Mazda 3 >2019 advice

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EMB

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#3169117 7-Dec-2023 07:57

As others have noted a RAV4 has quite a bit more more luggage space than a CX5 and would be the direction I went if I wanted 2 kiddy seats and space for a stroller whilst still having room for shopping and the like. A CX3 is out because it has almost no boot space, a CX30 will be too small for what you're trying to do, but will be better to lift kids in and out of than a Mazda 3 as it's higher off the ground.

Note - my better half works for a Mazda dealership and has had pretty much everything in their range as a drive car over the last few years so I have actually driven them extensively, and my vehicle is a RAV4. You should see better than 8l/100km from a 2 litre non-hybrid RAV doing the Auckland commute and better than 6l/100lm in a hybrid one.

cddt

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#3169121 7-Dec-2023 08:15

Don't do what we did - bought a vehicle which suited our family and then discovered an unintended pregnancy a couple of months later.

Now we manage to squeeze three kids carseats across the middle row in an Outlander, but it did require buying new seats (old wider seats have gone to grandparents for their car).

Just something to keep in mind if you haven't been for the snip snip...

jonathan18

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#3169125 7-Dec-2023 08:41

How about a Mazda6 wagon? Heaps better looking and more fun to drive than a CX5 (plus, I think, a little more economical due to its shape), and much more space than any of Mazda hatches or small 'SUVs'.

We owned one for five years, including a period with two kids' car seats, and it was an enjoyable vehicle to drive. The rear leg room and boot space isn't as generous as some larger wagons (eg Superb) or EVs like the Model Y we replaced the 6 with, but it was decent enough; when necessary, we topped up space with a roof box (which didn't have a huge impact on economy), but we're quite generous packers!.

Geekeneer

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#3169136 7-Dec-2023 09:05

@EMB thanks for this. I know the RAV4 would provide more space and better economy. I have being comparing the spec sheets.

A 2.0l 2020 RAV4 also has 127kw compared to the 2.0l CX5, at only 115KW.

I just thought the Mazda looked more classy, and a bit more advanced.

Geekeneer

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#3169137 7-Dec-2023 09:07

@cddt Haha we've got 1. Planning on a second, hence the requirement to fit 2 seats, but seems like I'm going smaller with a Mazda 3.

EMB

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#3169141 7-Dec-2023 09:10

Geekeneer:

@EMB thanks for this. I know the RAV4 would provide more space and better economy. I have being comparing the spec sheets.

A 2.0l 2020 RAV4 also has 127kw compared to the 2.0l CX5, at only 115KW.

I just thought the Mazda looked more classy, and a bit more advanced.

Agree with you on the looks, but maybe practicality needs to override "feels" at some stage.

It's also worth noting that in my opinion (and your experience may differ) Toyota have the adaptive cruise control sorted quite a lot better than Mazda do. There's nothing really wrong with the Mazda version but the Toyota version seems more "intelligent".

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Geekeneer

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#3169142 7-Dec-2023 09:14

@jonathan18 my vehicle pet peeves are wagons haha, I don't know why, I can't see myself driving those without looking 15 years older, although I do see the practicality.

Dunnersfella

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#3169150 7-Dec-2023 09:26

I drive a 2019 Mazda 3 and have just over 60,000 on the clock.

It has both Carplay and Android auto as standard - the HUD that shines up on the windscreen is the first clue.

Gripes - front end is lower than you'd think so scrapes may happen.

Trickier to get in if you're not flexible.

Could have a slightly stronger brake package from new.

Gloss black finish on the centre console (why???).

Sensors sometimes get covered in super heavy rain... which means some driver assists stop working until conditions improve.

Pros -

Mechanically brilliant - no issues whatsoever after the first software updates.

Radar cruise is excellent (although it does engine brake around slight bends on the open road).

Built-in GPS is surprisingly good (except for traffic conditions) - backed up by an excellent HUD.

Great service plan with 5 years coverage.

Fun to drive, better than my previous CX3 in every way.

The most comfortable cockpit at the price point IMHO, it really is a nice place to be.

No rattles etc, compared to the rental cars I drive (which begin rattling @ 30-40,000).

Geekeneer

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#3169437 7-Dec-2023 21:43

@corksta I belive the CX5 had a facelift in 2020 which included android auto/apple car play. Was it really a facelift or just an upgrade to the multimedia system?
How would I know the difference between the 2 versions, other than knowing if it's got Android auto. Sometimes this is not mentioned in listings and would want to be sure I'm looking at the actual 2020 facelift, and not the previous version which may have only being registered in 2020.

corksta

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#3169439 7-Dec-2023 22:02

Ours is a 2021 model so rear tinted windows on the lower models (used to be on Limited and Takami) and wireless Apple CarPlay are the two things that I remember were the biggest changes from 2020. Anything registered new from about May 2021 would be a good bet for being the newer model.

alasta

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#3169514 8-Dec-2023 08:40

I bought my CX-5 in March 2019 and it most definitely had Carplay, but I think it had just recently been introduced at that point.

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lxsw20

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#3169576 8-Dec-2023 09:21

Once again, it is not hard to retrofit Carplay back to 2015, as long as the car has MZD Connect. I think its about $500 via dealership but DIY is much cheaper.

MikeAqua

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#3170723 11-Dec-2023 15:29

I have a 2015 Mazda 3 SP25, which we bought new. If possible I would try and get one of the variants with the 2.5L engine. It's an absolute honey of a car to drive.

Mike

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