First of all, I want to say great job this year on the Top 10 list. I'm lucky enough to have spent seat time in every car on the list save the Caddy and the GT-R,and there isn't a single one I wouldn't be happy to own. But let's talk top slot. Mazda3? Look, I know gas prices are high and small is in, but the Mazda3 ain't exactly frugal. With the 2.3-liter engine, the six-year-old design gets less than 30 mpg– on the highway. Around town you're talking 22 mpg. That's about the same as a Chevy Silverado Hybrid. The dash is kooktastic and I still think the four-door's funny looking (the wagon is the sex). Yes, it drives quite well and I recommend the 3 to people all the time. But I recommend the cheaper, better-driving Honda Fit even more. What's that you say? You're not talking about the standard Mazda3, but in fact the rip-snorting 263 hp MazdaSpeed3? Again, a good car, but not #1. Why not? The all new Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Ralliart blows its FWD, torque-cutting doors off. And then there's the little matter of STI and EVO. Am I wrong? Are you?
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Firstly, quick typo, I’m sure you mean mpg and not mph.
Next, as a commentator already noted in the main thread, it’s doubtful that the Mazda3 is the number 1 best out of 10 in the list. It is merely that it was included in the top ten list of the majority of poll respondants, hence the overall greatest number of votes.
Finally, I didn’t realize when I voted that I didn’t have to actually vote for ten cars. I could have merely have voted the six that I thought were the best out of the 20. I thought that I had to vote ten, so picked the remainder 4 which I normally would not have included. I’m sure this case cause the inclusion of cars unneccessarily. Or maybe it was just me…
My brother had a Mazda3 and I for one thought it was a good car. Not number 1 in a top ten list, but merely good.
I can’t tell you why it had the most votes. But I can say that after 2 years and 45k miles on mine, it’s been a great car. I have the loaded Grand Touring wagon with the 2.3l and 5AT. I’m happy with the fuel mileage (24 city/31 hwy) and power output, it’s not a sports car/sedan or a hybrid but it does many things and does them well.
I never really set out to buy this car but I’ll admit I had planned to stick within in the FoMoCo family due to some fleet discounts. Drove this while waiting on an Escape to be brought from another dealer and left with the 3 instead. In restrospect, the Escape may have served me a little better in the winter time or when camping, but the 3 is much more enjoyable on a daily basis.
I often think about what other car I would have bought with my $23k (yes, I paid cash). Not really sure; I liked the hatchback Civic Si but they were hard to find, considered a CR-V but they want blood for them in SLC, even a Golf but reliability scared me, a Focus hatchback merely because it was the cheapest, an Escape, a Tacoma, and a Mustang GT. A wide variety of vehicles with (except for the Stang) utility in the back of my mind. Maybe a Subie would have been good, but I don’t care for the boxer motors. Of course, I could have gone used.
I guess I’ve been more lucky than some, as I’ve only had the car in one time for an unscheduled stop. The passenger side window was slightly off-track. Of course, the most vocal are those with either a problematic car or those that regret their purchase decision.
But the 3 wagon is a good compromise among the reasons for considering all of those vehicles. It’s not a single-focused vehicle and I think that is why it has sold so well and was voted so many times. And it still turns my head everytime I close the garage.
But, so does my Volvo 760 but that’s because I’m cchecking to see if a fluid is leaking.
Consider one of those “guess the number of pennies in the ridiculously large jar” deals.
When a single person guesses the penny count, they’re usually wrong by a significant margin. BUT if you average out ALL the guesses, the final number is usually extremely close to the actual count.
So the choice of the Mazda3 may not be right for any one of us in particular, but the TTAC hive’s choice is righter for more people than other, more singularly attractive options, all things considered. (Does that make it TTAC’s Camry?)
That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
Oh, and I cross-shopped a Ford Focus and a Mazda3 once (they were sitting right next to each other in the showroom) and it was game, set, match Mazda.
I could pick 8 cars on that list that should have been in first over the Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3. And as my postings have indicated, not only do I own a Speed3, but I really don’t think it should have been on the list at all. I treat this car much like I treat the Neon/Caliber SRT-4. Awesome idea on paper, horrible execution.
Maybe it would win a “bang for the buck” comparo but best car? FWD? Really?
I’ve never driven it, and I can’t see myself buying a compact car, but I think the sedan is far and away more attractive than any other compact sedan (BMW 3-Series included), and apparently it handles better and is faster than everything in its class as well, so I may or may not (I can’t remember) have voted for it
RFortier- may I ask why you bought the car if now you dislike it so much? I thought about trading for an MS3, while the extra power is nice it’s really not worth it to me on a daily basis as it cannot be exploited. Or at least my driving style and other drivers would not allow for it.
What are comparing the car too when you think it is horrible? Something in the same price range or a bit more expensive? Just curious…
I will stand up for the 3 on this basis. Everyone complains that there are no economical small cars that are fun to drive and you aren’t embarrassed to be seen in. So Mazda went out and designed a fun to drive small car that you won’t be embarrassed to be seen in. Granted, they missed a little on the economy, but really, is averaging mid to upper 20’s bad gas mileage? I don’t think so. Granted the Civic is “nice” looking, but it still looks kind of quirky, especially with the UFO dashboard and strange shifter position. It also offers a wide verity, 4 door economy (2.0L), 4 door fun (2.3L), and for those who need a wagon there is a wagon version which for once is the more attractive one. Seriously, when is the last time a 5 door car looked nicer than its 4-door siblings? And then they add an affordable, high performance version as well. They covered all bases and with and interior that is actually welcoming instead of repulsing for a reasonable price. It is one of the few examples of a small car with a little class.
My opinion of the new WRX isn’t as high as yours. I much prefer the MS3. Drove them the same day.
I also can’t say I found the Fit much fun to drive. But I drove the automatic. I’ve been told the manual is much better.
