Thoughts on the 2019 Mazda 3 Hatch

"Old Red Wagon" (wr10)
08/11/2019 at 13:09 • Filed to: None

So i’m looking to get a new car soon, budget is $30k, looking to go new. I’ve looked at a ton of cars but still have to drive some of them. I really like the new Mazda 3 hatch in polymetal gre y with the red interior. I plan on test driving one today actually if the weather is clear later. Seems to be getting very good reviews all around but my only concern is getting the first MY of a new redesign. As far as features and amenities it has everything i’m looking for so it fits the bill in that regard. As far as the transmission, i’ve owned nothing but manuals over the last six years and i’m honestly thinking about going with the auto this time around. Traffic here in Miami is absolutely stupid so it actually doesn’t even make much sense to go with the manual.

Other cars of note that i’m considering are a GTi, Jetta GLI, Civic Si. I’m not the biggest fan of the Civic’s exterior but it seems to be a great all around car which is what i’m looking for. I’ll have to test drive one.

Few pictures of the 3 Hatch in question.

DISCUSSION (33)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:34

I like the new 3 a LOT, but I hate the MASSIVE C-pillar...

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:34

I like that interior and exterior, I’d much rather have it than what Honda is doing to the Civic right now. I used to do the Mazda booth at the auto show but I was switched to Toyota before this model came so I haven’t driven it or messed around with one. Everything I was in had great build quality.

Wacko > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:35

That’s the color combo I would of got if I would of bought a 2019 AWD Mazda 3 hatch.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:38

I looks like a car in video game that has no fully rendered (from the outside).

ttyymmnn > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:39

I wouldn’t want to sit in the back. Visibility would be horrible. Especially for kids.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:43

Other than looking bad, I have no experience with the 3. But go into it ignoring everything you’ve read about Mazda’s soul and passion and ZoomZoom.

100% get a GTI or Civic Si, just pay attention to what dealer you get it from.

Old Red Wagon > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/11/2019 at 13:43

The Civic seems like a great car overall but the honeycomb plastic on the front and rear bumper is pretty nasty.

The quality of the 3 interior is in another segment compared to it's competition. All of the materials look like very high quality and overall just seems like a nice place to be.

Nick Has an Exocet > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:43

I’m a big fan of the Mazda3. I flirted with a PR woman from Mazda for like 20 minutes in one while I was in Austin for Indycar at COTA.

The interior is amazing. The infotainment is better than it gets credit for (but very personal preference). The driving dynamics are fine (not exciting).

Compared to a Jetta, I’d take the Mazda3 hands down. It’s a better car. The GLI on the other hand, is more exciting to drive. You REALLY should go drive the Veloster N.

Old Red Wagon > ttyymmnn
08/11/2019 at 13:44

Shouldn’t have many people back there. It’s just my wife and myself that will be in this car. Mainly me as it'll be my daily driver to and from work. We plan on having kids but not for another three years or so.

Old Red Wagon > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/11/2019 at 13:46

Funny but I actually like it. The body lines on it are very smooth. Looks are definitely subjective though. I’ve read about a few people that love it and others that hate it.

Wurrwulf > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:50

While two generations behind what you’re looking at , my 3 hatch with the SkyActive engine is my first car with an auto. I actually enjoy the auto most of the time, and the car is a lot of fun to toss through twisty roads. The ride is excellent, as well. I can feel the road but it isn’t harsh or bouncy. Road noise is a bit of a problem, but the factory stereo is surprisingly good.

I would definitely drive everything you're looking at, but if my car had the power bump of the new 3, I would be all over it.

M.T. Blake > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:50

Get the GTI.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:53

Yeah I would pick it over the Civic. I ended up in a used TSX wagon and I love it, now I’m forever going to be picky about my DD interiors. I generally buy a well cared for used car when I see low miles and a good deal.

Shift24 > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 13:55

I saw a low option one and IMO uglier than the civic. Interior wise the Mazda has the edge even with the tablet dash.

Granted below is an automatic test but motor trend did a fairly good comparison. They did not like the transmission in the mazda. Also you can get a civic sport with a bit more power than the one tested. Plus it’s still remarkable that it the civic came out almost 4 years ago

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2019/2019-honda-civic-vs-2019-mazda3-comparison-test-review/

The Jetta, granted basish models , has not received great reviews here

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/2019-vw-jetta-s-first-impressions-someone-has-to-be-1833480854

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/2019-vw-passat-wolfsburg-edition-a-lazy-ass-review-1833574082

Old Red Wagon > Shift24
08/11/2019 at 13:58

Yeah a regular Jetta is a definite no. If I end up with a Jetta it’ll definitely be the new GLI.

someassemblyrequired > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 14:04

I really like it but I think visibility would be tough in the real world. I wish they had gone with a way thinner c-pillar ...

rockingthe2 > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 14:13

Gray over red looks phenomenal on that body style, I own a ‘14 Mazda6, which shares a lot of the same quirks. Over the past few years the things I’ve grown to hate about the Mazda are:

Wheel bearings are one piece with the wheel hub, $700 replacement if you hit a bad enough pothole

Remote start shuts off as soon as you unlock the car, forcing you to start it up again. effectively useless.

