Used Mazda Mazda3 for sale near Lake Forest, IL under $249,974

This car feels very neutral and smooth in corners at any speed. Sometimes, it feels like it's too easy to go too fast in this because the grip is so confidence-inspiring. I have the non-turbocharged model, which has plenty of giddy up to it. I'm not sure if I regret choosing it over a turbocharged variant but there's plenty of power for my needs. The gearing is pretty tall and you need to plant your foot to let it rev out and find the right gear, but doing so is rewarded with a very responsive and surprisingly smooth engine for being a 4 cylinder. I was feathery on the gas at first, so it was underwhelming but I adjusted to the inputs. The car feels plenty sporty and the grip makes cornering feel amazing. The rear suspension is torsion beam and you will notice it on very poor roads, but everyday driving on decent roads feels super refined, quiet and grip is not affected by this suspension arrangement. I'm very happy with my purchase. I'm 6'3" and fit pretty comfortably in the car even with the sunroof right above me. I've been in cars with more front legroom and have been less comfortable than I am in this car. Seat bolstering could be an issue for those with wider shoulders. I'm someone who loves a low driving position, so this car is a godsend in a world of soulless, blobby SUVs. I think this is the best all-around compact car you can get.

I haven't owned a 4 cylinder in a long time. I had a turbo 5 Volvo, a 6 cylinder accord, and a Mercedes c300 6 as my last three cars, then before that I owned a last model year RSX (2006, I wouldn't count the new ones) for a long time so that's the closest comparison to this. I think the RSX felt a bit more sporty (I didn't have the Type S), but as for power they're a pretty close match, and I bet the Mazda 3 would smoke it off the line with it's torque heavy engine. I think the RSX looked more sporty too, it had probably a more mature styling to it that I appreciate now even more than I did when I owned one, but I will say every time I look at my Mazda 3 I like it more and more. I've seen a thousand of these on the road and never had a strong opinion on them, but my girl in red keeps growing on me, and when I take the dog out for walks I circle the car and look it over and understand it more and more. I have a 2018 fully loaded GT, and the interior is mostly it's strongest positive. The facelifted w204 is easily the nicest looking interior I've ever been in, and the accord maybe the most comfortable, but this is incredibly close to the accord in terms of comfort and only lacking in slightly worse seats and less room. The seats are great though, but the 2012 accords were some of the best I've say in. The fake leather has a great balance of firm and give to it, and what's even better is the whole interior is wrapped in a similar nice synthetic material that's a joy to be wrapped in. I've never owned a car where my arms are supported on both sides in such a comfortable manner. I'm 6'1 so I keep my seat low but I feel like I have a good deal of room, in fact, I test drove a 2023 (gen 4) Mazda 3 that was an incredible price, about $800 off from my 2018 and even less miles but the new interior design is nowhere close to as good as what we get in the gen 3. You have almost no room to spread your legs out in the newer models and that's a deal breaker for me. The one major weakness of the 2018's interior is the tablet on top of the dash looks hideous. I think I mentioned earlier my model is fully loaded, and I mean it. But what's that mean, a premium sound system, some exterior trim pieces tacked on? Nope, here we have some genuinely cool features. Adaptive headlights that turn with the wheel, a heads up display that's projected on a piece of clear plastic that raises up when you start the engine and can show speed, road signs, blind spot info, next GPS heading, etc. We have automatic windshield wipers, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, a great Bose sound system, paddle shifters. My car has more bells and whistles than my wife's high trim 2023 Tuscon. I really love my little Mazda, and I'm hoping to take it down some back roads to see if I can enjoy the driving part as much as some others do, as I've mostly spent time on the highway or in stop and go so far. This was a purchase I was unsure of 3 days ago when I made it, but every couple waking hours something pulls me to that car, whether to drive it or just to sit in it. I know now I've made a great choice.

