2023 Mazda3 Long Term Updates | Philosophical Problems 

At this point I can't tell if they're seriously trying to train an AI to take over the economy car reviews, or if they're just serious about unsettling us.

The philosophy is quite Japanese. Appreciation for the fine details, making things work and work well. The interior still looks fantastic and has aged well.

I can't be the only one that doesn't want bigger and it's sad that every hatchback gets knocked points off for being "small". That's kinda the point. I live in an urban area and don't want to maneuver a tank around tight spaces. I'm annoyed that when my Honda Fit dies/gets totaled, I won't have anything comparable or better to replace it with. What I wanted was Acura to make an upscale Fit, instead, Honda killed it in the US entirely.

I'm personally glad that Mazda doesn't follow many of the trends like other carmakers have done. I've been a fan of their cars since the 80s, and I've always appreciated the fact that they have walked their own path. Sadly, they get overlooked by buyers because of this.

I like Mazda's uniqueness. Looking forward to your CX-90 review.

I actually prefer the screen in this car rather than a touch screen. It never gets dirty and the dial is very easy to use once you’ve had it for a few weeks. I’m in love with this car

The complaints about the backseat room are hilarious to me. People drive 99% of the time alone. Sure, it's not an S-Class in the rear, but it's fine for most people. This is how we get bigger and bigger cars despite there being larger options already.

I find the backseat room okay actually, most people don't have a problem with it unless they're obscenely tall. I appreciate how compact they kept the car though since it's much easier to park it in downtown areas.

I like the sensible, personal recommendation for the naturally-aspirated, FWD version with manual transmission, yielding an acceptable amount of power - and fun - for a more-reasonable price, while avoiding the extra complexity of a turbocharger. And, I'm sure, most of us will applaud Mazda's continued use of a torque converter automatic trans over a CVT, which (to me) is worth losing a few mpg.

I've always thought of Mazda as an engineering firm even as they masqueraded as some kind of weird art studio. So their latest lineups have just been Mazda taking off the mask IMO. But nobody would make the mistake of thinking that anyone at Mazda would know anyone who worked on Madison Ave. Mazda struggles as much as you or anyone else to describe their product to the consumer. It could be cheap or it could be expensive and nobody can explain why.

The price at 36000 is crazy steep. But I say that about all cars at this point.

This is a good example of what the US market was missing out on until cars like Mazda 3 turbo showed up. Some buyers want all the technology features without having to buy the larger vehicles. This car accelerates swiftly without making a lot of NVH, has the tech features, and is low maintenance. But most US based reviewers have to talk negatively about its cargo capacity. They genuinely don’t get it.

I bought a 2021 CX-30 Turbo about 2 years ago and so far Jack's review syncs up very well with my experience. But I will say one thing. If you find the space in the 3 not quite enough the CX-30 might be worth a look. I was originally looking at a 3 hatchback, but I'm 6'4" and my head was literally on the ceiling with the seat all the way down. The CX-30 exhibits a bit more body roll (for obvious reasons) and is a slightly (just slightly) softer ride and I've been really enjoying mine.

Bought mine in mid-2021, no complaints! Modified it to the gills as well. Its such a looker on the road and a joy to drive. The interior is really where the business is at, as is separates itself from the wide field of competitors in its bracket.

In the UK here and I've had to take mine back twice for the dealer to try and sort out persistent rattles from the passenger window frame and the dash/cowl. This has been so annoying considering it's not at all a cheap car and everything else about it is brilliant. The rattles are back again and I feel like an absolute idiot having to keep going back to them about such a minor- but unbearable issue.

