Mazda 3 hatchback thoughts/review?

[bamboozled]

Hiya folks. I am looking to make my first ever car purchase in Thailand after many years of just having a motorbike. I am waffling all over the place about what kind of car, or truck, or car, or truck, or....you get the idea. I was thinking used but prices as we know are high. Higher still for new vehicles but perhaps worth the piece of mind and then you still have the re-sale value. 
So waffling on new/used, as well. I like a truck for the ability to carry stuff at a moments notice but....I live in the city (Chiang Mai) and traffic is an issue as is parking. A truck also makes you feel safer (true or not, I'm not sure). If not a truck, then I started to look at hatchbacks as you can get pretty creative when needing to carry a large size object. I was keen on the Honda Jazz  but it seems kind of scary small. So my latest crush is the Mazda 3 hatchback. It seems to have a normal car size footprint and some heft to it that the Jazz or Honda City lack, or any of the smaller hatchbacks. It also seems to have some power though I have not even sat in one yet, let alone test drive. Most of the other cars under a certain price range appear on the cheap/tinny side and make me fear a little bit for my safety.

So, anyone have any experience with the Mazda 3? I saw an old post from 2014 that was favorable but now quite dated...though useful if I go the used route.

 

Thank you!

[br12stol]

New Mazda 3 model due soon, good car but much better value if you find one few months old. Honda do a hatchback Civic turbo which is better than outgoing 3

 

year old for under 600k

 

https://www.taladrod.com/w40/iCar/CarDet.aspx?cid=2226708

[bamboozled]

Do you mean the Honda HRV? I quite like that one but it is so new....not a lot used and the price is more than I want to pay. Has a lovely sturdy stance.

Thank you for your input! The Subaru XC or whatever it is is pretty cool too but I'm getting out of my league on price.

Edited June 4, 2019 by bamboozled

[bamboozled]

As a hatchback the Mazda 3 doesn't really hold all that much, does it? As mentioned, I've never poked around on one. But it looks pretty low profile/squat. It reminds me of the old Jaguar in the Harold and Maude movie, if you know it.

[MatteoBassini]

You need to be more decisive of what your needs are for a car.

 

On paper the Mazda 3 has more power than the Jazz but you won't notice it because it is heavier. Interior volume of the Mazda 3 is about the same as the Jazz, there's a reason the Jazz is called an "MPV" in the UK.

 

Onto safety, if you prioritize safety, a pickup truck is the last type of vehicle you want to drive. the high center of gravity, low tech suspension, and thick tire sidewall can easily cause you to flip it over at highspeed evasive maneuvers. Additionally, the Toyota Hiliux gets 3/5 stars on Euro NCAP safety tests, whereas the Mazda 3 and Jazz both get 5/5 stars.

 

The Mazda 3 is a better vehicle than the Jazz in every single way because it is in a category higher than the Jazz and thus more expensive. Although you will see that used prices aren't that different because of the Honda badge retaining value for the Jazz.

 

You can't go wrong with the Mazda 3. I've test driven one and it was comfortable for the driver and front passenger, but the rear seat space is smaller than the Jazz and other competitors. I like the Mazda 3 but it was still too slow for me.

 

My recommendation for you is to rent all the cars you have in mind. I've rented a bunch of cars and found out exactly what I want in a car. 160 HP sounds enough on paper but having driven a bunch of cars with that HP figure, I found out it is still too slow for my needs. You don't want to repeat the same mistake I did with my first car. I bought it because I didn't know what I wanted, and then I spent the next 4 years wishing I got something else.

[bamboozled]

Hi Matteo thanks for writing! Good advice. About truck safety, I am familiar with your points on safety and I would agree. The one big factor is the driver can control how much speed he/she has going into a turn so flipping, well, should be a lot about my driving style. Still leaves flipping factor with evasive maneuvers and someone else hitting me. The other thing, it's just a lot more metal if someone hits you. But maybe it's a false sense of safety. I'm actually renting a Jazz tomorrow.

I'm not going to have passengers in the back too often so a cramped back is not a huge issue. However, overall, I did want to have some carrying capacity and the Mazda kind of seems a tight space. Is that fair to say?

