Are there any particular benefits to the Mazda 3? I’ve noticed a few Matrix drivers on other threads and I’d like your opinions on the car’s performance and what pushed you towards it over the Mazda.
Initially I was inclined only towards the Matrix b/c I come from a Toyota-biased family and I drive an Echo at the moment but I saw the Mazda 3 CUV the other day and liked it. I know Mazdas are supposed to have kickier engines but I thought they also came with a higher price tag.
I’m keeping this car for a long time and I want a high-end model-sunroof, power everything, automatic (this can’t change), good soundsystem etc. etc. for a fairly decent price but also with good reliability.
Also, no, I don’t want a Corolla, I don’t want anything American (a la Ford Focus) and I don’t want a Golf. I’m looking for a Japanese version of the new CUVs that are popping up.
A Matrix will be our next vehicle. While it might be nice to have a bit more performance, for our purposes (mostly stop-and-go city driving) we are most interested in the storage capacity. We want a reasonably fuel-efficient vehicle with adjustable features such as fold-down seats. It gets really annoying paying for home delivery of items because we can’t get them in the damn car.
I’m from a Toyota family as well and I’ve been impressed with their reliability and re-sale value. The Mazda 3 looks nice, but unfortunately, just does not have the versatility we need since our family will only have one vehicle.
We bought the M3’s predecessor, the Protege5 wagon prior to buying a Matrix XR, and if the M3 is even remotely similar to the P5 in performance (I know it has about 30 more HP) then I’d go with the Mazda in a heartbeat. Our P5 feels a lot more solid and well-built than the Toyota, and handles a lot better on the road. On paper the P5 was supposed to get fewer MPG than the Matrix, but that turned out not to be the case with us (YMMV - ha!). We paid several $K less for the P5 than the Matrix XR. We bought the Matrix for Toyota’s quality reputation, but the P5 has consistently been a better, tougher and more enjoyable car.
Go with the Mazda3. If price is an issue, consider a used Protege5 - they were only built for a few years.
BTW, if anyone wants to trade their Mazda3 for my Matrix XR . . .
Well, I don’t have much to say other then i’ve driven my friends Matrix XR(forget what year, it’s at least 2 years old). automatic. The car feels faster then my 92 accord sedan lx automatic(has similar engine stats, but ~10lb lower torque), but If I keep my eye on the speedo while I accelerate it’s pretty damn slow. I also didn’t like the steering on the Matrix. I’m pretty sure it’s a non-fixed ratio steering wheel(I’m just not used to it). However the car still handles well, has pretty good grip and a nice little turn radius. My biggest complaint though, and it might have been my fault for not adjusting the mirrors correctly, but try as I might, I was left with a huge blindspot on my leftside(my friend also says she has it).
I bought a 2004 Mazda3 5-door. Manual tranny, 160-HP engine.
Best goddamn car I’ve ever owned. The engine has a ton of kick, it hugs curves like a sports car. It has zero body lean in a curve, and it’s damn near impossible to get the rear wheels to “unstick.” It’s basically a Mazda built on the chassis and suspension of a Volvo S40.
I have a moonroof and a 6-CD changer. I have cloth seats, because I really don’t care to keep up with leather. I got out the door under $18,000 fully kitted out.
The fit and finish of the interior are superb. There is no part of the car that feels cheap or tawdry or flimsy. It’s understated, clearly-designed, and elegant.
I have no idea about the Matrix. I didn’t test drive it. I was looking for a bit of performance at an economy price, and I didn’t feel like a 123-HP engine would really give me that. The 3 gives me that in spades. It’s a ton of fun to drive.
Mazda3: Great handling, great ride, tons of room, great mileage. Pretty fun to drive, won’t depreciate as much as most other cars in its price range, and IIRC one of the cheaper cars at that size class.
Toyota Corolla: Boring, understeery, roly-poly, reliable. Not too much room inside. Manual transmission ones with ABS hard to find. But, oh, that motor… Grossly underrated at “130” horsepower. 0-60 time under 7 seconds with the manual box and no options. Close to 40 MPG.
You’ve picked two aces. Get the Mazda just for the sake of supporting Mazda and enthusiasts’ cars everywhere.
Well, I’m happing I spotted the Mazda3 5-door the other day b/c based on the enthusiastic replies here I’m feeling more and more inclined to go and test-drive it. I know it’s going to be hard breaking the Toyota habit and my parents are probably going to frown on it and try to win me back to Toyota but so far everyone I’ve talked to has said the Mazda gives you a better performance car for approximately the same price.
I also like that the Mazda3 5-door comes standard with a leather interior and a bunch of stuff that I want in the Matrix I have to add on. Storage space is also an issue for me so I will look at both carefully. Gas mileage is also an issue (don’t want a hybrid, though). Incidentally, I have to buy the car in California since that’s where I’m moving so I think the price will come to approximately 20-22K for both cars.
