Mazda 3 (2019 on)

2

2.0 Skyactiv-X 180 GT Sport Auto 5dr

reviewed by Anonymous on 27 February 2026
2
Overall rating
2
How it drives
3
Fuel economy
4
Tax/Insurance/Warranty costs
4
Cost of maintenance and repairs
3
Experience at the dealership
4
How practical it is
3
How you rate the manufacturer
3
Overall reliability

Expected more

The car cuts an attractive figure, combining sleek styling with a spacious, well-appointed cabin. The specification is generous too, with highlights including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Heated Seats and a Heated Steering Wheel. However, the driving experience is where things begin to unravel. The ride is on the firm side, feeling unsettled and lacking confidence over bumps and road imperfections rather than absorbing them with any composure.
Several niggling issues compounded the frustration. An intermittent vibration from the rear was difficult to ignore, and the DAB radio signal dropped every time the rear window demister was activated — a peculiar and irritating fault. The Traffic Sign Recognition system also proved unreliable, struggling to correctly identify National Speed Limit signs after speed changes on the motorway, and occasionally abandoning the task altogether without warning.
Refinement is another area that falls short of expectations. The engine behaves itself at lower speeds but becomes noticeably coa***r as the revs rise, and wind noise intrudes into the cabin with increasing insistence at motorway speeds — hardly the hushed cruiser one might hope for. The six-speed automatic gearbox doesn't help matters either, feeling one ratio short of where it should be and leaving the engine spinning harder than necessary on longer journeys.
Fuel economy wise okay at 40mph but lot less than the official figures suggest.
Overall, while the car presents well on paper, the real-world experience reveals a number of shortcomings that are difficult to overlook.

Report as offensive

3
reviewed by Anonymous on 19 March 2025
5
reviewed by Stuart McPherson on 23 September 2024
5
reviewed by Anonymous on 11 April 2024
4
reviewed by MARK U. on 23 February 2024
3
reviewed by Anonymous on 22 November 2023
1
reviewed by Anonymous on 17 November 2023
4
reviewed by Anonymous on 15 June 2023
4
reviewed by rogerzilla1 on 11 June 2023
4
reviewed by Anonymous on 10 July 2022
3
reviewed by Anonymous on 6 February 2022
1
reviewed by Anonymous on 23 October 2021
4
reviewed by Anonymous on 30 August 2021
5
reviewed by Anonymous on 22 August 2021
5
reviewed by Anonymous on 3 May 2021
5
reviewed by fodalfa on 8 June 2020
4
reviewed by misar on 21 December 2019
5
reviewed by jonnytttt on 24 November 2019

Write your review

About this car

Price£26,680–£32,930
Road TaxA–F
MPG-
Real MPG-

Just reviewed...

2
submitted by Anonymous
4
submitted by Des.
1
submitted by Mr Adam Webster