We have a 03 MPV and it is the best car we have ever owned. Quality and performance is fantastic. Plus we had an excellent buying experience. Love the Duratec engine/transaxle... Edmunds saved us $8K from price. The 2K rebate was sweet... You have to be nuts to buy without Edmunds....
We need to replace #2 car (160K Mitsy expo) our urban work/shopping vehicle. So it looks like it will be the M3H. I dislike buying a first year car but I trust Mazda. Reading the Edmunds review I think the 2l engine will be about right with good milage and handling. But I would like to take a look at the sedan... The M3H is going to be a major seller. Mitsy made a big mistake when they dropped the Mirage hatchback. We are a nation of Urban communitors. Small engine hatchbacks are the most cost efficient cars out there. Hondas and Toys are much too expensive.... ZOOM.. ZOOM... Tj
Has anyone out there heard when we can expect the Mazda3 hatch here in the US? And does anyone have a rough idea of the gas mileage it is expected to get?
Gas mileage: EPA rating of the Mazda6i with the MZR 2.3L is 25/32 mpg for MT and 23/29 for AT. The Mazda3 Hatch is equipped with the same engine, but it's lighter ans smaller thus we should expect a little better numbers. May be something like 26/33 and 24/30 for MT and AT respectively.
My wife told me she heard a radio ad where one of the local Mazda dealers is offering 25% off all Protege and Protege5 vehicles (they mentioned one P5 for high $12k...tempting, but I'll wait out the current Mazda3 until they get their heads straight about ISO-DIN compliant head units). They must be trying to clear out inventory in preparation for the Mazda3.
From what I have read on the net (mostly rumors). It seems that November is a rough target... I bet the cars are here and the are being held back to give dealers a chance to clear their inventories.
From my experience with the '90 1.5L mitsy mirage engine (40mpg town, great engine). I would expect the M3H 2L to get in the range of 30 to 35mpg around town... But, it is a Ford, so who knows.... Tj
Thanks, I think my problem was more from my English writing. The "Exclusively" should go with "2.3L" in the sentence I wrote (and not with "NA"), i.e., what I mean was there is *no* Mazda3 Hatch 2.0L for N.A. markett.
"I would expect the M3H 2L to get in the range of 30 to 35mpg around town... But, it is a Ford, so who knows...."
As already mentioned, the 2.0 engine will only be offered with the sedan. The 2.3 will be offered with both sedan and hatchback.
Don't expect anything great with the fuel mileage. A manual 2.0 sedan might get 30mpg in the city but that's the extreme. Expect anywhere between 28-30 for the manual 2.0 in the city. I'm guessing the 2.0 auto will get about 26mpg in the city. If it does I can't complain, the current 2.0 with auto with less power gets 25/30mpg.
Of course this 2.0 is a completely different engine from the 2.0 in the Protege, but I don't expect any huge gains, especially with the added power and added weight of the Mazda3. We might see 35mpg highway numbers but again that's probably the extreme. Toyota and Honda will continue to have the advantage in the fuel mileage department.
And the engines are not really Ford, just Ford blocks. The rest Mazda worked on themselves. In either case, the engines haven't been out long enough to really say if they are reliable or not. So far so good, but still not enough time yet to really say for sure.
Wow! So they've officially removed the best-selling Protege lineup from the Mazda Canada website today and replaced it with the Mazda3 including the pricing.
This must mean the Mazda3 is now officially on-sale in Canada. It looks like they've done a pretty good job on the pricing (except having to add $1000 to get air conditioning - that's a rip off).
And all the options packaging and even the tentative fuel economy numbers match pretty much match exactly the info wongpres got two months ago.
Sweet!
What isn't sweet though are those bizarre and terrible Transport Canada fuel econ. ratings for the 2.3L engine.(10.2/7.6 L/100km for the sedan and 10.6/8.0 L/100km for the hatchback)
I mean, by way of illustration, take the Subaru Impreza TS wagon - it weighs about 200 lbs more than the Mazda3 hatch at 3100 lbs, and includes AWD and has a larger engine displacement (a 2.5L engine compared to the Mazdas 2.3L) and still has better fuel economy at 10.6/7.6.
And the Suzuki Aerio AWD SX Fastback has a 2.3L engine with slightly more torque, with auto, and AWD and also does better than the Mazda3, with a rating of 9.9/7.6 L/100km.
And the AWD Impreza annd Aerio are hardly fuel sipping cars.
Also, isn't it surprising that the difference between the Mazdas manual's ratings and the auto's are soo large. Before the Protege had pretty much the same ratings between the manual and the auto. Now the difference is so great you'd think they're different engines (same situation the 2.3L had in the Mazda6 where the manual got very good competitive fuel ratings while the auto was definitely sub-standard).
