company so they have to pick and choose
@@flat4wankel 5.7 in 0-60 ? how is that slow? that impressive , sounds to me you just hating
your subaru makes there enitre line up OUT OF CVT ,,, u wanna talk reliable ? mazda destroys subaru on reliability all day everyday an twice on sunday
I'm excited to see the next gen mazda 6. With a straight 6 rwd will be awesome!
Bought this exact car but with red leather seats. It is such a great combination of fun to drive and good looks. The materials feel very premium. Love it
This is such a nice looking and overall impressive vehicle for its price point, wow!
This car is super nice definitely an excellent review Matt
I love the way they upgraded the mazda3 hatch ❤️❤️❤️ I’m definitely buying this!
Love the looks of this car. Lm
Such an exciting car. wouldn't we surprised if matt says: "hey guys Mazda 3 fan here"
Haha well I like it better than the current WRX!
@@MattMaranMotoring Same! I own a 2019 Impreza. I'd get a Mazda 3 but I don't want a car payment. LOL
Hilarious.
@@MattMaranMotoring me too it looks much more refined. But would you get it in this automatic transmission with and turbo or the manual front wheel drive? I'm thinking of getting 1 for a daily driver up here in Montreal Quebec
@@_R0N1N As much as I love manuals, I'd probably go for the turbo with the automatic, and the AWD is a nice bonus.
Mazda knows there’s about 8 or 9 people in this country that still love hatchbacks. And they doubled down with awd. Beautiful car. (Coming from a 2015 Ford Focus 2.0 hatch owner)
I'm currently getting 320 miles of range and still in the first 1,000 miles. As this breaks in it'll definitely improve and I would wager that for those doing more highway than not, you'll get 320+ no problem. My current mileage is in mixed driving, 70% highway and 30% in town and am getting around 27.8mpg. I'd wager that with more time this will hover right around 29-to-30mpg if you don't get into it frequently. The power is great for passing, on ramps and out of the throttle it's not far off from the normal 3. Although I've heard the non-turbo 2.5 has some people averaging around 33-35mpg and on long trips as high as 40mpg averaging.
I've had mine for 7 months. Average 27MPG. Excellent for it's power.
its the depreciation chart for me.
great analysis and commentary. You have definitely gained my sub. Awesome video!
Thank you, I’m glad you liked the video and I really appreciate the sub! 🙏
OMG!
Thanks for talking about the right rear-view!!!
car reviews just never mention this and driving, well, demands the ability to see...and see damn quickly!
as a highway, high-speed driver, traffic maneuvers and quicky changes to survive require...no, demand this information.
Excellent review , very nice !
This is one of the few vehicles I've seen recently where the actual cars were in dealerships before the driving review embargo was lifted.
What is the exhaust note like from outside?
Nice review
How come you missed reviewing backseat space?!
I was thinking about purchasing this exact car, but since this is the first year for the turbo version I am hesitant. Should I wait for the 2022 model yesr? Maybe Mazda might also add some performance updates by then?
They've already been using this same engine in the CX-90 and Mazda6 for several years now so I think it's pretty solid at this point. I wouldn't hold my breath for performance updates either.
Nice car. Nice review. 👍
I can see this being the car that pivots them into a larger market. Mazda deserves it imo.
Bought mine few weeks ago and I fucking love it 🔥
what a handsome car..
Watching this in my 2012 MazdaSPEED ❤️❤️❤️love the speeds!!!
Watch Throttle House's Golf R vs. mazda 3 vs wrx. It's not that slow 5.7 0-60 (car n driver) but it's not a hot hatch either. The acceleration is not dramatic which gives the perception that the car is slow.
