2022 Mazda3 6-Speed Manual / Awesome for a Few
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- čas přidán 28. 04. 2022
- The stick shift Mazda3 is great, but for who? On paper, it should go against the other manual compacts like the Toyota Corolla SE/XSE, Civic Sport, VW Jetta and Subaru Impreza, but it’s priced more like the Subaru WRX, VW GTI, Civic SI and Elantra N-line. This all makes for a bit of an awkward situation. Find out if this Mazda3 makes sense in the nearly saturated market.
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Realistick_
Thank you, Royal South Mazda for loaning me the Mazda3 for today’s review!
Royalsouthmazda.com - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Glad to see Edward Snowden is back in the US, apparently doing car reviews.
Jajajajajajaja
I really liked your discussion at the end. As someone who owned a fiesta ST, I am that (rare) buyer that wants a manual, but also comfort. Sport offerings are amazing, but I drive too much highway to really justify it, unless I had to for a manual. For me, my Mazda 3 was an easy choice (either that or a civic hatch which I also really like). A good sound system, manual, and comfort (while still being engaging) is getting hard to find nowadays
Sounds like it is the perfect fit for you, it's quite niche but really is in a class of its own in a couple regards
100% agree. Can't stress enough to everyone reading the spec sheet and judging it, go test drive one.
MLS vs Torsion beam, I did not notice, as I took the car easily 25mph above recommended signage while going through some curvy backroads (can't think of a better way to describe handling in text)
Naturally aspirated motor means everything happens freakishly smooth compared to turbo 4s elsewhere. And while I'd love to have the Mz3 turbo, the 2.5 na is still fast with a 6MT.
Prev WRX owner, and still satisfied with the acceleration of the Mz3.
So weird, here in The Netherlands, we're all used to driving manual
@@Realistick I was originally looking at the Corolla hatchback MT. 2022's are all gone and for 2023 they no longer offer a MT anymore, unless it's the GR (in Canada anyways). So I test drove the Mazda 3. Definitely felt more premium! Not even what I really cared about, but a nice bonus. Plus they offered $4000 more than Toyota for my trade. So I ordered one. 👍
@@Jmpaul26 I just ordered a 2023 Mazda 3 Premium 6MT and also previously owned a WRX. Your comment on acceleration compared to the WRX has put my mind at ease.
One thing you didn’t mention which was ultimately one of the main reasons I went with the 3 is the larger displacement NA engine. I can’t think of many decently nice naturally aspirated hatches with a manual in the US besides the 3.
You can fall on the Honda reliability or Volkswagen German engineering bandwagon all you want, but it will never change the fact that dropping the displacement and pumping as much pressure into the cylinders as you can to strangle the engine for efficiency and performance probably isn’t the best idea for longevity and reliability :)
And with the 2023 model year, they managed to squeeze out 5 more HP while getting better fuel economy. So now it's as efficient as the Civic Si.
@@mistamaog is that true? Cuz 2022 gets horrible mpg. Like I’m averaging 23 mpg in a pretty small town.
@@08TheNick Well I am going by the EPA numbers, so I'm assuming it's true. I don't have one to test
The turbo engine in my Honda Si is failing at 55K miles. Gas contamination and wrecked fuel injectors. $1,800 repair out of warranty with the parts on back order. And I faithfully maintain my cars. Honda reliability has become a myth, and the company has treated me like crap.
@@alecfoster4413heard a guy at a used car dealership say almost that exact same thing.
I currently own a 6MT 2010 Mazda3 Sport Hatchback and while the car is not fast by any means, it still puts a smile in my face every single time. Mazda’s interior quality is unmatched. My 2010 is 12 yrs old and the interior still looks/feel premium today. Mazda’s are not known for performance. If that’s what you’re after go buy a GTI or the Civic Si. But if what you want is luxury, premium quality and refinement look no further than this Mazda 3.
Sold a 237hp lancer for my 2014 mazda 3 and you're definitely right. Not a car to race people at every light but the perfect car for me to drive 500km a week in. Interior is nice, gas mileage is great, and it's just fun to drive (partially because it's a manual of course).
Already wanting to buy a newer mazda 3 cause they just look so nice
@@chrisbeaudoin9818 same here. I love the new Mazda 3 hatch. Seriously considering getting one.
Tuning kits for the Mazda 3 are very cheap, you can easily get the performance you desire from any of the other brands without suffering the downfall of going with those brands.
Its interesting because for us swedes, manual stick is the base versions and automatic only comes with the premiums :D
I'm with the reviewer on everything but the mpg. I live in the mountains of Tennessee near Chattanooga in Apison. Almost everyday when I take the car out for a 20 to 30 mile roundtrip, I average between 36 and 42 mpg. My wife, is a little slower to get into high gear and stays in 4th and 5th mostly and she averages about 37 mpg. Over 25,000 miles we average about 37 in mixed driving because she drives it mostly, but without much effort I can see 20 mile trips that average 44 mpg and more! I find the car to be very confident and responsive.