In going around the city and looking online, I see some Jazz that seem tiny and others that seem more substantial. Have they increased the size over the years or do some have smaller wheels that make them seem so tin can like?

 

I think the Honda HRV looks quite interesting but it's getting up there in price for me. Probably slow as well.

 

What did you end up buying Matteo that you were happy with? I kind of like the Yaris, too, but I'm sure it is quite slow and have read as such. I am just beginning my quest for a car so your advice is well taken and if you care to throw out any other ideas I'm all ears. I also have a wife that will be using the car so that is something I need to consider. The truck idea, well, they are so useful and if you've never had one you would be amazed at all the times it comes in handy. BUT, living in the city it's not ideal. And my wife doesn't want to drive one. Thus I was looking for a car that would still have some carrying capacity but not drain my bank account. ...Guess I'm still in the playing around/idea stage!

 

Thanks!

[BestB]

Mazda 3 drives like BMW, very steady , good handling and enough power, only problem is Mazda resale value.

 

Many people seem to think truck takes up more space, but in reality it is not that much bigger, It is taller

 

Example,

Mazda length 183 inch, width 70

Ford pick up 210, width 86

 

 

 

[fredob43]

Only hope the Mazda 3 is more reliable than the Mazda 6 estate my son in law has. I'm in the UK at present and his 4 year old one has gone tits up yet again. This time it's the turbo that has gone up the creak. Has just been quoted 2.5 thousand UK pounds to replace same. Nice car if only it was more reliable.   

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

but in reality it is not that much bigger [...]

 

Example,

Mazda length 183 inch, width 70

Ford pick up 210, width 86

Taking the numbers from your example, the pickup is 40% bigger, for me this is quite a lot

[BestB]

39 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Taking the numbers from your example, the pickup is 40% bigger, for me this is quite a lot

How do you get to 40%? ????????????

Pick up is 23 inches longer and 16 inches wider that’s about 12% bigger

[MatteoBassini]

2 hours ago, bamboozled said:

What did you end up buying Matteo that you were happy with? I kind of like the Yaris, too, but I'm sure it is quite slow and have read as such. I am just beginning my quest for a car so your advice is well taken and if you care to throw out any other ideas I'm all ears. I also have a wife that will be using the car so that is something I need to consider. The truck idea, well, they are so useful and if you've never had one you would be amazed at all the times it comes in handy. BUT, living in the city it's not ideal. And my wife doesn't want to drive one. Thus I was looking for a car that would still have some carrying capacity but not drain my bank account. ...Guess I'm still in the playing around/idea stage!

 

Thanks!

I ended up with a 2007 Camry 3.5Q. Best bargain on the used market, IMO. 450,000 baht (was 2.9 million when it was new). The engine alone is worth it, 3.5L V6 making 267 HP, still faster than most cars sold today and the options are on-par or better than Lexus sedans, e.g ventilated seats, memory seat, moonroof, 8-way adjustable power seat for both driver and passenger, rear armrest can control AC and radio, radar cruise control, etc. They're not that easy to find though, the Accord 3.5L V6 is even more difficult to find.

 

I think it's fair to say the carrying capacity of the Mazda 3 is small, but it's still a bit larger than the Jazz. You could try looking at the Mazda 3 sedan, which has more cargo capacity than the hatchback.

 

If you like the Jazz but want more cargo space and a little bit larger car, you can also look into the Honda City. Inside it is exactly the same, same engine, basically a Jazz sedan.

 

Or the Subaru XV is also not a bad choice, on the used market right now you can get one for 600k, which is about the same as the Mazda 3.

[DaRoadrunner]

1 hour ago, fredob43 said:

This time it's the turbo that has gone up the creak. Has just been quoted 2.5 thousand UK pounds to replace same.

There are independent specialists that repair turbos for less. Just needs new bearings. Make sure they install the proper Titanium bearings as ordinary ones won't do.

[HauptmannUK]

If you live in a rural area then pickup trucks are great, although poor handling and a bouncy ride is an issue (cart-spring solid rear axle and high CoG).  In the city they are an absolute pain in the backside - getting down small sois and parking is a problem. Stuff that you leave in the cargo bay is vulnerable to theft, even with a cover (I had the flimsy plastic Toyota load cover broken open and a brushcutter stolen). They ARE very good value in Thailand though (due to low sales tax) which why they are so popular.  I had one for a couple of years (Toyota) which was well built and reliable but I was glad to see the back of it to be honest. Drive a Camry now, which is a vastly better driving experience and our long runs up to Udon are much more comfortable.