I've had my 2022 mazda 3 hatchback (base trim) and aside from cracking my windshield twice, I've had no issues with it. I wish it were just a little more fuel efficient but a 30mpg mixed it's on par with my previous 2 cars. The interior is still lovely and I make sure to keep that way. It's power has been plenty given its size and weight and throwing into sport mode when I need to pass ppl on the highway is great. The only thing keeping me from buying it out at the end of the lease is that fact that it's not red, but I might just do it anyway because in ten years the market is going to look very different and it would give me time to save up. I'm more than sure this care could last about 12 to 15 years, given I've only driven 7.5k miles in 1 year

For anyone wondering, the MPG does improve past 8k miles. I was getting 26mpg average, now it’s 28. I can hit 32-34 on straight highway travel, but city mpg suffers. I haven’t had a turbo car yet that gets it’s claimed city mileage.

I really dig the 3, such a cool design. If this had a Alfa badge on it, I'd believe it. Very Italian/European styling to these eyes.

I’ve had my 2019 NA Preferred Hatch 2 years as of this past weekend, and I’ve piled on 46k in that time. Can confirm that I appreciate the car more and more the longer I own it.

Nothing wrong with a torsion beam rear end of it’s done properly. The Renault Megane has one, and the RS models held Nurburgring track records for front drive hatches and are generally regarded as some of the best handling hot hatches ever.

This is why I opted for a used 488GTB instead

Why do people what big toich screens anyway? Like youre going to be messing with that whilw driving? Seriously

It’s sad when I’ve become more excited to hear about Arby’s 3000 Jack than the long term test vehicle.

Mazda 3 size is actually its selling point. You completely misunderstood what it is aiming for. This is the reason why I fell in love with 8-9'th gen Civic hatchbacks. Mazda 3 is the new Civic. Get with the times.

Actually i am getting Mazda 3 G25 soon. I dont care :) It`s the most special looking in/out car in the segment. Maybe its not so sporty but its N/A, the auto is good and its relatively light for the segment. I think the fwd auto is around - 1350kg`s. I`m living in a country that electronics does not matter a lot and i travel mainly mid distances like from 100 to 200 km in most time thru the year. I`m puting some good tire and intake in order to enjoy that N/A sound and i forgot about it. Sure here (in Europe) we have better small cars like Golf, A3, Skoda Octavia bla bla bla but nothing looks like this. Also nothing will be more reliable as G25 engine except the Toyota`s. And actually in Europe 0-100 8 second car is not slow. Yes its not fast but its like semi-dynamic car. Most competitors achieve the same with 1.5 TFSI engines. The low grade 2.0 TFSI`s are faster by a lot. For example A3 2.0 TFSI 190hp its like 6.5 car from 0-100 but i dont care. The real difference is actually small because Mazda have artificially slower times doe to the auto. It`s more like a 7 second car in real world which is totally fine + you have good noise and linear power. Evrybody said 4 cylinder sounds the same. I dont agree. Mazda G25 engine with intake sounds pretty good and sporty for economy engine. Much better then most and this add`s to semi-special feel. I have the same set in my Mazda 6.

I agree the manual NA is the right price for this vehicle. Note that the manual only comes in the top trim available. Which is actually pretty nice. I still managed to get one for $25k, which I think is a fantastic price for this vehicle. Closing on $40k is absolutely not enough to justify awd plus turbo.

I've had the base turbo since Halloween 2021. I definitely understand where Mark and Jack's been coming from in all the reviews so far; they're right-on about the downsides of the car, but they're generally things I don't care about. I'm a middle-aged man with no kids, I don't haul stuff, I rarely have more than one passenger, and I don't care about a manual on a workhorse car like this. When you get the base instead of the premium, you basically can get a better set of tires with a couple grand to spare and I personally feel it's a good tradeoff. The 360-degree cam isn't really needed as much in what is a pretty small car and I usually actually prefer faux leather because it's just less day-to-day upkeep. The two problems I personally have are incredibly minor. I got used to the torsion beam fairly quickly. But I get annoyed that the base entertainment system only allows playlists of 100 files and fairly small libraries, something I resolved by installing Plexamp to simply stream things from my music server at home. I also initially had a problem of braining myself on the top of the door frame every time I got into the car, something I've remedied by going in at a different angle than I always did with my old Mazda 6 or Subaru. That had the weird side effect of edge of the seat pulling down my pants a bit every time I slid into the car, a rather bizarre issue that I've resolved by basically hiking up my pants like I'm doing an Urkel impression, resulting in the car pulling my pants down to the correct height. Rereading that last sentence, I'm wondering if I'm an actual crazy person. My girlfriend has been less of a fan of it. While she generally likes the car, she won't buy something that doesn't hold more stuff or have a manual.

