I think this comparo was even better than Car and Driver's. First of all, the 3 lines up with the A3 in size, not the A4. Second, I suspect Car and Driver did not actually drive the two cars at the same time because they did not do any of their usual objective scoring, nor did they pick a winner. I think they just copied and pasted two separate tests they already made for the two cars.
A corolla is marketed for masses and with its conservative looks they sell millions of them. The interior for toyotas in general is average at best. However, their engines and mechanical aspect of it is where they shine. I got my 20 corolla LE due to its multi link rear independent suspension and when I'm on highway with that suspension I feel like I'm sitting right on the ground. Whereas for this video I will pick mazda over Mercedes any day till I pass away.
It is the options that made the merc too expensive. I just bought an A35 with 4 good options for 47k otd. It was also the cheapest 35 too lol. Most were mid 50’s, but again, it was the options.
This review was...strange? The Mazda does have a turbo option, the trunk can be unlocked with the rest of the car (it’s an infotainment setting) and the parking brake won’t engage everytime you stop if you disengage it before you drive. Is he maybe talking about the auto hold funtion? There is a dedicated button to switch it off.
Haha, I agree. They must have been sitting on this footage for at least 6 months, which is even weirder considering they already put out a review for the Mazda 3 Turbo months ago. He mentioned the parking brake in the Turbo review too, and basically his issue is that when you turn the car off the parking brake automatically engages and "when you start back up, you have to manually release it." I found this odd when I heard him complain about that because my Mazda 3's parking brake automatically disengages as soon as I put my foot on the accelerator. It turns out that what he's experiencing is the fact that the parking brake will not automatically disengage **if you don't have your seatbelt on.** So simple fix: just wear your seatbelt like you should already be doing anyway. They also said that "the only thing sport mode does is change the throttle mapping," which is just not true. The Mazda 3 is the first car they've reviewed that I've actually owned, so seeing them say stuff like this really makes me question the credibility of all of their reviews.
Yes, parking brake engages every time to stop car. But to disable this feature (auto engage parking brake) just press and hold the parking brake button until it beeps. Then it won't auto-engage. That's different than auto-hold button which stops the car from rolling when in 'D' and foot off brake (i.e. waiting on train or traffic jam).
This test is all about pr and marketing of the people in it - the irony? is that the same perceived deficits of the Mazda 3 could’ve been found and are found in the Mazda 3 TURBO (if they would’ve done their research). Which has a tighter suspension, heavier engine, dampers, adjusted steering arms (to help cornering), heavier differential and a sport mode that is actually more in tune w the drivetrain (not just the throttle response).....oh ya, and larger tip exhausts. In conclusion, We basically wasted 20 minutes on a publicity stunt made to curtail the hosts agenda ?! Seriously
I know that your comment is 2 year old 😅 But the price difference is way smaller than that. If you compare the versions of both cars that are comparable (both with the turbo engine and AWD), the Mazda is only $4000 CAD cheaper, at least in Canada
Same here, just into my 30s and damn it already looks like too much fancy new tech and not enough stuff that will actually work. If my phone or laptop breaks in 3 years, that's alright. If my damn dash display stops working while I'm 300 kilometers away from home and in some mountains, I'm not really into that thing.
That was my thought exactly. Some of the things they were discussing as plusses or minuses just don't matter to me. That's okay, because like cars, reviewers can't be all things to all people. I thought the overall analysis was fine. One thing that wasn't mentioned was the cost of maintenance/repairs. Mercedes has the reputation for being a LOT more expensive in that regard.
Yep, as a fan of new technologies I must admit that these LCD panels are the ugliest thing ever. My old phone had a smaller bezel (I'm not even comparing my new one because it has none and covers like 98% of the front) and the integration of that thing is just hilariously bad.
@@adam145 exactly, for me it's the integration. I haven't seen a full digital dash display in person, so I can't really speak for its utility (don't want to). Unfortunately MB, Audi and BMW all have them now, and they seem to allow every option. but a simple, round gauge layout, but I especially hate, hate the way MB is integrating these things. I've got a BMW F30 and that non-moveable screen to my right is bad enough. I can't imagine having only that to look at facing forward. The only good thing I can say is that it's not in the middle of the car.