I just picked up a Snowflake White Turbo PP with the red interior and we named it Baymax. I have a feeling this car will be my personal (mental) healthcare companion.
i drive a BAYMAX lmao i love it ahahahahaha 😅😅😅😅
i gottae 2021 white non turbo spec of the mazda 3 hatch
love LOVE the car dude such a fun and beautiful ride
you dont even know the miles i put on the car within JUST 3 years lol , once you get it yyou dont wanna get out sucha comfrotable car
Is the turbo actually worth it over the base version?
i have the non turbo awd hatch. its "quick enough" but i do wish i had the turbo. depends on what you really want out of it. im annoyed that they released the turbo just one year later. they shouldve had it from the beginning of this generation.
I've driven both. I bought the turbo. Effortless passing power across the rev range. Only 1 MPG different from non turbo. Only $2,000 more expensive. Non turbo is adequate. Turbo is excellent.
I test drove the manual, turbo, and auto FWD, but the manual was simply best value and experience for the money since I didn’t need AWD, plus better gas mileage with only FWD. Do I wish it were a bit quicker? Maybe. Would I buy the turbo? No.
Zoom Zoom Boom Boom 💥
As a previous owner of first two gens, I resemble that remark LOL
Another great driving review. If you close the door and buckle up, the emergency brake should automatically disengage.
Hey, could you give me some info here since you were reviewing this Mazda 3? I was 2016 GTI with performance packaged which had 220HP and automatic DSG transmission for 3 years. Would you say I will find this new Mazda a comparable vehicle or better than GTI was? (performance wise)
Nailed it! Yea, I’m actually cross shopping the 3 turbo against the upcoming kia stinger. It’s a tough decision but the small gas tank on the 3 might just be the nail in the coffin for commuters.
I just put a deposit on this in the new 2022 version. Same as this one. Should get it in 2 weeks! .
Honestly I'm fine with the gas milage. To be honest i'm actually impressed since I average 220-260 on my 2014 Mazda 3 SGT...
This or Elantra N?
can you better explain the break vectoring?
does it actually apply brakes?
if so, is brake wear n rear faster with this system?
and even if it is, perhaps long-term cost is less with brake replacement than the SH-AWD system.
Brake vectoring activates the brakes on one or 2 wheels depending on the direct you turn. If you turn right, the right side brakes will activate to cause the wheels slow down and turn in. It is the same principle as a limited slip differential, just don't different.
It does use the brakes but very lightly so pad wear shouldn't really be affected because it's not often that the system is engaging unless you do lots of hard cornering.
Pretty sick car! Can’t wait to briefly consider buying one in 5 years and then actually buy something else
This is no GTI but a good in between a hot hatch and a luxury german subcompact
GTI is a shit German fartboc, unrealiable and overrated. Mazda3 has a whole lot more value
@@fale892
Lol what makes you think that
@@chriswilliams3110 vw are not reliable everybody knows that
don't know if I missed it, but can you get it in a manual? I know you can only get the manual in the FWD GT, but I would not mind trading AWD for a manual and turbo!
It's automatic only unfortunately.
@@MattMaranMotoring Kinda sad, even though they don't sell as much of them, would have been nice to see Mazda put an option for the manual, even in a FWD configuration
You can only get a 6spd manual in the hatchback premium tier with the naturally aspirated 2 5L. Damn I should be a car salesman! Lol
Is it as good as the mazdaspeed 3?
I think it's better, but it does have a little less drama thanks to the AWD grip.
Good question
I had a speed3... fuckin fun car!!!
@@areyoujelton I had the 2012 speed 3 as well - While it was seriously a fun car to drive, the overall look of and the horrid interior made it really undesirable over time. This iteration of is amazing in all aspects!
Transmission
I have a 2019 Mazda 3 sedan and I had the same issues with the lane keep assist. I tried it out on a road trip and it's been disabled ever since.
I’d like it if they made speed version of this car. Manual transmission, bigger brakes, tighter suspension.
Mazda doesnt approve of that "boy racer" image anymore. For good reason too. This turbo 3 will do nicely. Also, I had a 2012 Speed 3 and the only positive of the car was the "fun to drive" aspect. The exterior and especially the interior design was absolutey, horrid.
Mazda killed the Mazdaspeed division, so Mazda is sort of going to be like a non-luxury Audi competitor, or so they think.