I've hired a Jazz in the past and I thought it was great for a small car and ideal for running around in the city.

[bamboozled]

I should mention that I own a Toyota pickup in the states. I bought it a couple years ago to basically clear out and fix up my dad's house/yard to sell it (back and forth between Thailand) and needed it to haul stuff. I didn't mind the ride. Of course, it was indeed useful for that project and I am not doing the same sort of project here but...I was comfortable with it, the way it drove, etc... That being said, I'm in the city and not renovating a house. And live on a small soi (for now) where parking would be a pain.

 

It's not overall cargo carrying capacity I'm necessarily worried about. It's the ability to be able to lug a large piece of furniture, for example, that would be a nice bonus. I drove VW Rabbits and Golfs years ago and with some creative flair, you could get most things in the back of the hatchback albeit sticking out the back with the trunk up. That's what got me on the hatchback kick here, that "expandable" ability to haul stuff.

 

I have rented the Honda City before, for a month, and I was quite happy with it. That was my initial thought on which car to buy. Then I got onto the hatchback thing and the can of worms was opened. But I have the same experience as of late. Some of them appear quite small and dangerous in a wreck while others seem much more substantial....the same experience I am having with the Jazz. Is it also a small wheel thing, that some have smaller wheels? Or am I getting dementia?

 

I will look into the Camry. I didn't want to get a car as old as that but...only because I've ALWAYS had older cars and for the first time wanted that "new car feel" but probably in a used car.

 

The Subaru looks great. Any experience driving it? I have no idea of the engine or handling. It looks to have a good large space in the back with the seats down. I can't stand the monitor's in the head rests for the back passengers....ugh! I don't need those.... I would be worried about repair on the Subaru, is that fair to say? There aren't all that many around.

 

Cheers all and thank you!

[BestB]

57 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

I should mention that I own a Toyota pickup in the states. I bought it a couple years ago to basically clear out and fix up my dad's house/yard to sell it (back and forth between Thailand) and needed it to haul stuff. I didn't mind the ride. Of course, it was indeed useful for that project and I am not doing the same sort of project here but...I was comfortable with it, the way it drove, etc... That being said, I'm in the city and not renovating a house. And live on a small soi (for now) where parking would be a pain.

 

It's not overall cargo carrying capacity I'm necessarily worried about. It's the ability to be able to lug a large piece of furniture, for example, that would be a nice bonus. I drove VW Rabbits and Golfs years ago and with some creative flair, you could get most things in the back of the hatchback albeit sticking out the back with the trunk up. That's what got me on the hatchback kick here, that "expandable" ability to haul stuff.

 

I have rented the Honda City before, for a month, and I was quite happy with it. That was my initial thought on which car to buy. Then I got onto the hatchback thing and the can of worms was opened. But I have the same experience as of late. Some of them appear quite small and dangerous in a wreck while others seem much more substantial....the same experience I am having with the Jazz. Is it also a small wheel thing, that some have smaller wheels? Or am I getting dementia?

 

I will look into the Camry. I didn't want to get a car as old as that but...only because I've ALWAYS had older cars and for the first time wanted that "new car feel" but probably in a used car.

 

The Subaru looks great. Any experience driving it? I have no idea of the engine or handling. It looks to have a good large space in the back with the seats down. I can't stand the monitor's in the head rests for the back passengers....ugh! I don't need those.... I would be worried about repair on the Subaru, is that fair to say? There aren't all that many around.

 

Cheers all and thank you!

And before you make final decision.  Take into account yearly floods ????

[jackdd]

7 hours ago, BestB said:

How do you get to 40%? ????????????

Pick up is 23 inches longer and 16 inches wider that’s about 12% bigger

Maybe you should visit the 6th(?) grade again.

Mazda 183*70 = 12810 square inch

Pickup 210*86 = 18060 square inch

So the Pickup is taking up 18060/12810 = 1.409 -> about 41% more space than the Mazda, or we could say it's 41% bigger

[newnative]

We loved our Honda HR-V.  Quite versatile inside, nice ride, and good power--it's not slow at all.  Nice size--not too big or too small.  Very popular so some used ones should be in your price range. 

