Mazda Quality

[Al]

"It has a heavy hood" is one of the sillier pros I've read.

The smallest hail dents the flimsy subaru hood. Ask me how I know.

 

[Ws6]

CX5 is still the best sub-40K CUV, IMO.

 

[zigziggy]

I own 2 Mazdas and I can share that while both may have reliable drivetrain, everything else is on the cheaper side esp plastics, paint and glass. The interior plastic is easily scratched. You can expect dents on the front end from the tiniest road debris. If someone hits you with a door, even a little bit - you will have side dents pretty much on the next day. The glass cracks so easily it's unbelievable. The paint is just the worst part of it all, probably the thinnest of all cars I have ever owned almost to the point that keeping it polished and waxed is virtually worthless. I hear Mazdas are rust buckets, so if you are in the rust belt, bless your heart.

 

[Zee09]

I own 2 Mazdas and I can share that while both may have reliable drivetrain, everything else is on the cheaper side esp plastics, paint and glass. The interior plastic is easily scratched. You can expect dents on the front end from the tiniest road debris. If someone hits you with a door, even a little bit - you will have side dents pretty much on the next day. The glass cracks so easily it's unbelievable. The paint is just the worst part of it all, probably the thinnest of all cars I have ever owned almost to the point that keeping it polished and waxed is virtually worthless. I hear Mazdas are rust buckets, so if you are in the rust belt, bless your heart.

Yup!
A few years back i looked at a
new one on the lot...
Underneath too much rust already so I passed.

 

[Number_35]

Mazdas here were very rust-prone c. 2000 - 2005, and a bit better, but not great, through 2009 or '10.

I have not seen a rusty MY2011+ Mazda here yet. They're doing something different.

Edit: There's a JDM (RHD) 2nd-gen (2000-2006) Mazda MPV in our neighbourhood. It's been here two or three years. I keep expecting to see the rear wheel wells get crunchy, but it looks good so far.

 

[Number_35]

My 1990 Mazda Protege LX w/manual was a total pleasure to drive. (Never seen a Protege of that series (1990-1994) on the road in a very long time.) In 2002 bought a used 1999 Protege LX (which I still own) which is also a total pleasure to drive. This car will easy last another few decades if I can find someone who is able to do transmission work reasonably. Mazdas are great cars. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

We loved our 2001 Protege 1.6 5-speed. It was a delight to drive, and superb on gas. Owned it from 2005 - 2016.

 

[Al]

6000+ miles. Driving 90% in short trips of 3 miles one way, it gets29 mpg. I am very satisfied. It will be interesting to see how it does in snow.

 

[yagciogullari]

i own a 2023 mazda 3. the interior quality is superb for that segment. often vw golf is cited as the best interior quality in the c segment but i think mazda 3 is much better than that. the design is elegant and ergonomic, too. also 2.0 ltr atmospheric engine is a godsend. a rarity within that segment. especially super rare in european market.

 

[GaryMX5]

I've had a total of 9 Mazdas over the years and currently have 2 2025's. Possibly the best cars of the 30+ cars I have owned. Only the 82 RX7 developed any rust. I had a 2004 6 (from the FORD era) and it currently lives on at my neighbors w/o a speck of rust and it stays outdoors 24/7 all year. Two got new windshields after being hit by gravel from trucks. I'm guessing any windshield would have submitted to that. From my 2014 6 on I invested in partial front end clear bras which took care of road debris and bugs. None of the 8 had any needed repairs except for normal maintenance. The 99 Miata got it's first clutch and brake pad replacement at 90K miles and probably could have gone another 10K more! Mazdas are outstanding bang for the buck in my opinion.

(Mazdas owned - 82 RX7, 99 Miata, 04 Mazda6, 14 Mazda6, 16 CX5, 18 Mazda3 hatch, 21 CX5 Turbo, 25 CX30, 25 Mazda3 awd sedan)

 

[97prizm]

A relative's well researched 2012 Mazd3 iTouring started it all. It replaced a Jeep Cherokee.
Improved fuel mileage was the central goal.
The preference was for no CVT.

So inspired and impressed, we bought a 2016 Mazda3 Sport a few months later, replacing a Saab Aero Wagen.

Immediately thereafter, Mrs. Kira's friend bought a 2016 CX-3; retiring an early (rear drums) Jeep Liberty.
NOTE: That aged Liberty didn't owe her a dime.

The FR wheel bearing went on the relative's '12 and Mazda replaced both.
COLOR: The nice parts man gave me an OK price on some FZ fluid.

In 2019, 100 miles away on L.I., a college kid wrecked his Mazda6.
Papa favored a more sedate replacement, so they bought the relative's '12 w/61k and serviced transmission.
ARTISTIC NOTE: The relative's '12 was in "Indigo Nights", a unique sexy color. The color made and the trannie refresh sealed the deal.

Then we traded our '16 for a '19 CX-5 with 21k.
I liked that it had 17" wheels, not some stupid size and a nice compliment of options.

Recently, our friends have seriously approached us to buy our '19. They're eager to slough a 2017 JGC which just broke 100k.
The 17" wheels boost our car's appeal. Plus they know I'm a BITOGer who cares.

The friend with the '16 CX-3 just today (surprise to me) traded it for a 2025 CX-50, I think. Mrs. Kira didn't interrogate her friend.

That's the timeline in my Mazda world.

I've always wanted a 929 or Millenia just for grins. I think I've only seen maybe 2-4 929's ever in my lifetime.