Yeah, the Ford debate on O3 MPV 3L duratec engine turned out to be a non-issue. The Duratec is a fantastic engine. Therefore: It seems that it is a non-issue with the M3H engines from what I read from the Posts. That is good news. I will take whichever engine that comes with an Automatic tranny. Shifting in heavy Urban traffic is not fun or cool.. Our MPV gets 21/26 mpg so I would expect the little 2/2.3L engines to be over 25/30mpg... Thanks for the Info guys... Tj
Wow! So they've officially removed the best-selling Protege lineup from the Mazda Canada website today and replaced it with the Mazda3 including the pricing.
This must mean the Mazda3 is now officially on-sale in Canada. It looks like they've done a pretty good job on the pricing (except having to add $1000 to get air conditioning - that's a rip off).
And all the options packaging and even the tentative fuel economy numbers match pretty much match exactly the info wongpres got two months ago.
Sweet!
What isn't sweet though are those bizarre and terrible Transport Canada fuel econ. ratings for the 2.3L engine.(10.2/7.6 L/100km for the sedan and 10.6/8.0 L/100km for the hatchback)
I mean, by way of illustration, take the Subaru Impreza TS wagon - it weighs about 200 lbs more than the Mazda3 hatch at 3100 lbs, and includes AWD and has a larger engine displacement (a 2.5L engine compared to the Mazdas 2.3L) and still has better fuel economy at 10.6/7.6.
And the Suzuki Aerio AWD SX Fastback has a 2.3L engine with slightly more torque, with auto, and AWD and also does better than the Mazda3, with a rating of 9.9/7.6 L/100km.
And the AWD Impreza annd Aerio are hardly fuel sipping cars.
Also, isn't it surprising that the difference between the Mazdas manual's ratings and the auto's are soo large. Before the Protege had pretty much the same ratings between the manual and the auto. Now the difference is so great you'd think they're different engines (same situation the 2.3L had in the Mazda6 where the manual got very good competitive fuel ratings while the auto was definitely sub-standard).
Yes, there wasn't much change from my initial documents.
Mazda3 sport pricing:
One thing I noticed right away - the Mazda3 sport GT is only $50cdn more than the Mazda3 sedan GT! That hatch has much more value than the sedan because for that $50 difference, the hatch already has the sedan's $1095 sport package standard (bar moonroof)!
One thing I noticed right away - the Mazda3 sport GT is only $50cdn more than the Mazda3 sedan GT! That hatch has much more value than the sedan because for that $50 difference, the hatch already has the sedan's $1095 sport package standard (bar moonroof)!
But the sport GT doesn't have AC whereas the Sedan GT has it.
Yeah, that's true. In the pricing page, it says that A/C is optional for the GT sedan but in the options page (and also in my docs), it says that A/C is standard for the GT sedan.
In all likelihood, I think they made a mistake on the pricing page (not the only mistake on there), in which case it's good for me cause I'm getting the GT sedan.
"What isn't sweet though are those bizarre and terrible Transport Canada fuel econ. ratings for the 2.3L engine.(10.2/7.6 L/100km for the sedan and 10.6/8.0 L/100km for the hatchback)"
I agree. The city mileage might be about right even though it's kinda low, but the highway mileage is unusually low compared to the others. My guess is either the 2.0 auto numbers are off or the 2.3 auto numbers are off. How can the 2.0 highway mileage be so good compared to the 2.3?
will there be an option for a navigation system available for the mazda3 hatch? does anyone know exactly when this car will be available especially here in chicagoland?
I kind of suspect they won't really offer the navigation system on the MZ3. They don't even offer it on the MZ6 yet. I know, the preliminary specs say they'll offer it, but we'll have to wait and see.
Still, if they do, that means you could probably get a Mazda3 s HB with Moonroof/CD-changer, SAB/SAC, Xenons and Navi for around $20K. Sweet!
I would like to visit Canada some time. I'm all right in the cold weather (been two winters in Minnesota), the landscape is beautiful as you say, plus I have a beer from Dinu waiting for me there. ;-)
>> I kind of suspect they won't really offer the navigation system on the MZ3. They don't even offer it on the MZ6 yet. I know, the preliminary specs say they'll offer it, but we'll have to wait and see. <<
I hope they do. Pontiac offers a navigation system on their Vibe, but you can't get nav on their top of the line Bonneville.
>> Still, if they do, that means you could probably get a Mazda3 s HB with Moonroof/CD-changer, SAB/SAC, Xenons and Navi for around $20K. Sweet! <<
You bet! The only other car I can think of that offers this much high tech in a "small" package is the MINI Cooper.