Keyless entry uses a button on the door handle instead of a sensor behind it, aggravating once you’ve used the superior method of behind the door handle sensors.

Old Red Wagon > rockingthe2
08/11/2019 at 14:16

Thanks for that info. Don’t think the 3 has remote start but I could be wrong. Keyless entry also has the sensor on the back to unlock with the little notch on the front of the handle to lock.

Old Red Wagon > someassemblyrequired
08/11/2019 at 14:17

Yeah this is one of the biggest things I want to check for on the test drive.

E90M3 > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 14:40

You still have the E30 or the M2?

Chariotoflove > rockingthe2
08/11/2019 at 14:48

Agree about the remote start. We have it on our Sedona. What the point if it doesn’t stay on?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 14:51

At least in terms of mechanical durability, you should have no concerns. That 2.5l and 6-speed auto have been around for a long time in the Mazda 6. Mazda’s infotainment system has likewise been around for awhile.

dogisbadob > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 15:10

The red interior is cool, but the exterior design is kind of ugly, and no visibility. They should’ve used the same doors as the sedan

My choice would be a Corolla hatch with the manual and a sunroof from Web asto (since Toyota doesn’t offer a factory sunroof on the hatch)

wafflesnfalafel > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 15:24

I love the styling, (including the c-pil lar, I always us a convex mirror anyways. ) B ut they seem a bit pricey in the category now and both this and the last gen seem a little tighter regarding headroom up front. The one i’d get is 29k and still only gets you the NA 2.5 motor...

Captain of the Enterprise > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 15:29

I really like the interior and looks and the AWD option but worry about seeing out of the rear. I’d test drive and go from there.

GoliathRex > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 15:36

I too am considering a Mazda3. So far I’ve driven a GTI, Veloster R-spec, i4 Camaro, and the Mazda. The mazd a has by far the nicest interior but is the least exciting. It does not feel quick at all, and the motor is near silent. This is a non-starter for me. I want a least a subtle growl.

I honestly wish they would add some fake engine noise like the GTI and Veloster R-spec. Even if the car is slow, it makes it more enjoyable to drive stick.

Also- the Mazda is the most expensive of the bunch by 2k or more. GTIs are majorly discounted here right now and the basic ‘S’ trim gives me everything I actually care about.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 15:44

I bought a 2012 Mazda5 6MT , the first year of the redesigned model. So far, in seven years of ownership, I’ve had to replace the motor mounts (under warranty), and, well, that’s been it for unscheduled repairs. Sure, I wish I had the USB connection to the stereo that came with the 2013 model, but if I bought a 2013 I probably wouldn’t have gotten 20% off sticker price - not worth it.

As others have said, the powertrain on that car has been around for a few years and is pretty much bulletproof. And if you’re buying the TOTL model you can even get the manual which is one of the things I love most about my car. I would be concerned if you were buying one with the new and untested SkyActiv-X engines, but since this has the wonderful 2.5 you've got nothing to worry about.

P5guy now GTIguy > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 16:29

I love Mazda and basically everything they do. The 3 looks great and the 2.5 is a good reliable engine bit at 30k I think you might be better off with a GTI or GLI.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 16:32

JETTA GLI seems to be the best performance and features value for money IMO. Dealers are giving $3k off MSRP easily.

The reviews have all been very positive.

Future Heap Owner > Chariotoflove
08/11/2019 at 16:57

It’s for those in the frozen wastes, to warm things up while you sip coffee inside.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Old Red Wagon
08/11/2019 at 16:57

I’d be curious to know if it feels engaging. I generally think that even a good “normal” tends not to quite put together a drivers package as well as a car that’s meant to be sporty; there are exceptions; but a car like a GTI with a DSG(since you’re considering an auto), drive modes, LSD, sport brakes, etc; seem like a good fit for someone that enjoys driving.

Chariotoflove > Future Heap Owner
08/12/2019 at 01:11

Well I like to use it to cool the van before getting in. It just doesn’t stay running long enough.

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > Old Red Wagon
08/12/2019 at 13:01

I cant stand the C pillar, visibility or not. +1 on the Si, have been enjoying it a lot