@@desertmike680 I had a 2012 speed3 too, I loved it. The only reason I don’t still drive is that a deer jumped in the middle of the road. I think they could revise the Mazda speed brand.
Maybe if sales are good, they might come out with a more performance-oriented version, even if it's a limited run next model year or something like that, or some performance-oriented options (bigger brakes, manual transmission). Even with a more luxury-oriented approach, they might wanna have an alt to the F-Sport/AMG/M lines down the line. At least I hope they will!
@@FilmMonger Mazda is a relatively small manufacturer so can't afford to keep poorly selling cars in its lineup (as Toyota is doing with its 86). The Mazda 3 line is selling poorly in general, and this car is so niche it will most likely sell worse.
Would be great if what you wish for comes true, but more likely you're going to see sport versions of the SUVs (a la Kona N), if at all.
Also keep in mind Mazda was going to start a luxury brand like Lexus (called Amati) in the late 1980s/early 1990s but scrapped the idea due to limited resources.
For comparison my 2018 Sentra sr turbo gets 28/33 mpg 29 combined but has 188 hp......so Mazda seems actually more efficient with more power
Beautiful car. looks very italian in the design
Reminds me of Alfa Romeo :)
I went for a couple of test drives for Mazda 3 turbo hatchback and both times there was a Strong rubber burning smell. Dealer says it’s coz of the new plastics covers (lamination type) in the engine and smell should leave after some 50-100 miles. Is it something common among brand new cars ?
My Mazda turbo never did that. That's all I know.
I believe the census puts the 0-60 in this car at about 5.6-5.8 secs. And let’s be honest there’s not a single car in this segment that can come close to the looks of this car, it just blows the rest out of the water.
Only thing close is a FWD veloster N.I bought a CX-30 Turbo premium Plus and it is fantastic.I also could have gotten anything under 60k (to buy outright) and I chose to just buy this and pocket the money.I just came from a 2020 AWD Stinger GT 3.3TT and it was great but sat too low--and the extra power was overkill.Only reason i got rid of the Stinger is the price skyrocketed and I was able to sell it for way more then I bought it for.I paid 35k out the door and own the CX-30 and already have 30k plus in the bank for my next vehicle.I came vey close twice to getting a GLA 45 AMG but wound up with a stinger last year and a CX-30 this year--only GLA 45 near me was 100 miles away and had awful rims on it and was almost 65k.The Mazda is so good that i am happy and BTW 85% of German car owners finance their cars--I love smiling at them in their overpriced vehicles while I own mine outright.BTW I have refilled the CX-30 with premium gas and went on a HWY jaunt and it had no problem easily hitting triple digit speeds.
Do all these youtubers get together and decide to release a video of the same car simultaneously?
Love the Mazda3, now with the power it needed. Great!
Feel the same..Raiti's Rides and Redline just did.
These were probably recorded days/weeks ago. Mazda has embargo's in place for official reviews and they were just lifted today. Everyone's trying to get those views
We all got the car ahead of time and have to wait until an embargo lifts before we can post driving impressions. It's pretty standard in the review industry and happens a lot. The same thing will happen Sunday night for the Charger Hellcat Redeye and again the following week for the Durango Hellcat lol.
CX30 Turbo or the hatchback Turbo? Any input is much appreciated. I'm in my 30s + do some outdoor stuff + mountain biking! thanks in advance.
If you drive on trails go for extra ground clearance. For street only get a car :)
How did they not make this in manual
great video man, i'm seriously considering a few cars - (Australia based) Golf GTi mk 7, Civic RS (CVT, no Si down under), this Mazda 3 turbo - really want a GTi but this might come out on top, as you say it punches above its weight into the German class so nicely, very hard choice in the hatch segment
I’d rather have this with an automatic than a manual WRX and I love manuals. That interior is stunning at that price point. Love the sleeper factor and it’ll definitely spank a WRX with the its stupid CVT and probably give a stock WRX with a manual a run for its money. The current WRX is a dime a dozen where I live. Love the odd styling-Odd in a cool way. The new WRX with those plastic wheel arches is odd in an ugly way.