We're into October and I can go out with only a sweater on - no need for a jacket. Yet Of course you gotta be careful with the beer: leave it outside for too long and it will freeze. The same common sense applies to other things
As for that beer I have a liking for Lowenbrau now Bruno. OK with you?
The accessories are neat... I assume that you can order them with the car.... The M3 hatch is looking better and better. The 2.3L engine looks like a neat little engine with all of the latest technology... Can't wait to drive it..... Tj
MazdaUSA.com has some good views of the M3 hatch. Looks like the Nav controls are next to shift on the middle console.. Looking at the shift pattern, looks like it is a manual/automatic tranny??? The radio display looks a little small. I wonder if with the Nav option that the radio info appears on the Nav screen???? The speedo and tach is neat. Like the colors.. Overall very nice interior... Want the side airbags...
This might be comparing apples and oranges, but for those who are OK with the styling, the Scion xB is a really fun car to drive for $15K! I do like the 3 but feel the xB is an undiscovered gem of a car.
I went to a Mazda dealer yesterday. The sales guy told me that 3 will not be available till March. I told them I heard in November, but he said that is not true. I do not know... But one thing I know is that more than half of their inventories at their warehouse where he took me to were Pro5.
Comments
Edmunds review of the 3 is pretty nice! Just finally got a chance to read it.
-juice
Tj
We need to replace #2 car (160K Mitsy expo) our urban work/shopping vehicle. So it looks like it will be the M3H. I dislike buying a first year car but I trust Mazda. Reading the Edmunds review I think the 2l engine will be about right with good milage and handling. But I would like to take a look at the sedan...
The M3H is going to be a major seller. Mitsy made a big mistake when they dropped the Mirage hatchback. We are a nation of Urban communitors. Small engine hatchbacks are the most cost efficient cars out there. Hondas and Toys are much too expensive....
ZOOM.. ZOOM...
Tj
Gas mileage: EPA rating of the Mazda6i with the MZR 2.3L is 25/32 mpg for MT and 23/29 for AT. The Mazda3 Hatch is equipped with the same engine, but it's lighter ans smaller thus we should expect a little better numbers. May be something like 26/33 and 24/30 for MT and AT respectively.
From my experience with the '90 1.5L mitsy mirage engine (40mpg town, great engine). I would expect the M3H 2L to get in the range of 30 to 35mpg around town... But, it is a Ford, so who knows....
Tj
Dinu
2.3l for the Mazda3 is not exclusive to N. America. Australia, New Zealand, and Japan also get it (though it's auto only for Japan).
The only major N. American exclusive feature on the Mazda3 is leather.
As already mentioned, the 2.0 engine will only be offered with the sedan. The 2.3 will be offered with both sedan and hatchback.
Don't expect anything great with the fuel mileage. A manual 2.0 sedan might get 30mpg in the city but that's the extreme. Expect anywhere between 28-30 for the manual 2.0 in the city. I'm guessing the 2.0 auto will get about 26mpg in the city. If it does I can't complain, the current 2.0 with auto with less power gets 25/30mpg.
Of course this 2.0 is a completely different engine from the 2.0 in the Protege, but I don't expect any huge gains, especially with the added power and added weight of the Mazda3. We might see 35mpg highway numbers but again that's probably the extreme. Toyota and Honda will continue to have the advantage in the fuel mileage department.
And the engines are not really Ford, just Ford blocks. The rest Mazda worked on themselves. In either case, the engines haven't been out long enough to really say if they are reliable or not. So far so good, but still not enough time yet to really say for sure.
This must mean the Mazda3 is now officially on-sale in Canada. It looks like they've done a pretty good job on the pricing (except having to add $1000 to get air conditioning - that's a rip off).
And all the options packaging and even the tentative fuel economy numbers match pretty much match exactly the info wongpres got two months ago.
Sweet!
What isn't sweet though are those bizarre and terrible Transport Canada fuel econ. ratings for the 2.3L engine.(10.2/7.6 L/100km for the sedan and 10.6/8.0 L/100km for the hatchback)
I mean, by way of illustration, take the Subaru Impreza TS wagon - it weighs about 200 lbs more than the Mazda3 hatch at 3100 lbs, and includes AWD and has a larger engine displacement (a 2.5L engine compared to the Mazdas 2.3L) and still has better fuel economy at 10.6/7.6.
And the Suzuki Aerio AWD SX Fastback has a 2.3L engine with slightly more torque, with auto, and AWD and also does better than the Mazda3, with a rating of 9.9/7.6 L/100km.
And the AWD Impreza annd Aerio are hardly fuel sipping cars.
