Researching to buy new 2013 Mazda 3 GS-SKY

[RTEnthusiast]

I'm not sure if your question has been answered in regards to selecting the touring edition, but I was told by Probart Mazda that the touring edition was a late release and they were just starting to get them in now. When I check mazda.ca again today I was able to select the touring edition as an option, so you should also be able to now.

I had one of my writers review the Touring back in November...

http://doubleclutch.ca/2528/2013-mazda3-sport-touring/

At that point they had been out for a week or two. Pretty nice little car, but I'd take a manual Elantra GT if I were shopping in that class.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

I'm not sure if your question has been answered in regards to selecting the touring edition, but I was told by Probart Mazda that the touring edition was a late release and they were just starting to get them in now. When I check mazda.ca again today I was able to select the touring edition as an option, so you should also be able to now.

No idea where people are getting this info..

The first 2013 that landed for us was a touring package..

The pricing/specs were listed HERE back in Aug of 2012

[gta_driver]

I had one of my writers review the Touring back in November...

http://doubleclutch.ca/2528/2013-mazda3-sport-touring/

At that point they had been out for a week or two. Pretty nice little car, but I'd take a manual Elantra GT if I were shopping in that class.

Why would you take the Elantra GT? It doesn't have Mazda's handling and on paper at least provides similar gas mileage as the Skyactive. It also sags a lot more with people in the back than the Mazda does, and is devoid of any driver feedback.

Manual Skyactive is the best combination. GT is way too thirsty and hardly provides any improvement in acceleration times.

[RTEnthusiast]

Why would you take the Elantra GT? It doesn't have Mazda's handling and on paper at least provides similar gas mileage as the Skyactive. It also sags a lot more with people in the back than the Mazda does, and is devoid of any driver feedback.

Manual Skyactive is the best combination. GT is way too thirsty and hardly provides any improvement in acceleration times.

The 3 at this point feels pretty cheaply built. It's a huge gripe I've always had with the second generation car. The Elantra actually feels much nicer and substantial to be in. Plus, the observed fuel mileage throughout the various Elantras we've extensively tested (sedan, coupe, GT auto, GT manual) have been better than the 3s we've driven (Sky auto, Sky manual, etc)

[zzz3]

The 3 at this point feels pretty cheaply built. It's a huge gripe I've always had with the second generation car. The Elantra actually feels much nicer and substantial to be in. Plus, the observed fuel mileage throughout the various Elantras we've extensively tested (sedan, coupe, GT auto, GT manual) have been better than the 3s we've driven (Sky auto, Sky manual, etc)

most other autorags say the opposite. then again they're not scared of litigation.

[gta_driver]

The 3 at this point feels pretty cheaply built. It's a huge gripe I've always had with the second generation car. The Elantra actually feels much nicer and substantial to be in. Plus, the observed fuel mileage throughout the various Elantras we've extensively tested (sedan, coupe, GT auto, GT manual) have been better than the 3s we've driven (Sky auto, Sky manual, etc)

Since this thread got a reply, I thought I chime in with my opinion (again). I am not new to high quality cars. I've had several Audis in the past, and right now I'm driving a 2005 Audi Allroad (A6-based). Before that I had a 2001 Audi A6 4.2 (same platform as the Allroad). They are worlds ahead in terms of interior fit and finish and design of any Mazda to date, even though they were designed over a decade ago (actually, 1998).

I have had my 2005 Mazda3 GT Sedan for 4 years before deciding to sell it just because we were looking for more stroller room. Hence the wagon that we have right now. I had tremendous pleasure driving my Mazda, and so did my wife.

I will be the first to admit that the second generation Mazda 3 feels cheaper in the dash than the first generation. However. Having sat in a Hyundai, Honda, and so on... The overall feel of the Mazda is better than the competition's. It is with the position of everything relative to the driver. It just feels like, as a driver, I just fit into the cockpit. I don't like dual screens, a terrible trend that Honda pioneered with its Civic (the Japanese are known for sometimes wacky design choices), but overall it has a decent execution.

A Mazda is a car that overall feels very well put together. It is an economy car. It is not a BMW, or a VW (at half the cost), but what you get is an irresistible package. Not to mention, the driving feedback it provides is the best in its category/class. The Hyundai, while a good package as well, is just not a driver's car the way Mazda is. Also, my experience with a Hyundai is that it didn't take a load of 4 people very well, something I have not experienced in the 3.

It has often been compared, by journalists, and other people, that (in terms of feel, driving dynamics, handling and driver feedback), Mazda is the front-wheel drive, economy version of a BMW. That was true with the first generation 3 and 6, and the current gen 3 appears to be similar.

I don't diss the Elantra by any means. It is a great looking car, and its interior design is more modern and easier on the eye. Some decisions I didn't care for (when sat in one at the auto show). But if you're interested in a driver's car, it doesn't match the 3.

