It's fun purely on its own merits." May was a pretty normal month for our 2014 Mazda 3. At the end of the trip, I averaged 32.5 mpg over 812 miles. The rotors were indeed warped. The 400 miles back to L.A. seemed twice as far as the drive up. Try again. But if this were my car I'd really want to replace these all-seasons with summer tires once they wear out. An automatic can never provide the tactile enjoyment you get by working the clutch and shifter, and Mazda has traditionally done this well. Nothing terrible, just the occasional sign it's no longer showroom fresh. This trip underscored one area where this car really suffers, though. Did that do anything to move the MPG needle? Yes, fine. I'll go back to complaining that my cleaning lady misplaced one of my caviar spoons (seriously, she did!). Recently, after what I thought had been a friendly discussion at work, I was informed that I had been "piling on," making the situation worse instead of better. And loads don't come much heavier in a passenger car than a wheel and tire. Despite it being a noisy tapping machine, I like driving our 2014 Mazda 3. This gave me enough space for my cargo, but only just, and zero room for passengers. But instead, 3 sales are falling to Civics and Corollas Sedans! The 3 has just enough headroom for me not to strike the headliner, which is a problem I have in other compact cars. The volume control in the Human Machine Interface (or HMI, Mazda's name for its iDrive-like system) is almost perfectly placed. Switch Assembly CX-3. Ideally I would have liked to drive even further to reduce any margins of error but figured 240 miles is better than nothing. Cons: Busy ride quality can get annoying on rough roads, our car had several unresolved interior creaks, rear-facing child seats are a tight fit in back. WARNING: Search by Switch/Button. Mazda mounted the 3's tachometer (on "S" trim levels) in the middle. Yet much like a Porsche, the Mazda 3's got quick and precise steering and a fun-to-drive nature that will have you wanting to drive through turns with enthusiasm. But, really, this is like complaining about the freckle on Monica Belluci's elbow. The only thing that really stood out from a comfort standpoint was the slim door panel armrest. They look and feel expensive. Most notably, it included 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a head-up display, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and leather seats. But less clutter, more understatement would be good. Americans like crossovers and we, the automaker, like crossover profit. Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 Best Fill MPG: 41.1 Average Lifetime MPG: 28.9 EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway) Best Range: 342.2 miles Current Odometer: 7,729 miles. I kid you not. I'm with the former. I like small feisty cars. I can't provide a price tag for the adaptive bi-xenon HIDs since they came standard on the S Five-Door Grand Touring along with some other premium goodies. Not a big surprise here. There are two ways to handle such a climb: brute force max displacement from a V8 or a responsive four-cylinder with a smart transmission. I get the idea that whoever built it had serious emotional issues. I'm a compulsive track skipper, especially when I'm shuffling through my music collection. Steering Wheel Left Side Steering Wheel Right Side Lighting Control/Turn and Lane-Change Signal Wiper and Washer Lever Cluster Switch Switches Around Power Window Instrument panel Console Around Overhead Light. The official EPA highway estimate is 37 mpg." I really like the technology interface found in our 2014 Mazda 3. I realize this doesn't even qualify for first-world problems, but hear me out. Add in the $795 destination fee and you're looking at a 2014 Mazda 3 with a sticker price of $27,585. I pretty much drive it in sport mode all the time these days even though the owner's manual says mileage may suffer slightly. For the first time in recorded history, service technicians were unable to recreate a problem with a car. Regardless, none of the needles budged as the 3's best, worst and average fills stood pat. Therefore, Mazda 3 owners have three choices: Suffer the indignity of a dopey front end, defy Johnny Law, or move to a civilized state like Kansas. Yet when I did our official math calculation, it turned out our 3 achieved 39.5 mpg. Seattle, WA. They typically promise a heightened sense of urgency on the part of the engine and transmission through a change to their electronic programming. True, the loaded Grand Touring trim helps, but as I'm comparing apples of today to apples of 10 years ago, it's even clearer to see how much has changed. I have also retained all the button functions, USB, and SD expandability. Jimmy Hoffa's body? Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 Best Fill MPG:41.1 Average Lifetime MPG:28.9 EPA MPG Rating:32 Combined (28 City/39 Highway) Best Range:342.2 miles CurrentOdometer:903 miles. Vehicle: Odometer: 1,427 Date: 1/14/2014 Driver: Chris Walton Price: $27,585, Specifications: Drive Type: Front engine, Front-wheel drive Transmission Type: 6-speed automatic Engine Type: Naturally aspirated, direct-injected, inline-4, gasoline Displacement (cc/cu-in): 2,488 / 152 Redline (rpm): 6,250 Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 184 @ 5,700 Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 185 @ 3,250 Brake Type (front): 11.61-inch one-piece ventilated with single-piston sliding calipers Brake Type (rear): 10.43-inch one-piece solid with single-piston sliding calipers Suspension Type(front): Independent MacPherson struts Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, Tire Size (front): 215/45R18 89W Tire Size (rear): 215/45R18 89W Tire Brand: Dunlop Tire Model: SP Sport 5000 Tire Type: All-Season As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,038, Test Results: Acceleration 0-30 (sec): 2.9 (w/TC on 3.1) 0-45 (sec): 5.1 (w/TC on 5.4) 0-60 (sec): 7.8 (w/TC on 8.2) 0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 7.6 (w/TC on 7.7) 0-75 (sec):11.5 w/TC on 11.83) 1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 15.8 @ 89.0 (w/TC on 15.9 @ 88.6), Handling Slalom (mph): 61.1 w/ESC on Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.81 (0.80 w/ESC on) RPM @ 70: 2,250. Its seats may be the best in the segment, and comfortably supported our backs and legs over the course of the 12 hours I piloted the hatchback. And it's striking stuff. f. Upper anchor of the front seat belt installation bolt. There was a reason the Mazda 3 retreated from the class peak during these years in favor of newer models like the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. And then they found this washer INSIDE of the control arm. When I finally cleared the hold, I stood back and stared. Once I was there, the service advisor, perhaps understandably, didn't quite understand why I'd brought the car in just for an update, so I just told him that it was a fleet vehicle and we wanted to get upgraded to the latest version (version 33, specifically, from version 31). What We Got The 2014 Mazda 3 is available in two body styles: sedan and hatchback. It had sharp handling, a responsive engine, attractive styling, good interior quality for the segment and a level of available equipment that most competitors didn't offer. There are lots of nice curves and creases. Even without using the paddle shifters, it seemed to choose the right gear for the grade. Refer to Engine Coolant on . It's enough, but we've grown accustomed to more (cue the chorus of "but it's a driver's car!"). I decided a wagon/hatchback/truck bed will always have a place in my life. It was a much shorter trip, mostly because the highway formed the hypotenuse of the Interstate 10 - Route 95 legs of the right triangle. But the ride itself is controlled during cruising speedsthe Mazda 3 does the best job of balancing handling and ride comfort in its class." Plus, the new car corrects the first generation's main flaws: sub-par fuel economy and so-so back seat space. Both boxes were 70 inches long by 12 inches high and 12 inches wide and I needed something to haul them in. There's no obvious external badging that sets them apart. The report concludes that sales aren't falling to Golfs, Elantra GTs or Ford Focus hatches, for example. It looks great inside and out. It was short-lived, as our luck dwindled near Needles. While driving our silver hatchback, I found myself changing tracks and stations easily, accurately and quickly without taking any focus away from the road ahead. To change the angle or length of the I pulled into the hotel right around 5:30, got partially settled and went about my press trip duties. It satisfies with engaging handling, yet still rides smoothly. It's all enough to compel me to take it on a weekend road trip to San Francisco. It's so fun on twisty canyon roads. We put on about 1,600 miles and posted fuel economy similar to what we achieved in prior months. The Mazda 3 offers a rarity for cars of this ilk: It's fun to drive, and not on a comparison basis. With the 2.0-liter, the 2014 Mazda 3 Five-Door has a starting price of $19,740, but the cheapest you can get into a 2.5-liter car is the "s" Touring model, which costs $25,890. + AU $38.00 postage. It's not padded and my elbow kept sliding off. Without auto cruise. This banishes the hovering digits during daylight hours, at least. I've also neglected to protect my hearing much of my life. To my understanding the circuit works like this: head unit positive steering wheel control wire -> clock spring -> steering wheel control box (contains the resistive . I was able to link all these buttons to the JoyCon EXR and simply program functions to them as hotkeys in my Centrafuse front-end software. 