@@f1jones544 I know I'm in the minority, but I actually think it looks good now. In ten years it certainly won't, but almost three years in to thus geb's A Class production, I still think it looks great. To me however, the biggest thing is the actual UI, and for my personal tastes, the current MBUX is absolutely fantastic. There is no better system on the market currently in my opinion. It's incredibly intuitive, has much less black then other systems, is very customizable but also easy to save/change settings, super responsive, I just don't have enough good things to say abuut MBUX. The voice assistant is annoying but no journalists seem to realize how easy it is to disable (besides, they need it for the content). I've spent quite a bit of time using this system, Tesla, BMW iDrive 6 and 7, older MB systems, Audi MMI, etc. and I can say confidentally that this is the best UI on the market in a car currently, except for possibly the new google system in Polestar.
Not to mention Mazda was named the most reliable car brand in the us for 2020, making Mazda the first brand to take that #1 spot from Toyota in over 30 years. All this makes me excited to see the next gen Mazda 6 rumored to be coming out as a 2023 model. from what I hear its moving away from FWD and becoming RWD/AWD with the 2.5 Turbo becoming it's base engine! the base price is going to increase because of that and top end trims is expected to cost over 45,000 but come with the new turbo inline 6 Toyota develop with BMW for the new Supra. Toyota is giving Mazda this engine because Mazda and Toyota entered a partnership a few years back, witch is why new Toyotas handle much better! Mazda is helping Toyota so their cars don't handle poorly anymore and in exchange Toyota is giving Mazda access to certain power trains including the inline 6 and the electric motors/batteries Mazda will be using in all of it's upcoming plug in options.
There is an old test report from a well-known German car newspaper. There, the Mazda mid-range model won against the Mercedes in price, performance and efficiency 😅 it was 1984 So a Mazda is always an option. It is also worth mentioning the very first victory of a Japanese car brand in the 24 Hours of Le man's in the early 90s
however almost every Mazda 3 I see on the road is a rusty mess. Having owned both a mercedes and Japanese cars (Mazda, Acura, Honda) I can say if you live in the rust belt expect rusting prematurely with the latter
I've spent quite a bit of time in both. For a 30k car, the Mazda is built well and uses nice materials. However, the Mercedes is put together just a tiny bit better. Only piece that isnt is the climate control panel, although I think they've fixed that since the early models which I experienced.
The add ones will do that. I just picked up a ‘21 A35 for 47k otd. Only 4 options. If I got all the safety shit the price would of been mid 50’s easy. It’s all about the options on the merc.
@@mengienghinamwaami4894 not for anything more than $40k lol. At that MSRP for this tester you'd be foolish to choose this over an acura tlx or evem a base C300 tbh
@@mengienghinamwaami4894 I know it was. Thats why they should have used the turbo version of the 3 vs the N/A version for a better comparison. Of course they would like the mercedes more for the power factor when youre stuck with less than 200hp in the N/A 3.
@@freddy7304 it's in both. the sedan is a bit cheaper because there's less material and it doesnt have as much of the body kit type stuff. Definitely a nice sleeper car.
I’m old but here goes. I highly dislike the new tech in the cars today so many people DO want the car to think and do for them, at that point why do those people want a car? Save your money and get a bus your less likely to see my middle finger. Again kudos to Mazda for having the balls to have less tech then the other car makers. As far as Mazda losing the multi-link rear end 99.9% of drivers won’t care or notice, nor will they be pushing their cars as hard. So the point is kind of moot. Want more feel, etc? Buy a Miata. Mazda wants to broaden their market to more people. In the past most people complained about what your missing. So buy an older Mazda 3 or.......buy something else.
@@BurusutazuPersonal Yeah, I wouldn't say as much tech as the Mercedes but the tech that is there is designed to nudge the driver, not fight them and/or take over. Was part of the design decisions when they were programming all those assistants and aids.
I cross-shopped the Mazda3 with entry level luxury models and went with the Mazda. It gives you 95% of the driving dynamics a normal, non-car reveiwer would need and came fully loaded/AWD for 27k. It's just not worth the extra 10 grand plus for the luxury badge in a trim I would have to settle for to afford. Also, I am buying, not leasing. I'd much rather have the Mazda in 6 years than the Mercedes and others. I know exactly what I am getting in that NA 2.5 liter engine and six speed automatic. Anyway, I've had a great experience with it so far. It stands out, especially in soul red crystal. I've rarely gone more than a few weeks without catching someone admiring it. In this class, it was a no contest for me and it has been a great car.