Thanks so much for this review. Not many review the 6MT Mazda3 ever since the turbo came out. With that said ...
I just purchased a used 2020 Mazda3 Premium 6MT and, 200miles in, have to say I love it so far.
I owned a Gen3 Mazda3 Sedan, the SV (base) model. It was NOT a luxurious experience at all, but I purchased it for less than $10k. Reliable Skyactiv motor, buttery manual transmission, light clutch with just enough feel to recognize when it engages. However, the base model will absolutely explain why many thought Mazdas were cheap trash. They stripped literally every likable feature out of the car. It has a radio, AUX port, and nothing else. Despite how much I loved the transmission, everything else about the car made it an embarrassing experience I didn't want to share with passengers.
The 2020 Premium is literally night and day. Bose audio, leather seats, 2.5L NA motor, soft materials everywhere. But with the same great transmission.
I couldn't consider the Civics as none were available and I was avoiding buying brand new. Also turbo motors aren't for me. I just got rid of my WRX because the turbo behavior feels like a broken cheat code that works well sometimes and otherwise worries that you might blow your motor from it's effort to make a small motor do more than it should be capable of doing. Turbo lag, even with a tune, made the car feel slow for the first 5-10s. By the time it felt fast, it was traveling at the same speed as every other car. Was never great from a dig without dumping the clutch and taxing the turbo to uncomfortable levels. Between my personal experience and all the blown motor horror stories in forums, I couldn't enjoy the car at all. That meant reservations about all modern Hondas as well. If I could have found an Accord 2.0t 6MT, or test drove a 2022 Si, maybe. But the Gen10 civic was ugly, and still hard to find at a decent price, so when I found the Mz3, I test drove it and couldn't pass it up. Might add a pov drive to YT one day soon.
I have virtually zero complaints with my accord 2.0 MT outside of the stiffer ride due to bigger wheels and smaller rubber on the tires. The Subaru horror stories may have jaded you as the turbo charged Hondas are some of the most reliable on the market and affordable as well as offering a manual option. I spent a looooong time deciding between this, the civic hatch, and the accord sport 2.0. Mind you this was last gen. I’m not a big person by any stretch, but this car made me feel enclosed (I acknowledge this is a hatch). In the end, the bigger engine option and the roomy interior sold me on the accord. I’ve kids so I’m able to joy ride when they’re not with me and have the comfortable space for family rides. I think I’d really like the current gen sport civic hatch, but I would definitely miss the power of a downshift in my accord. It’s special. I wish Mazda did a better job of offering performance over amenities. That’s why people get manual in the first place right?
@@justinsane11 I was interested in getting the Accord with a manual and now thet are no longer available. I wonder why Honda got rid of it ??
@@t.k.morris customer demand vs what has actually been sold. When I was looking for my car I told the salesman manual please and he gave me this look like “this is going to be a chore.” They don’t sell well so they stop manufacturing them.
I think I’m one of few as I was looking for manual transmission one with moonroof, fold down rear seats, comfortable but firm ride and no turbo engine for my commute car. I was shopping between Honda and Mazda then I decided to buy 2021 Mazda machine grey, 6MT (of course, lol) on December 2021. I’m glad I made that decision and still be happy with it even I have seen new civic hatch. 95% of driving is just myself so I don’t really care much about back space.
I'm looking to buy a used 21 . Thanks for the review. I only drive manual transmission vehicles. I've got it down to the subaru crosstrek and this mazda 3. In the next few weeks after taking those 2 on a test drive I'll have 1 of them. It's getting harder and harder to get a vehicle with a manual transmission.
Tuning kits for this are very affordable and super easy to use btw, no reason not to go for the lower spec engine if you aren't too bothered with trim exclusive things.
Don't miss out on the fun!
What do you recommend for a first time performance mod? I have a 2019 Mazda3
What tuning kits would you recommend?
I think if Mazda is going to offer a manual transmission, it needs to be available at least on the base model, even if the cost would be the same as the automatic.
great review. Here in Australia, the mazda3 is still sold with the 6MT in all the trim levels. I'm happy i bought my mid-trim level 2.5L sedan with the 6speed earlier this yr. Since only 5% of the new mazda3 sales are manual here, it wont be long until they remove it completely.
Man that's great you guys get that option, unfortunate only 5 percent take it that way 😪
All trim levels? Im pretty sure the Turbos are all automatics
@@BrainFuck10 we dont have the turbo option in australia
Finally a fellow 6'3" guy doing car reviews. Glad to know I'll fit both in the front and back, albeit snug.
As I am finding out, the whole "...Honda offers a manual transmission across the Civic line..." is a bit of bait-and-switch. After watching dozens of videos raving about the new Civic hatchback manual transmission, I drove to my Honda dealer only to be told that I cannot have a Touring Sport in manual transmission. Although the manual transmission is listed on the Honda website, Honda won't build it. At least not any time soon.
I hope Mazda is more honest with its manual transmission offerings.