Haven’t driven the new Ralliart yet. The new Evo is awesome, but much more expensive.
I think kericf explains the popularity of the car quite well.
Thanks for this QOTD Johnny. I’ve driven it, priced it, researched it to death, and came away with, “nice little car, I love the handling and interior, but…”
the gas mileage wasn’t high enough,
the EuroNCAP crash test ratings were suspect (the Mazda2 scores better),
the price was rather high for a Mazda (this is not a Honda Civic, or even a Toyota),
I clocked my head on the sill getting in, and couldn’t open the glove box all the way because my knees were in the way.
Really it’s a decent car and a nice benchmark for say, Ford, but my $20000 will still go to the Honda before a Mazda. I think it’s overhyped.
Lots of reasons, really. The price point was attractive at the time, and I didn’t want to buy a used car. I wanted something cheaper to modify than the BMW I was coming out of, and flashbacks to my first gen Turbo Eclipse made it seem like a good idea. It felt nice and solid on the test drive, really did. Not quite as nice and solid as the E46, but much more so than the Eclipse. I saw a budget Evo/STI. I was wrong.
After one year of ownership (and, yes, 25k miles in one year as a commuter car), the car is not fun to drive at all. I don’t get any more excitement out of it. First gear is obnoxiously stupidly short, I’m shifting before I’m even off the line to keep revs under 3k. It has, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, to much torque. The LSD really doesn’t handle the problem at all. Handle is decent, of course, I spent more money on suspension than power on the BMW, so I could be biased there.
I wasn’t expecting the interior to be Audi/Lexus quality. And I wasn’t thinking it would be awesome after some time, it was all but falling apart on the Eclipse. But on the Eclipse, I picked it up with 98k on the clock (and it oddly managed to survive a new, 16 year old driver, and gave me three honest, good years of service) so I expected it to be on the fall. The Mazda isn’t even a year old, and it feels meh at best. Rattles abound, no longer has that solid, strong feel, oh, and don’t drive down a road with the slightest bit of gravel, the concept of sound deadening is lost on this car.
Comparing it? Performance wise, I’m comparing it against all the Evo IXs sitting on dealership lots they couldn’t get rid of before the Evo X hit the ground. They were going for as low as 25 for an MR around here. So I consider that in the same price range. I have no problem modifying the car, in fact I love doing it, but you would have to spend 2 grand just to keep up with an Evo IX, then more to surpass. That’s also assuming you aren’t getting overcharged in the aftermarket because it seems that all AM companies consider Mazda a “niche brand” and hardly make any good parts for it that are priced along side other parts.
Interior wise, I’m looking at the GTI I test drove. It was 24k, had a nice leather interior. Not super nice on the Audi/Lexus level, but better than this. A buddy of mine has a MkV GTI with 50k miles on it, and it still feels pretty solid.
Like I’ve said elsewhere, if you have the scratch and your looking for a hot hatch, then go to the STI or R32. If your on a bit of a budget, lean towards the GTI. If you are dead set on a Speed3, just let me know, lol.
I was seriously considering a MS3 for my next car (currently have an 03 325iT which I love) but RFortier’s words give me definite pause. I can see how it would be a fabulous testdriver, but living with it day to day might be a chore. Something to keep in mind if I ever do a test drive.
Currently I’m scoping out cars as replacements for the wife’s pathfinder.. Something like the Fit might be just the ticket..
I think it was a mistake to group the Mazda3 and the Mazdaspeed3 together as one car. They are different cars. That would have been like giving the VW Rabbit/GTI a spot on the list in the same slot.
The Mazda3 is the most fun you’re going to have in an econocar. But number 1? Maybe 10? But the speed3, while one of the best pocket rockets, is bested by the GTI, WRX and Ralliart by most opinions.
But most of all…the Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 share a frame and sheetmetal…and thats about it.
I think the Hive Mind answer is correct, and I don’t think the cars you compare it to are really that comparable. The fit is great, but it looks like a mini mini-van, is hard to find at a dealer, and is nowhere close in performance, even if it is every bit as much fun to drive. The Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Ralliart are both more expensive and look dumb, the Ralliart in particular having clumsy cheap lines. The Mazda 3 is the best all around small car on the market at the moment…plus its proven reliable and lacks the potential high $$$$ repair cost associated with any 4 wheel drive car.
The STi and EVO are way more expensive than the MS3. So it really isn’t fair to compare those cars.
With the MS3’s closest competition, the Ralliart isn’t available to the public yet (so it’s unproven), and the WRX is a polarizing car. Then you’ve got a considerably slower Civic Si, quality/dealer concerns for the GTI and Cobalt SS, and horrible ugliness from the Caliber SRT4. Combine up all this and it is not suprising that the MS3 would win out in a large-scale vote.
As far as the normal Mazda3, I like RF calling it the “TTAC Camry” because although it might not be far and away the best, it doesn’t have any major deal-breaking flaws.
I have never for one moment regretted the fact that I got a Malibu Maxx instead of a Mazda3 hatch. Same price, same fuel economy, more power, more room (leg, shoulder, hip, rear-leg, cargo!).
Yeah, there’s depreciation, but I’m not selling this baby. And even if I do, I bet there’ll be a huge market of SUV refugees.
Yeah, there’s handling, but I’m used to the electronic assist, and can take the Maxx through the twisties just fine.
Maybe next year have a vote for number one separate from the other nine?
OK, I’m gonna plod my way through this discussion as an adjunct to the main discussion over at ten best cars to point out that the 2.0 litre version averages 35 (imperial) mpg on the highway with a manual transmission at the legal “forgiveness” speed of 117 Km/h on the 401 in Ontario. Following a vintage car rally as back up vehicle, it actually got 42 mpg. Antique hunting requiers a hatchback. Previously that role was played by a couple of Golfs. A 1989 and a 1998. Both cars were good, but after 2000 VW reliability fell off a cliff, so the 5 door Mazda replaced them. Mr Fortier(?) is obviously a very young enthusiast and for him it was absolutely the wrong car. For us older geezers it’s definitely the best in class – based on price, reliability and performance.
