Mazda3 2.3 vs. '07 VW Rabbit

dougjp

Starting this as I think its a closer comparison than Edmund's 3 vs Civic, or vs a Fit or Accord as listed below.

I'm hoping to find comparison road tests by car mags and hope to get Edmund's to do it, if they already haven't! Sedan and/or Sport 3...

jmnapp

I have a 2006 Mazda 3 - i Touring and hate it. As soon as I get some cash saved up, I'm going to trade for an 07 Rabbit. I test drove the Rabbit and it's much more solid and quiet than the Mazda. I'm disappointed in the general feel of the Mazda. It feels very "cheap" compared to the VW. Also, huge amounts of road noise. German engineering is the way to go...no more Japanese cars for me. They just can't compare to the feel of a German car.

dc_driver

"German engineering is the way to go...no more Japanese cars for me. They just can't compare to the feel of a German car."

Nor can VW compete with the Japanese in regards to reliability. It is clearly give and take. Having recently owned a VW (Jetta) and now owning a Mazda 3i Touring I do not completely agree with your assessment that the Mazda is cheap. The interior fit and finish, to me, is very good and the car handles very well and is a blast to drive. But the 3i Touring is also $1500-1700 dollars cheaper and also gets better MPG 28/35(city/highway) to 22/30 than the Rabbit. Now I have not driven the new Golf, umm, I mean Rabbit yet but based on my previous Jetta I would not doubt that the vehicle has slightly better fit and finish and is quieter. But you should really look through all the Jetta, Golf, and Passat problem boards also. In my case, I ended up having to pay (out of pocket) for rental cars for approximately 30 days while my VW was in the shop for various repairs over the period of 2.5 years. It simply was no longer reliable and left me stranded high and dry on numerous occasions. I liked the car overall, but became so frustrated with its reliability and VW's customer service (I tried having my car serviced at three different local dealers and all three were horribly run and very arrogant) that I sold it early from a three year lease.

My advice to you is to wait at least a year to see what the reliability is on the Rabbit. Even though the Mazda 3 has strong resale value, you must be taking a hit on such a quick sale and it might be best to hold it awhile longer. For the money, I would also look closely at the Honda Civic and both Toyota and Hyundai are coming out with new a new Corolla and a new Elantra. Might get very interesting over the next year or so.

dweber4

I have a mazda 3 five door touring, and recently drove the new Rabbit. The VW drive train was less responsive, the seats worse, and it was obvious they cut corners to keep the price down. The Mazda is more refined.

bruce6

In January I traded in my 2001 VW Golf (which I liked but got bored with) for 2006 Mazda 3 hatch, 5-speed. I LOVE the Mazda beyond words. It's solid, smooth, comfortable, remarkably roomy for a fairly small car, agile and quick. Of course, my Golf was the base model with the 2.0 engine, which has now been mercifully put to sleep, so the new Rabbit will be closer to the 3 in performance.

VW has made a specialty of giving its cars more upscale-looking interiors than you'd expect for their size/price class, and are probably still a notch ahead of Mazda in that department, but my VW was also prone to annoying little problems -- pieces of interior trim coming unglued in hot weather, warning lights mysteriously coming on for no reason, stuff like that. While I haven't owned my current Mazda long enough to say much about reliability, it's trouble free so far, and 2 Mazdas I owned in the '80s -- both of which had about 80,000 miles when I traded them -- were absolutely trouble-free. I mean literally no repairs. Zero.

Ultimately you'll have to drive both and see which suits you, but my Mazda 3 is easily my favorite car of any I've owned.

jaesee75edmund

I'd wait on the reliability reports on the rabbit first. I had an 02 jetta vr6. bought it in 2002 knowing how unreliable jetta/golf are, but the styling and overall package really impressed me. I had to take a massive loss only a year and half later, traded it in for a toyota 4 runner. completely diff car, yes. I also now have a Mazda 3. love it. yes, the jetta was quieter, but it was much more expensive. I only paid 20 for the m3, taxes and all, with sport and 2.3. my jetta was in the shop every other month, with the radio dying twice, window glitches, shakes all over the place, engine problems that NEVER got resolved (I had to drive around w/o a radio and only on 4 of 6 cylinders while they ordered the parts, etc, and tended to god knows how many others with similar problems for 2 MONTHS one time! So, I finally got sick of it and got rid of it.) I would wait for the reliability report. you don't need the headache of owning a nice looking/performing car that needs mechanics every other month. And, the service sucked. Probably because they were overworked and had to deal with so many unhappy customers.

dc_driver

wow, jaesee75edmund, we had almost the exact same experience (I owned a 99.5 Jetta VR6 that had nearly the same, if not more, problems that you had).