That's interesting and a real issue right now. Didnt know that Honda was having that problem too. It’s kind of hard for certain dealers to get them because brands will allocate different models to different dealers. I was talking with a Toyota Manager yesterday and he describes a similar issue. But that was a small store, I've talked with other larger stores that get more allocations and hear a different story. This might change as production ramps back up. Mazda is also short on Mazda3s right now but since there is only one spec, it's much easier for them to get one in, you might just find specific color combos impossible to find.
I had the same experience. Most dealers are charging 31-35 for a sport touring with a manual trans. While it’s a good car, it’s still just a 1.5t…
I was surprised a little bit as I have seen many reviews on sport touring 6MT. As my experience with my Mazda, they still make 6MT still (I have bought 2021 machine grey 6MT). You might have to wait a little bit if you are looking for particular color. You will have more chance (sooner) if you are looking for polymetal grey (as in video) as it’s popular color for manual ones.
Thanks for the video! Regarding the mileage, the eSkyactiv-X engine should be a nice upgrade
I for one am very happy to see Mazda offer a manual in a version with the luxury. As a longtime MT driver for 35+ years, why must manuals be relegated to bottom-barrel cars?
thank you for the video. all of your review points are spot-on about this car in manual. owned the only other stick mazda (2020 miata) before this and it was a totally different driving experience. i’m 2 months in to owning a 2023 MT mazda3 hatch. i like the car but the engine and overall performance lacks spirit and soul. for the base hatchback segment, it is superior. against the hot hatchback segment, it comes up short. way more pros than cons. i’m sure i’ll grow into this car. this is a more mature generation of mazda3. compared to other cars, this manual is way better than the new corolla hatch, but not as engaging and fun as a miata or wrx. thanks for making great content
If you could of started over, what would you of gotten?
I had to buy a new car last Fall after my prior car was totaled in an accident. I really wanted a Mazda3 hatch with a manual but there weren't any available at the time. I did get a Mazda3 hatch, albeit one step up from the base, automatic, and AWD, which has actually proven to be a good setup for my midwestern winters (though I'd have had no issues with FWD and good winter tires, as my prior car had that set up). Anyway, my trim lacks Bose, sunroof, and leather heated seats but I have to say, for the sub-26k price it's a hell of a car. I've done some cross-country drives and it's been really comfortable. The automatic cruise control works great, and even the base stereo sounds good. I thought the lack of a touch screen would be problematic since so many reviewers seem to harp on it. I've gotten used to it quickly and Mazda has included the right number of buttons to be able to jump to where I want without much thought. I was on a work trip and rented a car with a touch screen and it dawned on me how much harder it was to use. On any sort of bumpy road, it took a LOT of concentration to touch the right position on the screen while driving. I honestly think that while the lack of a touch screen seems odd in the context of Apple Car Play, it actually works much better in a driving environment and Mazda did it really well.
Nice job! I have subscribed! I agree that Mazda should offer this manual with more trim levels and maybe a specific to the manual transmission level where it is focused on being a sporty car, not a luxury car. My wife and I owned a 2019 CX-5 and one thing Mazda has, over even the high-end marques, the interior. High quality, well designed, nicely built. When you get into a Mazda you feel like you are in a car that is twice the price. This could be one of those cases for me that I like eclectic. When you show up in a Civic Si, VW GTI, or an Elantra N, people expect it to be manual, etc. The Mazda 3 will be one of those cars that when you show up to a car enthusiast event - people will all say 'This is a manual? Cool'. I need to drive one!
They are assembled in Japan. My 22 manual premium HB is. Maybe the press cars aren’t. The MX30 is assembled in Mexico. Huge difference.
This Premium-trim 6M had me all excited until I saw how its Canadian equivalent was equipped and priced. The top naturally-aspirated trim in Canada is called the GT, identical to the car in your review when FWD and 6M. Except it's not, it gets all the features of the turbocharged US Premium Plus - heated steering wheel, 360 view monitor, f/r parking sensors, bright-trim interior pieces, etc etc, plus some not on any US 3, like heated tilt-down mirrors. A total of 15 features I counted in the specs. Well OK, a lot of buyers won't be interested in paying extra for all this fancy stuff. But Canadians don't. They pay USD 4,400 LESS than the US Premium (MSRP+freight, exchange rate today). Knowing Mazda strips down the 3 so heavily for US buyers and charges $4K more for the favor pretty much soured me on the car.
That's insane, once again, I deeply envy the specs your cars receive :(
@@Realistick No I'm an American, and was going to shop for the US Premium until I went into the Canadian specs and build out of curiosity... If I lived there I'd love the 3!!!
@DB oh man why'd you look!😂😂 Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to
@@db8980Well, we get screwed on the prices of ALMOST everything up here compared to the US. Gotta throw us a bone here and there.
Same story for the new SI. It is stupid.