Not just for the luxury badge, the Mazda will hold up over time far better than that crappy Benz. Not to mention the FIVE year UNLIMITED mileage powertrain warranty on Mazda is only matched by a select few competitors. Mazda #1
This test is all about pr and marketing of the people in it - the irony? is that the same perceived deficits of the Mazda 3 could’ve been found and are found in the Mazda 3 TURBO (if they would’ve done their research). Which has a tighter suspension, heavier engine, dampers, adjusted steering arms (to help cornering), heavier differential and a sport mode that is actually more in tune w the drivetrain (not just the throttle response).....oh ya, and larger tip exhausts.
I wanted cargo room incase I need to buy stuff from Home Depot for some DIY projects, so I cross shopped a Mazda3 AWD hatch and a Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, something big for a change after driving a e90 BMW for 12 years. I went with the Mazda. It's just so more fun to drive and it's pretty close in terms of driving characteristic as my old e90. Don't care that I'm in my early 40s still driving a hatchback. I love hatches, sadly I wanted a turbo but C19 screwed up prices and availability. I had to get a CPO 2019 with 18k miles on it, and I don't regret it one bit.
@@chrisdooley6468 I think the A220 is best for those in their 20s. I just bought one but it’s cause I wanted to test the waters with Mercedes. I’m planning on upgrading to the E or S class in 6years
luxury brands are never good value compared to mainstream brands. Long term reliability doesn't really matter in a new car because most people that buy/lease them won't keep them for more than 3-6 years
@@kristians2704 I'm not sure if they are even to last 3-6 years without major hiccups for their owners. Check the market value of 10-year-old Lexus and Mercedes. So, it still matters, maybe not for everyone, but for a large number of owners for sure
@@topspot9417 reliability matters for the people who are buying them as used second-hand cars but not really for the first owner becuae all of them are reliable for the first 5,6 years
@VinAr Run Had the '07 mazda since release and at 200k miles it still performs like brand new. Mazda is the way to go, sadly they killed Mazdaspeed tho.
Mercedes is very expensive to fix when it breaks and break it will. I was a kid in 1994, but that was the last year for a working man to get a quality Mercedes. After that it was all downhill. Mazda for me, thanks.
And you don't think a Mazda can break? I've had to replace the catalytic converter on my 2010 Mazda 3 with 130K miles on it. I've owned Hondas that ran for close to 200K without any problems at all with the cat. Even after replacing the cat, the engine is throwing 2 codes... and I recently replaced the fuel injectors as well. Unless their quality has gone up significantly in recent years, I would not buy another Mazda.
@@242HPyea I love both Mazda and Merc but you can’t really use ownership costs as an argument like some of these people are in the comments lol. Mazda 4cyl engines are incredibly complex for the size jam packed with a lot of easy to break tech and unique engineering approaches that can really only be well maintained by trained Mazda professionals. I’ve had many car, including two Mazdas. A simple oil change was easily in the $175-$190 range. That says something..
That Mercedes interior is absolutely disgusting. I cannot comprehend how people can see it as beautiful, modern and elegant. The once classy and elegant Benz turned into a stripclub looking gadget on wheels.
@@konliner9286 lol, me and my family been riding Mercs for decades and it's an insult to consumers and loyalist by mercedes to include such cheap fake exhaust. Mercs is just a rolex not patek philip dude, it ain't a Roles royce 😁.
I really like this comparison. I for one does not plan on buying the A220 in the nearest future, but the Mazda 3's overall package just perfectly serves it purpose. It even holds its own. I think what makes it striking at first glance is really the classy exterior.
You guys wanted more from the Mazda...because you're car guys, you're car reviewers. But the reason Mazda has made so many premium moves the past few years is because the vast majority of their customers aren't car people and don't care about the "zoom zoom" ethos. They don't even advertise that tagline anymore. Even the Miata itself is considerably more premium feeling than its direct competition. So I think you guys aren't viewing these cars from the viewpoint of the people actually buying them, and that's why they don't meet your expectations. Mazda's sales and market share are holding steady but their transaction prices and revenues have gone up so their moves are working.
And this is why I like Savagegeese for his car reviews, he offers different perspectives on the cars, not just for the people that like to tune their cars or slam the gas pedal whatever chance they get.
Curious if they would have been closer or different feelings if it was the turbo awd 3. Personally I think the turbo awd 3 hatch is a tempting daily if you don’t have delusions of track days or 10/10th back road shenanigans.