ABDUL was VERY helpful to us within moments of us walking through the doors at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning. He facilitated our selection process from our initial inquiry to our final selection. He exhibited good salesmanship, active listening, leaning in, gaining rapport, relevant & meaningful story-telling, and carefully wove the common thread of love for family into the selling process...we even found common ground about cultural things that we found funny...The skills he exhibited and values we shared seem to be disappearing in this new economy. We LOVED Lewis. Lewis knows every aspect of financing inside and out. He's so smooth. He respects a "NO" then remains conversational and low-key until he gets to "YES". Smooth! Top Performer's Sales Training at its best! We connected immediately and beyond just an occasional LOL, we Laughed Out Loud - LOUD and OFTEN...By the time we left, we were tired, hungry, but IMMENSELY pleased with all of the contractual guarantees, servicing/warranty explanations, being financed by the company of our choice - and our friendship with Lewis. You'll LOVE his iconic signature!

I bought the 2016 Mazda 3 with manual transmission brand new. Since then I've driven 280,000 miles through new York City traffic . I've just change my original clutch at 278000 . Most reliable car ever owned!

I found the perfect car -- a 2021 Porsche Macan GTS -- listed at a great price on Perillo BMW's website. Being from out of state (Pennsylvania), I reached out to the dealership remotely. At first, I hit some bumps with the initial sales consultant that responded; communication was slow and unhelpful. I almost walked away from the deal altogether. Thankfully, I called the dealership directly and got connected with Mike Fezatte, and that's when everything turned around. Mike was exceptional from the first conversation. He took the time to send me a few detailed walkaround videos of the car (even highlighting the rock chips), answered all of my questions promptly, and comes across as a genuinely good guy -- not pushy, just helpful and honest. I flew out to Chicago on a Saturday morning to complete the deal, and Mike even gave me a great local recommendation for Chicago pizza while the front office was finalizing the paperwork. The whole whole experience was smooth and I couldn't be happier with the car or the way I was treated. If you're considering a vehicle from Perillo BMW -- especially if you're buying from out of state -- do yourself a favor and ask for Mike Fezatte by name. I'm very glad I didn't let the poor start with the first consultant steer me away. Mike made it well worth the trip.

This is no luxury car but if you are looking for a smaller car with great reliabilty and lower maintenance costs this is a great option. I am a petite female and the car is quite comfortable for me. I drive 18 miles one way into Minneapolis and the ride is enjoyable enough. This is my 2nd Mazda 3, ironically same color as my previous only because of availabilty. This model year all wheel drive was available and served me well in our Minnesota winters. Standard safety features are appreciated. I don't need all the bells and whistles but I do like connecting my phone to my car.

Excellent customer service hector and mark we great to work with. No haggles very good deal.

I’m a very proud owner of my Mazda 3 with the Preferred Package. I’ve only owned it not even a month yet, and I wish I bought this car prior to the vehicle I traded for it. It’s still getting broken in, but it has every feature I could ask for and need. The gas mileage is great, it’s comfortable, quiet inside, has the get up and go when needed and so much more. Granted, I can’t really give a good review, but so far my Mazda 3 has really impressed me and always puts a smile on my face when I’m driving around.

Overall, the experience was very good. We purchased the car from Mo, a polite, soft spoken man that gave us zero pressure during the entire sales process. His communication was excellent throughout the process. The car needs a bit of work, but it was listed at a great price. He offered an optional extended powertrain warranty, and fixed a worn-out serpentine belt when a local mechanic pointed it out during a pre-sale inspection. Thanks!

The best purchase of my life. Bought this while in college as a basic sedan that I always liked the look of, and it was the most pleasant surprise of my life! So affordable, fun, peppy, responsive, and easy to maintain. It’s one of those cars that becomes your identity and a part of your personality. Maintained the car in my early 20s while going to school and had zero issues funding this car. Gas is cheap and my most major issue was the suspension needed to be redone when I hit 200k miles and because of harsh winters, I decided to put that repair money into a new AWD car. I miss the Mazda though!!! Recommend this vehicle to anyone and everyone!