How is cabin noise on the highway?
Put a fresh tank of premum in one of these then go drive one--take it on the HWY and you will be surprised at how fast it is.I just sold a 2020 AWD Stinger 3.3TT ligtly modded and bought one of these because under 40k it is the best value for speed and money and efficiency you can buy.I paid 36k for my stinger right (year ago) when covid started and now Stingers are easily 10k pver MSRP and folks are buying them. I sold mine for a profit within 5 days and bought a CX-30 outright and pocketed almost 10k.A nice exhaust--some better bigger tires and this is easily a low to mid 5 vehicle to 60.The front tires actually break loose on this because they are for touring and comfort and it is FWD biased.Type R Civics and golf R's are over 40k--the veloster N is the best value--but i did not want to sit low anymore and even velosters are 35k and up for new ones near me.
Its crazy that the peak torque is @ 2000 RPM. My lane keeping assist is over active as well.
You can disable lane keep assist in the menu at least :)
I know odds are against Mazda putting out a six speed manual gearbox with this car which breaks my heart. However I’m willing to be if Mazda came out with a good DCT it would sell like hot cakes.
Need to get myself one 🔥🔥🔥
HONDA IS RECALLING ALMOST ALL VEHICLES DUE TO INFOTAINMENT ISSUES/SENSING ISSUES/RADIO ISSUES. I own a 2020 Passport. They knew it had issues and still sold it. And the Dealerships aren't giving rentals. And the fixes aren't working. Good times.
I bought an Acura RDX 2020 this year it's nothing but problems. I think I have a lemon car
cars like subaru and hondas and all of em are just going cheaper and cheaper on parts espeically the CVT transmissions its cheaper for them to built and expensive for US to fix thats why all there lineups have em
why ? BECAuse then the OWNER of the vehicle will be forced TO BUY ANOTher vehicle within 3 years due to the CVT TRANSMISSIONLESS TRANSMISSION BELT TO SNAP like a twig , the more cars you buy the more money they will make
thats why all cars have cvt it has nothing to do with gas you can get just as good gas mileage or better in a regualr car or even a hybrid
cvt's are like a big MIDDLE FINGER from the manufacturer to make you rebuy there cars once your with the cvt give out wich it will 100% of the tiem
I'd buy it if it had a manual. Good video. Keep it up.
@Smok3 SHO not really, but if you say so. You must know me real good. I can't say I remember you. Sorry if we have a different level of knowing each other. You seem to know me way better than I know you.
Thanks for replying to my comment and trying to remind me of you.
Is it faster than the gti though?
I wonder if it replaces the Mazdaspeed3...
How fast is this compared to a wrx?
What is the name of the back road you test cars on?
I use a few but in this video it's Rochester road.
I live in Alaska. This would be my car of choice, by far.
Love it!!! Great review.
GTI has 360 camera? 23:10
Minor detail. Tiny gas tank. 12.7 gallons. Nice review!
Only been asking mazda for awd in the 3 for over 10 years...
All black shoes, master!
You should do a comparison between this and the a comparable Civic because I'm cross shopping them for my wife.
I don't agree with the Mercedes, BMW, Audi comparison because they don't offer those in hatch back. Maybe a sedan comparison is valid but they do not offer a hatch (other than the AMG).
Sedan compares well to A3. I've owned both.The experience is very similar. Both very good.
Mazda makes quality vehicles. I bought a GTI.
It’s your opinion that the GTI’s dual clutch auto is better at what? Shifting? Reliability? Also this Mazda 3 doesn’t compete with the WRX. It’s not a hot hatch and it’s not a Speed3.
GTI dual clutch has quicker manual shifts. The Mazda3 Turbo has similar power to the WRX, which is why people will cross shop it with the WRX.