I love my Mazda3. Everyone who has ever driven it cannot believe how much fun it is to drive. There’s a reason this thing is the #2 best selling car in Canada (Next to the venerable Civic).
“Best” is subjective, but let me tell you, it is the best handling, most fun to drive Econobox on the market, bar none, and the MS3 is the best price/performance ratio Hot Hatch out there.
Even moreso, the service, support, and build quality has endeared me to Mazda – I’ll definitely be looking to give the Zoom Zoom family a good look when I next buy. RX8 maybe?
Edmunds compared the Mazdaspeed 3 to the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Ralliart (twice i think) and the 3 kicked both their butts. Just sayin.
While I don’t think the Mazda3 is the “best” car, I think it made enough people’s lists that in aggregate it polled the most votes.
That said, I need to pour cold water on the Impreza/Lancer love fest. The new WRX/STI and Ralliart/Evo may have better interiors than the previous generation, but they have eliminated the purity that made them special while at the same time pricing them out of the range of most buyers. People that can afford the new STIs and MRs won’t shell out 40k for a Mitsubishi or Subaru- they’ll buy twin turbo BMWs.
Austinseven: Mr Fortier(?) is obviously a very young enthusiast and for him it was absolutely the wrong car.
I’m 23, so not exactly old, lol. I can’t comment one bit on the regular Mazda3, I’ve never driven one. I can only comment on a year of owning the Speed3.
Oh, and Dealership service has been by far subpar. Don’t even get me started on the engines falling out or the smoking turbos. And if I have to see another regular Mazda3 owner say “I just got an M3 hatch” one more time, I might snap. My current response to them is “I didn’t know that the M3 came in wagon form yet. How is that V8 treating you, and did you get he six speed DIY or DCT?”
That usually throws them off pretty well.
Phil…I’ve seen most of those tests myself, and after getting a night of flogging on a friend’s 2008 STI wagon, I’m really not sure how. It is far more composed in the really hard twisty bits, and damnit, AWD launch just can’t be beat.
In all fairness the Mazda3 is a Mazda that is built to the same formula that Mazda has been using forever.
Mazda’s have always been cheaper (in price and quality) yet more fun cars than the average Toyota, Nissan, or Honda product that they are meant to compete against. That is the Mazda way and for the most part is has worked for them.
The problem IS you need to understand this fact before you do buy a Mazda. If you are looking for long term commitment you will generally be disappointed with any Mazda outside of the Miata.
Understand that the xeon lights, 17″ wheels w/VR tires, leather, shiftable 5spd tranny, all cost $$$$ so something has to give to get it to market at the price Mazda does.
It is easy to call a Corolla or Civic boring when are willing to NOT look for the fine details that make for 200,000 mile, 10 year cars.
Personally, I am an old school dude, I will always go for high quality up front and pass on the frills (that can be added later).
For the record, I’m talking about the just-refreshed WRX — the one with the STI turbo, stiffer everything and 265 hp.
Despite having owned many much more expensive vehicles, I find myself suprised by how much I like my daily driver Mazda3 and how easy it is to live with. To me it is a greater achievement to engineer a car that is fun, frugal, good looking and $16K then it is to throw millions at a “money is no object” supercar that only a handful of people can afford.
While I am surprised that the TTAC readers have chosen the Mazda3 (given the lead foot demographic), I can’t say that I disagree with the outcome.
I’m dissapointed the GTI didnt make it. I own one.
It tickles 40mpg on the highway and i get about 35mpg highway even with my ECU flash (250hp, 280tq FTW!1).
The GTI seems to be a very good all round car. Decent room, excellent fuel economy, quality interior, great power, stellar handling; Dont know why it didn’t make it. It really does everything well.
Blah this debate again? Okay I concede. Don’t buy this car. Our residuals need help. Also, screw you Loverman. Time to get a real man’s car and ditch the WRX. Might I suggest a Miata?
After three years and 58,000 miles, I’m still in love with my ’06 Mazda3 s 5-door (and yes, it is much hotter than the 4-door). I can’t think of anything under $25k that I’d possibly choose instead of it….nothing is as much fun and drives as well for under $20k.
BTW, cruise set at 70mph on the highway, 30-31mpg is realistic and 27mpg overall is no problem.
In defense of the Mazda 3:
I think that given the automobile industry in it’s current state the Mazda 3 is one hell of car. It is a competitive small car sold in the U.S.
There are arguably a handful of “competitive” small cars in the U.S. but many of them suffer from serious flaws. The Civic’s styling is too polarizing, and the engine is gutless. The Corolla lacks driving dynamics. VW (Golf,Jetta) has a spotty history.
As a platform the Mazda 3 offers plenty of versatility. If you want better fuel economy get a 2.0L model. Want a little more power? Get the 2.3L. Want a hatchback? They have that too. Looking for something with “too much torque”; they got that too.
The interior and exterior styling are nice. The engine isn’t put together with electrical tape like the current Focus (US). This is essentially the Euro-spec Focus that many people on this site and countless others have been pining for since 2004.
It is a car made for both piston-heads and appliance drivers. It has style, is affordable, and is fun to drive. Is there really any reason why the Mazda3 isn’t the best car sold today?
I must admit, I too am seriously considering the purchase of a Speed3 to replace my humble Elantra, and although RFortier1796’s comments have given me slight pause, I still think it’s the best bang for the buck hot hatch you can get. And I think, despite the WRX having AWD, the Speed3 is far superior to the WRX (the ’08 version) and perhaps the Lancer Ralliart.