Can’t wait for this series to keep going, gf is looking at this car potentially as her new car and it’s great to have the updates to make a better informed decision!

For the next maintenance video on the mazda 3, just a note that certain mazda dealers have opted into a co-op with mazda to make your first two oil services and tire rotations complimentary, even for certified pre owned. The Volvo of Japanese brands😄 I'll take that!

I have one of these cars, a 2021 model. Long, aggravating, disappointing story short, I'm getting ready to trade it off, and I promise that I will never, ever buy another Mazda.

I'd like to point something out after having my '21 Turbo with a little over 2 years now. I've averaging 30mpg combined over the course of 2 years. A lot of people seem to have differing results for MPG. I don't drive with a lead foot, but I also don't drive like a grandpa. This car is also perfect for someone like me. I love smaller cars. While it isn't as large as a Civic/Integra, it's significantly more powerful, has a traditional automatic transmission, & has AWD with the Turbo.

The size of the car is fine. You buy this car for its beauty inside and out, its comfort, simplicity and fun. I have had mine for a year. Fantastic car. I could have bought an S Class mercedes but I chose this instead, and I am not kidding. This car has charm and class. Literally the only complaint I have with this car is the piano black plastic, but unfortunately so many manufacturers like Audi and Porsche also use this material. So you are fucked even if you go with the big brands. I was looking at Porsche’s and Audi’s so thats how I know

I picked up a 2022 CX-30 Turbo back in December and bought it for the exact reasons and with the same mentality listed in this series. I wanted a bit more ground clearance and space than the 3 Hatch, and was willing to give up a slightly more sporty drive since I have an NA miata that will always scratch that itch better. The attention to detail on the interior and usability of the cabin is second to none for the money, and compared to my dads '22 TLX , is way more user friendly. Wile not the most economical or space efficient, it's big enough inside for my needs, just premium enough to be a great daily, but not overly so to the point that I'm terrified about ruining it, and just rewarding enough to drive to make me love it and feel more and more connected to it as the miles pile on.

I had a 2021 base Turbo and Jack is mostly correct. Regardless of what's been said regarding the "tuning" of the torsion beam rear end, it's still crashy and there's no way around it. When you go over potholes/rough road, it does *not* handle them as well as you'd like; this is especially noticeable over smaller speed bumps. Even when going at low speeds in a parking lot (or wherever), the rear end *thuds* when coming down from a bump. As good as the interior is and as well-positioned as it is for the driver, I think the CX-5's interior feels/looks a bit more solid, though its seating position is far more on-top of the vehicle and the seats aren't as comfortable. If the 5 had the 30-style seats, getting a CX-5 would be a no-brainer in my mind since it also has more room. Where I disagree with Jack is with this car's radar cruise control. Even on its closest setting regarding distance to the car in front of you, it's still too far and cars from other lanes will regularly get in front of you because there's so much space, at which point the car brakes too hard/suddenly. Also, if you're veering slightly left/right on the highway and there's someone just ahead of you in the adjacent lane, radar cruise still thinks they're in your lane and will slow down/keep its distance. The system needs to be refined. The best part of this turbo is, indeed, the motor (along with the good seats....I'm 6'3"). While low-revving, the torque feels great and is very smooth. I've also extensively driven the CX-30 and while it might be slightly softer, the rear-end feel is essentially the same. They're both great cars so long as you know what you're getting.

