Pricing: 2010 Mazda3

The redesigned Mazda3 sporty compact sedan will start at $15,045. The 2.0-liter Mazda3 i Touring four-door sedan will be equipped with an automatic transmission and priced at $18,350. Standard features include stability and traction control as well as Bluetooth connectivity. Mazda claims the fuel economy will be a 10-percent improvement over the previous model at 25 city, 33 highway mpg. Based on our testing of the outgoing model (2.0L automatic), that would put overall fuel economy at about 30 mpg.

Starting at $19,540 for the four-door and $20,030 for the five door, the Mazda3 s will have a 2.5-liter engine with 167 horsepower and an automatic transmission. Fuel economy is EPA rated at 22 city, 29 highway mpg.

The top-of-the-line Mazda3 s Grand Touring model is priced at $22,300. With a choice of four or five doors, the Grand Touring model adds a number of features including a memory driver’s seat, dual-zone temperature control, heated leather seats, and adaptive front lighting.

The current Mazda3 has been one of Consumer Reports’ top rated small cars. We’ll see how this new model fares when we put it through our tests in the coming months.

Learn more about the Mazda3 in our preview coverage.

--Liza Barth

Comments

[Theelysium]

I have sat in one of these at the Mazda lot.

Beautiful fit and finish, awesome leg room, spectacular styling!! I wish I could afford one! I was so depressed when I had to get out of it. This is one of the best small cars I've ever experienced!

This car is absolutely breath taking!

Great Job by Mazda!

[Richard C. Mickschl]

The Mazda 3 is a fun car to drive and mechanically is a sound car how ever Consumer Guide fails to mention the on going problem that Mazda is having with the 3. The Mazda 3 is having a corrosion problem on the rear wheel well. The rear wheel well is rusting out within 2 to 4 years. Repair costs are covered if it happens within the warranty period however they are taking no responsibility for cars rusting out after the warranty period. This is a know problem that Mazda is admitting too. Why doesn’t anyone report on this problem? A car should not rust out in 4 years!

Richard Mickschl

[Dror]

In 2006, I bought a new Mazda3 hatch, I love this car except for some minor problems like fuel consumption.
I test drive the new 2010 5 door model, I went to a dealer that was nice enough to give me the car to drive alone, meaning, it was only me and the car without a salesman next to me.
Big disappointment, the 2.5 liter does not feel stronger than my 2.3 liter, the noise level of the car in general seems higher, I drove the car on roads that I know very well, bumps feels the same like in my car.
The inside feels smaller and I know it's not, but it's nicer with better materials.
It's very difficult to say goodbye to my car for this one, It's not good enough for me to trade what I have and it's also more expensive, about 20k for the base 5 door model, mine was 18k, for that price you can get an entry level Honda Accord.

[derek]

i have a mazda 3 i have a problem with my automatic windows. I lock the car with the fob and when I come back to my car the windows are all open. Is there any problem with the window system. This is a 08 plate

[cory]

I have a mazda 3 and also have rust problems with the car. I had many problems with my car and its not the problems that bother me its how i was treated as a customer and how mazda canada does not know anything about customer service. I was told the rust problem was from rock chips and theres nothing they can do about it. I told them theres alot of mazda 3's with rock chip problems then. Windsheild is very cheap, have two different cracks, and tranny replaced thru camvap after a long court battle after 40,000kms. Safe to say I won't and no one in my family will buy another mazda product due to the service they provide after they got ur money. if you have any problems go to camvap they can help win ur battle u might be having...spent more saturdays in the waiting room of a mazda dealership then driving ...poor poor customer service...

[Mark East]

The Mazda 3 looks great when compared to other vehicles of its same type, size and price. The sport model would be a great deal if it had keyless entry standard . It makes no sense why they put so many standard features on the Mazda 3 but make you step up to the touring model line to get the keyless entry.With so many standard features on a economy car, which did cost them money to add ,they should have realized the simple ones that satisfy the average buyer in 2010 Come on Mazda break into the future , you give audio controls on the steering column as standard along with many other luxury features but no keyless entry on the entry level 3- let me enter my 3 for free---Consumers the Hyundai Elantra has it as standard equipment on the base model and is a top pick by CR. Sure like the 3 better but $ 2,200. for keyless entry is a bit to much

[Stephanie Pinkerton]

I now own a 2010 Mazda 3 GT, bought it at the end of June 2009, here's the list of my running problems that Mazda says don't exhist.

