As I mentioned the other day we are on the hunt for a new car. We currently have a sedan and a crossover and both are nearing ancient status. We were all set to buy a new car last fall but we moved and had to put it on hold. The exciting news is we are looking again and that’s why I was excited to be given the opportunity to test drive for a week, the Mazda3.
When the Mazda3 arrived I couldn’t wait to drive it. While it’s a sedan it looked sleek and sporty and as soon as I had the chance I jumped in the driver’s seat.
It was fun to drive and we had a fantastic week with it. It has many wonderful points and there were a few things that stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Here’s a in-depth look at my 5 favorite features of the Mazda3.
Sporty Fun
While the Mazda3 is a sedan as soon as I sat down inside it reminded me of a sporty coupe I had back in my early 20’s. It was nice to be in a vehicle that didn’t make me feel like I was taking up the entire lane. When Kora & Logan rode in the backseat they thought it was fun that the seats had a bit of a kicked back recline to them. The windows also got narrower as they went back almost into a swoop upwards near the back. This made it tougher for the kids to see out the side windows but they didn’t mind, they had fun looking out the front, watching the heads up display (more on that later), and just hanging out relaxing.
I was excited to find it drove like a fancy sports car too. I found the pickup to be remarkable and the steering to be quick and responsive. These features made it easy to zip in and out of traffic when necessary. We live near some very busy roads so having a vehicle that responds quickly is very important to us and the Mazda3 fits the bill. It also made it very fun to drive!
Heads Up Touchscreen Display
Look at that display! Isn’t that fascinating? Everyone has their must have list when car shopping and the things on that list can very from person to person. You may have noticed from my past vehicle reviews, I’m very picky about center displays including how the radio is set-up, the screen size, ease of use, etc. That’s why I was really excited to see this heads up display in the Mazda3 . I had never driven a car with anything like it before and looked forward to seeing how it works.
The 7-inch touchscreen display looks as if you docked a tablet right into the middle of the car. Here’s a couple of photos to give you a feel for the set-up:
As you can see it’s pretty thin and really has the feel of a tablet. I love how easy it is to see the time and I was also glad to see that the display is crisp, clear, and easy to read.
It’s also incredibly easy and fun to use which made me very happy. You can set it for your local stations and on occasion album cover art will show up for certain songs.
You can also select from a variety of music options including: FM, AM, XM, Pandora, Stitcher, Bluetooth, CD Player, and more.
I like that you can use the responsive touchscreen or the large and small dial/joystick buttons in the center console. I unfortunately somehow didn’t get a picture of the dials but you can see them in the video below. I love where the dials are located because you don’t have to reach or lean forward to work the display. Simply spin the dial and push the center to select.
It’s all so easy to use and brilliant!
Rearview Camera
Neither of our current vehicles have rearview cameras so whenever we get a chance to drive a car with one it feels so modern and honestly, so much safer. I was excited to see that the range on the Mazda3’s rearview camera was expansive. In fact, the other day when I came out of the grocery store I noticed that two large SUV’s were on either side of me. I got into the Mazda3 put it in reverse, checked the rearview camera and was pleased to find that it was as if I was standing at the back of the car looking both ways myself.
Sometimes when parking with our older cars, I find it tough to back out because when a larger vehicle parks beside me I can’t see around it well so I inch out slowly. On this recent grocery trip with the Mazda3 the rearview camera showed me a crisp, clear wide angle view of the parking lot so I was able to see easily see if other cars or shoppers were coming. I was impressed with the camera and now that the Mazda3 test drive is over, it is sorely missed.
Dual Climate Control and Sunroof
Dave is always hot and I am always cold. That’s why we were happy to use the dual climate control in the Mazda3. I could crank up the temperature on my side and he could put his down low on his and we would each be able to ride comfortably. The sunroof helped too. It was easy to operate and allowed in sunshine and fresh air when we wanted it. This time of year here in Michigan the sun starts shining and the skies are blue. We loved having a sunroof to help us soak it all in.
Storage & Trunk Space
I was impressed with the amount of storage space in the Mazda3. There were lots of cup holders, places for your phone and keys, and even the center console space was nicely designed offering lots of room. You could flip open the top of the console and there was a little tray to put things as well as easy access to an outlet and USB ports. When you took out the tray the center storage went down quite aways offering lots of storage space.
The trunk was a great size for a sedan. Here’s a look from that shopping trip I mentioned above:
As you can see I did a lot of shopping that day but there was sill plenty of room in the trunk. I put the laundry detergent as far back as I could so you can get a better idea of the depth:
Impressive, right? I was pleased with the amount of space and feel it is plenty of room for our everyday needs and could handle a lot of luggage for a family road trip.
Now that I’ve gone over my five favorite features of the the Mazda3, here’s a video review to give you a closer look:
We enjoyed our time with the Mazda3 and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sporty sedan. It’s perfect for a family of four, possibly five. The heads up display is creative and keeps everyone entertained whether they are in the front seat or the back, the rearview camera offers peace of mind when going in reverse, and there is lots of storage space both inside the vehicle and in the trunk. On top of all of that the Mazda3 makes running errands or heading out on a road trip zippy and fun.
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This is a really great looking car. I’m actually shopping for a car and had not considered a Mazda. Thanks for the review. It is now an option.
I love the look of this car. Wish I had the money to buy a new one!
Wow what a nice looking vehicle. I love the storage space in the trunk too.
This Mazda3 is so sleek, I love that they have a rear view camera. Safety is so important, especially backing up safety/views.