I read the term CUV on Epinions from other reviewers. It refers to the sporty new hatchbacks like the Gold, Mazda3, Matrix, Vibe etc…I think it stands for Compact Utility Vehicle. You get some of the bennies of a SUV ("look! Sporty! Can move shit around!) but with sedan level gas mileage.
I just googled some pictures, and as far as I can tell, “CUV” for the 5-door versions is a way to say “station wagon” that doesn’t have the stigma of, well, “station wagon”.
That’s all I really have to add Good luck with whatever car you get - may you have many years of trouble-free driving ahead.
How do you guys feel about the durability of the exterior of the Mazdas? I love my Echo to death (beepbeep!) but I’m none too pleased about how easily the car dents.
First dent: car is almost new. Windy day on the High Plains. Ginormous SUV next to me as I head into school. When I get back, small dent/crack in paint exactly where a door flying out beyond owner’s control would have smacked by beloved Runty right in the side.
Second Dent: black ice on R57 back to Chambana. Multiple car wrecks. 10 miles from town I am gently nudged in the back by imbecile not cognizant of need to drive slowly. I get home-screw/bolt from his front license plate lodged in my bumper.
Third Dent: runaway grocery cart in Meijer parking lot crashes into side of car even as I’m running towards it trying to stop it from happening. I get to the car. There’s a two inch gash right above the tire part where it’s just cracked all the way through.
Fourth Dent: I am parked pumping gas on Green Street. Imbecile drunk bicyclist crashes directly into my car. His head hitting the side of my car leaves a tiny dent.
Also the car ROCKS like crazy in heavy winds when I’m driving but I swear I can feel it moving in heavy winds side-to-side AS I’m stopped at a light. I do live on the Plains. I’m worried that the Matrix build will have similar problems. I do not want to do constant touch up work on the Matrix (the Echo belongs to my parents, I have to give it back now that I’m graduating) if the body is as delicate (one might say flimsy) as the Echo.
I think any car would dent under the conditions you describe…besides maybe a Saturn, but I would definitely not buy one of those.
As for the stability/wind, I have driven mine through very stormy weather (in fact, tornadic, as I later learned.) I experienced no pronounced drifting at all that I remember.
How insistent are you on not buying American made? The Matrix is built in the US on the same line as the Pontiac Vibe.
I’ve been driving Mazdas for 20 years (626, RX-7, Miata). They’ve always been great cars for me - good value and performance for the money. I’ve had no mechanical or maintenance problems.
Those of you who looked at the Mazda 3 five-door, have you also looked at the Mazda 6 five-door? What did you think?
Note that I’m not actively looking for a new car, as mine is running fine, but I’m always on the lookout for the next one. I like these CUVs for the cargo carrying capacity, four doors and reasonable mileage.
If this sounds like a broken record, it isn’t. Trust me.
GET A MANUAL TRANSMISSION! Little cars have little engines. Little engines need to turn fast and have the engine speed stay in a small powerband. This means lots of gears. Manual gearboxes have five gears in them in this cases - the equivalent automatics only have four. In addition, little engines can’t as easily cope with the 15 or so horsepower sapped away by a slushmatic.
I wouldn’t mind purchasing a standard if it weren’t for the fact that someone who would be driving my car can’t (b/c of a physical disability) use a standard. That’s why I put “automatic transmission requirement can’t change” in my original post.
Ogre-no way man. The Echo is made out of tin foil and bubble wrap, trust me. I drove a Corolla before the Echo and it never dented like that. The piece above my tire ripped, like plastic that splits and then you can see the crack.
I drive the 03 Matrix XRS. It destroys the Mazda 3 in every category and I’ve tracked and auto-x my car. If you’re going with the tamer XR/Base (130 HP) the Mazda might work out better in terms of price. I know if you’re going to keep your car for a while it might be worth it to go with Toyota though.
The Matrix is based on the solid Corolla platform. I’m amazed at my Matrix. I once hit a pot hold hard enough to destroy my front passenger rim and my suspension and steering was perfectly fine including my alignment. Solid engineering.
I don’t know anyone with a Mazda 3 though. They are newer but Toyota has a better rep and the Matrix XRS is a great entry-level sports car. When my GF’s brother went looking for a car he tested out the Mazda 3 but went with a Matrix XR + B package.
anu-la1979, you’re in Cambridge Ontario? Why not see if you can get a tour of the Matrix plant? I did
In terms of dent resistance, the Matrix comes with 5 mph bumpers but has no special protection on it’s sides. My best friend’s GF rubbed my Matrix with his brand new Corolla (over both driver’s side doors) and it just messed up the paint.
If you want to reduce dents/scratches get a clear 3M bra and have someone install it. It’ll save your paint.
Good luck with whatever car you get - may you have many years of trouble-free driving ahead.