Thinking about picking one of these up to use as a daily driver. Had a 2020 MX-5, which I really loved, so I have some Mazda experience. Don't need a super fast or sporty car as I have a 2022 Camaro 2SS 1LE to cover that need, but just want something to use daily and year round that is still fun to drive and practical. Right now my wife and I have a 2021 Honda Ridgeline that covers that need, and since she works from home this setup has been working for us so far. But I'd still like to get something for my own use (leaving the Ridgeline for her use or when we need a truck). Only real requirement for me is a manual transmission, and this would solve that desire.
I'll probably start looking around early next year, but so far the Mazda 3 is near the top of my list.
What else is on your list. I am currently looking for something to replace my 2006 Mazda3 sedan manual. I drove one of the 2021 Mazda3 MT hatchbacks and it was great except not a Zoom Zoom feeling like my 150hp 2006 model sedan. I am also considering a Civic SI , Toyota GR86/BRZ , Hyundai Elantra N , and the Acura Integra A-Spec. The Mazda has a naturally aspirated engine which I believe might be better for long term reliability and maintenance. Manual Transmission is a must have for me, no automatics regardless of any benefits they may have.
@@t.k.morris I am buying a 2019 Ford Fiesta ST. Already paid for it, and the seller is just waiting for the title to arrive from the bank, which should hopefully be Friday. With any luck, I'll be picking up the car on Saturday. It does have performance mods, but the owner is a Ford mechanic so he did them correctly. Car is in great shape, and drove fantastic when I took it for a test drive.
Nice shifting from 2 to 3. When they put the standard transmission in the turbo I'll get one
Love the styling but I don't really want a hatchback. I prefer sedans and I still enjoy driving my 2006 Mazda3 sedan 2.0L naturally aspirated 5 speed. It has been so reliable and practical for me over 16+ years of ownership. I don't need a new car but I want one for my retirement reward. Whatever I get has to be manual for my enjoyment. I just wish Mazda offered the manual in the sedan model! And they use regular grade gas which is also a plus!
The hatch is made in Japan. It’s most of the sedans that are made in Mexico
I think this limited manual is only a thing in the US, because in Germany you can choose it with every engine, because most people here prefer manual, the Meme in the US is, that they mostly drive automatic cars. But on the other hand we dont have the 2.5L Option available here, thats very sad.
i really hope that in a year or two they combine the forces between the different trims... I would hands down pay a hefty dollar for an AWD, turbo, manual mazda hatchback... one can only dream
Same here, Toyota has me sold on the corolla gr but I would jump ship for a mazda like that
It's not happening. There's A LOT of work that has to be done on the car to fit the manual transmission with teh Turbo. There's no Return on Investment for Mazda. Too few people buy the manual.
@@alcovitch what are you talking about? The 2.5L engine turbo is the exact same as the NA 2.5L. All they would have to do is maybe upgrade the clutch and examine if the transmission can handle the extra power output from the turbo
I want to know if you have a person that is 5 feet tàll or shorter to seat in the driver seat . We can see how a 6 feet plus person seats in driver seat but what about how a short person. Can a short person reach the clutch all the way? Can a short person see over the steering wheel? If you have a 9 yr old person around you can test the driver seat for a short person.
I've owned a 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2018 Mazda 3. I always wanted the top trim level and biggest engine (2.3L and 2.5L as they updated). I went with Mazda for the luxury on a budget value with a fun to drive manual. As the years have passed the ability to put hands on a Manual with all the things I want is becoming harder, and now I'm bemoaning that Mazda hasn't paired that 6 speed manual to the Turbo AWD drivetrain. If they had, my current shopping choices would be a no brainer.
If Mazda ever makes this happen, I'll be skidding whatever my current ride is into the dealership for trade and won't be able to throw my old keys at them fast enough. It might even be the first Mazda I've ever paid MSRP for as well.
Two reasons they didn't pair the 6MT to the 2.5T according to Mazda. 1) that transmission wouldn't be able to handle the torque and power of the 2.5T so they'd have to design a new one. 2) the 2.5T generates lots of low end power and torque(since it was stolen from larger SUVs) so it wouldn't be that great of a driving experience.
@@erikhaynes5506 completely understand point one. On point two, too much torque makes for a poor driving experience? ROFL. I'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.
@@benjaminguider1048 Dave Coleman of Mazda explains it at the 9;30 mark in the video.
czcams.com/video/8mG3UXxiWl8/video.html
@@benjaminguider1048 Actually I was wrong on point one. He said the old manual transmission was too big and that's why they'd have to re-engineer another one.
As an only car... ehh. As a 2nd comfortable practical car that won't bore you to tears to pair with a more dedicated sports car... great option
That is what I am thinking of doing!
Mazda should put the stick in the turbo and really make the new Integra irrelevant.
I'd love that combo, but if they were to do that, I'd really like to see them stiffen it up and add IRS or else it wouldn't really compete too well with the Integra from what we have heard.
This. I would love to own a 6MT Mazda 3 Turbo
@@luisjalvareztorres8481 You and like 5 people. NO ONE BUYS THEM
@@alcovitch no one buys them because they don’t offer them. The reason why VW keeps offering the manual transmission in the Golf GTI & R is because 40% of their customers still choose the 6MT over the automatic. I personally do believe that if Mazda decided to offer the 3 Turbo with the 6MT it’d sell very well.