My brother has a DSG equipped MkV GTI and according to him a) dealer service is horrendous b) warranty service is even worse c) the car hasn’t really held up mechanically as well as he’d thought. It’s still a great drive though but compared to the other long terms comments on the Speed3, the latter is superior.
I’ve stolen many test drives and each time, the car just continues to grow on me.
Maybe it shouldn’t be number one, but it definitely deserves a place on the Top Ten list.
Oh and Lieberman…isn’t this the Top Ten for 2008 list? The new 265hp WRX wouldn’t qualify since it’s actually a 2009 model.
All this discussion combined with the discussion on the other post about the “best 10” shows the improper nature of this idea. “Best 10” is confusing, means different things to different people, plain stupid in the very end.
Then I’m thinking, who in their right mind would come up with something like this and why? There is only one answer that I could come up with: Bottom line, what’s the purpose of this website? To attract people here and generate web-traffic, period. “Best 10” or twelve or “The crap list”, it does not matter. The more intrigued you are, the more worked up you get, the better for the bigger cause of generating and maintaining web traffic. Just my 2 cents and my little contribution to the bigger good (traffic).
As a Mazdaspeed 3 owner myself, I am happy to see it at #1. However, I would liked to have seen the Miata higher. There seems to be a large Mazda 3 mafia present and accounted for here reading and responding, and I think that says something about the car. Drive one and you’ll understand mentality. Sure I wish mine (and the regular 3) could squeeze out better MPGs, but it’s a rocket at a VERY good price.
RFortier- I would say that austinseven is pretty accurate in his statement and being 23, you’re still a young enthusiast. And since you’re (probably) just out of college with a well-paying job (all relative, of course) you want the absolute best car for your money. But, “best” to a 23 y/o male is fast, looks good, gets the ladies, and is nice inside. Plus some cool tech is always helpful. Add some years, a kid, a wife and “best” changes quickly. That’s how the regular Mazda3 makes a bit more sense to people (especially myself). Yeah, there are some better cars out there, but this is one helluva value.
And I’m probably a bit younger than austinseven.
Who cares what people call their car, M3 or Mazda3…I doubt they’re trying to say they have a BMW M3. I usually just say I have a Mazda wagon and an old Volvo turbo. Would be nice to say I have a 760, and people think it’s a big V12 Beemer.
Yoo-hoo. We have numerous Mazdaspeed3 owners here! RFortier isn’t the only one and I’m sure I’m not the only other counter example of someone who loves their MS3s.
Actually I retract that statement. I hate it. Don’t buy it because I already see enough of my “limited edition” car out in wild. My campus alone has been slowly but surely growing. Hell, a quarter of the faculty staff seem to possess one. Oh and I’m 22 and clawing furiously living by biweekly paychecks still.
I was so happy that a normal car got the top slot instead of some expensive performance machine. The everyday cars are so much more deserving in my opinion. I would have rather seen the Fit there instead of the 3, but I’ll take what I can get.
The 3 doesn’t have great rated fuel economy, but you should be getting the 2.0 for one (it isn’t much less powerful and the economy is better) and for two, from what I’ve seen the 2.0 is underrated in terms of fuel economy. It looks like it’s really easy to get high 30s with it, and some people are cracking 40+. A lot of times with cars like this they get rated lower than their potential because of the gearing. Keep the rpms low (slow down on the highway in particular) and you can get big gains.
Having owned a Mazda3 for a few months now, and having cross-shopped much of the competition, I feel the Mazda3 is one capable car, offering a lot of bang for the buck, as cliché as that is. It isn’t perfect, but no car is.
Firstly, I test drove one fitted with the 2.0 engine, but decided against it (too slow from stop, not enough power) and tried out the 2.3, which I felt was a good fit for the car. Since its going to be my commuter car, I had no interest in the Mazdaspeed.
I have no qualms with the 2.3’s gas mileage return. I regularly hit 30 mpg (mostly freeway driving), not ostentatiously great but good enough to warrant the purchase on an economy basis. The ride, in my eyes (or in my bottom, as it were), seems perfect, firm but not so harsh that I’m cursing the morning drive. Though it’s subjective, I like the styling and think the interior is really nice for a car in its price bracket.
Some faults:
RFortier1796 wrote: “First gear is obnoxiously stupidly short, I’m shifting before I’m even off the line to keep revs under 3k” – I have that exact same problem! It’s annoying.
The rear seats are useless to anyone not sporting a Napoleon complex. But I rarely need to transport anyone more than myself, and if I do, I have other cars that can.
I wouldn’t have placed it as my personal #1, but I did vote for it. A lot of others probably did as well. If enough people voted for it based on it being their number 2 – 10 choice, than numerically it’s destined (not unlike Ludacris) to go for the number one spot. Overall, I think the Mazda3 is one of the best compact cars in the market right now, and I have no regrets about buying mine.
Well, let’s look at the rest of the list:
Cadillac CTS- Want to know the difference between the Cadillac CTS and its foreign compeittion? In 3 months the Cadillac is going to have more squeaks, rattles, and loose trim bits than a Hyundai Excel. Sure it’s got a great engine- it’ll probably crap out at around 110k.
Honda Fit- Here we have a car that’s ugly, underpowered, is mated with either a dim-witted Auto (that makes it more underpowered) or a very nice 5 speed (but needs a 6th gear for the highway) and costs as much as most cars in the next price bracket up. The driving position is all wrong, and its only claim to fame is the neat folding seats and mediocre gas mileage. And you’ll usually end up paying about the same as you would for a Mazda3.
BMW 3 – this car has been a shadow of itself since the past revision.
After everything else, you’ve got the Mazda3, which feels like a small “deluxe” car (maybe even premium, but lose the nasty headliner and some plastic bits.) Its mileage is a few off of the Corivic, but it’s a simple, honest machine with excellent dynamics. And while some pistonheads prefer RWD, as a daily driver you can’t beat it.