Great people and great cars! Pleasure to drive my new M3H purchased from Eric Fragassi & Anthony (manager). Highly recommend. Thanks guys

Great experience, quick to set up, check in and out and everything was quoted with pricing. Time was appropriate for the amount of work done

Chris Reis was very helpful and knowledgeable about the differences between the CX-5 and CX-50 Hybrid and made my trade-in an efficient experience.

I absolutely love my 2023 Mazda3 from inside & out. Beautifully designed, comfortable, handles like a dream & this Soul Red turns a lot of heads. Hands down any Mazda is worth buying no matter the model....🙌🏽

Made me feel like family as soon as I walked in very helpful and accommodating to my needs didn?t feel rushed at all great staff and location overall.

Had an amazing experience here at Sherman dodge with Jesse W, he listened to our wants and needs and made sure we got a great deal! Definitely going to send my friends and family here as well.

Great experience, friendly and courteous staff, no surprises. Andrew was a pleasure to work with.

I bought a Mazda Carbon Edition S 2.5 sedan and I love it! It handles so very well and takes the turns well. The color is the bluish gray. The stylist design of the car body is awesome. I enjoy driving a sedan once again instead of a SUV. The car is most comfortable to sit in. The dealership where I purchased it was wonderful to deal with as were the salesmen and the manager, Sam, who I met. My Carbon Edition is just awesome to drive. The interior is a burgundy color and the appointments in it are very stylish. I am still learning how to use all instruments on the dash, but I haven’t spent as much time doing so as I should have. My salesman,Luke , has offered to help with this if I want him to. I thoroughly recommend a Mazda to everyone, maybe a sedan is not what you want, you might want another model. I have had two SUVs and I wanted a change when I purchased a new car. Buy a Mazda.

I shopped here for a used Mazda3. The person I scheduled the appointment with was not available when I arrived. I was given a new sales associate. We test drove the car together. We discussed pricing. I was fully expecting them to tack on a bunch of useless add-ons that were non-negotiable. Instead, he added a few optional add-ons and a small fee for reconditioning the car. I thought the fee was reasonable. It was simple to remove the optional add-ons. I was shocked by the experience. It went really well. The manager was really nice. Unfortunately we were still a bit apart on the price so I left to sleep on it. I was pleasantly surprised by their behavior. Maybe there is hope that dealerships can be straightforward and professional. I recommend these guys even though I didn't buy from them in the end.

I had a stress-free experience today buying a used car. When does that ever happen? Dan and Juan at Fortune Motor were delightful to work with. I approach most things in life hoping for balance and positive outcomes for all. I paid a fair price. They gave me a fair value on my trade. Best of all, they don't apply hidden dealer fees like so many others. The whole experience was pleasant. I hope to buy again from Fortune when I am ready for the next upgrade.

Bought 2017 Mazda3 Touring 6 Speed Manual new. It now has 180k miles. Fun to drive, great on fuel, great handling (Way better than Toyota Corolla), more than enough technology including Android Auto & Apple Car Play, easy on maintenance, very reliable (More reliable than Toyota in my opinion)

Autos of Chicago is dedicated to helping customers find dependable used cars at fair value. The dealership maintains a clean inventory of well-maintained vehicles and provides clear details about pricing and condition. Their knowledgeable staff supports buyers throughout the process, creating a relaxed and trustworthy environment for making informed vehicle purchase decisions.

I bought this car brand new in 2012. Paid 17k. Worth every penny. It has 63k miles onit right now. Have never done anything other than change the oil and filter. It runs like it is expected. Slow and easy. You won't win no races with it. But it gets my wife to work with no issues. { 5 miles} Rain or snow. We have taken it on several road trips. Including a couple 1000 plus mile trips. Running wide open the whole way. It has no problem. I am a big guy. Very un comfy in most cars. But this I fall right into it and am able to climb back out with ease. The interior is cloth. Its starting to fade. But still no tears or wear marks. Theres nothing fancy about this car. But my wife loves it.

I appreciate the effort Koi and the team put in to make sure I got into a reliable vehicle.