@@luisjalvareztorres8481 Only 9% of all Canadian's on the road drive Manual. Or in other words, 91% drive Automatics. There's no market.
You do realise that you can't just put a manual transmission in the mazda 3 turbo right? First they'd have to R&D a new manual as the one they have isn't powerful enough to handle the turbo. Even if they DID do that, theyd have to reengineer the car for manual. There's a video from the mazda 3 designer as to why they aren't doing it. For 9% of the market.
They don't sell. Sorry.
what do you mean last time I bought a new car I wanted a manual and that was 2010 and they were only available in the premium versions of most car brands but in the 80's and before they were more common at least in foreign cars and usually in the cheaper trim
Wow that 0-60 time is a little surprising! I have a 2021 Mazda CX-30 AWD with the same 2.5L N/A 4-cylinder and with a draggy I got a 0-60 time of 7.42 seconds which I think is reasonable, bb he lighter weight FWD manual car should be faster, unless wheel spin boggs the run slightly.
It could definitely do better, i typically do one acceleration test and traction here is low so im usually cautious on the launch.
You can definitely get the car at dealer cost which is $1500 off the MSRP and not feasible if you would go with a Honda or Toyota. The Invoice is $1240 less than MSRP and the dealer holdback is $284.
😂I used to work at a new car dealership, one of the few in my area that didn't mark over msrp, they would laugh at you for asking for a discount right now. If you can get a mazda at msrp right now, I would take it and run. Moving forward, cars should just come at msrp the same way Teslas do, iphones do, etc, this kind of stripping away of margin only works when brands are desperate to sell and completely destroys resale value. If people want to haggle, do it on a used car.
@@Realistick Just gotta keep on waiting. Saw plenty under MSRP back in early 2020. Back when you could get a 2019 model year for $2000 under MSRP when the 2020s came out
I bought a turbo 3 and wish that came with a manual. The 6spd is too expensive for what it is. My turbo 3 wasn’t much more expensive and it has 250hp and awd.
i'm deciding between this and a VW GTI. I hate the lack of buttons and the gauge cluster in the VW, but loved the drive. I like the inerior of the Mazda, but the engine is so anemic. the GTI sounds better and has a great engine
If the GTI had the Mazda3’s interior it would be the perfect daily driver. I’m deciding between these two vehicles as well. Some days I think I’m 100% sold on the performance and driving dynamics of the GTI that I can compromise on the interior that admittedly I worry about over the course of long term ownership. Other days I care leas about the idea of performance and tell myself I’d be fine with what the Mazda3 offers in order to have the more ergonomic and comfortable interior. It is a tough dilemma for sure.
What other car options were you referring to at 15:37 ?
Gti, WRX, Civic SI
I give a PLUS to mazda keeping some analog gauges.
I'd like to get one but the rear seat is about as spacious as my WRX. The infotainment being remote controlled seems like a turn off but I wonder how easily I'd be able to adjust to it.
The infotainment is something you can adjust to for sure! But the backseat of the last couple WRX generations is more usable. I'd probably go with a new WRX if you use your back seat a lot!
infotainment is outdated on Mazda 3 and all other big 4 (Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru) japanese automakers have touchscreen infotainment system.......
After using the remote controller for a day or two you will start hating touchscreens. They are dangerous and need cleaning almost daily. The Mazda system should be a world standard.
"...because emissions standards here make it worse for brands to produce high numbers of MT cars..."
Word.
Comment on old video, sorry. Hopefully someone answers:
Looks like I might be able to choose between this or a Turbo hatchback premium plus (so extra cost over base turbo). Wish it was turbo sedan, but inventory is what it is. (1) Does Manual make up for no turbo in satisfaction, or does the turbo awd just take the cake? (2) Or would I be better off hoping prices on used Miata come down to use as a second car, and just get some basic fuel efficient crossover 🤮as non-fun/winter/hiking trip car?
Both the civic Si and Toyota hatches are marked up like crazy over here.
1. Manual is better if you want more fun, turbo is better if you want more relaxed, punchy acceleration. I would personally choose the manual, especially since its days could be numbered. 2. The two car solution is always the best if you can afford it.
@@Realistick Appreciate the feedback! Still bouncing back and forth in my head. Which, in this market, is a good way lose out altogether.
Do you happen to know if manual trans has cylinder deactivation? I cant seem to find this info online
It does
Currently a 21' WRX owner. Just give me the turbo hatch with the 6 speed, it would be such a better car than the WRX.
I feel like if they did that, they'd really need to add IRS and a little stiffer ride to complete the package but I'd be all over it too.
2.5turbo would be awesome with 6speed
It’s just market dynamics. In Australia we can get manual on any trim and it’s cheaper than automatic. We also get niceties like rear air vents and surround cameras. No 2.5 turbo option though. On the civic side we only get one trim and it costs more than the highest trim Mazda 3, while having fewer features.
