Used Mazda 3 cars for sale

Used Mazda 3 pros and cons

Is a second hand Mazda 3 a good car?

The Mazda 3 should have been a plain, ordinary, reliable, kinda-dull family car just like all the previous Mazda 3s and 323s that came before it. However, this Mazda 3 came out from behind the curtain like a timid accountant in Stars In Their Eyes. Tonight, Matthew, I’m going to be Elton John!

OK, so maybe the Mazda 3 isn’t quite as flamboyant as Peak Elton, but it’s definitely one of the best-looking family hatches around, with a low-set front, slim lights, clean sides, and a swept-around rear pillar that makes it look really distinctive. There’s also a slightly plainer — but still handsome — four door saloon option, but sadly no estate. 

It’s an alternative to conventional family hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus and VW Golf, but it can also trade blows with the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, thanks to high levels of quality and some impressive technology. 

It’s in the cabin where the Mazda really sticks one up to the premium boys. The interior has a nicely minimalist look, with subtle dials (a mix of analogue and digital) and a relatively small infotainment screen (8.8 inches originally, 10.3 inches after a 2023 update) that doesn’t dominate the cabin. There are some very neat climate control buttons and a set of very comfortable front seats. 

The touchscreen is controlled by a BMW-style clickwheel on the centre console, which makes it easier and safer to use when on the move, and there’s voice control and some handy shortcut buttons too. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have been standard from the start, and if the graphics look a bit dated, then at least it’s a simpler system than you get in many other cars (we’re looking at you, VW Golf…). 

There’s great comfort and plenty of space up front, and lots of storage space, especially in the deep box that’s under the front seat armrest. In the back it’s less good, as the roof is relatively low, and legroom isn’t great. Plus, that fast-rising window-line and the thick rear pillars mean that there’s not a lot of light getting in. The saloon is a little better in this respect. The Mazda 3’s boot is also slightly smaller than what you’d get in a Golf or Focus, too. 

For the most part, you can only buy the Mazda 3 with petrol power, although there was a short-lived — and impressively economical — 1.8-litre diesel that was dropped not long after the car was launched in 2019.

The other engine choices are both 2.0-litre petrols, with no turbos but with mild-hybrid assistance. The basic engine (recently replaced by a 2.5-litre unit) is a 122hp SkyActiv-G engine, or you could upgrade to the more complicated 186hp SkyActiv-X, which mixes sparkplugs with diesel-style compression ignition for maximum economy and lower emissions.  

The SkyActiv-X is interesting, and has plenty of high-end power, but for daily driving the SkyActiv-G is pretty much just as good. Both will easily beat the 40mpg barrier in daily driving, and a gently-driven SkyActiv-X will sneak past the 50mpg mark from time to time. 

The 3 is a delight to drive, with sharp steering and a poised chassis — and one of the best manual gearshifts around, so don’t buy the automatic unless you really need one — but it does suffer a bit over bumps as the suspension has a bit of a sporty edge. Equally, rear vision in the hatchback isn’t great, although there’s a reversing camera and sensors to help out in tight spaces. 

On the open road, the Mazda 3 isn’t quite as fun to drive as a Ford Focus, but it’s a close run thing, and it’s refined on the motorway. The only downside is that both engines lack low-down grunt, so you have to remember to drop a gear and rev hard if you want to pick up speed. 

What to look for when buying a used Mazda 3

There are no reported horror stories when it comes to buying a used Mazda 3, and reliability definitely seems to be a strong point. It’s worth noting that the SkyActiv-X engine, with its complex ignition system, should be carefully and regularly serviced, but again there are no major reported issues aside from occasional early clutch replacement. The only potential downside is that Mazda can be more expensive for spare parts, when they’re needed, than some rivals. 

The Mazda 3 didn’t feature in the Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list (although it’s performed well in previous years, finishing as high as ninth) while Mazda itself finished seventh out of 32 brands in the overall Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. That said, a relatively high 25% of customers reported issues with their cars.