I now own a Mazda3, and love the car. I recently drove a VW Rabbit (4dr auto) and, while I liked the interior, there is no comparison between the Mazda3 and the VW when it comes to performance and handling. The VW's electronic power assisted steering feels numb compared to the 3's handling. Like you though, my biggest concern for folks cross shopping these vehicles would be VW's previous reliability issues with the Golf/Jetta (both cars share many of the same parts).

I think that VW missed the boat by not offering the TDI engine in this car until 2008. If the Rabbit could achieve 40mpg highway, it would have stole sales away from the likes of Mazda, Toyota, and Honda.

My advice to anyone shopping these two vehicles is to drive them back-to-back. There is simply no comparison with regards to the driving experience, the 3 blows the Rabbit away (unless you like numb steering and roll when cornering)....

aviboy97

I just priced out a Mazda3 S Touring 5-door with the moon roof/6CD package in 5-speed Vs. the VW Rabbit 4-door hatch with side impact airbags, sun roof and 17" alloys.

Mazda $19,065 MSRP
VW $20,329 MSRP

That's quite a difference in price. Take it as you wish.

clownfishfunk

I test drove both cars and thought they were rather similar. Both handled well, and both were my two top choices. I ended up with the rabbit because I liked the look of the hatch better on the rabbit than the mazda, and I also liked the interior better. The rabbit was also available with the extra options that I wanted at the dealer. Unlike what many people have said, the people at my VW dealer were very nice and helpful with my questions and the purchase, so that did not factor into my decision. I've had the car for about a month now and have had no problems it, and am quite pleased with my decision.

dc_driver

"Unlike what many people have said, the people at my VW dealer were very nice and helpful with my questions and the purchase, so that did not factor into my decision."

I did not have a problem with the VW sales team. I had a problem with the service department and customer service.

I do like the fact that you drove the 3 and the Rabbit and picked the vehicle that was best for you. It would be a boring world if everyone drove nothing but Rabbits or nothing but 3s.. Choice is a good thing

carfanatic007

Huh? You must be joking! The Mazda 3 is rated extremely well by all publications in handling, reliability, etc. The Mazda 3 is made in Japan. You can get a loaded Mazda 3 2.3 with leather, etc for the same price as a Rabbit. I would take the Mazda 3 in a heartbeat!

moparbad

The Mazda 3 is made in Japan.

Despite all of the recent recalls of Japanese built cars, the Mazda 3 is still an excellent choice. Do not let the fact that it is built in Japan scare you away. Most of the recalls have been by Toyota anyway.

aviboy97

Despite all of the recent recalls of Japanese built cars, the Mazda 3 is still an excellent choice. Do not let the fact that it is built in Japan scare you away.

Statistically, Japanese cars are the most reliable. Just because a manufacturer announces a recall does not mean the vehicle is unreliable. Toyota has had the most recalls lately, however, I do not think it will tarnish their name.

GM and Ford have had huge recalls this year as well.

Mazda has been fortunate to not really have any recalls, except for the preventative one placed on the Mazda5 back in September.

The Mazda3 has not had any, and it's way to soon for the VW Rabbit to have any. I also believe the 2.5 5 cyl. is a new engine for them? Am I correct?

moparbad

I also believe the 2.5 5 cyl. is a new engine for them? Am I correct?

No you are not correct, the 2.5 5cyl is new only to North America, it has been offered for several years outside of North America.

Statistically, Japanese cars are the most reliable. Just because a manufacturer announces a recall does not mean the vehicle is unreliable. Toyota has had the most recalls lately, however, I do not think it will tarnish their name.

Statistically, for North America, Toyota has had more recalls per vehicle than Daimler Chrysler. Interesting trivia.
I agree that a recall does not determine reliability and has greater affect on perception.

My point is this, recent posts in many topic concerning the Rabbit and VW in general imply that reliability is determined by country of manufacture are incorrect and ridiculous. Japan = Very Reliable
Mexico = Unreliable Germany = Somewhat Reliable :sick:

dc_driver

"My point is this, recent posts in many topic concerning the Rabbit and VW in general imply that reliability is determined by country of manufacture are incorrect and ridiculous."