Saying it doesn’t have fog lights is a bit disingenuous when they’re actually no longer needed thanks to the LED lighting.
As a 2 person household the Mazda 3 is the best in the segment in Australia for me. It has the most standard features. The Hyundai isn’t premium enough inside for me, civic lacks features and is overpriced and the golf requires a lot of option packs, has awful touch controls and poor reliability. The Mazda 3 is down on interior space but Mazda knows that families will buy SUV’s, I’m the target demographic for this car.
I want my subcompact to be premium, I don’t want to feel like I’m driving a rental. I used to only buy golfs but now with other brands moving more upmarket, I have more options.
2023’s have a manual base model :) just signed for one today.
Woah woah woah now! For the us?
I’m in Canada so I assume all of NA
@@triofact34 Ah, it's different there, we still don't get it on anything but the premium hatch for 2023, I'll see if they update that on the sedan!
Hey, I was looking for one in Canada. Did you factory order it or did you buy it off the lot? How long did it take for you to receive it?
This will probably be my next car because there's just not a lot of options left for those of us who prefer a sporty car with a manual transmission and a naturally aspirated engine. Regarding visibility. I don't know why people complain about that. Sports cars never have good visibility. It's part of the sports car design. It is a shame that Mazda doesn't offer the manual transmission also in the sedan version, which would then be a sports sedan, and of course it would have better visibility.
I'm hoping manual transmission make a comeback, but I doubt it with the EV and hybrid BS that governments are pushing.
I actually love that it actually has buttons and the small wheel to control the screen. The touchscreen fad is the stupidest thing going on in the car industry
I went from a 2017 mach 1 mustang manual to the 3 I hate it but it's good on gas an haven't gotten a ticket in a year an my payment an insurance are much cheaper.
My 2022 6sp is made in Japan.
Well welly well. No review for the 2023 6 speed sport GT yet.
It's the same car for 2023
I've went with a 2023 mazda 3 with the manual solely for availability reasons. While not the best at anything I appreciate its all around quality and especially the tactility of ergonomics of the interior. I had a toyota corolla manual on order for about 12 months until they discontinued it this spring and with the availability of elantra's and golf's in my area being pretty much zero I was ready to go for whatever new car i could get my hands on first and this ended up being that.
One small point, you miss pronounced the word Obsolescence at 14:30
My bad, didn't catch that
Can’t you get the base sedan with the 6 speed?
depends where you live. In Australia its still offered, in the US its only the top spec premium hatch.
Mazda wants to go upscale, but deleted ind. rear susp., no rear air vents/charging ports, no center rear pass through. :/
The car is definitely a niche product. No one really offers manuals across their product range though. With the Civic, you get more choices, but one, the Type R, is not going to be obtainable for most, and the Sport is low on power even by its own segment standards. Toyota doesn't offer their JBL audio on Corollas with a stick (not putting the GR into the mix, as that is also going to be a unicorn). The GTI is the only line with manuals every step of the way, but their pricing in real world scenarios is pretty painful. The base S version lacks some pretty basic features, and the Autobahn is ludicrously expensive. That leaves the SE at somewhere around five grand more than this Mazda. Admittedly, the GTI is far and away a higher performance vehicle. I think though that what Mazda offers is valuable. This Mazda 3 delivers ergonomics, interior quality, fit and finish, and features in a combination that really no one else has. If that combo works for you, it's a great option. It's not intended for folks wanting to compare track times.
My last several cars were a GTI, a Golf R, an Audi S5, and my current Civic Type R. I'm trading my CTR for one of these Mazda 3s because as much as I love the CTR, it's like owning a thoroughbred racehorse and only getting to ride it on the kiddy trails at day camp, at least with my low-mileage and limited driving these days. And they paid me more for the car than I paid for it new, so there's that. I choses the Mazda over the Si mostly though because I wanted something a bit different, and because I always have liked Mazda's sometimes quirky approach to making cars. And I dig the bulbous look of this thing, the cockpit-like environment, and the chance to have a decent stereo for a change. The CTR is a godlike hot hatch in some ways, but its infotainment is something from the dark ages of auto sound, for sure.
Well said I agree with you.
Owner of a 22 Mazda 3 Manual. It's by no where nears a full on sports car but rather it's a car that can be Sporty when you want it to at the same time being very luxurious.
It's supposed to be a reliable daily driver that you can have fun in if you like to have spirited drives.
The sound system is amazing btw.
Hope you enjoy your mazda 3.
How would you guys compare this to the new civic si?
