For $35,000, The Mazda3 Touring AWD Is A Great Little Luxury Car, But is it a Hot Hatch? - Two Takes 

CORRECTION: In this video I say the car has Bridgestone Potenza tires. They are actually Bridgestone TURANZA tires. The Turanza is one performance level DOWN from Potenza.

I really like your two person One Takes. They’re very entertaining even for cars I wouldn’t normally seek out a video for.

Simplistic and functional interior designs are a dying breed but Mazda gives me hope.

The fact that we can get this type of content for free on the internet is really something. Love the detail Zack adds to the show (like about the torsion suspension). Top quality content as always.

Love the attention you gave to the lane assist issue.... this is by far the worst thing to come out of modern cars today.

I like this format with you and Zach both driving and talking. I think it works really well.

nice review! Just letting you know at 8:50 you can actually disable that function in infotainment menu. So then u can press both the acclerator and the brakes to brake torque at your own leisure 😎

Nice of them to put cupholders on the engine cover, you can't even get those in the cabin in a lot of supercars.

I have the 100th anniversary edition turbo hatch. One feature I discovered was that you can downshift using the paddles without going into manual mode. I usually do for corners and then it will switch back to auto after. It's nice for when you want to downshift and don't wanna go into manual mode just to quickly pass someone or get in the right gear in a corner.

Finally, two settings for traction control; on or off. As it should be.

Best looking car made today at any price point in my opinion. If I was in the market for a sub-40k car, this would be the one. I believe they have taken over from 90’s and 2000’s Alfa Romeo as the best entry level car design. Keep it up Mazda! The Mazda 6 is impressive as well..,

These Two Takes are great. Really like this format.

Great job on the review guys...I'm loving my Mazda3 so much and watching all the RU-vid reviews....those windy roads are fun to watch....kudos to your camera staff and putting it all in a very professional show.

Loving this review format guys!

2 months ago i bought this car in a Sedan and i love it. I laughed btw when you talked of Lane keep assist, lol, since on the 1st day i turned it off. Good video as always.

It's really impressive how nice they made this body style and interior over the last few years lux hatch is a perfect way to put it

Nice vid! I bought the N/A hatch before the turbo came out and though it ain’t as fast, car is just as nice and cost me even less. Really is a great car for the money!

Good to see you guys together

I have a 2021 Mazda3 and to be honest I don’t know if they did a software update or not but the lane keep assist doesn’t activate until my car is halfway into the next lane…. You can also change in the settings on how aggressive the systems are depending on what you want. Also there is a button on the left side of the steering wheel to completely shut off all the driver assistance stuff, push it once and it’s all off. Love this car and I can’t believe how far Mazda has come in recent years, good job on the video you guys 👍🏼

I always love how you guys can make passionate and interesting videos about a "normal people" car as well as crazy "many $$$" supercars. And the advice is actually useful if you want to buy the thing ;-)

My '19 Megane RS Trophy also has a torsion beam rear end, and you definitely wouldn't know unless you read the spec sheet (like you suggest with this Mazda). It seems to be something that a few manufacturers are moving back towards away from multi link for small hatches and SUVs. I guess it's a cost saving that they don't consider perceptible in terms of handling or comfort.

You can shut down the lane keep in the menus. I have one and that was the first thing I did. That and traction control. I agree with your assessment of this car. Mine is a 2021 non turbo and I really like it.

I took my 21 turbo hatch on this road and had an absolute blast! This car handles great with plenty of power.

Hi Matt and Zach, I'm a long-time fan of the show and Mazda sales consultant in Minnesota. I'm so glad you're getting to drive some of the current line up because Mazda, while their infotainment is lagging the competition, they do a great job giving you physical knobs and buttons for the things you adjust most often. I'm really looking forward to your CX-9 review because I think that 2.5T motor will make sense in its original shell.

Great meeting you yesterday Matt !

Always look forward to reviews with Zach.

I appreciate that Matt and Zack review this car based on its merit and not what people "expected" based on Mazda's past. Nearly every other journalist has tried to draw the comparison between this and the Mazdaspeed3 which Mazda has made clear is not the intention of this car.

Two takes are great, like the back and forth 👍👍

Mazda3 hatch is the best looking compact car since the 90s

I have the exact same spec but with the additional aero package, it looks incredible. Nothing beats the looks of mazda in that class.