4SD Not long enough though. These are only so-so numbers from an otherwise sporty hatchback. It's just as impressive and class-leading as their car was when new. Seemed like a decent trade-off to us. After 13 hours of meetings and spreadsheets that sounds pretty good. It's a car I can use every day and consistently enjoy the experience. Stop the vehicle, and then pull down This makes the downshifts smooth yet still quick. Check out those bolsters. During that time we're shooting for as many miles as possible to see if the updates make the 2014 Mazda 3 the widely acceptable car we think it can be, or if Mazda's once again built a niche machine that appeals to a small subset of drivers who favor performance a little more than most. Our 2014 Mazda 3 Grand Touring has a navigation system that offers the guidance assistance you'd expect. $160.00 - $170.00. When I think of small hatchbacks like the 2014 Mazda 3, I think spunky, fun, convenient, and cheap. Drive our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 on anything other than perfect pavement (or initiate a really hard turn) and one thing stands out: This thing's got some squeaks. Yet, a weekend of intensive Los Angeles freeway driving has us looking elsewhere for a long-haul driving companion. Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check We also recorded one of the worst fills (23.3 MPG) of our long-term test. Will update you when we've got more. Roughly 600 of those miles entailed a trip to Las Vegas, where the little Mazda averaged 30.8 mpg. Just drop the second row seatbacks to create a large, flat-load floor and slide them in. FH Group Deluxe Full Grain Authentic Leather Steering Wheel Cover. But placed between me and 60 miles of Southland interslab, the 3's rigidity and the steering effort required to keep the car tracking straight were the first things I noticed after some time away from the car. I like the way it feels. The driver-oriented interior layout in our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 S is excellent. Then, I grew to like the way that turning the steering wheel gives you a picture of where you want to go, not what you don't want to drive into. Looked like I was living out of the car. 1. All of that is true of the new car, however, the bar has, not surprisingly, moved that much higher. Dan's post (with video!) We'll have this addressed at our next dealer visit. This little car brings back the joy of the journey. You receive this feature standard when you pick a Mazda 3i Touring trim level or above. Rear-facing always require a lot of rear legroom. That is, of course, depending on how it's driven. SPONSORED. Driving down the absurdly unkempt Wilshire Blvd here in Los Angeles, our 2014 Mazda 3 sounded like it was being followed by a dryer with a fork in it. View more Parachute Mounts & Release Kits. There's a lot going on here. It has what I consider to be an ideal setup of both a touchscreen and a multi-use controller knob. There is a trade-off, however, in terms of ride quality. Sure, there are plenty of sedans out there with fold-down rear seats. This marked the third time during its year with us. The oil change and tire rotation were done in short order. So when the sign-out sheet came around and our long-term 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback was available, I thought, "Perfect, a hatchback. $239.00 - $355.35. They weren't there when I started driving home last night, but they lit up like that twice after some odd noises from down below. It's not the only vehicle in our fleet that could use a set of summer tires, though. And if we'd opted for the manual transmission, the knobs are mounted far enough away that they wouldn't interfere with shifting, either. The other welcome aspect to this interface is the touchscreen. All the plastic buttons on the face of the D5102 work the same principle as the steering wheel audio control buttons: they are linked to individual different resistors and a common ground. Last week, I had a few big boxes to ship with long, fragile car parts inside. The display screen remains vigilantly present in your field of view like a business card stuck under the wiper, standing at attention for absolutely no reason at all. The 2014 Mazda 3 is in a delicate spot. Chute Cable End Cap - Black Cables. not buy here pay here. Sure, it's an expensive solution for this vehicle segment, but considering that this is truly the one area that the Mazda 3 falls on its face, it would certainly be welcome. It's a happy place. Flash flood warning signs were littered along the 95, and I was grateful to have outrun the storm. Driving home last night on the admittedly rough 405 freeway here in L.A. our Mazda 3's windshield emitted more than a few noticeable creaks. I prefer engine speed getting priority on any car with sporting intentions. A few days ago we got an email from Mazda asking us if we'd take our 2014 Mazda 3 to