We are big fans of the turbo mazda 3. Our comparison with that and the golf R is linked in the description. We were surprised at how similar the power was between these two.
@@EverydayDriver I watched and enjoyed that video (I’ve been watching you guys for a long time and appreciate the content) I just picked up a low mileage mk6 GolfR with “stage2” APR tuning and such as a replacement for my cracked head 986 BoxsterS I sold out of frustration. I’ve owned two speed3’s but getting into my mid 30’s I understand and acknowledge what and why Mazda is doing with the 3.
@@XxBluerainxX Two years later and the Turbo is now available in the Mazda 3 sedan as well (Mazda puts that engine in everything except the Miata). Maybe it is time to revisit this comparison?
I figured as much too and they acknowledged that this was at least part of the difference in the video as well. Still on the stock tires on mine but am planning to change at some point.
@@SevansVII I remember when I was a kid and got my hands on one of the first battery-powered LED stripes that flashed random colours. We modified my friend's dad car with these and pretty much made it look like a Mercedes from 20 years in the future.
@@CristianoWilliams Nice. Ya I love my Mazda and have 0 buyers remorse. Like if I could go back to November 2013 (when I bought it) and someone was like "Here is $100,000 dollars you can spend on buying a car, but just for the initial purchase. You will still be responsible for all running costs, you can't ever sell the car for money, you must own the car for a lest 20 years, and you can't own/lease any other car for those 20 years (you could rent a car on vacation though)...I would buy the EXACT same car. Same VIN and everything, same options (I got all the options except radar cruise control, which I would never use. It would also take up the spot where I have my dash cam mounted).
Mercedes died 20 years ago in terms of reliability. And today, I don't wanna pay $40,000 or something for visiting a dealer for repair on the regular base. Mercedes! Think about your quality, about balance in a category price-quality.
Only thing I hate about owning a car that someone is reviewing is I notice every little thing they get wrong...like the Sport button in the Mazda. It doesn't only change throttle mapping. It changes transmission shift up and down points and also tweaks Mazda's G-vector control for cornering. It's not the greatest Sport button around but it's not just a throttle map toggle either.
Living with the car you see more of it . You noticed more things good or bad. I do see where you are coming from. Sounds like you’re happy with your purchase and to be honest that all that really matters.😁
I honestly prefer driving in sport mode over standard even for daily commuting. The gear shifts feel more specific and it isn't trying to race to 6th gear all the time. It lets the engine breathe and rev up before moving up a gear. Feels way more responsive.
Bought a 2020 mazda 3 sedan at a reduced price in Dec 2020 (paid around 23k euro). Best car I've ever owned and it just feels and looks luxurious. Manual gearbox as well, so the lack of a turbo doesn't personally bother me too much. (just shift with slightly higher revs)
We were surprised at his close the power was on these two. The turbo Mazda is even better - we have a link to our review of it vs the Golf R in the description. Thanks for watching.
Yes! I watched that video as well! I just subscribed to your channel. I love the analysis you guys bring to the channel. The production values are too notch as well. Great work from your newest subscriber from Canada!
The parking brake in my Mazda 3 releases when I put it in drive and press on the accelerator pedal. At 2:40 you report that the car lurches against the parking brake for a second, why is your experience different? There is a guy on RU-vid with a Mazda 3 Turbo who mentions that the parking brake automatically releases when you put it in drive and apply pressure to the accelerator. Why do you make it seem like a whole ordeal?
@@souissi1 hmmm so assuming lexus can't be compared to Mercedes either? Definitely you can compare reliability wise as Mazda is top ten ..in vein looking for Merc there..maybe top fifty....and honestly not really following your point. regards 🙂
the mercedes appeals to people who care more about style than substance (in fact the whole fwd german car segment in the US exists because of people who care about the badge first) the Mazda is the exact opposite just notice which car annoyed the driver the most when it actually came to driving it
The Mercedes has better steering feel and handles wayyyy better, and rides better too. The Mercedes is the better car here people are just freaked out about the price lol
I had an A220 as a rental in Colorado and went up Pike Peaks and was surprised by how capable it was but the transmission was such a pain like you mentioned. It did not listen to me and I figured out after a bit it just wanted to do everything itself which it wasn't horrible at. It still was annoying though. 🙄
$50k fully loaded vs $30k fully loaded. Mazda did a great job, low maintenance and economics for long run instead Mercedes. i’ll stick with mazda for long run with small budget.