[BestB]

5 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Maybe you should visit the 6th(?) grade again.

Mazda 183*70 = 12810 square inch

Pickup 210*86 = 18060 square inch

So the Pickup is taking up 18060/12810 = 1.409 -> about 41% more space than the Mazda, or we could say it's 41% bigger

Ohh I see. Did not realise you were packing it into a container to calculate cubic size????????????

 

for normal people who plan to drive the car , it’s slightly longer and slightly wider, about 12% longer and wider

[Chicken George]

Had two Mazda 2s now. Great car. Have the diesel 1.5 turbo now. Mote room in the back to carry things than the Mazda 3. A lot less money too.. Can get my push bike in the back with seats down no problem.. Best in class on fuel condition. Done 50k in two years not a problem.. Liked the HRV from honda but heavier on fuel condition.. 

[jackdd]

5 minutes ago, BestB said:

Ohh I see. Did not realise you were packing it into a container to calculate cubic size????????????

I didn't calculate the cubic size, but the square size, which is the size it takes up on the road.

To make this more easy to understand for you: If you have one football field you could park 647 Mazda there or you could park 459 pickups.

[BKKBike09]

Jazz is a great city car and really convenient for moving stuff around; lots of interior space. Wife has had two of them in past 10 years. Also good headroom / legroom in rear seats even if you're tall (I'm 6'2). The 1.5 engine is pokey enough for the car it is (at least in Thailand they don't come with the pathetically small engines like in UK - 1.2 litres! That's a motorbike engine).

 

Mazda 3 is a different vehicle. 'Better'? Depends on what you define as 'better'.

 

Subaru XV - test drove one a few years back and thought it was small and underpowered.

 

Comments about flooding are worth noting if you live anywhere it floods. Jazz is low to ground. 

 

If your budget extends to it maybe look at a 2nd hand CRV - 2015 mid-range model runs about 650K I think. That's a really good car with massive interior space. The 2.0 engine is perfectly adequate, and it's comfortable to drive. I bought one from new in 2013 and sold two years ago, replacing with the latest model 2.4. It's a step backwards in my opinion. They added a pointless second row of rear seats which does nothing other than take up space. The seats are so cramped they are useless anyway. Plus the body has been made that much bigger with 'design' elements that make it much harder to judge where the front corners are. I gave it to the wife and bought a 2nd hand Scirocco.

 

[BestB]

3 minutes ago, jackdd said:

I didn't calculate the cubic size, but the square size, which is the size it takes up on the road.

To make this more easy to understand for you: If you have one football field you could park 647 Mazda there or you could park 459 pickups.

Whatever floats your boat 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Jazz is a great city car and really convenient for moving stuff around; lots of interior space. Wife has had two of them in past 10 years. Also good headroom / legroom in rear seats even if you're tall (I'm 6'2). The 1.5 engine is pokey enough for the car it is (at least in Thailand they don't come with the pathetically small engines like in UK - 1.2 litres! That's a motorbike engine).
 
Mazda 3 is a different vehicle. 'Better'? Depends on what you define as 'better'.
 
Subaru XV - test drove one a few years back and thought it was small and underpowered.
 
Comments about flooding are worth noting if you live anywhere it floods. Jazz is low to ground. 
 
If your budget extends to it maybe look at a 2nd hand CRV - 2015 mid-range model runs about 650K I think. That's a really good car with massive interior space. The 2.0 engine is perfectly adequate, and it's comfortable to drive. I bought one from new in 2013 and sold two years ago, replacing with the latest model 2.4. It's a step backwards in my opinion. They added a pointless second row of rear seats which does nothing other than take up space. The seats are so cramped they are useless anyway. Plus the body has been made that much bigger with 'design' elements that make it much harder to judge where the front corners are. I gave it to the wife and bought a 2nd hand Scirocco.
 

Another vote for the Jazz here, had one for 2 1/2 years, just done 50,000, just me and the gf 95% of the time but when had additional passengers not a problem. Very versatile and have carried some stuff I can tell you [emoji51].