Robert Farago :
Oh, and I cross-shopped a Ford Focus and a Mazda3 once (they were sitting right next to each other in the showroom) and it was game, set, match Mazda.
Our cross-shop was the Mazda3 and VW Rabbit. Both better than average on aesthetics, but the Rabbit was endearingly impractical (they come in two doors) and cheaper to boot (as long as you avoid the two extra doors, which sell for $1K/per.)
Ultimately of course it came down to the test drive. Our local favored route includes a half mile or so of tight S turns on a fairly steep incline (it’s just past San Quentin so criminally fast speeds are subliminally discouraged). Nonetheless, you know all those photos of VW’s in turns with one wheel in the air?
Game, set, match Rabbit.
Out of curiosity, are there any Mazda3 owners who aren’t male and in their early-mid twenties? Or are we all the same?
– A 24 year old Mazda3 owner
I bet the new one’s going to be alot better. :D
I live in Michigan, land of bad roads and no budgets to repair them. When I drove the Mazda3 over potholes, I thought it was going to knock the fillings out of my teeth. I’m all for a sporty handling bias, but it was just too harsh. Additionally, the fuel economy — as noted above — is bad for a compact, the gauges are somewhat difficult to read, the quality of the interior is so-so, and it’s very noisy, but not in an erotic zoom-zoom way, more like a blender with a bad blade. It’s better than Sentras and Elantras, to be sure, and it’s quick as hell for its class, with grippy seats. However, given my daily drive, my practical side just couldn’t be shouted down, and it couldn’t match the Civic or the Corolla.
Sorry, Jonny, but after the Citoren SM thing, I’m hereby revoking your right to question us on car-choosing matters. For a whole month. Now go stand in the corner.
Johnny!
Look…
I know the writers at TTAC are great.
The writing is proof that car fools are well read and educated.
But enough of the plain old subjectivity.
Its just not this group that voted the Spped3 the better of every car you list, but almost all other car reviewers.
I know, I know…you guys don’t think highly of other car guys, but I do.
And the engine has made Wards Top ten Engine list for 3 years in a row.
Come on…the cars you listed have not.
I read what most have to say.
Please… I need to shair this information in case you never read or refused to even acknowledge another writer’s opinion:
First, Motor Trend.
Yes, sometimes they get5 caught with their not even driving pants down…but still have some legitimacy…and ignor the initial videol:
http://www.motortrend.com/av/roadtests/112_0803_economy_sedans_intro/index.htmlInnsideLine?
Well, many of us still frequent their sight for information:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=121942
MotorTrend.
Yes, their dead, but even still…they do pick the MS3…Not yours.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/press_release/2008_ms3_mx5_CD10best.pdf
Automobile Magazine?
Is there a real lot to diss on this e-rag?
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/hatchbacks/0611_2007_Mazdaspeed_3/index.html
Look, Johnny Ol’ boy…this list can and does go on and on and on.
There are tens or more of these sights…ALL stating the Speed3 or its li’l bro, the Mazda3 THE BEST of its class, and most likely many higher up.
The cars you listed again don’t match it…even at a much high cost.
So what gives?
I submitted the above and rewrote thinking it had not gone through. It has, so I edited the new remarks out.
Mazda has actually among my favorite brands for the last five years. The 3, MX-5 and 6 all gave a lot of new life to the brand, but…..
I still see some enormous gaping holes in all three of the models. The market is dying right now for a fun to drive and very affordable hatchback and what do we have? The valium induced Yaris and the not ready for prime time Hyundai Accent.
Yeah I know there are a few more alternatives out there for a few thousand more but nothing, I mean nothing, is remotely comparable to what a 3 could be if there were a smaller three door hatchback version available. Every time I see a Yaris drive away, I see a Mazda owner dying to come out of the Toyota induced coma.
Now the MX-5 may be among the best handling vehicles in the free world. Well, maybe not. Let’s just say it’s one of the better ones you’ll find in our neck of the woods.
Unfortunately, it’s easily the blandest looking MX-5/Miata ever made. When I say bland I don’t mean that perhaps some proportions have more redeeming qualities than others. Anyone named Bob Lutz can argue that.
What I mean is that every time I look at the MX-5, and especially it’s front end, I wonder whether I should feed it carp or whether the 2nd generation parent had a one night stand with an EV-1. It really looks like some type of leftover design from the late 1990’s. I just don’t really see where the phrases ‘good looking’ or ‘classic’ can be remotely associated with this vehicle. Compared to the prior generations it just doesn’t cut it.
Finally, the Mazda 6 has a cheap interior compared with most of it’s competitors. You can’t sell cars that way unless you have some huge cache behind the name and the number ‘6’ isn’t exactly what folks think of when it comes to buying a midsized car.
I can understand why it’s considered a great rental car. Like a lot of folks who have driven one, there is an undeniable quality in the riding experience that far exceeds most of the mid-sized rental car alternatives. But it’s never been better than an Accord, never quieter and easier drive than the Camry, and never as sporty as the Altima when it comes to the mainstream versions. It’s more or less the best also-ran in a market literally loaded with them and it’s been that way within the first two years of it’s release.
Did I mention I like Mazdas?
Because you can vote for ten, to get the number one spot all you have to do is be on alot of people’s list. And this car apparently was on alot of lists. It may not have been at the top of any of them. All this shows is the extremely broad appeal of the car. Including me. It has been on my list for a long time. I’ve test driven it. But I didnt buy one. Yet.
and people think it’s a big V12 Beemer.…
As an enthusiast site, we really should try to be correct with our automobile nomenclature. That would be Bimmer…just sayin…
Stephen Lang…
Before I reply, I thought I would give you a drivers ed story.
