2013 Mazda 3

The 2013 Mazda 3 is offered in 5 trims with an option for choosing either a manual or an automatic transmission. The features get added as we go up the trim ladder. We also get different engine options that increase the performance output of the car. There is a good level of equipment offered even on the base trim, but as you move up the trims, it adds a lot of creature comforts and technology.

Buying Advice

The choices are too many here as there are 5 trims on offer, however, if you are on a budget and still want the most features, the i Touring trim does good, and if you would climb a step higher and fancy the i Grand Touring, you might as well go for the full top-end s Grand Touring model that also gives you a bigger engine and the best of the features available in the lineup.

The 2013 Mazda 3 offers a range of engine options. The standard engine, being a 148 hp 2-liter unit, returns a power output of 155 hp on mid-range trims, while the top-spec trim comes with a 2.5-liter engine throwing out a good 167 hp. The basic engine offers commendable performance, accelerating 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds, while the quarter-mile takes 16.8 seconds to cover. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission with an FWD drivetrain as standard.

The Toyota Corolla is among the best sellers of this segment, credit goes to the low MSRP and the high reliability, however, it is also the slowest. The new Hyundai Elantra is the fastest of the lot despite being similar in terms of engine output as the Mazda 3’s base engine configuration. There is not much difference in the costs among compact sedans present here.

The Mazda 3 is pretty efficient while also maintaining a decent power output for its segment. The combined fuel efficiency is 28 mpg, and this reduces by 1 mpg on the higher-powered version, while the larger 2.5-liter engine returns a humble 23 mpg of combined city and highway driving. The 14.5-gallon fuel tank does help in providing a considerable driving range, but it is nothing too good.

The Hyundai Elantra is not just the fastest here but is also the most fuel-efficient amongst the cars here. The Chevy Cruze, on the other end, is only a little more efficient than the Mazda 3 but employs a much larger tank which helps it to offer the farthest driving range. The 2013 Corolla returns better efficiency figures than the Mazda and Chevy, but the smaller gas tank makes it want to stop at the gas stations frequently.

The Mazda 3 is not completely driver-centric in terms of the driving dynamics, and the interiors too follow the same mojo. Although it may not be the best today, it offers a very pleasant and stylish cabin right from the base trim. The sedan contains soft-touch materials and cushioning on the armrests and panels. The seats are comfortable and have a very premium feeling. Also, there is leather upholstery available on the higher trims. The cabin space is on par with the segment. The sedan has a cargo capacity of 11.8 cubic feet, which is the smallest in the competition.

While the front seats are average on space, the rear seats are the most spacious ones in the Mazda. The Elantra offers the best amount of headroom and legroom up front but has to make a compromise on the rear seat space. The Chevy Cruze has the largest trunk and a well-balanced spacious front and rear row of seats. Major interior features include:

• 8-way power driver seat
• Reclining sport-type heated front bucket seats
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seat
• Leather seat trim
• Tilt/telescopic 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Dual-zone auto climate control
• Leather-wrapped black shift knob
• Synthetic leather door trim

How intuitive is the 2013 Mazda 3 infotainment unit?

The 2013 Mazda 3 comes with a new and larger touchscreen that also does the navigation display duties. The audio system is the one that we loved, which is the same as last year. The car’s infotainment also features all of the latest technology and connectivity that is expected from a modern-day car. Important infotainment features include: 

• 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 10-speaker 256W Centerpoint surround sound audio system
• HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio w/4 month trial subscription
• Navigation system w/real time traffic
• Voice-commands
• Bluetooth hands-free phone & audio

The Mazda 3 has a nice exterior appearance with the swept-back headlights, while the front grille with the thick plastic bar appears like a smiling face. The car looks pretty simple from the side profile, with the shoulder line rising nicely and a character line running across the lower end of the doors. The car on the whole appears stylish and quintessentially Mazda when looking at it from the backside. 

The Hyundai Elantra is the shortest but still manages to offer the longest wheelbase and takes the credit for being the lightest. The Mazda 3 is the closest to the ground with a ground clearance of just 4.7 inches, while the Chevy Cruze offers the best ground clearance and is also heavier than all the cars present here. Important exterior features include:

• Automatic on/off Bi-Xenon HID headlights 
• pivoting adaptive front lighting system and auto-leveling
• LED tail lights
• Heated power mirrors w/turn signal lamps
• Automatic rain-sensing intermittent front windshield wipers
• Sport-type black gloss grille insert & trim
• Body-color rear lip spoiler
• Power moonroof
• 17-inch alloy wheels w/black center caps

Mazda has been known for the solid and safe build quality of their cars, and the 2013 Mazda 3 does nothing different to distort that image of the brand. The sedan has performed impressively in the IIHS crash tests as it holds the 'Top Safety Pick' award for the year. Even the NHTSA has provided the sedan with an overall decent score of 4 stars. Apart from this, the sedan comes with quite good features integrated into it, and to name some of them: 

• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA)
• Dynamic stability control (DSC) w/traction control system (TCS)
• Crash zone, driver's seat position, and passenger weight sensors
• Blindspot monitor
• Collapsible steering column and Crashable brake pedal
• Tire pressure monitoring system

The Mazda 3 is a very good sedan that strikes the balance of what we can call the best of all the worlds between comfort, performance, and affordability and might prove to be a great car. This might not be the most perfect choice to haul the family for very long distances but will do amazing as a daily driver while also managing to come out as a fun-to-drive car on occasions.