Did you see the FP post on the new Mazda 3 hatchback?

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
11/30/2018 at 09:48 • Filed to: Holy Blindspots Batman!, Blind Spot, mazda 3, mazda, mazda3

Our worst fears regarding the visibility have been sadly confirmed. Go to the link for the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! :

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

All pics courtesy of David Tracy

Having said that, personally if I were in the market I’d still buy one because of the overall package. It comes with standard proximity sensors- parking assist, back up camera, 360-degree camera and blind-spot monitoring, plus I can always stick those small mirrors and work with it.

DISCUSSION (37)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 09:43

Send it...backwards into other cars; it’s fine, most people wont blink and eye due to technology that will compensate for a porthole of a rear window

Urambo Tauro > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 09:46

I hate it and I hate the thought of having to rely on cameras and sensors.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Urambo Tauro
11/30/2018 at 09:47

Is the competition any better? They had a pic of the GTI for comparison as well.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 09:55

It might be the angle the picture was taken, because the GTI’s visibility isn’t bad at all. The C-pillar is big, but the window openings are quite large.

The Dummy Gummy > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 09:58

It’s better, but maybe not the best . The rear window is massive in comparison.

The Ghost of Oppo > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:01

The GTI picture looks like the camera is a little further towards the backseat than the 3. I’d like to see a comparison photo with the current 3. I have a 2015 and have no problems with seeing out the back.

Tapas > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:01

I think we need to make sunroof periscopes a thing now.

#ScrewSensors # Analog Gang

fintail > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:03

More excuse for a dashcam, in case one of these backs into you and then fibs about it.

From what I can tell around here, lack of visibility won’t impact most “drivers” anyway.

Urambo Tauro > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:04

Yeah I’d like to see more comparisons on this topic. I don’t think enough new car reviews bother to address this, and this one probably just happened to get called out because the exterior styling made it so obvious.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:08

It’s almost worse than the Veloster. One of the reasons I didn t buy one is that when you look behind you it feels like your trapped in a cave

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/30/2018 at 10:09

huh. I thought the Veloster was pretty bad

Jason Spears > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:12

Kinja'd!!!

Love the look of these, but never tried to drive one. Probably almost as bad, but it looks like with the VW you got a little more rear quarter window.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:13

The rental Kia Optima I had this week had an unusually small rear window too, didn’t bother me a bit. I just drove faster so no other cars or trucks would pass me.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/30/2018 at 10:14

It’s that simple, right?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:14

They did this because they wanted to distinguish the styling of the hatch and sedan. You know who else you can do that. VERTICAL REAR HATCH AND A LARGE 3/4 WINDOW two things no sedan has. Something like this

Kinja'd!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:15

That is a big blind spot, but if your mirrors are adjusted correctly, you’ll see any car blocked by the C-pillar in your side mirror, and a head-check through the rear window will do the rest. I see it as more of an issue when backing from a parking spot, and thankfully reverse cameras are standard now.

The sedan really does look sharp though, so even though I’m more of a hatch guy generally, I might choose it if buying one of these.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:15

Can confirm.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:16

That’s what I’m saying. It was bad. And this is at least as bad, or for worse. Mostly because it’s his is a normal 4 door hatch. A car that should put substance of over style, where as he Veloster was a style statement from its inception

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/30/2018 at 10:18

Cameras can still miss things, a lot of things. And in my experience rusting the camera is an unsettling experience anyway. I tend to bounce back from camera, to mirrors, or actually looking behind me

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jason Spears
11/30/2018 at 10:20

That’s a valid point this isn’t a new problem. But it was mostly remedied in the 80s and 90s when big windows were in fashion.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/30/2018 at 10:21

the rear problem isn’t a complete lack of 3/4 it’s that combined with a tiny/high rear window. A problem I see on just about every new hatch, and especially on CUVs

Sovande > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:23

I have no fears regarding this car. Or cares, for that matter.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/30/2018 at 10:28

It’s true, and I do the same. Best to use all the views and tools you have. I’m guessing lots of owners of these will turn into the back in/pull through types!

xyzabc > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:39

What’s “ Facebook”?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 10:53

Every day I fee more and more spoiled by the crazy amount of visibility I get in my Mini.

The Ghost of Oppo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/30/2018 at 11:07

On next week’s Flathead County Police Blotter... Local man pulled over for speeding, claimed he couldn’t see out of car, so he didn’t want anyone passing him.

Textured Soy Protein > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 13:41

They could’ve at least created a more open-feeling cabin if they had a panoramic sunroof option, but as far as I know, Mazda only makes regular-size sunroofs.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/30/2018 at 14:16

That really is what confused me the most about this sorry excuse. If you make your hatchback a properly usable hatchback, and the sedan a proper sedan with a 3 rd box behind the passenger compartment (instead of some “cohesive” sweepy thing) then you would have none of these problems. But instead here we are, in some bizarre middle ground.

Jason Spears > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/30/2018 at 15:04

Yeah. One or two designs may have been ahead of them in fixing things.

Kinja'd!!!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jason Spears
11/30/2018 at 15:05

all the visibility .

MM54 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
11/30/2018 at 15:49

This is indeed as awful (and frankly, unacceptable from a safety perspective) as expected. Almost camaro levels of “can’t see shit” except I suspect you can still look over your shoulder in this one, at least.

kvetcha > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
12/02/2018 at 12:36

C-pillars don’t bother me at all, since I adjust my mirrors to cover my blind spots. Rear visibility isn’t spectacular, but it doesn’t look significantly worse than my Fiesta ST, and the 3 at least has the benefit of a rear-view camera.

I’m also in the minority that likes the ass on this thing.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > kvetcha
12/02/2018 at 12:48

You’re definitely the minority. I have been reading and watching extensively on this new one and 99% of people complain about the C pillar. I have also come to accept visibility on modern cars is shit but It’s not wrong to expect good visibility from a hatchback, it’s no huge SUV or the Camaro.

Most people are fine, I would be fine as long as the Blind Spot system works well and I can put those small mirrors. But people still hate having to rely on those alone. Nothing beats a good visual check over the shoulder. This is a problem especially when backing out of a parking space, Until it clears the window you cant see what’s coming left or right. Then again there are rear cross traffic alert system and all that, but still. Visibility is a integral part of making a great drivers’ car.

kvetcha > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
12/02/2018 at 12:54

Yeah, it’s certainly a style over usability decision, and most people don’t like the visual effect to begin with, so it’s doubly controversial.

I like the look and pretty much exclusively use mirrors so it doesn’t particularly bug me, but I understand why people are bothered by it.

I’m pretty sold on the thing. Big question is whether I wait for the SkyActiv-X or even the possible 2.5T...

kvetcha > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/02/2018 at 12:58

Seems like Mazda regards this as the more style-focused of the tw o body styles. It is remarkably close to the Kai concept.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > kvetcha
12/02/2018 at 12:58

SkyactivX might be worth it for the efficiency gains alone but you’ll have to wait till 2020. Performance has not been tested outside of some prototype drives. 2.5 is tried and tested, solid numbers seems the 2.0 SkyactivX matches those.

I wouldn’t put too much faith in 2.5T coming anytime soon, LOL.

kvetcha > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
12/02/2018 at 13:01

Yeah, realistically the question is just 2.5 or 2.0x. It’s a shame we won’t see the X until the end of next year - there’s some enjoyment to be had in turning heads with a new car, and folks who hold out for the neato motor will miss a bit of that, shallow as it is.