The problem with Mexico stems from when both Ford and VW started building cars there. There were serious process and quality control issues and it made the press. From what I have read this is no longer an issue in Mexico and in some cases Mexican quality is even better than the quality of some US manufacturing plants. Point is that the damage was done initially and many people still associate Mexican build quality as being bad.

As for the German perception I think this stems from well documented reliability issues with both VW and Mercedes Benz recently. Perhaps VW and Mercedes have cracked down and have resolved some of these issues, but it takes time to restore your image. Look at Hyundai. They have really improved across the board for quite a few years, and many people still associate Hyundai build quality with the Hyundai Excel problems...

aviboy97

As for the German perception I think this stems from well documented reliability issues with both VW and Mercedes Benz recently

The thing about German vehicles is that usually the build quality is good, as well as refinement. However, they just do not last. Most problems with VW/Audi are electrical, and they have had numerous problems with their boosted engines.

Mercedes-Benz is just a sinking ship that is sinking FAST. Great design, great power, but you cannot enjoy it if it is always in the shop.

Look at Hyundai. They have really improved across the board for quite a few years

They really have come leaps and bounds. Materials used in the interior are not as good as Japanese brands, and the over all feel is not as good either, however, they are seeming to last quite a long time.

Since this is a Mazda3 Vs. Rabbit thread, I will say this..It is a bit to early to tell how the VW will do, reliability wise, and the Mazda3 has proven to be reliable. Both vehicles will have it's fair share of hick-ups. But, who will experience more? My bet is VW will.

chiefjojo

VW certainly has a lot to prove to the market as far as reliability is concerned. The past Golf/GTI/Jetta had loads of issues. It doesn't predetermine this model will suffer the same fate, but if I were a betting man, my money would be on the Mazda.

mdaffron

JD Powers and others aside, I'll say this.

My current car is a 2005 Mazda3 hatchback ... er, wagon ... er, hatchgon? Wagback? I purchased it April 7, 2005. It's now 15 months old and has 24,100 miles on it.

Problems? Zero.
Gas mileage? 27 city commuting, 32-35 highway. (5-speed)
Fun-to-drive factor? Grinning, ear to ear!

Meade

pat

Let's continue the conversation about the ship in trouble in the Mazda3 discussion. We'll let this discussion stay focused on comparing the 3 to the Rabbit. If there are any dry ones left to compare, that is.

moparbad, "Mazda3 Sedan" #8898, 27 Jul 2006 12:17 pm

aviboy97

I'm just glad that non of those Mazda3's or CX-7's are mine. I see that they are mostly allocated for the west coast or Vancouver, Canada.

I just hope they do not take from my allocation to help them! I can't get enough as it is!

funpg

US manufacturers' recalls seem to be more for things like cars catching on fire or gas tanks exploding while Japanese recalls tend to be minor problems.

aviboy97

However, Toyota's latest recall is not so minor. It is for a "faulty engine part" that causes an oil leak...

fl2113

Back to the topic at hand, I drove a 2007 Rabbit 2.5 and an 06 3s 5-door, both auto, back to back recently. The interior build quality on the Rabbit was excellent, with a very similar layout to the Audi A4, but the seats and trim were a disgusting shade of beige. I did think the black or gray interiors work better on the Rabbit. I drove the Rabbit first, and at first I liked it, but once I drove the 3, the deal was done. The 3 was so much more responsive, fun to drive, and just overall more refined. I love the interior especially, it just feels much more comfortable and inviting and sporty than the Rabbit's. Nothing against the Rabbit, it's also a great car, but the 3 wins in my book. I drove out the door that day with an s model hatch in silver. Excellent value. So far I'm sure I've made the right choice after my first few weeks having the car

ninjaman

I has my car search down to three models. The Civic, Mazda3, and the Rabbit. I ended up with the Rabbit. The civic is simply not in the same class. Well built and reliable, but it feels like a toy. I really liked the Mazda. I think it feels sharper in the corners and the 2.3 pulls nicely. The fit and finish is very good, too. So why did I get the Rabbit?

It feels much more solid. Although it does not feel as sharp in the corners, it still has great handling and road feel. That 25 mph corner you take in the Mazda3 feels very nice. But I have taken 90 degree turns in my Rabbit and 25 mph and not even has the tires squeel (only H rated, too).

For the money, no other car has the safety features and technology built into them like the Rabbit.