1) Thermometer doesnt work properly
I can get into my car at 4pm after a long day of work, and he reading will tell me its 59 degrees, I have pictures of this! Mazda says that they cant recreate the problem, well hell no they cant they never have the car long enough to see the problem. THe thermometer has been working like this since I drove it off the lot the day I purchased it, the temp was in the 90's and the reading was 85.....

2) Air Conditioning Dials aren't working properly
Turn on the a/c on a hot day, the fan comes on full blast, I go to turn it down and it shuts off the a/c completely, repeat process, same results. Again Mazda can't recreate the problem....uh Duh!!

3) MPG
Most of my driving is all freeway, my average MPG is 26.6 where it should be anywhere between 27-34 which is on the sticker of the car prior to it's purchase.....cant find anything wrong with the car. Do I feel like I'm being Fu**** with, oh hell yea!

4) Causing Physical Pain
Sitting in this car w/ bucket seats has slowly but surely now progressed into continual leg pain from my left hip to my left knee....I'm consantly applying "Icy Hot" on my leg multiple times daily to keep the pain at bay....theyre blaming me for this pain since I alreay have a problem with my back, yet I had no pain proir to the purchase of this car and a few weeks there after....then it started, I would pretty much say that this is a car related problem! I would be fine if it wasn't for the bucket seats....

I even have a file case number logged down in L.A. listing these problems....

You have no idea how tired of hearing those words!!! This car has been tested and run twice to test and "there's nothing wrong with this car"

MY question is............Do I look stupid enough to belive you, and are you telling me that I don't know what the hell I'm talking about? Sure feels like it to me!!!!!

[Louise Womack]

I was informed by the Mazda dealer maintenance guys (after my car wouldn't start twice), that if I don't drive my car for 3 or more days, the computer will drain the battery and it won't start. I found this hard to believe and so I purposely didn't drive my car Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sure enough, Monday morning it doesn't start. It's a 2010 Mazda3 5-door and I got it in May 2009. I don't know if they figured this out before or after I purchased my car but I have no use for a car I can't leave at the Airport for a few days because it will be undriveable when I get back. If a car is that unreliable, I would hope new car buyers are being informed before they purchase this car. It appears that is the case and I intend to report this to the FTC.

[Kate Tryens]

To be completely honest, I am extremely disappointed with my new car. I have never had so many problems with my last two cars and they were both used cars. Not only does my car have scratches and is still giving me problems starting up in the morning but it also is constantly making noises. The doors are all loose and constantly make noise while driving. I have only had my 2010 Mazda 3 Grand touring for 2 weeks now and there has been nothing but problems

[Tina]

The GPS on the Mazda 3 2010 is CRAP. It doesn't have records of roads that have been around for over 50 years. I got lost coming out of a city... it took me the wrong way... and Where I live it has every road in town listed but it can not give me rout guidance.... doesn't make any sence

[Sharon Spangler]

While driving home at going approx 40 MPH, I heard a loud thud and my car spun around 180 degrees into a curb. The right rear axle failed...I have only 7300 miles on my car!

[Mark]

I have Mazda 3 2004, bought this car new,everything was great till my warrenty for rust and paint is gone. This car is ONE BIG RUST!!! Every where, begining from hood , dors frame, roof, underbody all those are rusting like crazy. Car is 5,5 years old goddame it!!!!!!!! Peaople think before U buy it!!!!!!!!!

[Michelle]

I have 2010 Mazda3 Sport GT. I got it last april and like many of the other comments I have been having similar problems.

My car has been towed TWICE in the last 6 months after the battery went dead - i noticed a post above where someone said that if you don't drive the car for 3 days it will die? Can this info be verified? Mazda did replace the battery the last time the car was brought in.

I also am having an issue with rust spots. I have a pearl white mazda (i paid extra for the "special" colour). Now only 10 months into owing the car and only 13000km i have small rust spots all over the car.

i am going to elevate all my issues to Mazda Corporate now.
Any suggestions from anyone?