About the Mazda 3
Stef D purchased this Mazda 3 used for $13,000 (including all on-road costs) in 2018. Stef D would buy this car again because: “The Mazda 3 is a great option for someone who is just using the vehicle as a daily commuter, with no frills, simple technology which is easy to use. With SkyActiv technology which helps to save fuel, the 2.0L Mazda 3 is definitely worth a look.”
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
I bought this car in 2018 with 62,000km on the odometer from an auction house (basically sight unseen!) as I needed a second vehicle for my commute to work after my 2005 Accord Euro decided to die on me.
Other than regular maintenance, there was one minor recall that needed to be carried out on the wiper unit, but for the most part, the car did not give me any issues whatsoever.
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
Servicing Intervals are 12 monthly or 10,000km, which for me travelling an average of 20,000km per year not the most ideal of scenarios.
The capped price servicing on offer with Mazda does help in that you know what you will pay for your servicing before you book in.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
The car was three years old when I purchased it, and for the money at the time, it had what I needed feature wise (Bluetooth, rear sensors, some new car warranty if anything went wrong, and the ability to fit in four people comfortably).
If budget had allowed I would have gone for the SP25 with the punchier 2.5L engine and some more features but the Neo did the job fine.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
Doing the commute I was every day (60km round trip from home – work), I was getting in the vicinity of 550km-600km to a tank of premium 95 petrol, and that was driving predominantly sensibly.
The 2.0L naturally aspirated engine has an adequate amount of power to handle the long trips up and down the freeway if required also.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
For what I needed, it was adequate. I had Bluetooth streaming so I could listen to my music, phone calls were not an issue either. Having some sort of parking aid was also good, for an entry level vehicle it was adequate.
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
The Neo runs around on 16″ alloy wheels, which when coming to getting replacement tyres is quite cost effective as opposed to 18″ or 20″ like some other vehicles.
The Neo does not masquerade as a hot (or even mild) hatchback, but if you do feel like going on a spirited drive it’s okay! If there was one bugbear it is compared to other similar vehicles the Mazdas aren’t renowned for their sound deadening.