Probably gonna change back end of the year , would have another Jazz but fancy a change, a used HRV is an option, they upgraded the model recently so the older model a couple of years old should be cheap(ish).

Can’t comment on the Mazda but think it’s a great looking car, especially the 3 sedan.
Might take a look myself at the 2 or 3 hatchback.

The OP needs to narrow the field down and take a test drive or two, I think he’s already talked himself out of a pickup, now needs to fine tune his options.

[sometimewoodworker]

19 hours ago, bamboozled said:

I live in the city (Chiang Mai) and traffic is an issue as is parking. A truck also makes you feel safer (true or not, I'm not sure). If not a truck, then I started to look at hatchbacks as you can get pretty creative when needing to carry a large size object. I was keen on the Honda Jazz  but it seems kind of scary small. So my latest crush is the Mazda 3

A good overview is 

And 

 

 

if you want new do not buy until the end of the year when the completely revamped model is out.

 

if you want Tech the Mazda is the best choice.

 

a truck is the worst choice for driving around CM, I've done years ago it as we didn't have anything else, I've also recently driven a Nissan Almere in CM and it was infinitely better 

 

Edited June 5, 2019 by sometimewoodworker

[bbz404]

19 hours ago, bamboozled said:

Do you mean the Honda HRV? I quite like that one but it is so new....not a lot used and the price is more than I want to pay. Has a lovely sturdy stance.

Thank you for your input! The Subaru XC or whatever it is is pretty cool too but I'm getting out of my league on price.

 

I own both a Honda HR-V and a Mazda 2.

 

The HR-V is not new, it's been around since late 2014 and there are used ones on the market. Mine will become available next year when we move out of Thailand.

 

The Mazda 3 is a great looking car and definitely feels premium compared to other cars in Thailand. However, their price is similar to an HR-V when new and equipped, so I don't understand why you'd consider a Mazda 3 but not an HR-V. Others have already said that Hondas will retain their value much more in Thailand.

 

Now as for versatility between the Mazda 3 and the HR-V, the Honda will win hands down. The magic seats are so useful and by folding the passenger seat back you can fit IKEA full bed cartons in it easily (more than 2m in length). The carrying capacity is almost cubic so more versatile than a hatchback where you lose much more due to the boot door. 

Comfort for rear passengers is also much better in the HR-V. The power delivery from the 1.8 Litre engine in the HR-V is certainly not overwhelming but more than sufficient for Thai roads. I routinely drive long distance and keep the odometer around 150 km/h for extended periods of time. There is still room for overtaking and the engine is designed to clock out around 190-200 km/h which is not doable over here. The Mazda 2's engine is exhausted around 155 km/h on flat roads (petrol engine). The Mazda 3, depending on engine choice, should be equal or better than the HR-V so plenty of power for all situations here.

Transmissions are different though. I have gotten used to the HR-V's CVT and actually quite like it as there is always power when you need it and it distributes linearly. Now you will need to rev it up but I believe that's no problem for the engine. 

 

For consumption, I am not sure for the Mazda 3 but my Mazda 2 can only take up to E20. The HR-V is full flex-fuel capable and takes anything you throw at him. I mix it up between 95 Gasohol, E20 and even E85 depending on usage and never had an issue. I normally get around 16-17km/l for 95, 14-15 km/l for E20 and 10-12 km/l for E85. It's just a very useful, comfortable and powerful enough car for every day use.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

[Henryford]

I would avoid a truck like the plague unless you really have to carry large loads often. The Jazz is ideal for around the town but maybe a bigger car is better if you do a lot of driving up country. The Mazda 3 certainly looks nice but for 1 million do you get so much more than the Jazz at 600k.

[bamboozled]

Wow....there is really great info here and much appreciated! It is very helpful and I thank everyone that has responded. Yes, I think the pick-up thing is in the past. You all have been helpful in clearing that one. Thinking about it, I don't regularly carry big loads. but I am a do-it-yourselfer type and want the ability to haul various items when need be, instead of having to rely on someone else. So if I nix the truck, and I want to have the ability to carry something big, that also nixes any of the sedans and pushes me to hatchbacks or SUV's. I'm not really keen on the big SUV's...