Got to be one of the best (if not the best) looking cars our right now. Especially for the price. Every angle is interesting.

I liked the chased car view from behind, it shows how car the handles the road

Follow cam in the BMW was great, would love to see more in future two takes

Amen on training driver's over cars!

I love having this as a daily. Mazda quickly became on of my favorite reliable car brands thanks to their new philosophy. 🙏 I agree with the lane keep assist. There is though a setting in the infotainment to turn down the sensitivity thankfully.

Mazdas are just fun to drive...had an MX3 that I got 306,000 miles out of before I sold it. Then got a Mazda 3 sedan which currently has 220,000 on it. Looking forward to owning the turbo in the near future!

Mazda Japan wants luxury and premium cars, Mazda US wants a Mazda Speed. But this is a Mazda Japan product at the end of the day.

Gosh I want one JUST like this the color, the interior, all the luxurious options, I'm definitely getting this soon.

Watching this while sitting in a mid-trim rental Mazda 3 and I agree on every point, especially the interior and the lane assist system. I've been driving it for the past two weeks in the LA area and it has tried to follow seams in the pavement more than a few times- definitely not fun when passing a semi. The rest of this car is surprisingly good though, especially the interior. Having the infotainment further back on the dash makes a huge difference. 'Sport' mode is hilarious as it shifts at 4800 rpm almost regardless of how I drive it.. so it's more like a tow mode in that regard. It'll be on the list of replacements for my wife's '15 civic coupe for sure!

They have really tweaked everything to perfection and with it not changing anything major over the past few years they’re really able to dial it in. I’ recently bought a 23 turbo carbon edition. Which is way cheaper than the premium + version. But only lacks a few of the aero bits and a few other small things that don’t matter much. I was able to get the turbo AWD for around 27500. With a 7 year 100000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Including a warranty for tires and rim replacement in the event they’re damaged. Really happy with it.

It's like the Straight Pipes, but for actual car nerds.

At 4:20 you’re so right that section of road is such a blast!

I brake with my left foot, so I definitely turned that warning off. I have the 2020 Mazda3 sedan. I've had zero problems with my car, and I've also killed the lane assist feature.

Great insight on the negatives of LKAS but on my 2019 Ridgeline sport its great against wicked side winds on the highway(if it can pick up the lines your golden).

As the owner of a 2020 base 3 hatch, I know you can easily disable the lane departure system and left foot brake alert, and they will stay off. The super-annoying adaptive cruise control can also be disabled for regular cruise, but you have to do it every time unfortunately. It's a very solid and comfortable daily and I like it, though my '16 2.0L hatch felt more responsive on turn-in and was a better-riding car with more rear seat room. I was plenty happy with the older car. Don't need the electronic nannies or 18" wheels, though the extra midrange power from moving up to the 2.5L is nice. My main problem with the current 3 hatch (and especially the turbo) is that I don't really know which market this car is for. If you just want a commuter, Toyota/Honda/Hyundai/Kia will all sell you a more spacious and/or more fuel-efficient 5-door for equal or less money. The main advantage is that Mazda still offers a conventional automatic and natural aspiration, but most buyers in that segment aren't enthusiasts and don't care about CVTs and turbos until they see the repair bills (or they're leasing and just don't care at all). If you're looking for a hot hatch this doesn't have the hardware or tuning to really qualify as one (with stick or without). The 2.5L turbo doesn't have any power up top, its brakes and suspension aren't beefed up for faster driving, and the overall feel is too isolated. You'd be better off with a Type R or GTI. At $35K loaded up it does make a compelling case for itself as a near-luxury car, but I don't know how many people who cross-shop Audi, BMW, Lexus etc. would even deign to look at a Mazda, despite having a much better reliability reputation than the Germans and interior quality on par or better than their lower models. The brand cachet that bougie Karens and Kyles care about just isn't there. *tl;dr* I appreciate what Mazda is trying to do, they're a unique automaker and I still enjoy their cars (already planning on hunting down a used 3 in good shape when the market starts shifting over to electric). But it sucks that they're quickly abandoning their core audience of enthusiasts to chase a slice of the market that will continue to turn their nose up at what they build. If they are forced to ditch the MX-5, Mazda is well and truly dead as a company.

