Is Mazda 3 Reliable?
If you want a compact car that you can rely on for fuel economy, affordability, and impressive performance, you should go for a Mazda 3. But is Mazda 3 reliable?
Mazda 3 reliability is simply unbeatable, with a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. Ranking 9th out of 36 compact cars. Mazda 3 is one of the most reliable cars in the automobile industry – it’s the only car to match Toyota Corolla’s reliability rating.
Mazda 3 can run up to 60,000 – 70,000 miles without any repairs and up to 120,000 miles with only AC repairs, fluid changes, engine mount, or other minor fixes.
Let’s explore the features and build of the Mazda 3 to help you understand how reliable the car is!
Table of Contents
How Reliable Is A Mazda 3?
Mazda 3 has always been on the news for good reasons. The press, drivers association, sports enthusiasts, almost everyone wants to drive a Mazda 3. But the simple question remains, are Mazda 3 reliable cars?
Your fears and worries are valid. No driver will want to make the wrong decision because they made their choices on hypes and noises. The truth remains, after collecting data from customer testimonials, official ratings from independent sources, and personal reviews, we can confirm that Mazda 3 are reliable cars.
The Mazda 3 rating varies for different years and models of production. According to the JD Power consumer reliability score, Mazda 3 has maintained an 81/100 reliability score from 2012 – 2017, with a slight drop to 78/100 in 2020 – 2021.
Mazda 3 2020 – 2021 models feature a 2.5L turbo engine, delivering up to 250 horsepower and 320lb-ft torque. These cars feature an i-ACTIV AWD system that makes them handle multiple driving conditions.
Wet, dry, snow, or on dirt grounds, you can always trust your Mazda 3 to deliver. The inclusion of technology in your Mazda 3 makes it easy for the car to calculate the average weight shift on tires and to decide the best torque to send to maintain a firm road grip and traction.
While Mazda 3 comes in 2.0 and 2.5 sedans, you can always rely on them for their safety features, solid exterior design, and superb interiors.
Mazda 3 was rated the 2021 IIHS top safety pick, US news, and the world report 2021 best car brand.
Why Mazda 3 Is Considered Reliable
1. Engine and Performance
Mazda 3 features a dual engine structure; a 2.0L four-cylinder SkyActiv-G engine and the 2.5L four-cylinder SkyActiv-G engine. The 2.0L Sedan engine delivers 155 horsepower, while the 2.5 Sedan delivers up to 250hp and 320lb-ft of torque.
Mazda boasts of reaching 120hp at a peak torque of 213Nm at 4,000rpm. This is supported with claims of maxing from 0-62mph in 10.4 secs for the manual versions and 10.8 secs for automation versions. We might not classify Mazda 3 as one of the fastest cars, but its engines are commendable.
Mazda employs a G-vectoring technology to maintain car stability across sharp corners. Mazda 3’s engine design gives the car an impressive fuel economy. The 2021 Mazda achieves a 23-26/32-36 MPG city/highway, pretty cool features for a reliable car.
2. Safety, Security, and Comfort
One of the reasons why people prefer a Mazda 3 is because of the protection and safety that the car offers. It is easier to avoid an accident or survive a collision with a Mazda 3. Mazda 3 cars are fitted with additional i-Activsense safety features that include:
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors
- 360 ° view monitor
- Smart brake support-rear crossing
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Auto-emergency braking
- Electronic stability control
- Lane-keep assist
The list of Mazda 3’s reliability features won’t be complete without mentioning the comfortable interiors. Mazda 3 holds an impressive record with safety.
Receiving the NHTSA 5-star overall safety rating and the impressive IIHS score, Mazda 3 is a reliable and safe brand. The safety features, over 89% - 98% adult and child occupant protection, safety assists, and vulnerable road user protection, you can rely on Mazda 3 to keep you safe on the road.
3. Durability
The durability of a car greatly depends on your driving habits and maintenance culture. However, Mazda 3 has an average lifespan of 13 – 17 years, lasting up to 200,000 – 250,000 miles.
You must understand that to achieve these figures; you must have good maintenance and service habit—the long-lasting nature of the Mazda 3 is because of its quality design.
You must know that Mazda 3 will not achieve its total durability if you are not regular on service appointments, drive roughly, or fail to have a routine oil change.
4. Repairs and Maintenance
The annual repair and maintenance cost for a Mazda 3 is $433. This is cheaper than compact cars' average yearly repair and maintenance cost. We wouldn’t feign ignorance that you might experience slight faults and difficulty, but the problems are not always severe or regular.
5. Overall Design
Made of black heated mirrors, alloy wheels, and polymetallic paint, the Mazda 3 is built to last. Mazda 3 maintains an aesthetic design, simple yet stylish.
The Mazda 3 overall design assures the driver of quiet and comfy rides, better handling, and improved rigidity. With the great accolades that come with Mazda 3, some defects might give you worries about its reliability.
This does not mean that the Mazda 3 won’t serve you perfectly. We only advise you on specific years to avoid.
2007, 2010, and 2014 Mazda 3 models are years you should avoid.
Mazda 3 Reliability: Pros
- Impressive engine
- Great handling
- Amazing safety supports
- Fuel economy
- Easy-to-use technology and infotainment system
Mazda 3 Reliability: Cons
- Less Space
Conclusion | Is Mazda 3 Reliable?
Mazda 3 cars, like every other Mazda model, are great on reliability. It is a pity that many people avoid the Mazda brand, no matter how reliable they are.
While we believe that the Japanese brand remains a work in progress, we recommend Mazda 3 for drivers keen on safety and security.