Bosch active steering
electronic limited slip
traction control
emergency brake assist
abs, of course
Eight air bags
6 speed triptronic trans
and a host of other acronims that are part of
ESP (electronic stabalizatio program). There is alot of technical info online as to the other safty features.

Mazda is offering traction control and stability control for 2007.

Reliability probably goes to the Mazda3, but I don't think is as scary to own a vw as people say. Anyone can have a horror story with a car. Go to the honda forum and see some of the issues posted with the new Civic. Buy an extended factory warranty when the original is used up. OMO.

Finally, the 2.5 five cylinder engine in the Rabbit has 170 ft/lbs of torque. That makes it really pull. The powerband is so wide that the six speed triptronic trans can pull in just about any gear. I love this car more and more every time I drive it.

So drive both cars a few times and see which you like better. I could be happy with either car, but the vw has an edge for me.

poita33

What about the new Suzuki SX4? Not as much power but has AWD and better gas mileage and I believe a lower price.

I already own a Mazda5 so I'm looking for something other than the Mazda3.

Here is a good link.
link title

bodble2

Yup, I think that's an interesting contender. The AWD is a really bonus for a car in this price range. From what I can see though, the interior is not up to the quality of the other cars discussed here. And the auto tranny is only a 4-speed, when the Rabbit is up to a 6-speed.

poita33

Good points, I'm a manual guy and they are both 5 speed.

You are probably right about the interior and I haven't been in the SX4 yet, but from the posts on the SX4 most seem to like the interior.

silvermzda3

I went in search of a rabbit and when i could not find one i test drove a GTI. grinned ear to ear for a week, had GTI dreams. but, alas too pricey for me. finally found a 4 dr rabbit to test drive, was looking for a 2dr, and was not quite so impressed, in fact a little disappointed. then i drove the mazda it put the smile back on my face. not as potent as the GTI, but also about 5 grand less. I got an 07 5dr. A big factor for me is that the vw dealerships (nice guys) would not give me a decent price for my trade. I got 2 grand more from the mazda guys. The 3 is a pure joy to drive, and for me it was the right choice. although I still have gti dreams every now and again.

johnnyvj

Reliability probably goes to the Mazda3, but I don't think is as scary to own a vw as people say. Anyone can have a horror story with a car.

Maybe, but seems like VW owners have those horror stories pretty consistently... TOO consistently. :surprise:

I know many current and past VW owners, and virtually EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM has a reliability horror story to tell. Or, more precisely, a SERIES of reliability horror stories, involving multiple trips to the shop... the consensus seems to be that your average VW car prefers inhabiting the shop to anyone's garage. Ugh.

Long story short, the ex-VW owners tell me they will never touch one again, and the current VW owners are all saying that their next car will NOT be a VW, no matter what. Not exactly a recommendation. :sick:

For that reason, a VW could serve me mixed drinks and give world-class shiatsu massage and I probably still wouldn't buy one. But then I've already exceeded my lifetime quota of being stuck on the side of the road by a factor of five or so (owned a series of 1970s-era used American cars, fun fun fun, not), so my tolerance for poor reliability is basically nil at this point.

spinz

I just got a '07 Mazda3 GT hatchback. My previous car was 2000 VW Golf TDI and yes it kept giving me problems but it really helped me save fuel until finally the auto transmission failed on me. So I sold it and decided on which hatchbacks to buy. My other choices were VW Rabbit and Audi A3. I prefer the Golf/Rabbit over the Audi cuz I thought the A3's roofline was too short. But both cars were high on insurance and personally I think the Mazda3 is better designed than the Rabbit since it looks too tall & too stubby. I'm so happy I bought the Mazda3 but I missed the great mileage of the diesel. Yet, the Mazda3 with the Grand Touring package makes it a very refined car and also a fun car to drive.

dride

Agreed, I would not drive a VW again even if I was paid to do so. After 50k miles, mine started falling apart: interior switches, water pump, cat. converter, the clutch started slipping, the temp sender went bad almost every other month... What a drag, but I still felt "connected" to the car. It was the terrible customer service that angered me the most. I could be dropping $1,600 for repairs, and they would still send me to the payphone to call for a ride! And getting a loaner during repairs, yeah right! IMHO purchasing a new VW is a mistake, but purchasing a new VW in in its first model year is a really bad idea (ask anyone who owned a 98 bug). I knew too many people who also "got bad ones". What an unreliable vehicle.