Only reason I don't own a mazda 3 is because they are forcing me to choose between a manual and the turbo/ awd
I’ve always thought that an automatic Mazda is so useless Mazda’s manual transmissions are so good
Most people ragging on the Subaru WRX clearly have never owned one. Prob belonged to 'a friend of a friend', and are only repeating what that person said. I've owned two (2006 and 2021), and half the things people state here aren't accurate. I have never blown a gasket, and have never felt the engine being 'stressed' because of boost. The turbo on these cars really pump out power, as opposed to straining a small displacement engine (think Honda's 1.5L compared to WRX's 2.0 or 2.5L). Comparing this car to a WRX is like comparing a Mustang GT to a Lexus LC. Sure, both are V8 coupes, but have totally different purposes, and different client bases. No one will cross-shop these two cars, as you shouldn't cross-shop a WRX (or a GTI for that matter) with a Mazda 3.
I used to own a 2000 A4 5 speed. While this isn't an audi or awd or v6... It might just be as fun and comfortable to drive so I'm considering it. Manual offerings in this great country of ours are terrible. It's gonna be this or a 7+ year old bmw for me. Just worried about reliability on the bmw
I want to love this model but always walk away somewhat disappointed, and feels more cramped than the 2010-2013 generation. Great upscale looking interior though for sure. The real question though, given your recent adventure in Disgustang, would this be more comfortable to camp out in? That hatch just looks so short…
Definitely would not want to camp in this one the way I did in the mustang (which was also awful). I'd just crank the seat back if I were in here! The sedan is longer so you might actually be able to manage better in that.
I’m always perplexed by this car. I love Mazda and what they stand for in terms of driving feel and quality. But when they changed to a torsion beam suspension I was so disappointed. Add to that the awkward styling, egregious blind spots, cramped interior, so so power, not great gas mileage and high price and it’s a no go for me. The Mazda 3 should be their bread and butter car that accomplishes a large list of attributes, but I don’t see it excelling at anything.
I think they definitely fumbled some things but the price is still reasonable considering the features, engine and interior quality (more so with the sedan). Power is also high for the segment with most having the 2.5 liter or 2.5 turbo in the US. Gas mileage becomes the downside but Mazda is one of the few brands that has improved their reliability over the years since they split from Ford. It accels at several things, more so than a lot of other cars in the class, it just falls on its ass in a few ways that many people care about.
I have this car in a MT and it's an absolute blast to drive, interior is unmatched by competitors in the same class. The interior has plenty of room for people at least 5 '11, and the blindspots are pretty negligible in 2022 with all of the safety features but yes an annoyance nonetheless. The gas mileage is average but honestly it's not really a big deal, at least not for me and I do a lot of driving. The Mazda makes an amazing MT and overall I think this car is fantastic especially when compared to others in it's class
Bread and butter cars are now SUV’s.
@@greensabr200 do the Manuals come in a Turbo AWD variant as well? I feel like the would be the absolute sweet spot Mazda should’ve been aiming for.
@@greensabr200 Mazda 3 interior is ok, but blind spots, rear seating, no touchscreen infotainment is lame.......
this or jetta? in manual.
I wouldn't even consider VW if you are remotely concerned about reliability and maintenance cost.
Sticks are bought by only a few percent of the buyers so Mazda installed it in it's average mid pack trim as it did not make production and packing sense to spread it throughout other trims.
It is a 2019 model and you are comparing it to 2022 from other brands , specially Hyundai that must redo it's fleet every 6 months to catch up and it shows in it rushed designs that life forces into tweeks and poor aging .
Than comes GTI with its share of questions or issues , like reliability, poor ergonomics specially for a sporty car , touch screen only for someone living with control knob like BMW or in Mazda you simply don't want a simple but not user friendly touch screen only solution .
Than comes Subbie that also has reliability issues and fit and finish well below Mazda or VW interior quality ... also it's off road priority always cost the price in on road handling , and I don't mean stiff and rough WRX like ride that is a exception in Subbie line up.
I like this Mazda as all other Mazda products who are all about balance and realistic needs of a driver .
Of course every car can have some areas where we could wish for more or better , that will never change .
I drove Civic , Corolla and Impreza or Jetta Golf and neither one drove and handled even close to the precision and smoothness of a Mazda 3.
And arguments of inch more here or there in a larger cabin or trunk are not an engineering superiority in any way , just larger is not better but cars inferior are trying to choose this strategy as a cheap way to compete .
I will not view it as any form of superiority just more room ... Room in a compact hatch should never be a priority and those looking for roominess for car seats or 4 passengers should look into different class and size of cars...
Compact hatch must be compact , designed for 2 front passengers and occasional back seat short distance passengers ... so critique of Compact Hatch for having less rear seat room is a poor pick for criticism.
Than comes your 8sec to 60... it is super slow test , my wife's Sedan 3 automatic with just Lubegard additive to ATX and no modifications does 6.9sec .
I noticed that many 3s or CX30 come from the dealers and factory with overfilled oil , slightly over top hole on dipstick and it makes the engine lathargic and feeling strained and lazy, after dropping it 3/4 full between dipstick holes really make this engine feel more alive and easy to push... Try it and you'll see it 😉
I drove a 2022 model, it is also the highest trim available without going turbo for US models. I think the demand would be higher if Mazda did what Honda did and offered it in more than one trim (sales figures back this). However, I think mazda might struggle more with emissions standards, limiting how many they are willing to produce. You're right, this holds a big advantage over the other sporty models when it comes to maintenance! But you need to keep in mind that a Corolla that is admittedly less fun and premium (but still nice), offers similar performance for $5k less.