get a software update for the Mazda Connect infotainment/navigation system. Mainly, the annoying sound waves are emanating from, I think, where the A-pillars and windscreen meet at the bottom, but there's also some much lighter squeaking from what sounds like the intersection of the rear door and B-pillar. But since we probably won't be back at a dealership for the rest of the car's stay with us, just getting it done seemed prudent enough. But as an owner, you'd no doubt acclimate to the different location. or Best Offer. So, it's still a Mazda. With its sharp steering, composed handling, quick-reacting transmission and well-bolstered seats, the Mazda 3 drives unlike anything else in the economy compact class. Why We Got It The Mazda 3 has been a perennial driver favorite, but ultimately lacked the interior refinement, ride comfort and fuel economy offered by its mainstream competitors. They seemed to be coming from under my feet, behind the steering column and from the passenger door. The oil change included five quarts of 0W20 Castrol Edge Pro synthetic oil at $7.24/quart and cost $65.78 total. $39.00. It's frugal, but also spunky. Once back in L.A., I had its memory wiped. . While I find analog tachometers the most natural for me, I actually prefer digital speedometers. This is only a hair better than the 28.4 mpg at our last report, but with gas prices rising, we are moving in the right direction. Total Cost: None Days out of Service: None. And rear legroom is not something the Mazda 3 has in abundance. Mazda 3. This is what I get for trying to enjoy the weather and driving with my windows down. Week-long road trips, dirt road excursions and towing needs have drawn me away to larger, more utilitarian vehicles. steering column length to the desired Both the illumination and resistive buttons share the same ground on the board, which is a bit concerning since I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be grounding the illumination in the steering wheel control circuit. I like the interior design, too. Usually, this information only comes up when the navigation system is actually directing you to a destination. We followed up the next day and were told it was ready for pick up. I like these seats. The subject of this update is about the lack of storage spaces around the driver's seat in the 2014 Mazda 3. If neither of those works or applies maybe just call whoever you bought it from and see if this is an issue they're familiar with. It could be dumb luck, or it could be a really odd prank where the prankster doesn't get to see the payoff. Mazda 3 Steering wheel does not turn car Cost Let Jerry pay for your car repair by saving you money on car insurance. But that's probably fitting since our little Mazda has been quietly getting the job done since day one. Plenty of cars have "sport" modes these days, but not all of them are worth bothering with. Handling comments: Slalom: The Mazda 3 has quick reflexes, precise and communicative steering, intuitive behavior at the limit, AND an electronic stability control (ESC) that's calibrated to go to DEFCON 2 in our rapidly transitioning slalom test. the lock release lever under the steering But I still want several places to throw whatever falls from my hands. It's not padded, and my elbow kept sliding off." i already assume i need the interface for the pioneer for the steering wheel controls. 1HGCV3F27NA047683 Or an Integra? The navigation system simply wouldn't shut up. Handling a front seat (with built-in side air bag) improperly can accidentally 0. They're not lightning quick like you'd get from an automated manual transmission (Porsche's PDK, for example) or even an advanced eight-speed automatic. Dan Edmunds doesn't seem to mind it. Worst Fill MPG:22.2 Best Fill MPG:41.1 Average Lifetime MPG:29.3 EPA MPG Rating:31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway) Best Range:358.1miles Current Odometer:17,799. $239.00. I initially thought it had been set very low so I made the necessary height adjustment in the infotainment system. I like the way it looks. Service Campaigns: A Mazda Connect software reflash was the only item formally addressed as part of an open service campaign during our test. If not, then it does sound like the steering wheel control module could be faulty and you might try returning it and see if the replacement works. Our 2014 Mazda 3 travelled 1,100 miles during the month of June and increased its lifetime average by 0.2 mpg. PLEASE HELP!!!!! These items don't fit easily in the center area, even though there is a small place with a little rubber pad to keep the stuff from sliding around. Nah. Ever since then I've wished I had more time in our long term 3 so we could swap impressions about the car. However, after a couple hundred miles in the Mazda 3 on Los Angeles's notoriously choppy, variously paved and poured concrete (and sometimes rain-grooved) freeways, we're