Great cars the attention to detail is superb

I think a point missed (or maybe not) with the Mazda 3 Turbo is that you not only get all the goods of an day to day economy car but can keep up with something more hard core like a GTI/Golf R/Type R. Albiet not on the track but be honest.... those of us will never see a track and if you do track, those cars probably wouldn't be on the top of your list anyways. And while manual is nice, there is a huge market for people who wants a sporty car with an automatic tranmission. The only two hatchbacks that comes to mind that can offer that are the GTI and Golf R. If you are not a VW/German fan, then realistically your only option is the Mazda 3 Turbo and that is not a bad choice ot be left with. In the current market, a Mazda 3 Turbo is way more avaliable and reasonably priced compared to the marked up alternatives.

The 'cons' mentioned in nearly every review are EXACTLY WHY I love this car. Exceeding at what it's good at, i'm obsessed with it. I love the Mazda Philosophy

Completely disagree with your biased recommondation on Mazdas - the sales say it all too . Tortion beem is upmarket ? NO !! No Japanese other than Mazda skip the safety suite . They skip the safety tech in the name of driving dynamics --- bull shit , but provide only in the top most version ( which obviosuly you get) Super claustrophobic ... if you are in North/Mid west or any where near , may be you better avoid this . In winter this creates more moody environment , like you are in a cofin with no light . No space at all ... literally back seats are for only kids . You can better go for a camero or mustang ... with 2 doors they have the same space in the back . Boot is a joke too .

I really had my heart set on a manual Mazda 3, but then the market went insane and used cars were more than new. Still, the latest gen Mazda 3 cost about 30k brand new to get a manual. As much as I wanted that car, 30k was too much to justify for a compact hatchback. Instead, I decided to get a Corolla hatchback for 25k out the door with no markups. There are times I wish I had the Mazda's interior, but I'm overall happy I was able to get a manual for thousands less, and living with the Corolla isn't bad by any means. However, if I was just getting a plain Jane automatic, the Mazda 3 would've been my pick, no doubt.

Hey guys excellent video. When are you gonna do a video of the new Mazda CX90. I have a XC90 R-Design T6 Polestar. I don’t know what to do between the CX 90 and the MDX Type S. Please help out, your recommendation are the best of the best in RU-vid. Regards.

AI bit at the end is a great parody of 90% of the car press.

It's a shame they aren't at least testing the skyactiv-X as an option in NA.

A FWD manual is the way to go with this car. More fun and fantastic fuel economy.

Im on my second mazda 3 hatchback now and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Its predictable, inconspicuous but not boring, luxurious but not overstimulating. In an age where everyone is oneupping themselves they’ve been a breath of fresh air. The dealer in my local city is booming over the last couple of years, mostly due to word of mouth (the CXes most popular of course). Maintenance has been affordable and the return value on my last (2nd hand) mazda was insane (i drove over 4 years for under 3500 😮euros)

Approaching 20K miles on our 22 Carbon NA sedan, the subject of a long term owner series, and have had no issues. We do have a hardly perceptible power steering hiss which is odd, and the infotainment sound has freaked out a couple times. Seems to be related to Bose center point as turning that off and on solves it. But it is a delight to drive and be in compared to its competition. Backseat has been used sparingly for short trips only. Overall MGPs, are right around 32.

Venting my pet peeve here: Why reviewers tend to talk about back seat as a con in small cars? They should know better that if people are looking for backseat space, they aren't looking at this class of vehicles. I just don't think back seat space is a high priority for people looking at small cars.

I had a 2021 3 Select HB AWD for a couple of months before upgrading to a CX5. I liked alot about it, but especially for the price of $26k. The torsion rear suspension was probably its biggest fault, but for the price it was terrific otherwise. The fuel economy was amazing as well. When I bought mine I think the base turbo was about $32k, but no way I would pay $38k for one.

Really impressed with what Mazda has done with the Mazda 3. As a vehicle that should compete in the same segment with Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas, they really outdid themselves and gave it a nice splash of luxurious appointments. From a materials standpoint, these vehicles look like they can compete with an entry level Acuras and Lexus'.