Great video guys! I had read that turbo and AWD models have multi link rear suspension. The front wheel drive models have the lesser rear suspension .

this would be a big upgrade for me from an 05 xrs as a dd. i will miss the downshifts though. just waiting on that corolla gr with the yaris gr engine/drivetrain..

New CX-5 press vehicle in my driveway and really enjoy this turbo power train. In the Mazda3 it has to be a hoot!

I love the look of these.

Some coilovers and some Michelin PS4S tires and this could be a very fun car to carve up some twisties!👌🏽🔥🔥great job Mazda!! This is a lot of car for 34k$

The only time I've found when I like lane keep assist is when it has been raining and its dark and it is really hard to see the lines in those conditions, the lane keep assist has an easier time finding the lines.

Seems like a good deal. Looks good in and out and that’s decent power for a hatch. If the budget was there a manual would’ve been a great option though. Sure this is probably at the low end of their sales, but they kinda cornered themselves in to that niche. Haven’t offered a hatch this competitive since the speed3

Best review I've seen. 👌

After watching this I immediately searched to see if you can turn the lane departure correction off and thank god you can

Great review! Soooo bummed that you can't get that excact model here in Denmark :( but are you guys sure that it didn't have touch screen too? In the newer models, Mazda usually have both :)

I suggest when in manual sport mode turning TC off unleashed extra power and makes the turbo cars more engaging

such handsome and smartly designed cars. definitely punching above its weight

For the algorithm. Really enjoy your videos :D

10:00 this is how I feel about drivers aids too. If you actually need lane keep assist, pre-collision breaking or a backup camera to operate the vehicle, then you are not qualified to have a license. Where I live in New England, those systems DO NOT work during the winter. Either the road is covered in snow and salt so it cannot see the lane or the car is covered and snow and salt cover the sensors so the systems stop working. You cannot count of them to work 100% of the time and I do think they make you a less attentive driver.

I love this design such a good looking hatch!

In reference to 11:30 i actually turned this feature off, the lane departure assist, because of a few close calls. If i catch a motorcycle i will always move over and the Mazda3 will turn into them so you have to death grip the wheel so the can pass. Or if a semi creeps on to the line ill scoot over a little bit. However the incident i had was in a turn lane. It was in a two lane left turn, and i was in the left most lane and it picked up the wrong lane and turned me right into the next lane that was also turning left. Besides that i love this car, looks great inside and out and i just leave my phone on Bluetooth and don't use the shitty infotainment. It is peppy enough to launch at every red light, and its all about the Smiles/Mile for me. Adaptive Cruise is great, blind spot monitoring integrated with the HUD. I just love it.

Considering this as a daily driver counterpart to my NA miata. Seems like exactly what I want, fun but a little more composed and comfortable than a true hot hatch.

Agree on the uselessness of lane keep assist. Also zack + matt one takes are da bomb!!!

I always stick around to say with Matt: “Remember!... always fight your tickets”. Same with Jay Leno’s “Beep beep” at the end of his videos.

Zack and Matt together for these is incredible

You can tell Zack really loves his M3 because he has a jacket to match his amber turn signals. Joking aside, I really dig this dual driver review. You guys compliment each other well. Keep up the good work guys!

Cant wait to see, what tuners will do with it in the near future.

The lane assist is not to help you stay in your lane, it's to warn you if you are sleeping or texting like most people do these days!

The idea for lane-assist is a good one, assisting the driver in keeping the car in the lane and reminding the driver to keep gripping the wheel absolutely is useful for cases where the driver gets distracted (say by kids in the rear seats), falls asleep for a split-second, etc. These things absolutely happen, with no relation to "driver skill", and I have no doubt that system saves lives in those cases. Problems crop up when either the system doesn't work properly, is annoying to use so people disable it, or works in a way that allows people to cheat it to avoid having to pay attention to the road. If it works well and can be disabled for spirited driving there is no reason to get riled up about its existence.

I have the sedan version prefer it looks wise to the hatch, I love it.

You can change the settings on the lane keep assist and warnings. At least you can on the cx5 so don’t see why it would be any different

I can't stand lane assist. I drove my mom's new 3 series and it almost caused two accidents driving around narrow country roads in the first 5 miles, it legitimately feels dangerous and I turned that shit off. Just drive better....

Totally agree, lane keep assist is horrible. Test drive a VW Tiguan and twice it actually steered into oncoming traffic! Apparently it was confused by the poor condition of the painted dividing line. Found several identical complaints at NHTSA, so my car wasn’t a one-off anomaly.