less impressed with the busy ride and road noise we endure. But based on my experience with our long-term car, I happen to think there are two sweet spots for the 3. I dropped the car off in the morning and got a call from service writer Joel Angulo at about 3:00 that afternoon informing me that the jobs were complete. It would likely cover 80 percent of my other daily needs. Not only should more automakers adopt the dial-controller interface forward of the armrest, but they should include the volume knob along with it. Ed Hellwig, "For my trip I drove 242 miles, of which about 90 percent was highway driving. It's present not only on the handbrake but also on the doors, seats and shift boot. More insidious is the second caveat: the ADD defaults to "on" after a key cycle. After removing a f Winter Driving The lifetime average is now 28.6 mpg running on a steady diet of regular gas. But I'm very satisfied with the automatic in our car. The 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the Mazda 3 was enough to handle the climb when it's managed by the six-speed Skyactiv automatic transmission. Our 2014 Mazda 3's front seats mean business. If you're a driving enthusiast, however, you might be bummed out that Mazda doesn't offer a manual transmission with this engine. At 40 inches long, nearly 20 inches wide and 33 inches tall, it was not a small bassinet. (Or, if I lived in a place with freezing temperatures and snow, summer tires for summer and winter tires (with an extra set of wheels) for winter.). Fire the engine and it pivots into position from its dash-top recess and begins displaying a digital speed readout. Seems I'm not the only one on staff who is smitten by our long-term 2014 Mazda 3. I looked back at our log, and a few other drivers have added about 11.5 gallons. Rear cross-traffic alert is part of the blind-spot monitoring system. Fitment Notes. It's small, sporty, sits low, enjoys a curve, and has the versatility of a hatchback. Free shipping. The creaking noise was recreated by the technician but he had not yet found a solution. It's not like Japan, Europe or other global markets go without them, and only Californians (to my knowledge) take their chances by ignoring front plate laws to maintain their cars' pristine visages. One sure way to tell at a glance is to look at the top of the dash for a heads-up display; the Mazda 3 S comes standard with one, the Mazda 3 i does not. Mazda calls its head-up display an "Active Driving Display." I still see so many of them driving around L.A. For those of you who missed out on the cult hatchback, I think the Mazda 3 is the closest thing you can get in today's market to the Integra. Click on through to read more about this protocol vehicle and feel free to comment or tweet me with your ideas or your own creations. $8.95. With the driving rain continuing for the first two hours, there was little opportunity to claw back some precious time. Despite this nice convenience, our 2014 Mazda 3's seats never seemed to heat up quickly enough. It hasn't been without problems, though, as a loose battery cable caused the check-engine light to illuminate and send the car into some kind of limp mode. A resurfacing fixed the problem. One of the new 2014 Mazda 3's many virtues is its sharp styling, especially at the front end. 0. But let's also face it, from a design layout it makes more sense to group volume and skip buttons together, no? Total Cost: $98.79 ($38.45 oil, $1.12 oil drain gasket, $7.82 filter, $2.50 oil disposal, $14.45 oil change labor, $29.95 tire rotation labor, $4.50 tax). The car responded only a little to a modest amount of wheelspin, gaining about a half-second to 60 mph, but what advantage it had there is effectively erased at the end of the quarter mile. (The carved out portions on front seat-backs provide plenty of room for this once the rear headrests have cleared the top portion of each seat.). That MS3 was a fun little car. 1 - 30 of 49 results. The "s" versions of the 2014 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback are distinguished from their "i" counterparts by a more-powerful 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine instead of the 155-horsepower 2.0-liter motor. Second, we've got a new noise coming from the suspension. Our 2014 Mazda 3 has enough plugs to satisfy even the most device-heavy travelers. Hi, I have a Mazda 3 2010 model and I just installed a Pioneer (DMH-Z5350BT) stereo using the Aerpro Head Unit Harness plus Patch Lead (Pioneer to ISO with patch lead, APP9PIO8) with the Aerpro Vehicle Harness to retain steering wheel controls (Mazda 3 (Axela) [BL], CHMZ3C). Dan posted recently about how the 2014 Mazda 3 reminds him of his Acura Integra. Used Cars for Sale. With now over 10,000 miles, our Mazda 3's average lifetime mpg has climbed to 29.1, steadily closing in on the EPA's 31-mpg combined fuel economy rating. We