Fuel economy on both Skyactiv 3 and Elantra is rated the same, 39 US mpg. Hyundai had to revise their ratings, btw, and it dropped by 1 mpg (or in some cases 2).

[113GT]

gta_driver, having owned a 2004 and now a 2011 mazda 3 sport gt, I can tell you that the interior on the second gen is much better (material wise and design wise).

[peterm15]

@ gta_driver.

That was a very well put together review of the Mazda 3.
Good job.

[RTEnthusiast]

gta_driver, having owned a 2004 and now a 2011 mazda 3 sport gt, I can tell you that the interior on the second gen is much better (material wise and design wise).

I respectfully disagree. I've owned a loaded 2006 GT with the black leather (I even had an in-dash nav in mine), essentially the nicest 1st-gen 3 interior you could buy, and I've spent a ton of time in tester 2nd gens... the 2nd gen interior feels like a huge downgrade.

@ gta_driver.

That was a very well put together review of the Mazda 3.

Good job.

It's a well put-together review of the Mazda3 from an owner's (and therefore heavily biased) perspective.

[113GT]

I respectfully disagree. I've owned a loaded 2006 GT with the black leather (I even had an in-dash nav in mine), essentially the nicest 1st-gen 3 interior you could buy, and I've spent a ton of time in tester 2nd gens... the 2nd gen interior feels like a huge downgrade.



It's a well put-together review of the Mazda3 from an owner's (and therefore heavily biased) perspective.

we will agree to disagree then because I do not feel like my gen1 was as good as my gen 2 in the interior quality department. gen1 had a good quality interior but I feel the gen 2 is a step up to that. soft touches, nicer layout, better seats.

[RTEnthusiast]

we will agree to disagree then because I do not feel like my gen1 was as good as my gen 2 in the interior quality department. gen1 had a good quality interior but I feel the gen 2 is a step up to that. soft touches, nicer layout, better seats.

Okay, let's agree to disagree. I understand you own a 2nd-gen and it's inevitable that we're all biased towards our own vehicles. No hard feelings!

Couple points in regards to layout though:

1) Prior to 2013, the 2nd-gen Mazda3 had the most unintuitive navigation system currently on the market.

2) Why is the most prominent knob for the stereo control not the volume knob? Every single person I know who has been in a 2nd-gen Mazda3 has complained about the layout of the stereo controls.

[113GT]

Okay, let's agree to disagree. I understand you own a 2nd-gen and it's inevitable that we're all biased towards our own vehicles. No hard feelings!

Couple points in regards to layout though:

1) Prior to 2013, the 2nd-gen Mazda3 had the most unintuitive navigation system currently on the market.

2) Why is the most prominent knob for the stereo control not the volume knob? Every single person I know who has been in a 2nd-gen Mazda3 has complained about the layout of the stereo controls.

true. but if I think of it, would I want the biggest knob to be the volume control? I would want it to be more of a multi functional button, change sources, navigate through albums, maybe even control the nav.

it's too big to be just a volume button.

[mazda72]

gta_driver, having owned a 2004 and now a 2011 mazda 3 sport gt, I can tell you that the interior on the second gen is much better (material wise and design wise).

True, 2nd gen has way better interior than 1st gen. the overall design is more modern looking with nice contour lines and soft materials. the center stack is higher up providing easier access, and it looks more hi-tech and sophisticated than the previous gen. everything looks no much more upscale as well.


i wonder what the new 2014 interior will be like...

[113GT]

True, 2nd gen has way better interior than 1st gen. the overall design is more modern looking with nice contour lines and soft materials. the center stack is higher up providing easier access, and it looks more hi-tech and sophisticated than the previous gen. everything looks no much more upscale as well.


i wonder what the new 2014 interior will be like...

+1

[gta_driver]

2) Why is the most prominent knob for the stereo control not the volume knob? Every single person I know who has been in a 2nd-gen Mazda3 has complained about the layout of the stereo controls.

I never had the nav, but this ^^^ I couldn't agree with more. Essentially, they have 3 knobs, and the function of all 3 could easily be duplicated with 2. That was my pet peeve with my Mazda 3.

[gta_driver]

It's a well put-together review of the Mazda3 from an owner's (and therefore heavily biased) perspective.

Please provide evidence of heavy bias. My opinion regarding handling is not mine alone, but just about every automotive magazine praises Mazda's handling.

Where my personal opinion does come into play is the design/styling, mainly of the exterior. To me, the 3 fits me and my likes/dislike better. It comes in a car that overall feels better and provides a better driving experience. There's also plenty of criticism for both (Mazda 3 and Elantra) using cheap materials.

My expectation is not high for interior materials. It's a sub-20K car. There's a reason the VW GTI goes over $30K, but the base Jetta is priced at $15K.

I've owned a Mazda 3, and I've driven an Elantra for 2 weeks. I can tell you that the Hyundai still felt like a car from an up and coming manufacturer.