Tonight my son asked me to give him some more night time driving.
He requires 50 total hours with an adult, of which 10 must be night.
So…OK.
I had him drive me out for some good wine..
Now that’s doing two lessons with one, right?
Don’t know if you like good red wine, but I know you love Mazdas.
But understand the original 6. It was introduced in 03.
Now that’s a long time ago, in car life.
At that time it was meant to be a World Car…a poor man’s sporty car.
Since that damned Euro trash doesn’t have my large ass, they insist upon smaller rear seats.
Just sit in those Bimmers and Audis!
Any decent American who understands real BBQ couldn’t handle a trip across town, let alone the country!
Now, mazda took a lesson and like the Accord made a car JUST for the US.
See, their Accord is our small ass rear seat TSX.
Try the new mazda6.
Its an astonishing car.
In fact, my favorite 4 was always the Honda free reving 4.
Now, Mazda got it right.
The 4 is actually the better of the two 6 cars.
Its seems better balanced and the 4 and its 5 trans are just like bread and butter together.
The rear seat now is fitting my rear end…and comfortable enough for my every two week 7 hour trip to MO.
Yes…there is no other poor man’s BMW out there other than the Mazda car.
A few reasons to pick the Mazda 3 over the WRX and Ralliart
The WRX and Ralliart are relatively new. We are used to the 3 because it’s been around a long time.
The base model 3 is still an excellent car, $16K and your good. The Impreza might be decent but is hampered by weight,AWD and price. The Ralliart is a Lancer.
This one isn’t hard to figure out. The Mazda3 was not necessarily anyone’s top choice, but it was the easiest choice to add to the list. Enough fun, enough practicality, enough affordability, enough reliability to at least make the list. It’s a lot like the economy class version of last year’s TSX in that respect, but last year’s TSX is no more. The 3 benefits from the TSX’s fall from grace. If you did a second poll to weight the top ten, methinks the 3 does not get the top spot. It finishes in the middle. In fact it’s the 3’s very “middle-ness” that earned it the most votes. It’s a jack of all trades, master of none.
I traded my Miata for a Mazda3 GT wagon recently and I haven’t regretted it. The car just drives far above its price point and, in top trim level, the interior is head-and-shoulders above virtually all of the competition.
The Civic, if ergonomically correct, is space-invaders bizarre, the Corolla a hard-plastic yawn, the Elantra an olfactory torture chamber of South Korean chemical remnants, and the Cobalt and Focus…well…Chapter 11.
I, too, lament the GTI’s absence because of its fantastic engine, available DSG, clean and muscular styling and funky seat fabric, but my ’01 had the notable honor of being the only new car I’ve ever bought to break down on the trip home from the dealership. In the following several months the spunky GTI taught me to avoid VW products for the rest of my life.
The 3, while certainly not the best car on the list, is absolutely the best car in its class. Certainly it’s a sign of the times that it got the most votes.
Now everyone say a silent prayer in hopes that they don’t fuck up the successor.
Why is the Mazda 3 on this list and a favorite to all walks of motorist? Cause you’ve got options, its well made, it looks good, its fun to thrash around, and its DIRT CHEAP! “Oh, but the STI is better, and the Evo X is better, and the GTI is better, and any 3 series BMW is better…” Sure they are. But do you have any idea the premium we pay for those in Canada? I can have two Mazda 3’s for less then the price of one of the others.
I have a 2005 Mazda3 sedan, which I like a lot. With rising gas prices, I would probably take a Civic for its superior fuel economy, but the 2300MZR engine is a gem — lugs well, lots of torque, but it revs cleanly to 6,500 rpm and makes ritzy-sounding noises. It rides and handles well, has entirely reasonable space for my needs without being too big, and it has excellent brakes. The steering-wheel radio controls and other small features are also high satisfying.
I think the sedan looks great. I hate the five-door, which I think looks like a dumpling from the rear.
My main criticisms, other than the mediocre gas mileage:
– The manual shift linkage is great when it’s new, but it’s none too robust.
– The windows desperately need better tinting. My old (’91) black Prelude had bronze-tinted windows that gave vastly better solar control. Bright sunlight can be a killer.
– The air conditioning is not strong enough. In the changeover from Protégé to 3, they downsized the A/C system, and the current car’s capacity is barely adequate. If I lived in Texas or Florida, it would be a problem.
– The strip of fake carbon fiber on the dash looks cheap, as does the painted silver surround of the instrument cluster.
– The black seats with red stitching look great, but the upholstery is easily gouged by the metal studs in blue jeans and the like.
Still, a vastly better deal than the previous-generation Civic EX (which would have cost me more money, at the time) in every area except fuel economy, fun to drive, and a superb all-around value.
I’m not interested in the Mazdaspeed3. For one, it’s the ugly hatchback. For another, it’s FWD, and the prospect of FWD turbo power is not appetizing. For a third, the dealer mark-up locally is appalling. And then there’s the need for premium fuel. Just not an appealing package.
yes . . . you’re wrong. but not because the Mazda belongs in the top spot. Rather you’re wrong because none of the cars you mentioned is “better” than the speed3. the problem is that in this category there is always compromise. And, to further muddy the waters, the cars are expected to play multiple roles. in this regard comparing a speed3 to anything in its class is much harder than comparing top end porsche/ferrari/lambo . . . they are all meant to do one thing – go fast.
but the speed3 is intended to go fast, get decent mpgs, carry stuff, blend in, stand out, ride well, handle well, be cheap, and feel not cheap. this is not easy. especially considering that many of the above are/seem contradictory. if you review the above list of features, the speed3 stands above all the others you mentioned (fit, wrx, sti, ralliart, evo, silverado hybrid???).