didn't even need to remove the cargo cover clipped to the rear hatch. Certainly this all depends on your budget. Do any of you have a Mazda 3? But so far, it's up to the task even without a beast under the hood and all-wheel-drive. It's been a busy month. The tougher decision was which engine to get. Alone, the code didn't pinpoint the actual problem. Just about every small economy car sold today will get you where you want to go while still being respectably pleasant to drive. Here, however, Mazda nails it. A tour of the dam is definitely on the to-do list for next time. I like that Mazda locates the plugs in the center console, too. After one year and 20,088 miles, Edmunds' TMV Calculator valued the Mazda at $21,345. I found an empty parking structure and started experimenting. The weak link, at least from a handling perspective, is the car's set of Dunlop SP Sport 5000 all-season tires. During the month of November, our 2014 Mazda 3 rolled on another 1,622 miles. As you may have surmised, the Mazda Connect system and navigation are necessary elements here, and these features are also standard on the Mazda 3 S sedan and hatchback. What, exactly, is the point of that? $180.00. Then the warning lights came on and the car felt like it was in some sort of limp mode. Car Reviews. Chris Walton, "Behold. Thanks! Shop by category. For 2014 Mazda offered an optional 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder. As soon as I was done driving the Murano, I hopped back into the Mazda 3 and pointed it south towards home. If I were a regular owner, the dealer visit just for the update wouldn't have seemed worth my time, honestly. All; Parts; Accessories; Air & Fuel Delivery . This won't be a fair characterization to the fine folks who build F Sports and actively work to transform the brand's image from floaty to fiery. So I won't exactly be shocked if I'm accused of piling on yet again after this update on the 2014 Mazda 3 Hatchback. When a steering wheel does not turn the car it signifies a more serious problem. Didn't creak the rest of the time I drove it. 1. Comments: Acceleration comments: After sampling Drive, Sport Drive, and manual-shift Sport mode, the best results came in Sport Drive because the manual-shift requests aren't registered/don't happen quick enough and result in hitting the rev-limiter. Another nice bonus is that the downshifts are rev-matched, which means the engine's rpm is automatically raised to the correct amount to match the rotational speed of the wheels before the next lower gear is engaged. I have two small children and am constantly wrangling child safety seats in and out of Edmunds long-term cars. All the space is right there for ya; just throw the bike in." And folks who bought a late model year Mark II may be kicking themselves for not waiting a year or two. Stop the vehicle, and then pull down the lock release lever under the steering column. I was wondering if anyone knew the steering wheel control circuit going from each of the two wires on the head unit wiring harness. Once you've found a comfortable seating position, there's no need to lean forward to reach the controls. Replacement Steering Wheels. Considering that our long-term car has a price tag of $27,585, this is a pretty fantastic layout. Much of that has to do with the way the car drives. Also, the timing of the street name display is tied into the speed you are travelling. $172.00-$176.00/ Piece. Back in June of this year I wrote about the 2014 Mazda 3, "If you're a driving enthusiastyou might be bummed out that Mazda doesn't offer a manual transmission with this engine. Then it happened again, and in the same way as before. The starting price of the base Mazda 3 five-door is in the upper $19s. And in that sense, the Mazda 3 is still an ideal daily runabout, even with two kids in back. Maybe we just need to add a few more long-distance drives to our Mazda 3. They took one side of the sway bar off, and then the other. Which is in the trunk.". Going around turns and having the tires squealing away is kind of embarrassing, too. Universal 3-Spoke Reinforced Steering Wheel by NRG Innovations. The Mazda 3 S has 47.1 cubic-feet back there. For me, this isn't problematic since I'm past the rear-facing kid stage. A lot of that comes down to this 3 being the most complete car in my opinion. They're not your usual economy car chairs. Most of this was due to more than a week of downtime at the dealer, first to solve our bizarre rattling issue and then to fix a brake dust shield knocked out of whack during the investigation. Update to come. Traffic on a Saturday morning was almost nonexistent and the road was dry, so traveling was as easy as setting the cruise control and waiting till we got closer to civilization. This model stickers for $27,290. There are a lot of small-car buyers out there who probably feel they don't need a car that's "fun to drive." Black rain clouds were moving in and there was nowhere to go but straight into the mess. They weren't extensive drives, nor did I thrash anything about, but it really is an impressive evolution that has occurred over the course of 10 years. With an overall average of 28.9 mpg, our Mazda 3 is still not quite meeting its EPA combined rating of 32 mpg. I dont know the password either, dont know how spider can get in there. My only recourse is a combination of scrolling the digits as far down as possible and turning the brightness of the ADD display all the way down. A cavity molded into each front door panel holds an oversize bottle of water. an accident. 