@@MattMaranMotoring I’m going to respectfully disagree. If I’m shopping for a similar car to the WRX, a Mazda 3 Turbo HB wouldn’t be my other option. I’ve owned the WRX and now own a Premium Plus turbo 3 HB. The driving experience is totally different, the Mazda drives and handles better than the WRX and so does the GTI. The WRX was a great car, but it’s not a driver centric focused car like a Mazda is. Mazda is killing it right now, keep up the good work bro.
@@MrAntoniorey Oh I agree, I would definitely take the Mazda3 Turbo over the WRX as well. I just think there's lot of WRX owners that are tired of waiting for Subaru to do something new and Mazda may have the answer for some of them if they're okay giving up the manual.
I REALLY wish this came with a manual :'(
Me too. Maybe they are saving it for Speed3 down the road.
Or a better dct at least.
@@irandoosty The speed 3 is dead that has been talked and talked and talked about by Mazda.
I think most of us would appreciate a camera to show the speedometer when accelerating from 0-60, as a benchmark against other cars. Or, you could tell us what time you got.
0-60 is 5.6s. It's not fast but it's adequate, and very responsive at any point in the rev range for passing power.
Bring back the speed series!! Come on Mazda.
Not likely to happen...mazda is focused on styling over performance
@@jb6574 They're focused on selling volume, profitable cars rather than small niche vehicles.
Throttle house did a (no launch control) drag race with the Mazda 3 turbo, cvt Wrx and golf r. The Mazda 3 was faster off the line than the rest of them
What is that new metric "first off the line" LMAO? Who cares? It got absolutely walked by Golf R 2 seconds later, and almost lost to a CVT WRX with 20 year old engine in it. Btw only a idiot would buy a CVT equipped WRX. Over 80% of them sell with manual trans which is at least a second faster, so Mazda would have lost for sure if it was vs manual. This Turbo Mazda is car for nobody. Instead of giving it a manual trans and making it compete with Veloster N in under 30k segment, they shoved a bunch of useless tech for Karens in it, and try to compete with Audi and BMW. BMW and Audi buyers don't cross shop with econobox brands like Mazda LMAO, no matter how much leather they will put in the interior.
@@stansid3326 i can afford 120k dollar cars and I would buy this over a shitbox bmw or audi.
Half the people talking shit about this car can’t even afford the damn thing lmfao. Car community is so out of wack.
I've owned WRX, Audi A3, RS3, A4, driven BMW M240i, I bought a Mazda3 Turbo sedan because it's like an A3 but much better value to purchase, maintain and repair. Great daily driver car.
Sold my Bullitt to Carmax and purchased this in a 22 model.
Sad to hear about your Bullitt but the Mazda3 Turbo is a great car too! Enjoy!
@@MattMaranMotoring - I wasn’t driving it much and the price from CarMax made it too tempting to pass up but thanks. Plus, I only have a two car garage. The Mazda is more of a daily and it’s fun to drive.
Torque feels great but this isn't a faster car than the likes of the wrx, gti etc. Also I looked at dynos of the 2.5t and the tq sharply dies after 4-4.5k. Amazing for a dd but won't have the rush going wot near redline. Though this is a great blend of comfort, awd and a bit of sportiness for the price.
It’s actually about the same to the GTI and it’s faster then the WRX, it’s a video visually showing that
@@Yoomaro but the GTI and WRX have manual options.
People never understand from a physics standpoint engine torque is irrelevant to acceleration. A low end torque motor is code for a slow vehicle.
They should've tuned it like my 10th gen civic where it has more top end power and also lightened the body. Now its on par if not faster than entry level sports sedans.
Manual transmissions don’t sell
The GTI is about 40% manual take rate in the USA.
@@nsbioy Yes, and you missed the next sentence which is "Overall, manual transmission sales accounted for 5% of VW's total 2018 sales."
40% of a tiny number of vehicles is a... tiny number of vehicles.
Given the additional cost to test, certify, manufacturer, and stock manuals that don't sell... it makes sense for them not to.