Mazda 3 (2013-2019) review - Reliability and Safety

Mazda has always had a strong reputation for building durable and dependable cars, and this is backed up by the brand’s tenth-place finish in our Driver Power 2018 survey. The 3 itself was ranked an okay 28th out of 75 cars in the same poll, up three places on the previous year.

Owners reserved praise for the model’s reliability, and while some earlier examples suffered a few quality issues, with loose trim and switchgear, later models feel solidly screwed together.

It’s worth mentioning that Mazda’s build quality and interiors have improved over time, particularly with the current generation of cars. The cabins are a cut above many Japanese competitors, some of which have been known to have fairly cheap-feeling interiors.

Even though Mazda put in an impressive display in our 2018 Driver Power manufacturer survey, finishing in tenth position, it’s clear more effort is needed to bring its dealers up to scratch, as the brand’s network of garages finished the same poll in a disappointing 24th overall. On the plus side, the Mazda is robustly built and uses tried-and-tested components, so you should only need to visit a showroom for routine maintenance.

There are unlikely to be any safety concerns either, as the 3 was awarded a maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP in 2013. All versions get six airbags, stability control and Smart City Safe support, which applies the brakes if it senses the possibility of a low-speed collision. Sport Nav models can also be ordered with the Safety Pack, which includes lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring.

Warranty

The Mazda 3 comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is about average for the class and the same family hatchback heavyweights such as the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra.

However, it is possible to have longer cover with models such as the Kia Ceed, which has a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty or the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Auris, both of which have five-year, unlimited mileage warranties.

Servicing

The Mazda 3’s service intervals are every 12 months or 12,500 miles for both the petrol and the diesel-engined models. Mazda offers a fixed price service plan that starts from around £500 and covers the first three years or 37,500 miles.

This is a guide price though, and may vary depending on the exact model and the dealership, so it’s worth contacting a Mazda dealer to find out an exact figure for a particular car.