2. It is an awesome sight when framed by the massive bypass bridge constructed to aid traffic flow between Arizona and Nevada. FH Group Ultra Comfort Leatherette Flexible Steering Wheel Cover. We didn't have a chance to haggle that price down, as Mazda provided the vehicle on loan for a year. Early on we had the transmission clunking issue, which turned out to just be a loose battery connection. . I need your phone." We wanted a few options and stepped up to the S Grand Touring. Brent Romans, "Our 2014 Mazda 3's front seats mean business. We'll put some additional highway miles on it in May to see if that overall number edges up a little. Though I'm yet to read about its specifics, it's easy enough to understand that that this feature gives an average of the traffic history for the specific time you're asking, a good thing to know for the commute you don't usually take. Another editor also noticed a few ticking noises from the interior but none of them were enough to warrant a dealer visit. With a 350 mm diameter and 63 mm dish it offers the ultimate in. (You are getting a Porsche, after all.). Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 Best Fill MPG: 41.1 Average Lifetime MPG: 29.3 EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway) Best Range: 358.1 Current Odometer: 16,005. Our long-term Mazda 3 is the 3s Grand Touring, and that means it has just about every feature that can be had on the 3. AU $62.99 . Mazda 3 Replacement Steering Wheels. The auto-level feature is designed to adjust to road conditions as well as leveling when passengers and cargo are added. (Fits: Mazda 3) $149.99. It can carry a decent load. I've always wanted to take a long route to Las Vegas, but I typically drive with three or more passengers, and convincing everyone to double the time it takes to reach a destination isn't really an option. Check if this part fits your vehicle. up and down to make sure it's locked JavaScript is disabled. It was obvious that the tweakers were trying to unload hot merchandise just as desperately as I wanted to get backhome. NRG Innovations 3-Spoke Classic Wood Grain Steering Wheel. Here's a quote from our test driver's notes after testing the Mazda 3 at our test track: "This is a planted car with excellent suspension tuning. MSRP on our 2014 Mazda S Grand Touring was $27,585. Is there a calibration procedure you could try? The Mazda 3 never contributed to that stress. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 2010-2013 Mazda 3 & Skyactiv News & Discussion. Our car is pretty loaded so we just have a few options. Saved Searches . The Mazda 3 is not quick but it does have a feeling of spiritedness. Our Mazda 3's sport mode is a little different. The cabin is quieter, the ride is more comfortable and the interior is an enormous step up. And though they're comfortable enough, I wouldn't describe them as soft. # 93531730. All this, plus practical and fuel-efficient, too. Jan 12, 2013. I like these seats." Wheel Diameter: 13.78" / 350mm. Back in May I took our 2014 Mazda 3 to the dealer for its first service and to have a TSB repair performed to eliminate the dash creak. Beyond the fact the 2014 Mazda 3 is the driver's car of this segment, I also really like the styling Mazda has going on with this thing. Multifunction Steering Wheel Audio Control Button Switch Cruise Speed Contr M2Y3. Problems arose, however, when I switched the seat around to test out the rear-facing position. Who knows. Even when I'm just slogging home on my commute I appreciate the crisp dynamics of this car. Here's how it fared. Brent Romans, "The first time around I was just putting along in traffic at around 15 or 20 mph when I felt a sizable clunk from the transmission. And so far the windshield isn't creaking either. Automatic temperature control. The top (rear) anchor point behind the seatbacks is also easy to get to. Shock, Spring, & Mount Package. This performance steering wheel is designed for the facelift 2017 - 2018 Mazda 3, 2017+ Mazda CX-5 and 2018+ Mazda CX-3 . Plus, a center-mounted tachometer looks kinda cool. Overall fuel economy is now 29.1 mpg. For definitive proof, we ran it through our usual battery of tests. The Mazda bellowed "FEED ME OIL" by way of its little orange wrench