I just came back from renting the Jazz and drove it about 20km to get home. Initial impression...pretty good. It's peppy and the inside feels bigger than I had imagined. It has get up and go, with just me in it, but the high revs that the engine drops into when you full-on step on the gas is...a harsh sound. One key is always the size of the hatchback opening, as bbz404 mentioned. I haven't checked that yet. Ii will say I felt pretty uncomfortable in my driving position. I found my body was skewed at a slight angle: the steering wheel and pedals do not seem to be centered with the seat. Is it just me? Any of you Jazz folks care to comment on that? I suppose it might be dependent on the model year; have they changed inside dimensions much? My legs felt cramped in the space and I'm not a big guy. It is a 2010 model with 124k on it.

All of the above info is really helping me realize what I am after so again, thanks. I don't have to have a super fast car or BMW style ride. That's a plus, of course, but more important is function. I will check the CRV again and the HRV. What exactly is the diff between the Mazda 3 and the 2, hatchback version? The 2 seems slightly shorter.

I just had a gander driving back from lunch of the Mazda CX5. Wow, do I want to know the price of that? Probably not but it sure is pretty and the size is nice.

I think the Subaru would be a mistake as there aren't many around and reviews say sluggish!

 

[BestB]

24 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

Wow....there is really great info here and much appreciated! It is very helpful and I thank everyone that has responded. Yes, I think the pick-up thing is in the past. You all have been helpful in clearing that one. Thinking about it, I don't regularly carry big loads. but I am a do-it-yourselfer type and want the ability to haul various items when need be, instead of having to rely on someone else. So if I nix the truck, and I want to have the ability to carry something big, that also nixes any of the sedans and pushes me to hatchbacks or SUV's. I'm not really keen on the big SUV's...

I just came back from renting the Jazz and drove it about 20km to get home. Initial impression...pretty good. It's peppy and the inside feels bigger than I had imagined. It has get up and go, with just me in it, but the high revs that the engine drops into when you full-on step on the gas is...a harsh sound. One key is always the size of the hatchback opening, as bbz404 mentioned. I haven't checked that yet. Ii will say I felt pretty uncomfortable in my driving position. I found my body was skewed at a slight angle: the steering wheel and pedals do not seem to be centered with the seat. Is it just me? Any of you Jazz folks care to comment on that? I suppose it might be dependent on the model year; have they changed inside dimensions much? My legs felt cramped in the space and I'm not a big guy. It is a 2010 model with 124k on it.

All of the above info is really helping me realize what I am after so again, thanks. I don't have to have a super fast car or BMW style ride. That's a plus, of course, but more important is function. I will check the CRV again and the HRV. What exactly is the diff between the Mazda 3 and the 2, hatchback version? The 2 seems slightly shorter.

I just had a gander driving back from lunch of the Mazda CX5. Wow, do I want to know the price of that? Probably not but it sure is pretty and the size is nice.

I think the Subaru would be a mistake as there aren't many around and reviews say sluggish!

 

Have a look at Cx 3, smaller sister of CX5, very nice looking with nice curves ????

[onekoolguy]

I have a mazda 3 sedan. 2018 model. I've put about 24000km on it in the last year and it's a great vehicle!. Lots of power from the 2.0liter 165 HP engine. Handles like a sports car and gets upwards of 35 mpg. I got the top model to get the electronics such as blind spot monitor and back up camera etc and highly recommend those features. You should read the consumer reports road test on this vehicle. All the testers like driving the mazda 3 and now I see why! I researched vehicles for several months before buying the mazda. Beware, many of the small cars have very small engines in Thailand. the Nissan Almera  and Note have a 1.2 liter 79HP engine! Very unsatisfactory for highway driving! The trucks are the best deal for the money but they all are set up for heavy loading and that means a rather harsh ride and can be difficult to park. The Mazda 3 is a little difficult to get in and out of but other than that I like it more every time I drive it! 

[onekoolguy]

One more note: The Mazda 2 is a very different vehicle and does not handle like the Mazda 3. Smaller engine too. The CX 3 is a nice vehicle but it is built on the Mazda 2 platform so I would not consider it myself. I got the sedan but my next one would probably be the hatchback?

I was told that the Toyota Yaris was built by Mazda and I recently rented one. Probably built on the Mazda 2 platform and after driving it for a few days I would not buy one. Very inferior to the Mazda 3.