In the end, it;s all about priorities, as I tried to reiterate here. For some people, if you just want an upscale car with a stick, this is awesome. But many in this price range looking for a stick want something more performance focused and arent thinking about how in 10 years, this will have less issues.
As I said in this video, this can do better than 8 seconds. I did one run and it bogged down on the launch. With practice, mid to low 7s are possible but i am not going to break in a new car like that. Same reason I won't drain the oil for a 0-60 test. Great that yours can manage 6.9 seconds.
@@Realistick Lubegard helps to release around 40% of power loss in torque converter and allows the throttle body to perform quicker and smoother shift , I have used it on all my cars and it is a best spend 18usd on automatic car by far ... i think Corolla with much less torque and power along with lesser road feel and control despite IRS is not even close to Mazda 3... and arguments that it may perfom better while in agressive turn and on really bad road it another poor one , where we live roads are good and this scenario is 0.005% chance of acurance in my real driving conditions .
I bought our 2020 Mazda3 Select at 20Kusd , it was over year ago and there was 60 of them on the lot to choose from it I think it was a steal at 20K for brand new car like this.
I would love to get a GTI but it's new front grill and lights are just ugly to me than comes interior with awful ergonomics and not control know that I really love in a Mazda , reliability of GTI can also be the issue....
I wouldn't buy a automatic. I want the manual stick
In my opinion, manual transmissions are by far better than the automatics for many reasons. Its a shame that Mazda is cutting down on manuals. I have a 2007 2.0 mazda 3, 5 speed manual, that just gave its last breathe. I loved that car so much... but since Mazda now doesn't offer manuals anymore, but the Miata, I will consider buying a honda instead. Shame.
Most new automatic transmissions suck, especially the CVT's. I've test driven a bunch of cars recently.
Mazda... is going upscale. They believe it's the correct direction for them. The days of boyz racers are a thing of the past. Mazda has never been a.... big volume brand. To them, go grab a vw, Honda SI or Type R. When they look at the full gamut of the market, it makes the most sense. (Bro in law upper management at Mazda.)
10:44
One more thing, you've barely tapped into it's potential. Take it into a hot rod shop. And you'll truly begin to understand what it's true capabilities are!
There is only one shift to 60mph/100kph. Don't be scared; drive it like you stole it, redline first and second. Sheet, it ain't your car.
I would only buy a gas powered car for a manual transmission. If I want an automatic, I would just get an EV.
No to VW , No to Hyundai …… electrical issue an engine issues …….Mazda has been great in “consumer reports “
All copy and paste and no substance?
Wow them stick Mazdas are slow! Glad I bought a turbo one. Mine is super quick 5.4 0-60 and 1/4 13.9 and it’s auto/stick which adds a lot of fun!
My automatic version does 6.9sec so this testing method or measurements are way off ...
@@kdomster9141 ya 8.3 that’s slower than a Nissan Altima SR which has a CVT plus that would make it as slow as Hondas grab cars. No way man he is way off!
Lmao pay attention to the video. This was Dragy (GPS unit using 3k plus satellites) so it's as accurate as any other test. Any outlet you see and measurement recorded will use rollout as well. And as I stated in the video, I do one run, and i bogged down at the launch because I had no practice and I'm not going to do 5 runs like everyone else because this is a new car (trying to respect the break-in). I said this in the video but these can comfortably go mid 7s. I don't mean to come off rude or anything, I just feel like I'm repeating what I said above. Congrats on the turbo model!
@@nachomandetailingservices1057 He admitted that he did not do it right , I wonder why even report 0 to 60 when it was not done right? The same way it could have been done on a down hill and report 6.2 seconds 😉
@@kdomster9141 🤣🤣
Make manuals for the proletariat again!
29k thats only manual thats a hard nope
I like Mazdas. But that car is gross in those colors. Don't like that putty gray color. Hate those played out black rims.
Some of us have bad taste. It's ok. Own it.
Out of date. Your car is not as good as the 2023.
The 2023 model is basically the same...
The manual transmission is not convenience. I only recommend Automatic transmission.
Then why'd you watch the video on the manual transmission? To some, satisfaction is more important than convenience!
@@Realistick I was just watching it for fun.
@@bensonwu1238 well thanks for watching!
Stick shifts are for people who like to commit more to the driving experience than to ease of use. It’s a more sporty feel. Philosophically, I also feel that committing to the complete responsibility to the gearbox keeps me focused, keeps me from being inclined to texting and driving, and other elements, to include coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. I’m not suggesting anyone who prefers an automatic is lazy, but our trends are certainly reflected in comfort and convenience in lots of things. I like to be actively involved and focused versus mildly attentive. ☮️😎🎷
But some people like manual transmissions. Not everyone likes the same things. I recommend getting what you like.
Damn ur cute