steven39

i went to my local
vw-mazda dealership a few days ago to test drive both the 07 mazda 3 and a 07 vw rabbit.this dealership sells both brands.anyway,i test drove the mazda 3 first and while it handled pretty well it rode pretty rough and there was lots of road noise.you feel every bump with the mazda 3.next was the rabbit 4 door with auto,and what a difference the rabbit test drive was.the rabbit felt much more solid on the road,had a more comfortable ride with great handleing,and was more quiet inside than the mazda 3.a few key selling points that the rabbit has over the mazda 3 is,better ride,quieter interier,better stereo,and better bumper to bumper warranty coverage.4/50,000 compared with 3/36,000 with the mazda 3.

aviboy97

better bumper to bumper warranty coverage.4/50,000 compared with 3/36,000 with the mazda 3.

I hope you bought an extended warranty with that. After 50K, VW's have been known to be an electrical nightmare after 50K.

If you leased it, you should be OK.

I have driven the new Rabbit as well. It is a nice driving car, with a competitive price. I just don't trust German reliability.

qddave

be sure to check the tire pressures in the 3. when I bought mine, the pressure was at 35 all around. I could feel every little crack in the road. I dropped to 32 front 30 rear and all is well. what a difference a few psi make.

Dave

coloradogoose

Knowing that I was going to buy one or the other, I test drove both the Mazda 3 and the VW Rabbit. I drove the 3 in both the sedan and the hatch, and I drove the rabbit in the 2 door. While the Mazda was zippier feeling and quicker around corners, the VW had a smoother quieter ride. Interiors impressed me similarly and price was close enough so I had to decide based on use. I am a product rep and spend a lot of time on the highway, as well as on icy roads. The VW had a nicer feel for long trips and the ASR does a great job at keeping the wheels from spinning on the slick spots.
I've heard all the issues about VW reliability, however we've had several VWs in the family that all lasted far longer than they should have. As far as Mazda goes, we've had three. One made it to 200,000 with barely more then frequent oil changes. One was on its third tranny when it was dumped and the other was on its second. Both were under 100,000 miles. Everyone can make a lemon, and most everyone can build a great car. I just picked what worked best for me.

moparbad

ninjamanReliability probably goes to the Mazda3, but I don't think is as scary to own a vw as people say. Anyone can have a horror story with a car.

06 Golf had higher quality rating (fewer problems per vehicle)than Mazda 3 as rated by JD Power. It is expected that the Rabbit will have better quality than the Golf based on actual quality improvements seen in Europe when Golf IV model switched to Golf V model (Golf V = Rabbit).

Bottom line, reliability goes to VW Rabbit compared to Mazda 3.

funpg

Maybe. It sounds like a gamble until the car's been around for a few years. :surprise:

aviboy97

06 Golf had higher quality rating (fewer problems per vehicle)than Mazda 3 as rated by JD Power. It is expected that the Rabbit will have better quality than the Golf based on actual quality improvements seen in Europe when Golf IV model switched to Golf V model (Golf V = Rabbit).

You are forgetting that JD Powers rates vehicles based on "the first 90 day's of ownership". If you buy a new vehicle every 90 days, then the VW is for you. If you plan on owning the car longer then that, perhaps 5yrs or more, like the majority of vehicle owners, then the Mazda3 rates out better.

CR places VW next to last in reliability, only Mercedes-Benz rates lower, and Mazda is near the top.

Bottom line, reliability goes to VW Rabbit compared to Mazda 3.

I would reverse that conclusion.

bodble2

90 days, or over 5 years would, for me anyway, be at either end of the spectrum. What would matter to me would be how either would fare between 90 days and 5 years, since I normally do not keep a car for longer than 4 years (or in excess of 60K miles), give or take a few months. So, if someone says most VW would fall apart after 5 years or at 100K miles, that wouldn't faze me much.

dride

My VW started falling apart at 50,000 miles. My advice would be to get rid of one before hitting the 40k mark. At first it was a lot of little things: automatic window switches cracked and broke ($250.00), headlight switch shorted out ($299.00),interior door handles cracked ($45.00), headlights burnt out ($140.00 at dealer of course they demand you replace both), fog light replacement (they cracked and broke) ($350.00), and the gas cap latch door line snapped ($250.00)... Then there was the more serious items: (I'm done listing repair costs, it's just making me angry again) Airbag sensor went bad, side airbag sensor needed replacing, water pump had to be replaced, o2 sensors failed and were replaced, which led to the cat converter needing replacement (Graciously ((sarcasm)) VW agreed to cover that under the emissions warranty so thankfully that saved me $1,400.00)... I seriously laughed out loud when I read that someone is actually crazy enough to think VW could be anywhere near the TOP of a reliability list. I have had some problems with my Mazda, but everything has been covered under warranty, and my stress level has been brought way down no longer owning the VW. I will go out of my way to persuade friends, co-workers, and family not to buy VW. Mazda -vs- VW is a no-brainer (since I have owned both brands I feel justified in my opinion), I can not believe there is even a thread on this issue.

