Mazda 3 1.6D Sport Nav

centre console remained the same

By giorikas81 on 1 November, 2011, 8:35am

What's to like when compared to the opposition?

Styling is subjective, but in my opinion this is a very ugly car. The interior isn't a patch on rivals either. If you don't fancy any of the wealth of better cars currently out there, I'd suggest waiting for the new Hyundai i30 / Kia Ceed out soon.

But I'm also slightly biased - I had a terrible experience of Mazda's appalling customer service a few years ago that means I will never buy one of their products ever again.

By gavsmit on 1 November, 2011, 8:51pm

Facelifted 3

Mazda have not done very much to the facelifted 3. The visual changes are very subtle and as far as i am concerned thats just fine. It was always one of the most striking cars in its class and it still is. I know from experience that it drives brilliantly and I'm sure from what the above review states - this is still the case. Sure there are many other talented cars in this sector of the market these days but if you want a great looking and importantly a great driving small hatch I'd suggest buying this.....

By cousins11 on 2 November, 2011, 6:00pm

SKYACTIV

WHY hasn't Europe (UK) got the all new SKYACTIV Engines and Transmissions in this new face-fitted Mazda 3 as Australia, USA, Canada and New Zealand have them, so why not Europe?

By rx88888888 on 3 November, 2011, 9:23am

Dismal comments

Some AE commentators are sitting on their brains. The interior of the Mazda 3 is a benchmark for cool, composed, well considered design. Not like the weird fairground frenzy of the Focus or the terminally boring coffin of the Golf. Given the dozy level of comments that often appear on AE is it any wonder that business in general and bankers in particular think it is fair sport to rip off consumers at every opportunity?

By Tooyoo on 3 November, 2011, 1:58pm

Mr Brown

Whose idea was it to make the press car metallic brown? It makes it look as though you can polish a turd after all.

By IronChicken on 3 November, 2011, 5:25pm

dismal and brown !

firstly auto express how can 115 g/co2 equate to 54.3 mpg when the new civic is rated at 5 g less but 67 mpg combined ??
also the civic diesel is more expensive but has both better performance and sky high fuel economy !

Also I agree with the last two comments. golf interior is very very dull not stylish at all much like the golfs exterior and the focus is very glitzy inside. the new mazda 3 and new civic are much nicer inside and probably better built also.

but what is the obsession with brown it is a horrible colour on any car ! for cars with leather seats it looks like the outside of the cow was used there and the inside of the cow on the outside !!!

By cdtiman on 4 November, 2011, 12:56am

Great car let down by poor rear legroom

I know from experience that Mazda build quality and reliability are second to none, but this version of the Mazda 3 is simply too cramped in the back, and this can't be cured by a mid term facelift. Mazda please note for design of next version.
Cosmetically, I think the front end is great, but I wish they'd taken the opportunity to improve the ugly rear!

By choaks on 4 November, 2011, 10:01am

i hope this is better finished than MK1 Mazda 3

my girlfriends 2006 Mazda 3 sport is really reliable and comfortable if a bit unrefined.The build quality is ok but her car has rusting rear wheel Arches even though Mazda have fixed(bodged)them under warranty twice already,the cheap felt carpet is badly torn in both front footwells even though the car has done less than 50k miles.These problems are well known by Mazda as common issues.Hopefully Mazda will learn and this car might stay rust free for more than 5years.

By nickbsmooth on 5 November, 2011, 3:49pm

Think 'left' for speedo

OK so the free market research on the colour Brown should have reached Mazda by now. Good.
Not good is the supply of UK cars with the speedo on the right. Why? Because the right hand (most drivers are right handed) can obscure the critical speed (75mph) that can lose you your license. Either put the speedo in the middle or on the left. The rev counter is a relatively useless dial anyway, it's best use is for watching tickover in cold weather and for economy driving. Neither of which could lose you your license. Come on motor industry, stop being thoughtless, earn your monthly wage.

By Tooyoo on 29 November, 2011, 2:03pm