2014 Mazda 3 sGT sedan
2.5/6AT
Purchased 11/3/13
815 miles
Pros:
+Powertrain - the Sky engine and auto are INCREDIBLE, although still some appearance of fuel economy programming.
+ Steering/Handling - blows the 2nd gen out of the water.
+ Arguably the best interior in the class.
Cons:
- 18" wheels - watch the potholes. 19 days to destroy my first Dunlop.
- Horrific mileage on commute more suited towards electric car. 18 MPG average.
- No memory seats - come on Mazda. Steerable headlights, city safety, radar cruise but memory seats are bank busting?
- Infotainment is a piece of buggy garbage.
Mazda has truly outdone themselves with the 3rd gen 3. I absolutely love this car and the pile of crap mounted to the dash is easily overlooked by the drive/handling/steering and the upscale interior of the sGT.
The power from the 2.5/6AT is beyond impressive and incredibly smooth. I can honestly say the Sky auto shifts is exactly how Mazda describes it on their website. Sometimes you can feel the CVT like feel when the torque converter locks up in 2nd and pretty much stays locked, then the high speed upshifts/downshifts that rival and possibly beat some DSG in shift speed. Have done a few sport mode runs to redline and this thing is a runner.
Handling, steering and ride are absolutely top notch. As expected it can get a bit rough on urban city streets with the 18" wheels. This thing feels like a RWD car and has far less body roll than my 2nd gen '10 GT. DSC is just as loose as previous gens when it comes to nanny intervention, you have to pretty much start smoking a tire before it steps in (imagine inside tire on a hard acceleration turn and wet roads). Dunlop SP Sport5000 tires are absolute garbage.
Infotainment is about 30-40% there. Problems, problems, problems with the software. Now my screen is bouncing/fuzzing in cold weather, picture reality horror picture screen fuzzing. BT audio connection is still crap, imagine bad Netflix streaming. The system is crap, Mazda must have paid tons of $$$$ to keep journalist quiet on this POS.
Still incredibly pleased with my '14 sGT. My opinion at the top of the compact heap right now.
2.5/6AT
Purchased 11/3/13
815 miles
Pros:
+Powertrain - the Sky engine and auto are INCREDIBLE, although still some appearance of fuel economy programming.
+ Steering/Handling - blows the 2nd gen out of the water.
+ Arguably the best interior in the class.
Cons:
- 18" wheels - watch the potholes. 19 days to destroy my first Dunlop.
- Horrific mileage on commute more suited towards electric car. 18 MPG average.
- No memory seats - come on Mazda. Steerable headlights, city safety, radar cruise but memory seats are bank busting?
- Infotainment is a piece of buggy garbage.
Mazda has truly outdone themselves with the 3rd gen 3. I absolutely love this car and the pile of crap mounted to the dash is easily overlooked by the drive/handling/steering and the upscale interior of the sGT.
The power from the 2.5/6AT is beyond impressive and incredibly smooth. I can honestly say the Sky auto shifts is exactly how Mazda describes it on their website. Sometimes you can feel the CVT like feel when the torque converter locks up in 2nd and pretty much stays locked, then the high speed upshifts/downshifts that rival and possibly beat some DSG in shift speed. Have done a few sport mode runs to redline and this thing is a runner.
Handling, steering and ride are absolutely top notch. As expected it can get a bit rough on urban city streets with the 18" wheels. This thing feels like a RWD car and has far less body roll than my 2nd gen '10 GT. DSC is just as loose as previous gens when it comes to nanny intervention, you have to pretty much start smoking a tire before it steps in (imagine inside tire on a hard acceleration turn and wet roads). Dunlop SP Sport5000 tires are absolute garbage.
Infotainment is about 30-40% there. Problems, problems, problems with the software. Now my screen is bouncing/fuzzing in cold weather, picture reality horror picture screen fuzzing. BT audio connection is still crap, imagine bad Netflix streaming. The system is crap, Mazda must have paid tons of $$$$ to keep journalist quiet on this POS.
Still incredibly pleased with my '14 sGT. My opinion at the top of the compact heap right now.