The A class is solely for the people who just want to say I have a Mercedes. It’s simply entry level. It’s the same with all luxury brands. It’s no surprise the Mazda is going to outshine the entry level Mercedes
Interior in the Mazda looks very nice. Mercedes interior looks awefull, maybe fancy, but zero class :( If the sport button only changes the trottle, its a very good thing, it means its one less thing that can break in 3-5 years ;) Great video!
the trunk of the merc looks like an option, like something you either tick or not when specifying the car... and i am not sure which version this is mazda looks way better
Mazda makes near luxury cars at normal car prices. That’s they business model. And they spend R&D $ on getting more MPG from their ICE engines instead of going electric because it benefits all their cars. But the zero emission thing is now forcing Mazda to do EVs. Hope they get there. Because the company is run by car guys & not accountants or sales people.
@@yvesdanjou6250 under six seconds is incorrect, the A220 does 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. It does have a lot more torque than the Mazda N/A because of the turbo. The Mercedes spec is directly from the Mercedez website. The funny thing is that the Mazda is also in the 7-second range. I think they were biased. Now, if you go price by price, the new Mazda turbo model would eat the Mercedes for breakfast. $32.600 MSRP AWD 2.5T/ 250HP/ 320 Torque
In Mazda 6 GT (2018+), if you have a key fob in your pocket, you can unlock the trunk from outside by pressing the switch button underneath the rear Mazda logo.
Great comparison. I like the Mercedes looks better and the short back end. I'm not sure it's worth 10 to 20k more $usd?Thanks for making the video! Love those roads you drove them on! Cheers! 👍😎👍
People that complain about reliability on a new high-tech luxury are the same people that drive 20 year old Toyotas/Hondas and think they are the smartest people in the world.
Mazda 3 hatch is spectacular and so is the sedan. Their cars are understated yet beautiful. Very underrated brand. Mercedes is great, but overpriced. Interior is too busy and distracting
Did he say the mazda parking break sets itself everytime you stop the car? I'm guessing he's talking about the auto hold function. If so there is a button to turn that off.
they probably wanted something comparable, if they would have gone with the most powerful engine's for both of them Mercedes most likely would have won by a even greater margin.
@@gymcurry4312 If we're talking about comparable, we need to talk about prices. Because otherwise we could just bring in a buggatti every time we want to compare cars and complain how slow the other car is...
@@wardancer400 ofc the mazda is cheaper and it is a achievement that it can hold its ground against a much more expansive car but Mercedes still offers the more powerful engine choices
Horrible choice on Mazda3 AWD with out turbo, Turbo version can be bought for 32K usd and greatly equipped.... Just change Touranza touring tires for summer and it will destroy than 52K usd!!! Mercedes.
You didn’t talk about reliability of these cars. I know 5 peoples who regret to bought a Mercedes because they always have problems. And the cost to repair is much higher than the japanese. At the opposite the Mazda is really a reliable car.
Great review, gents. I came from an ND Miata and bought nearly the exact spec A220 you reviewed here (minus $10K). While I miss the zoom zoom, I'm tracking with you on the MB's fairly involving drive. It's held up well for two years, too.
The prime motivators here are, which one will cost the least to own, and which one will last longer. Is the right choice becoming clear? Thanks for an “outside the box” comparo. Cheers.
Prime motivators to you, but not to the 16,000 that buy/lease these annually. I would take the Merc over the Mazda if I was in the market for a new car.
@@benjaminkohl342 I strongly encourage you to watch individual reviews on both of these cars, and will wish you the best with whichever choice you make.
@@2W3X4YZ5 I'm not disagreeing with you and saying the Mercedes is more reliable then the Mazda, I'm simply saying that reliability and long term ownership are not everyone's top priorities, including my own.
@@benjaminkohl342 No problem. We all drive what we want, after all. If this were 1990 and you were trying to get me to trade my W123 in on a Mazda, I would feel the same way. It’s a matter of knowing what you have. Cheers.
I think you guys completely missed one of the core aspects of what the Mazda 3 is trying to do... They are not trying to make a sporty car here, everything about it is tuned for comfort. It's meant to be a really comfortable daily driver, not a sports car winding through canyons.
Except for very few individuals, most people don't drive like that at any point in their entire lives. Therefore, could you guys focus more on safety, comfort, mpg, especially in a channel titled "everydaydriver"?
