2014 Mazda3 S Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

The Mazda 3 remains one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the compact class. There is a trade-off, however, in terms of ride quality. If that aspect of the car doesn't bother you, then the rest of the Mazda 3 will likely impress thanks to its sharp interior, fuel-efficient engine and ample features.

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subytrojan

I think the vehicle should be called "2014 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring" and not "2014 Mazda 3 S". I also think it would've been good to mention that the six-speed manual can be had with the 2.5L SKYACTIV-G engine for MY2015.

random_shots

Four unscheduled visits in 20k miles is just plain unacceptable. Although it was mostly related to creaks it speaks a lot about initial build quality. Normally I would not get worked up about this but given the price point and inconvenience of having to take the car in I would question why I paid a premium compared to the competitors. Enthusiasts will say it worth the better handling but the majority of the car buying public will not.

schen72

I really like this car but the reliability leaves me worried. I'll be in the market for a new car in the next 1-2 years, and I want something cheap but loaded with features. Maybe I'll look at used versions then.

Debunker

Let's see. Repair visits aplenty, with serenades from squeaks and road noise, and a rather rough ride too add to the fun. Yes, you like this car because it handles well and has a bunch of gadgets. Guess what. Most buyers would, by now, be figuring which other vehicle they'd be replacing this one with. May I suggest a new Golf?

eriches

@subytrojan: We identify our long-term Mazda 3 as an S and not an S Grand Touring so that people know our test is applicable to any version of the Mazda 3 equipped with the 2.5-liter engine. It's neither here nor there that the 2015 model allows you to combine the bigger engine with the manual gearbox: Our test was about the automatic, because most people buy automatics. Besides, we already covered this change in our 2015 Mazda 3 model review: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazda3/2015/?tab-id=reviews-tab

legacygt

"easy to achieve its EPA mileage figures"
This is such an important point. Very few cars manage to pull this off and when you exclude diesels it's hard to find any brand that it hitting its EPA numbers as consistently as Mazda does across its lineup. That Mazda can pull this off while still delivering an enjoyable drive is no small feat. Since many cross-shop based on EPA figures Edmunds should really highlight when a car meets them.

gba47

I noticed a number of comments about lack of reliability. This may just be this car. Automobile magazine just completed a similar test on an S Touring and had no mechanical issues. They did have what appears to be common problems with the Infotainment system. These were cured by software updates. I purchased a 2015 S Grand Touring hatch in November and will write a review in a few months.

chol92594

While the unscheduled visits, creaks/squeaks, etc. might be annoying and seem completely outrageous on such a new car, you need to keep in mind that this is a first-year production car. Conventional wisdom has often said that it's wise to avoid the first-year of any new generation model. Even the best manufacturers let things slip through the cracks, causing first year models to have some issues. If this were my car, I'd still be frustrated, but since I normally prefer to buy cars after the manufacturer has had a model year or two to work out any bugs, I probably wouldn't get myself into this scenario to begin with.

ek900

Debunker - a Golf?? Ever read any quality surveys and rankings? I'd say a VW is the one car this Mazda could surely beat in that area.