aviboy97

I have had some problems with my Mazda, but everything has been covered under warranty, and my stress level has been brought way down no longer owning the VW.

There are no problem free brands out there. Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus owners also go through problems from time to time. Mazda's are not perfect, and VW's are not either, but, one is better off in the long run with a Mazda.

eldaino

That may be true but there are plenty of mazda owners with horror stories. (talk to anyone with a 626 and ask them if they like automatic transmissions.) I have not heard many new jetta owners with any real problems with their vehicle after quite a few miles so hopefully this trend will continue with the rabbit.

d_hyper

There is a reason I'm starting to prefer Edmunds over C/D.
You may witness this "full of content" comparo involving Rabbit, Mazda 3, et al. titled "Six Sedans" on the cover of the print version as well as in the text. http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/11873/2007-toyota-corolla-le-vs-2006-hon- - da-civic-lx-vs-2007-hyundai-elantra-se-vs-2007-mazda-3s-touring-vs-2007-volkswag- - en-rabbit-vs-2007-nissan-sentra-20s.html

I always draw my own conclusions from the tests, but this one is a pure nonsense. You can't call Rabbit a sedan and then give it more points than Mazda3 because you can put more luggage in the former. :mad: Not to mention "Got to have it factor"!

backy

There's also the little problem of both the Mazda3s Touring and the Rabbit 5-door listing for over C/D's self-imposed price limit of $18k (especially true for the Mazda3s Touring; the Rabbit can be had for under $18k but might not have tested out as well). But I guess that quibble is for another discussion.

Also giving points for something as subjective and personal as styling is pretty lame IMO.

steven39

i actually test drove 3 of the cars in the comparison test before purchasing the rabbit.i test drove the elantra,mazda 3,and the sentra.it came down to between the mazda 3 and the rabbit.i felt that while the mazda 3 handled well it had a rougher ride than the rabbit and was much noiser as well.i think that the rabbit has a very good balance of ride comfort to handleing.also,the rabbit just felt much more solid on the road.and vw's 4/50 warranty was iceing on the cake for me so i went with the rabbit.have almost 1,000 miles on it and so far so good with the exceptions of some stereo issues that i am dealing with.

eldaino

Well, i'm sure that if the mazda had won in the 'gotta have it factor' many mazda loyalists would not have been complaining much. Even though styling is subjective, i don't see the wrong in letting that have a little influence on who wins a comparo. Have you not seen the edmunds civic vs mazda 3 article? Looks was very much so a factor there. That was over the top imo though. But back to the subject on hand its not like the vw one by a drastic amount of points on this article due to 'gotta have it factor' alone, it was a combination of things and even then it barely won.

d_hyper

I tried to point out the fact C/D considers Rabbit a sedan (not once, but few times), makes no apologies for it (because there isn't one) and gives more points for luggage space. Where's Mazda3 hatch has 2 cu.ft. more on Rabbit.
I won't renew their C/D subscr. not because MZ3 lost, but because their comparos suck and there's very little substance in it while a lot of pictures instead.

backy

Also, recall that the last time C/D did a comparo like this, back in 2002, they didn't include the Golf then. The Protege won that comparo.

eldaino

when did they call it a sedan? I read the article in a bookstore and then again just a few moments ago... also keep in mind that the mazda 3 hatch would have been even more expensive than the rabbit, and perhaps that would have been too big of a price increase for them to justify the added features.

backy

You didn't look at the cover, right at the top, where it talked about the six $18,000 sedans they compared?

eldaino

Well since i read the article about 2 weeks ago at borders, no i don't recall. It must have been smaller print, because i don't think i picked up the magazine to read that article, i just stumbled upon it. Its just that after reading the article i didn't think that the kept pushing the 'sedan' thing. If they said it once on the cover, ok fine but it was made to seem like c/d was saying over and over that it was a sedan comparo.