Also, isn't it surprising that the difference between the Mazdas manual's ratings and the auto's are soo large. Before the Protege had pretty much the same ratings between the manual and the auto. Now the difference is so great you'd think they're different engines (same situation the 2.3L had in the Mazda6 where the manual got very good competitive fuel ratings while the auto was definitely sub-standard).
Therefore: It seems that it is a non-issue with the M3H engines from what I read from the Posts. That is good news.
I will take whichever engine that comes with an Automatic tranny. Shifting in heavy Urban traffic is not fun or cool..
Our MPV gets 21/26 mpg so I would expect the little 2/2.3L engines to be over 25/30mpg...
Thanks for the Info guys...
Tj
This must mean the Mazda3 is now officially on-sale in Canada. It looks like they've done a pretty good job on the pricing (except having to add $1000 to get air conditioning - that's a rip off).
And all the options packaging and even the tentative fuel economy numbers match pretty much match exactly the info wongpres got two months ago.
Sweet!
What isn't sweet though are those bizarre and terrible Transport Canada fuel econ. ratings for the 2.3L engine.(10.2/7.6 L/100km for the sedan and 10.6/8.0 L/100km for the hatchback)
I mean, by way of illustration, take the Subaru Impreza TS wagon - it weighs about 200 lbs more than the Mazda3 hatch at 3100 lbs, and includes AWD and has a larger engine displacement (a 2.5L engine compared to the Mazdas 2.3L) and still has better fuel economy at 10.6/7.6.
And the Suzuki Aerio AWD SX Fastback has a 2.3L engine with slightly more torque, with auto, and AWD and also does better than the Mazda3, with a rating of 9.9/7.6 L/100km.
And the AWD Impreza annd Aerio are hardly fuel sipping cars.
Also, isn't it surprising that the difference between the Mazdas manual's ratings and the auto's are soo large. Before the Protege had pretty much the same ratings between the manual and the auto. Now the difference is so great you'd think they're different engines (same situation the 2.3L had in the Mazda6 where the manual got very good competitive fuel ratings while the auto was definitely sub-standard).
Yes, there wasn't much change from my initial documents.
Mazda3 sport pricing:
One thing I noticed right away - the Mazda3 sport GT is only $50cdn more than the Mazda3 sedan GT! That hatch has much more value than the sedan because for that $50 difference, the hatch already has the sedan's $1095 sport package standard (bar moonroof)!
But the sport GT doesn't have AC whereas the Sedan GT has it.
In all likelihood, I think they made a mistake on the pricing page (not the only mistake on there), in which case it's good for me cause I'm getting the GT sedan.
I agree. The city mileage might be about right even though it's kinda low, but the highway mileage is unusually low compared to the others. My guess is either the 2.0 auto numbers are off or the 2.3 auto numbers are off. How can the 2.0 highway mileage be so good compared to the 2.3?
In the US, the Mazda3 will be available from late November to mid December.
what other packages are available?
How much is it (estimate?) with the navi?
what colors are available for the hatch?
Still, if they do, that means you could probably get a Mazda3 s HB with Moonroof/CD-changer, SAB/SAC, Xenons and Navi for around $20K. Sweet!
Available color: please see http://groups.msn.com/BrunoLuong/ustrimsandprices.msnw
Note that those info are not locked and subjected to change.
Not that I've anything against Canada. I think parts of it are just beautiful.
I hope they do. Pontiac offers a navigation system on their Vibe, but you can't get nav on their top of the line Bonneville.
>> Still, if they do, that means you could probably get a Mazda3 s HB with Moonroof/CD-changer, SAB/SAC, Xenons and Navi for around $20K. Sweet! <<
You bet! The only other car I can think of that offers this much high tech in a "small" package is the MINI Cooper.
That's because the Vibe is really a Toyota Matrix/Corolla.
Bruno
As for that beer I have a liking for Lowenbrau now Bruno. OK with you?
Ok, now back to the 3 - did I menton I like it?
Cheers!
Dinu
(US) Sport package details
Cargo management system (Hatchback)
Shifter w/wo leather
Glove box
BP9 (?) interior
15" steel wheels with covers (yellow, allready seen in Netherlands brochure)
MZR-2.0L PZEV engine
Bruno
Thanks for the pics!
Can't wait to drive it.....
Tj
Dinu
Dinu
The speedo and tach is neat. Like the colors.. Overall very nice interior... Want the side airbags...
So the hatch comes standard with the 17s and V-rated tires, and even if you load it up only gets to about $18,6 sticker. VERY good! :-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The xB does come with stability control standard, and is a good value at $14k or so.
The 3 has more power and will likely be more refined.
-juice
The sales guy told me that 3 will not be available till March. I told them I heard in November, but he said that is not true. I do not know... But one thing I know is that more than half of their inventories at their warehouse where he took me to were Pro5.