Mazda sits firmly as a premium brand. The quality and execution of the Mazda3 in the Premium Plus Turbo demonstrates this. The drive is fun with both power and handling.

Mike Medina took care of me and my families needs and I couldn’t recommend a better place or person to buy a car from!

I purchased this car with just under 117K miles in late 2023 and wrote my first review after just 1,000 miles. Currently, it has 141K, so this is more of an ownership review than just first impressions. I haven't done much other than regular maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc.) although I have replaced the exhaust. It always starts and returns excellent fuel economy. I get about 32 in the city and 42 on the highway, with an overall average of 36. For a small car it is stable but also has very agile handling. My only gripe is that it is very, very slow. It takes anywhere from 8 to 10 seconds to get to 60 MPH and can be scary at times when you really need to step on it and there's barely any power until 4000 RPM, but it's the sacrifice you'll need to make to get those high fuel economy figures. The Mazda3 is a great alternative to a Civic or a Corolla, while also offering a manual transmission on every trim and many available features. On the GT trim you can even get blindspot monitors and adaptive headlights!

We recently had the pleasure of purchasing a vehicle from McGrath Acura of Libertyville, IL, and we are exceedingly pleased with the experience. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was welcoming and respectful, largely thanks to the exceptional service provided by Mr. Cristian Lopez. He displayed remarkable professionalism and courtesy, taking the time to truly understand our needs without any pressure. Mr. Lopez answered all of our inquiries in a thorough and transparent manner, which made the entire process feel effortless and straightforward. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Trent and Mr. Victor, who effectively presented us with various aftermarket options and facilitated the necessary paperwork with efficiency. Overall, the transaction was seamless and stress-free. The vehicle we purchased was precisely as described and very reasonably priced, further affirming our satisfaction. We wholeheartedly recommend McGrath Acura in Libertyville to anyone seeking a new vehicle. Their commitment to outstanding customer service truly sets them apart.

This is a great car for the money. I looked at and test drove other cars, but this had the best overall comfort and driving experience for my needs. The soft-touch surfaces throughout the interior make the car feel more upscale, and the rotary dial interface is very easy to use and actually reduces distractions compared to a traditional touchscreen. I opted for the non-turbo engine, which is still very sporty and more than adequate for city and highway driving as well as some curvy canyon roads. The engine sounds great and feels eager to be pushed more when you want to. While other compact sedans might have more space in the backseat or trunk, for me this is not an issue, as I don’t haul much cargo, and I’m usually the only one in the car. If you want something that looks great, rides well, is sporty and fun, and yet gets good mileage and is safe and practical, it’s hard to beat this car.

I purchased my 2013 Mazda 3i Grand Touring Hatchback (manual transmission) in 2014 and the previous owner had put 30K miles on it. I've now got 140K and still love the car. Outside of recommended maintenance, the only repair expense I've had was I decided to replace the clutch. It hadn't failed but it was starting to show some slippage. I haven't even had to replace the brake pads yet! As for likes and dislikes that someone checking out this car might not notice just from looking, here are some negatives: 1) The 1-2 shift is always a bit notchy but others are smooth. 2) The 2.0L doesn't have a lot of power in the lower revs but 3000-4000 rpms it's pretty spirited (assuming you don't have four large adults in the car) 3) I ended up replacing the OEM headunit (the BOSE with Navigation) with an Eonon. I had issues getting the Eonon working early on but after a couple updates, it's been a huge improvement. 4) The biggest negative is that at some point, I'll have to let it go. On the positive side: 1) It handles great, 2) It carries a decent amount for its size 3) It gets good gas mileage (I used to average 35mpg but in recent years my driving in this car has been more around town and it's fallen back to 31-32.) 4) It's been extremely reliable. 5) The front seats are very comfortable (I'm 5'7" and the car fits me great. I imagine taller people would not be as comfortable.)

Very accommodating to out-of-town buyers, except pay-in-full is required to hold a vehicle. Need more flexibility on this, like allowing sizable deposit with time limits