lighting up last week. I had the chance recently to drive our 2014 Mazda 3 within the same 24-hour period as its two generational predecessors. The owner's manual explains the details. At this rate we have enough people to form our own fan club. Worst Fill MPG: 22.2 mpg Best Fill MPG: 41.1 mpg Average Lifetime MPG: 28.7 mpg EPA MPG Rating: 31 Combined (27 City/37 Highway) Best Range: 342.2 miles Current Odometer: 8,830 miles. Emergency communication system. I really like this car. Like I say, it's a small thing. But for this class of car, it's sporty. We had no chance to haggle it any lower, however, as Mazda supplied this vehicle to us for this long-term test. It uses the same sensors for vehicle detection but activates instead when you put the Mazda 3 in reverse. We left the next morning, taking Highway 15 South back home. Because, like several other editors, I truly like this car. And then tightened the front license plate. 2010-2013 Mazda 3 & Skyactiv Audio & Electronics. Seems like a good indication of where designers are right now, trying to harness myriad functions mostly unrelated to driving in a small piece of real estate, on hardware meant to keep the car away from trees and utility poles. I'll rev it out towards redline or blip down a couple gears in advance of a turn. Seriously. With the trip, normal weekend driving, and commuting back to work, I had put 845 miles on the 3. On the whole, the Mazda's setup feels intuitive and natural, and the quality of its controls is more in line with those in much pricier luxury cars. Admittedly, having the volume knob on the console is a little weird, and I'm often finding myself reaching towards the dash to a non-existent volume knob purely out of habit. For small hatchbacks like the 3, the extra power isn't always worth the reduction in mileage. It'd be nice to back this number up with a little verification. Receive pricing updates, shopping tips & more! There are also a lot of great features in our car and the pricing is quite reasonable. We had a couple of final trips planned and wanted to make sure the car was in tip-top shape before we left town. Sure enough, he called me back and said they had installed the latest update, which was covered under warranty, of course. Overall, the Mazda 3 would be right at the top of my consideration list if I were shopping for a small sedan or hatchback in 2014. A lot. However, it is encouraging that we easily eclipsed the official 37 mpg highway figure with a remarkable 41 mpg stint on our high-biased test loop. B&I Steering Wheel. FH Group Embossed Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover. I've spent plenty of miles in the passenger seat of our long-term 2014 Mazda 3, but hardly any time behind the wheel. Basically, every time I brought the 3 to a stop, the brake pedal pulsed. It's the kind of car that gets you excited to drive it even when it's just sitting still in the parking lot. Hatchbacks are great. Try again. This car achieved 40 mpg on multiple occasions, though with some effort on the part of the driver. $35.10. Here's another reason to like the 2014 Mazda 3: Order it as a hatchback and it's simple to throw things like a 29er mountain bike in the back. right. For now, what's your best guess? A cargo mat ($70) and rear bumper guard ($125) were the only extras. You get more notice at higher speeds than you do when going slow, which gives you the necessary time to react no matter what your speed happens to be. That was plenty for my short-notice, quick-grab errand. I'll be doing a lot more mountain driving in the Mazda. AU $100.00 + AU $55.00 postage. Still, this isn't the dedicated performance car that one was, so there's nothing wrong with full leather. Josh Jacquot touched on this back in February. Now, however, there's no denying its presence. . 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Drive it a little more relaxed and the combined number shouldn't be very hard to achieve. The Mazda 3 fit the bill perfectly and made the trip as enjoyable as ever. After a 13-hour work day I like walking into a dusty parking garage and finding our 2014 Mazda 3 waiting for me. View pictures, specs, and pricing on our huge selection of vehicles. Our 2014 Mazda 3 got a rest from the roads in October, logging only about 1,000 miles. Mazda's done a great job with its newest generation 3. Must've gotten knocked out of whack during the first fix. There were only a couple of inches left hanging out of the rear so I went up front and moved the passenger seat as far forward as it would go. Instead, it is a strange space that is half cupholder, half storage area and pretty useless. The RST-023 series is designed to have both luxury and style while keeping the functionality of a reinforced steering wheel. When you push it you actually feel an immediate change in the throttle sensitivity. 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