The more you talk about the Mazda 3 the better it gets. Many, many people want simple cars that work. Screw software on wheels.

I love the size of this car. Too many big vehicles now a days. I want something small, semi sporty, and comfortable as a daily. That’s why I bought a 3 Turbo. I’ve always loved hatchbacks, but this is the only one in the US that hit my wants just right. Fun to drive, great stereo, nice interior, apple car play. And honestly, the small screen and no touch is really nice IMO. I also like knowing that the 2.5L Turbo engine has been around for quite a while meaning it’s reliability is likely great. It’s a very pleasant car

My complaint about Mazda’s vs their competitor 1. Interior: Very boring 2. Ride quality: Not comfortable 3. Price: On the expensive side 4. Tech: behind 5. Space: tight

Another good review, Jack, and your last bit with the "Muscle-Sculpting" Corvette perfectly satirized the excessive gushing in reviews from mags like "Road and Track." Great job!

I wanted to agree with this review, but I just Kant.

I hope they have a similar video for the Acura MDX, TLX, RDX, & Integra.

If I can get a real automatic transmission with a natural aspirated 2.0 liter engine, under 30k... I'm there. No turbos, no CVTs. Those are deal breakers. I'd consider the Civic Hatchback with the 2.0 liter port injected engine and manual transmission if my wife could drive a standard. That's about it in the compact segment for me.

i have a 2018 Mazda3 touring with 30k and have been VERY pleased. car handles well, gas mileage has been 30mpg and truck is just enough. i would definitely buy another mazda. thumbs up.

I always want Mazda to win; I really appreciate what they stand for. But I just got out of a loaded Mazda3 turbo and came away feeling the same. I’ll admit that I feel warmer towards the 3 than I do the CX-30 mainly because the Mazda3 hatch is gorgeous and the CX-30 kinda fails at the thing it’s supposed to be. Either way, I’ll continue to root for Mazda even when they don’t always make decisions that I understand. Great update, looking forward to the next one 👍🏻

Very glad you guys are doing these vids, Mazda deserves a more thorough look at the work they are doing. Such a great little company among a sea of Dolts.

Snow tires? If they're going on ANY vehicle that has oversized rims, sell the damn car! Oversized rims may look cool to some, but know in advance that EVERY BUMP will be louder and less comfortable than normal-sized rims.

It would buy one easily if it came or released in Brazil. It's a very focused car. No frills and concerned with the necessary.

We live in an insane times when a $38K compact Mazda 3 is considered affordable.

It is a 5yrs old design by now and soon will be updated... despite age it ages better than any other Japanese brand ... by far. What is missing is just a not over the top sport package ,not Mazda Speed but just a sports pack , for 1500usd extra offering bit lower and stiffer springs , bit tighter antiroll/strut bar, bit firmer quicker steering , wheels and tires like 235 40 19s , bit larger brakes , more aggressive intake for 8hp gain to put it just past 200hp on base car . It really does not have to be Mazda speed like craziness...just a legit sports pack that would not cost Mazda much to design into and cost of parts over current stock would not be huge either....than update screens and front with LED DRL as standard and few other tweeks...

Mazda's attempt to go up market will kill the brand. Nobody wants an expensive/luxury Mazda. That's the exact reason why Acura, Lexus and Infiniti exist. Consumer perception is everything.

The AI Schtick at the end of your videos crack me up. Keep up the creativity and content

Just bought a used 2021 AWD turbo. All of this touch screen crap is actually dangerous. I prefer the dial and easy to use interface. Another thing that sold me was “made in Japan “ on the side door. They just build things right and add beauty and soul at the same time.

My impression of Mazda after driving many and owning a few is that they're the iPhone of cars: Features that work, and work better than competitors "flashy ones" but some people can't get past it. I think the CX-30 makes this redundant for most people but I appreciate Mazda's philosophy on cars and the fact that theyve become an affordable Volvo with better reliability.

