2005 Mazda Mazda3 Consumer Reviews

2005 Mazda Mazda3

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2005 Mazda Mazda3

Kelley Blue Book Retail $7,350–$8,625  

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Average Rating

4.8 out of 5
Review This Car
Comfort:4.4 out of 5
Performance:4.6 out of 5
Exterior Styling:4.7 out of 5
Interior Design:4.6 out of 5
Value for the Money:4.7 out of 5
Reliability:4.7 out of 5

21 out of 22 people would recommended this car to a friend

Consumer Reviews

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Can't go wrong

by Love to Drive
from Springfield, VA | November 25, 2009

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 4 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 4 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Features: 4 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"I've owned a 2005 Mazda 3 sport for a little over 5 years and 50,000 miles. It's a fantastic car, though I wouldn't like it nearly as much without the sport package. The 2.3 L four cylinder engine is pretty peppy and provides enough torque to keep it that way even at low RPMs. Depending on the options you get, the Mazda 3 can be very economical, or rather sporty and luxurious. I got all the options (leather, sunroof, manual transmission, fog lights, spoiler, 6 CD changer, etc.) and it definitely makes it stand out and perform better. The manual transmission is very smooth, but the clutch is stiffer than most other cars and requires fairly precise bilateral footwork. I maintain it vigilantly based on the manufactures recommendations and I haven't had a single major problem with it. I put in full-synthetic oil and expect the car will still be intact at 200,000 miles based on Mazda's excellent history of reliability. The car looks great on the outside, but I think the interior really stands out. It's laid out well, has mostly red back lighting, and is very functional. (The red back lights help retain night vision.)The speaker system (upgraded) is especially nice for the price. In my opinion, the 2009 and later exterior styling is much more feminine and strongly resembles facial features on the front and back (which I hate, but I'll leave that up to you). I highly recommend this vehicle over any other with a comparable price."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around


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great car

by bkyn
from brooklyn NY | May 3, 2009

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"I have a 2004 3S sedan - 2.3 with Manual bought used with 63K, now with 77K pros: razor sharp steering/handling compact exterior dimensions good turning circle = easy to park good MPG surprisingly roomy inside good cargo capacity for its size nice interior design beautiful looking reliable sweet engine & transmission great brakes just a really well balanced car. cons stiff ride quality over bad pavement paint chips easily AC a bit weak in summer"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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0 out of 1 found this review helpful

german like performance but !

by ahmed
from saudi arabia | February 4, 2009

Rating from

(3)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 4 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 4 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Features: 2 out of 5
Value for the Money: 1 out of 5
Reliability: 2 out of 5

"it's the only car that provide german like performance with affordable price. however, reliability is below average. and of course, it's not as well built as german cars. in other words, it is no\doubt better than all other japanese cars in terms of performance and design, but lower in reliability than toyota, honda and subaru. regards"

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Work


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1 out of 5 found this review helpful

Great car for the money

by mazdacop
from | November 14, 2008

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Just got a mazda3 wagon 2 months ago and i think is so far the best investment i've made, the cars handling is outrageous the outside looks are awesome and the interior could pherhaps be more luxurious than a lexus. All and all i would recomend this car to young people like myself and old people, im getting hopefuly one for my mom."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

Primary use for this car: N/A


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0 out of 0 found this review helpful

Superior Suspension Tuning

by pashmr10
from | November 5, 2008

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"I have 42,000 miles on my 3i 5spd 4 door and still look forward to getting behind the wheel. Love the styling, quality and design, especially the cockpit which has held up very well and still has a premium feel. The steering, shifter and other controls just feel right. The main thing that sets the 3 apart from its competition is the handling. I've never driven a better tuned front wheel drive car of any price; willing to rotate through corners, has lift off oversteer and is very stable in high speed corners. The trade off is a stiffer ride but it has never bothered me. Some have complained about tires wearing out quickly; I need a new set every 15,000 miles but that?s a trade off for the excellent grip and my driving style. Reliability has been nearly perfect; the only exception has been the purge valve sticking open on two occasions. My only complaint is that the paint chips and scratches easily. Don't be afraid to get the smaller engine in the i. With less weight, the i has a better power to weight ratio than the s. This car is great compromise for those who need practicality but would rather have a (European style) sports car."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A


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Reliable and Safe

by LPMazda3
from Lake Placid, NY | April 1, 2008

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Looking for a value-priced import with European handling characteristics but with better reliability, I snagged my '3. Unfortunately I was plowed into by a Jeep only a couple months after purchasing it and basically walked away when the front end of the Mazda disintegrated. It absorbed the blow well, but caused a great deal of damage. Aside from that, the car handles extremely tightly, although I would like to see AWD and some extra horsepower. Aside from my gripes, I'd buy another in a heartbeat."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A


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0 out of 0 found this review helpful

Just got it, blown away!

by Caniaitalia
from Lake Placid, NY | September 26, 2007

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Just bought this car at 50K miles on Monday, everyday that I drive I love it more and more. It has plenty of power to fly up the mountain roads where I live and it corners like a little sports car. I initially wanted something with a turbocharger but this was at a price I couldn't refuse! I don't have any gripes as of yet, it's not as plush as some others that I've driven but it's not really meant to be and I'm digging the crisp handling; it feels like a European sport sedan."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A


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Nice little car, but not very comfortable

by Mike
from Gurnee, IL | December 16, 2006

Rating from

(4)
Comfort: 3 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Features: 4 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"I like the Mazda3, but I'm considering trading it in for something more comfortable. At 22K miles I have not had any major problems, but a couple of trips to the dealers were necessary. Passenger seatbelt locked up and the driver window would stop half way when the auto-down button was pushed. Also, the engine is noisy. The road noise is quite annoying too. Now that i travel on the highway everyday, the noise levels in this car became more noticeable as I travel at higher speeds. The basic 2.0 engine isn't too bad, especially at nigher speeds. at 50mph the car picks up like a V6 and the gages quickly read 60mph. Handling is superb, better than many "sport" vehicles I've driven. The car is built with quality. The Mazda3 also retains its value pretty well. If you desire comfortable and quite ride, don't go with the Mazda3, look somewhere. If you're looking for a fun, quick, exciting to ride car - this is it. Better than anything else in this class. Plus, this car has a SOLID reliability record. Final note: aside from my personal preference I would give this car full 5 Stars."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A


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0 out of 0 found this review helpful

It passes everything including gas stations.

by TEJP
from Rockigham, NC | October 10, 2006

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 4 out of 5
Interior Design: 3 out of 5
Features: 4 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Handling is smooth and it grips the road great at any speed. 34 mpg - basically all the time. Great stereo system for its size. Quite on the road at any speed."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A


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Mazda 3s

by Jake
from Ny | August 9, 2006

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Basically one of hte best cars to drive. the 4 cyl engine is stronger than expected and the comfort is outstanding. best car rom mazda"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A


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