I recently rented a pretty basic Mazda 3 with the 2.0 and automatic and I was really impressed with it. Admittedly gas mileage was nothing special, but it really felt responsive and cornered flatly. The interior was kind of low-rent with lots of plastic and not as nice as my Civic. Maybe a 3 with a higher level of trim would probably remedy that. The Mazda 3 was certainly more pleasant to drive than the VW Jetta and the Ford Focus that I also recently rented. (The 5-cylinder Jetta was surprisingly noisy and the suspension just seemed stiff and not as supple as in older VWs I had driven.)
As a hatchback, the Mazda 3 doesn’t have that much serious competition. It’s larger and roomier than the Honda Fit and probably more comfortable to drive when cruising the Interstate.
It’s one of those cars that won by default. It’s not great, but it does a lot of things good and it doesn’t have much competition.
Paid $15k OTD for my Mazda3i Touring (2.0L model).
Haven’t come across a single car that costs X times as much and is more than X times better. It’s the bang-for-buck king that’s kept me from (and will continue to keep me from) buying a new car, especially since it’s worth about $10k now.
It’s obviously not the best car on the list. But the sheer value cannot be ignored, so I imagine that many who had 5-7 definite choices saw the Mz3 as a solid choice as a filler.
its the closest we’ll get to the brera?
Call me a Mazda hater, but I don’t think their cars are that special. Shopped the 6 when it came out as an Accord replacement. I still have the Accord. Looked to downsize last year and test drove a few 3’s. I still have the Accord. The build quality just isn’t where Honda is, and my now 9 year old Accord beats both on MPG. Why buy something new? And still, almost everyone I know that drives a Mazda bought it because it’s cheaper than the Toyota/Honda alternatives. If I had a nickel for everyone who said, “I wanted a Toyondaissan, but didn’t have the $$$$.”
TEXN3…
Pretty close with your assesment of me. I’m not worried about my car getting women, I have a fairly serious girlfriend right now, and the “M” word has been tossed around recently.
That being said, I’m trying to pick up a decent E39 M5. It is really everything I want in a car. Prices on them are decent with sub 50K miles, four doors, roomy, the aftermarket is slowly starting to come down in price, its fast, its sexy in that understated subtly agressive sort of way, and it can pull track duty and haul any future kids around. That, and in highschool I worked in a BMW dealership, and did so during summers in college when I had my 325i, so I don’t really have to pay for service ever, lol. That, and I’ve also loved that car (and have had a huge man crush on Clive Owen) ever since I saw the Guy Ritchie BMW Film “Star”).
However, I can, and do, see how the car can be attractive to others. I guess by my own nature I tend to be a bit agressive. It really isn’t a bad car, per say. However, what I consider a good car is, of course, objective, and the Mazda3 and Speed3 just don’t fit the bill. I think the MX-5 should have been much lower on the list. I’m just glad number one wasn’t a prius.
Oh, and my comment about what the people call their Mazda3s comes from a long term love of BMWs (I can pinpoint the exact moment I became a jack off, I mean, Bimmerphile). So it irks me, much like the Lexus ES300 that I’ve seen around town with an ///M Badge, and the Mustang GT I saw slathered with “Type R” badging.
Maybe this Mazda3 thing is just a glitch in the system, so to say.
A lot of the cars on the Top 10 list seem to excel at one or several things (performance) while being not so great at other things (fuel economy, cargo capacity, etc). So an R8 might be a singlye guy’s favorite choice while a family guy wouldn’t vote for it. Both guys probably went down the list of car choices, stopped at the Mazda3 for a second, and thought to themselves that yes, it’s a nice little car so I’ll vote for it.
Enough voters did that, apparently. So the Mazda3 may not be considered THE top car on this site, but it still managed to get enough votes to get there.
Somebody proposed a points voting system for cars. Like my first choice car gets 10 points and my 10th choice gets 1 point. This system might be better placing a car like the Mazda3 in its true position amongst the Top 10 crowd.
The Mazda 3 clearly belongs on this list. Styling (which is admittedly subjective) is the best in class to my eyes, and it’s design has continued to wear well over the years. It handles well, the 2.3 is a zippy little engine, albeit not the most miserly. What other car in this size and price class has a more competitive overall package for people who like to drive? Not the Civic (admittedly a great appliance, but it’s pricier and really starting to channel the Insight styling). Not the Corolla. Certainly not anything from the 2.8. Nissan Sentra? Superior in interior space, perhaps…but drives like it’s got marshmallows in place of proper springs and dampers.
And that’s just the sedan. I’m not a huge fan of the looks of the 5 door, but you cannnot ignore the practicality of that model.
I’ve owned 3 Mazdas since 1986 and 2 Hondas. The Mazdas were not flawless in their reliability (unlike the Hondas), but the fun to drive factor always makes me think of them more fondly.
That being said – the A/C is suspect is tropical climates, although I haven’t driven one since Mazda made some minor design changes to try and direct more air over the condensor.
But I’m hitting the Mazda dealer this weekend to look at a new 6 for my mother, and summer’s still here, so I’ll give it another whirl.
The Mazdaspeed3 isnt the best car on the list by a long shot. Bang for the buck, it is very impressive, even against other favorites in that department like the WRX. The FWD Speed3 manages to hold its own against the AWD WRX for less, and looks better doing it. There is a lot to like about the car, good interior, huge power, reasonable price, good looks.
I own a Mazdaspeed6 and am totally in love with the 2.3 DISI turbo. Is it efficient? Not really. Does is throw me into the back of my seat? Hell yes. So, I basically get V6 economy, but how many other cars out there offer 263hp and 280 lb-ft of torque and get better fuel economy than the Speed3 and even come close to the price and practicality? The Cobalt SS turbo is the only thing that comes to mind. Maybe that should have been our #1. I really have to laugh when people expect 30 mpg out of a car that hits 0-60 in less than 6 seconds.
