Sittin Waitin Wishin: 2014 Mazda3

"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein) 06/19/2014 at 11:58 • Filed to: Sittin Waitin Wishin, Mazda 3

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So because I didn't have time last week for SWW I did two this week! Enjoy! When I did the SWW of the Kia !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! many of you called me out on not liking cheap cars. You all called me names, and I was hurt. Not really all that much, but we can say that for the purposes of this intro. Therefore, to quell the naysayers and internet commenter's, I bring you the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of the Mazda 3! One of the smallest, cheapest, fun loving hatches I've done in this series. Only losing out the smallest car in the series to the Scion iQ! Let us begin.

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The 2014 Mazda 3 is actually a great looking car. The styling is absolutely brilliant. The curves give off an air of speed and a firmly modern look. Like a Ford Fiesta, but with better styling. (Cue the haters!) And that brilliance in outward design is carried into the interior of the car too. Whereas the Fiesta is trying desperately to understand what the millennial shopper wants, (Bluetooth everything, you like buttons, you want sport seats, you want cool glowing gauges, you want turbo noises!) The Mazda shows off how awesome a minimalist interior can be. The Ford is just trying too hard for me, while the 3 just oozes fun and class.

Take for instance the steering wheel. Yes, it has buttons, but the buttons are laid out and inserted in a fashion that doesn't intrude into the overall experience of driving. This also goes for the rest of the steering wheel. There are small little thumb holes that feel perfect in your hands. Like you can properly flick the little hatch around and hoon the hell out of it! The center speedometer is perfectly situated in the dash, even in my driving position with the wheel closer to my chest; I can read it perfectly with no gap issues. Even just the Mazda emblem in the center of it looks good.

Everything on this car is just laid out perfectly. The center dash is remiss of any fluff. There are no extra buttons, no extra dials, just straight forward HVAC controls. You can get a set of more modern LED and touch screen controls, but really, all that will do is break and then in 5 years, you will have all these broken electronics that will be expensive to fix.

The gear selector is just a gear selector, it's not some crazy flip up, move into sport tuned plus kill all tires mode thing. It's just an auto selector. What's even better is this car can come with three pedals, getting rid of it altogether!

The seats are good, very supportive and wouldn't be awful on long trips. And for those long trips, the back seats fold almost completely flat giving you enough room to hold at least 4 bodies.

( This is the cross-country murderer option, which is like $795 plus destination. )

Everything in this car feels nice. It feels like a proper small cheap fun car. There isn't any fluff or things trying to appeal to the "younger generation". That is until we get to my one and only gripe about this car. The stereo.

Now it's not the lack of bang and boom, or a set of weird controls. No, it's the fact that the Mazda engineers paid so much attention to detail with everything else in this car and then paid so little attention to how this looks. It's as if the designers had finished the entire car and presented it to the board and said, "Here it is and isn't it glorious!" Then one of the board members leans in and asks, "Yeah, but where's the stereo?" And all the engineers' jaws just drop to the floor. Someone quickly scrambles in with their iPad mini and sticks it there, and voila! NAILED IT! Ugh, this car could have been perfect, but that system just looks so stupid! This honestly was in my running for best interior at the auto show. But that hideous system just puts it out of the running. It's still a great car, just not the best overall.

There you have it internet trolls and weirdo's, a SWW that reviews a cheap car that is actually positive! I love this car and would love to drive it, especially when the inevitable Mazda Speed 3 comes out! This little car checks all the boxes for cheap and cheerful. If I was still looking for a car and wanted something fun and bare bones, I would seriously consider this little thing. Why not, just look at it. Zoom Zoom indeed!

( don't pay attention to the Honda symbol! )

You can all follow me here on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Jonathon Klein 06/19/2014 at 12:01

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Honda bought Maxda!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Collin > Jonathon Klein 06/19/2014 at 12:05

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You left out the part about how it handles like an absolute gem and that it's the car for people who want and FRS but need room for their stuff. Oh my gosh, it's such a good car.

Jonathon Klein > Collin 06/19/2014 at 12:10

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I must drive one, maybe when they finally drop the Speed version!

Collin > Jonathon Klein 06/19/2014 at 12:12

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I have a feeling that it'll be a couple years. Don't delay though. March down to your local Mazda dealership and request the keys to one.

gawdzillla > Jonathon Klein 06/19/2014 at 12:13

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"mazdaspeed 3"

Fixed

Forgetful > Jonathon Klein 06/19/2014 at 12:15

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Jonathon Klein > Collin 06/19/2014 at 12:16

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Maybe I will, but this weekend looks a bit booked, tonight playing with numbers matching Boss 429 and a 41 Indian, tomorrow some stuff, Saturday maybe a S63, and Sunday anniversary with wifey.

spanfucker retire bitch > Jonathon Klein 06/19/2014 at 12:50

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I didn't realize they changed the shifter design. I like it better in my 2013 Mazda3. I think adding that leather cowl on an automatic is tacky as hell.

swansong, rockin' the wagons > gawdzillla 06/19/2014 at 13:03

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"Mazdaspeed3"

Fixed.

swansong, rockin' the wagons > spanfucker retire bitch 06/19/2014 at 15:10

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See I think the leather boot and stitching is 1000% cleaner and classier than the thin metal stick and gated plastic of the old design.