You know you can actually disable the left foot braking warning, right...Mazda...amazing. And you can disable the lane assists and warnings as well and here in Italy on a lot of hill roads the lanes are just 1,5 cars wide so you will be cutting quite a bit Too bad in EU we do not get the 2,5 Turbo AWD version but the Skyactive-X 6MT is quite sweet

Nice looking car, which is rare these days.

Enjoyed the 2017 Mazda 3 base the few times I've driven it. Really down on power, but the car handles great even on eco tires. Shame they couldn't keep the rear suspension as the torsion beam is a downgrade on the new ones. This with 20-30 more horsepower, keep AWD, add a 6 - speed manual and a proper rear suspension would have been my next daily.

Subaru completely abandoned the AWD turbo hatch market. Good to see Mazda stepping up to the plate. Give us a 300hp awd mazdaspeed3!

“Train drivers to be better” Thank you! I’ve been saying this for so long, I really wish our drivers education would be more strict and train better drivers rather than adding more nannies year after year to make drivers even more lazy. Then they feel like it’s ok to be more and more lazy because the car can do this and that. Really messed up.

With a tune and other mods, it could shift the powerband towards more top end and improve top speed. My 10th gen civic did and has much better trap speed at 102mph now in the 1/4mi. Tuning can also change other characteristics for the better.

How is turbo/throttle lag from a dig? I don't mean brake torquing it, but just a moderately aggressive takeoff like you would from a stoplight. I've driven a few iterations of VAG's EA888 and they all had an annoying second or 2 of lag from a dead stop.

6:15 that guy is still there lmao

Were you able to use left foot braking with this car? The gen older model i have in my family lets you left foot brake and i really respect that because it gives so much to the whole driving experience, especially during winter. So many newer cars wont let this happen. The new gen seems a really promising model that i'm interested in trying, the left foot braking alarm does worry a bit.

1:30 that gloss black trim is scratched to hell.

Wished it came with a performance handling package. That's the one of the few things stopping me from getting this car

During covid was working from home so took the opportunity to cleaned my valves, get the injectors serviced with new seals, and get a new tune. Will be sticking with my Speed3, just not tempted by this despite its all wheel drive. I would miss my standard and hooligan-ness of the speed. lol. If I had to get a new car, it would be the new BRZ which stinks cause I've driven mazdas most of my life. Hopefully mazda will give us something funner in the future to tempt.

Really like what Mazda has done with the current gen Mazda3. There's a good chance I'll pick one up used in a few years.

Just another reminder: you guys are good at this.

The transmission has a torque converter used for starting from a stop only. This is a single clutch transmission.

Wondering how this differs from a GTI, which also has a midrange power focus and is mostly meant for commuting.

More Double Takes please

Got a cx5 for the wife and like it so much I’m considering another Mazda as a commute car for myself.

Excellent review - less expensive than the usual suspects with better styling. A smooth torquey ride for those who don't need the faster and more expensive S3 or M235. 8" rims with better 215/45 tires would make a big difference....with AWD you don't need wide rubber. Tire Rack did an extensive test on wheel width vs. tire width, very enlightening. I've heard the quicker 2018 steering box fits....? And thanks for mentioning the rear suspension - most reviewers made way too much of it. I have a '19 sedan that's an OK driver but weak below 3000 rpm.

My 2014 Mazda 3 6 spd hatch has over 275k miles on it... no work done to the engine. I'm looking at possibly upgrading, but idk, I kinda want to see how long my current one lasts. I hope they built this motor as well and sound deadened the interior better.

I get 87 for long road trips, keeps the gas bill a little lower and the extra HP you get with 93 is better for city driving anyway.

Anyone know which specific road that is?

is the AWD full time or on-demand only? how does this compares with the Audi S3?

Chase car sponsered by BMW😄 Awesome review guys thanks for that! I'm looking to buy the best steering feel under 40k lsd front diff or awd. R/S3, typeR, merc 35amg etc. What should I test drive?

I hope that now that RU-vid has twice the amount of ads that content creators are making twice the amount. I suppose you can get a raise as a RU-vidr lol.

Please do sonata n-line. Thanks

I was looking into getting a manual mazda because they seem to be one of the last to make manual cars that are in regular people price ranges lol