In any event, creating a car with all these attributes that is actually within financial reach of the masses is bound to be popular. Though there are many more aspirational cars on the list, it may be some time before I can park an R8 in my garage, hence the popularity of the Mazdaspeed3.
golden2husky, I guess that is true…however as an automotive enthusiast I do prefer BMW bikes over cars. I’ve had more time with them. I guess I’ll blame that on my confusion. That and since I’ve been around MB products, I guess you could say I’m more a fanboy of their vehicles (albeit pre-2000).
Without wanting to sound overmuch like our 42nd president. “It depends on what the meaning of BEST is….”
Apparently to many, “best” means finding the sweet spot of value, performance, economy and style. In that regard, it is again “apparent” that most responders to the poll feel that the Mazda 3 hits that sweet spot “better” than the other cars on the list.
Also, it may be a vote for demography. I believe more responders know someone, or know someone who knows someone, who actually drives a 3 and has listened to them rave about it, most of what they know about the Audi S-car they’ve read in the media. And, speaking for myself, we have frankly been hearing for two decades or more about the virtues of the BMW 3-series,they are kind of 10 minutes ago for the best-this or that award.
You guys begged the question earlier this year when you opined as to how little 10 best lists actually meant. So, is anyone surprised that the results of this one would stir controversy in a site whose readers/contributors are as passionately partisan and parochial (I mean that in the best way possible, y’all!) as this site’s are?
Maybe next year have a vote for number one separate from the other nine?
Or better yet, rank all the cars you vote for. If you require all voters to pick ten cars and assign their own rank, you can simply tally up the scores and the lowest one wins. For instance:
If three people vote on the Mazda, Corvette, and 3-series, and all three people vote the Mazda as #3, The Corvette as #2 and the 3-series as #1, the total points would be:
Mazda – 9 points
Corvette – 6 points
3-series – 3 points
Under the current system, all three cars would have gotten three votes and would be considered equal. But in the case above, the 3-series got more high ranking votes, so it ends up higher on the overall ranking.
This would require a bit more thought during voting, but I feel like the TTAC crowd could handle it.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I’ll tell you how the Three made the list. It was the least offensive car.
Everybody has their preferences, their favorites, and usually it’s not a porky hatchback with good driving dynamics and lousy mileage. But since we get to pick up to 10 cars, we always select cars that we “don’t mind”. End result, while Mazda3 wasn’t on the top of anyone’s Best Cars Ever list, it was THE car that all of us found to be “good enough”. As a result, since we all were “OK” with it, it was on the top.
I say, we just exposed a fundamental flaw in this voting system. The voting should either be point-based (as in, give all 10 points to one car, or give 5 to one, 3 to second best, and 1 each to the other two, for example), or we should only select ONE car, period.
There ya go, nothing unusual… Disperse, disperse… Nothing to see here…
This is getting ridiculous. You’re all starting to sound like so many single women in their mid thirties wondering why they can’t find the perfect man. “I want a small five door car that has tons of power and torque, gets 30MPG or higher, handles like a lotus, rides like a Merc, has an interior like a lexus ES, with rear wheel or symetrical all wheel drive, thats bullet proof reliable, thats got the style of an alfa, and costs less than a Mazda 3.”
Good luck with that. If you find it, let me know.
I’ve driven the base model 3 repeatedly (girlfriend had one, had one in Puerto Rico) and gotten 35 mpg consistently from the car. Which, due to the lower weight, is just as fast as the 2.3L engine.
I LOVE me the base 3 – its even better than the Civic – and I’m a Honda fanboy – handling, power, fuel economy, fit and finish – all top notch (for an economy car)
I even like the base 3 better than the Speed3 – its more frugal, way lighter (so more fun toss into the corners) and about $10,000 cheaper.
Take that $10,000 and go buy yourself a used LS1 Z28 if you want to go fast in a straight line.
I bought one because I thought it was the best car for the money. 4-1/2 years later, I still do. I’ve driven the Fit and I think the Mazda3 kicks its ass in every way except fuel economy.
Well I broke down & registered, just so I could show some love for my 3!
I got a Velocity Red 06 3i (2.0L Manual) 3 days after Katrina with 2 miles on it. As I type these words it has just a little over 84,000.
Like austinseven & a very few others noted I think the 2.0L engine is superior. You only lose about 13HP & 10 foot-pounds of torque for 5mpg on the highway. Plus the GT/Touring are some 400lbs heavier than the i.
Someone noted that parts are exspensive. Of course dealer pricing can be all over the place & it is best to shop around in your market. However, short of the huge aftermarket for Honda’s I would contend that Mazda AM parts are second to none. eBay is your friend. On eBay there are thousand of parts straight from the factory in Hiroshima. Want some G35-like LED tail lights? 200 bucks. Like the BMW cat’s eye xenon headlight profile. 400. Want to take that standard 5 speed shifter & turn it into a “short-shifter? 300 dollars & 3 hours of your time. Make your base i as stiff as a GT, get all 3 swaybars for 200 & put em’ on yourself. The point is, there is a huge fanboi underground market that realized, like TTAC, that the Mazda 3 is just one hell of a car.
I routinely get 31 mpg of with average speeds of 75 to 80mph on my 80 mile per day commute, here in the Atlanta area. With my base radio upgraded to a pioneer Nav unit, I have a pleasant enough drive, that I actaully look forward to it at the end of the day. Now I will say, that while the handling is exceptional, extremely bumpy roads will upset her trim, but just easing off the throttle a litte, clears that right up. The only really bad thing, is that the engine can be a bit buzzy on very long trips.
In closing the sheer utility of this car is overwhelming. I can really not think of any other car, in any price range, that does as many things right as this one.
I got 3i manual 2008. Currently my milage 28/37 which is noticebly better than the steacker says 24/33.
The engine is powerfull (you would not need more) and very fuel efficient. Time will reveal the car reliability.