All this talk about reducing driver fatigue....and they still can't make a comfortable seat and I still can't find a happy driving position. We have a lot of Mazda's in the family and our 2nd car is a 2020 loaded cx5. The seats are just HARD. Never had thus issue with my Mazdaspeed's so someone at Mazda is !@#$$ up the basics of a good seat. Fix the heavy steering too because it is heavy for the sake of faking sporty without offering any actual feedback and I've driven a lot of manual steering sport cars in my day with wide tires. The cx5 and 50 are bad for this... you know something they could fix with drive modes but seem to refuse to do it....if anyone from Mazda is reading this!

24 mpg doesn't seem too bad for a turbo in the winter on snow tires.

I'm sure it drives well, but have never loved the look of this vehicle. I actually prefer the look of the previous gen Mazda3. My Mazda SUV is 6 years old...and definitely noticing more squeeks and rattles. Electronics and infotainment are NOT Mazda's strong suit, agree. Going to try something different for the next vehicle..

That’s a big thing people need to know. All wheel drive isn’t all wheel stop. Winter tires are a game changer

Four months / 8K miles is hardly a long-term review. Surprisingly no mention of the easily scuffed plastics in the center console (glossy black scratches if you look at it sideways), on the gauge cluster and the lower door plastics. Oil consumption problem on 2021 turbos, paint chipping on the red models. I turned off lane departure/lane keep in the first week after finding the settings. It was unnerving having the car occasionally fight me to continue straight into a new right turn lane (without signaling) instead of veering left to stay on the main road past the turnoff for my street. On the plus side, blind spot monitoring mitigates the hatchback’s huge C pillars and 360° cameras make parking idiotproof, which is otherwise challenging even though it’s a compact. That’s because of its stylishly high beltline, which looks so cool on the outside but reduces visibility and adds to the interior’s overall claustrophobic aura vs say a VW GTI which feels much less “compact” in the driver’s seat with its bigger greenhouse and longer roofline, but my 07 GTI was an expensive-to-repair car that eventually died at 108K miles and I would never buy another VW again after that.

Great car, however 23 mpg or 10l/100 km is unacceptable. If was driven by an orangutan all the time, I take it back. Oh wait… 😁

Your point about that 5 minute test drive is everything I hate about modern cars. The stupid 'wow' factor, the shallowness of it all, big annoying screens and convoluted settings and overhyped dynamics. Ugh. And the fact that everything keeps getting bigger and bigger is just absurdly stupid. Thanks CAFE!

I love mine❤

As a former Mazda y owner, Mazda 3 is mediocore at everything; design, price, mpg, performance, ride quality, etc. Interior looks nice at first but gets tired really quick because it's neither the real luxury nor good practicality.

The dream of a stabilized cockpit at 3:28 vs reality of co-pilot head bobble at 4:56.

Fun Fact: Jack isn't real. Savagegeese made him using a combination of Dell Technologies, ChatGPT and HDR.

mazda is really underated if they only had a a little bit of toyota money

Squeaks and rattles that resolved themselves? I.e. it's getting warmer, and those things (yes, all of them) that shrunk in the cold are coming back to the proper fitment.

All Mazdas squeak and rattle when brand new (I owned an RX7 and a Miata). Something about the way they're manufactured that I can't explain, but those noises resolve themselves over time. My cars stopped doing that somewhere between 6000 and 8000 miles.

It's an object of rare beauty and highly desirable, which is extremely uncommon in today's world. For European market, however, it is ruined by the offering of mere 2-liter normally aspirated engines. It needs more poke than that. But the real issue is that I can't drive it at all - there isn't enough lateral space in the cockpit. I'm forced to drive with my right hand only. And it's not because I'm some giant - I fit an ND Miata just fine. Mazda has some great engineering there, but it's still severely lacking in some areas. Being able to fit a driver in your cockpit is kind of an important thing.

I have a 2023 turbo version, just came back from a road trip. This car is very fun to drive, very fast for what it is and gives me decent gas mileage for a the heavy foot that I have😊...my only gripe is that is doesn't have a light in the glovebox to see in it at night, which is freaking wierd to me

The script of this video is full of really dumb comments written to sound smart. Most of what's said about this car either doesn't make sense, isn't relevant or is outright incorrect. It's 20% substance and 80% aesthetic fluff.

24mpg is pretty bad... I get over 26 in my turbo when driving like an asshole and can get over 28mpg when I drive like a "normal person".

I wish they hadn't axed the new Mazda 6 with the straight-six turbo. THAT was the Mazda I was waiting for, they really don't have anything else I'm interested in.

I have a '21 2.5 Turbo with ~25k miles on it and so far I've had zero issues. Aside from regular maintenance and a pothole exploding one of my front tires, I've still managed to avoid the mechanic. I was using this for the better part of a year to drive between LA and SF ad never had any worries.

lol four months isn't "long term."

I own this car and love it. It’s much more fun to drive than savagegeese makes it out to be. With any research on the car I’d heavily suffers from terrible tires and just switching those changes it dramatically

i prefer the generation of cheap fun-to-drive shitboxes. They lost me as a brand.

I bought a 2020 AWD Mazda 3 new and I am very happy with it. 34 mpg combined, perfectly reliable, and very nice quality for a ~$25k compact sedan. The NA engine and 6 speed auto are perfect for reliability and simplicity and are just fun enough for the car. The AWD system is fantastic even on the stock tires - it can handle any amount of snow up until ground clearance becomes an issue (Tested the hard way). I must have done dozens of hours of research and it was simply the best value on the market, period.

I own one. Perfect car. It’s for a specific customer n I was one of em

I have never been one to chase trends so I personally love the things that people would "hate" about this car. I love the simple yet classy design inside and out. I love the small cabin. If I wanted a larger cabin I would have kept my Altima. I dont have kids so just space for me and my girlfriend is enough. Also, the larger the cabin, the longer it takes to cool down in the summer months. I live in Arizona so a small cabin is more easily cooled than a larger one. I love that it has a 6 speed auto, the tried and true instead of worrying about a CVT exploding. I love that it has physical buttons for a lot of their features. I love the turn wheel for the display and I love that there isn't a single touch screen in the whole car. There's plenty to love about this car.

Always loved the first gen 3. Never thought of it as a "Cheap and cheerful shitbox"

FWDish Mazdas frustrate me. They really nail the details but get big things wrong. Civic costs about the same and is almost as premium.... while having an IRS & usably large interior. I think the CX-50 finally improves on that but they still have a long way to go.

I hate that car companies do this with the manual option. They give the manuals the worst engine choice. Or they’ll come out with a “sports” version that doesn’t even have a manual option. It just makes me scratch my head, why?

I love how compact the car is. Backseat space is fine. It mostly depends on how far back the front seats are and how tall the rear passengers are. Most people put their front seats too far back

Oh my god, I feel like this is at least the 10th time savagegeese has reviewed the Mazda3 and explained the same damned thing over and over. It's a Mazda3 for pete's sake. It ain't that special.

I'm on my 3rd mazda3 both send & liftback. We are very pleased with these cars. Very reliable, no defects at all & a very acceptable ride. Highly recommended.

My 1999 Protege was cheap and cheerful, but it was far from a "shitbox". It was a great little car that was better in my opinion than any other compact sold during that time. That term these two like to throw around gets a bit old.

Love this content especially as I've been thinking about what my future DD car will be. The mazda3 turbo AWD has been at the top of my list along with the GTI. If VW adds buttons back, the GTI might take it, but I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to prioritize fun or comfort when I'm buying. It depends on the balance that the Mazda strikes compared to VW. Looking forward to seeing more from human Jack. Although I will say that AI Jack is a hilarious complement... for now... it appears to be getting stronger and more powerful.