Mazda 3s can drive for more than 100k miles (some topping 200k+ miles) with few issues and routine maintenance. Besides the 2010 Mazda 3 with has a clutch failing component at around 38k miles, all other Mazda 3 models have high reliability compared to their competitors.
If you’re on the market for a sedan or family hatchback, it’s important to ensure that the vehicle you’re purchasing is reliable. When it comes to family-friendly cars, they often remain in a household for many years and put up with a substantial amount of wear-and-tear.
The Mazda 3 has often been touted as the pinnacle of family-style hatchback cars, but just how reliable is it after reaching 100k miles. It’s common to see used high-mileage Mazda 3s on the market, but it’s difficult to know whether they’re worth the investment.
If you’re looking for a reliable hatchback or were just curious about the Mazda 3, stay tuned! In this article, we’ll be going over how reliable the Mazda 3 is after 100k miles, including average maintenance costs, safety scores, and more.
Mazda 3 Overview, Reliable or not?
Before we get into the reliability of the Mazda 3, let’s take a look at everything the hatchback has to offer. The vehicle is made by Japanese auto manufacturer Mazda and has been in production since 2003. The Mazda 3 has a host of fantastic features, including:
- A Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine with up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque.
- A refined exterior design, including 18-inch black alloy wheels, black side mirrors, and large tail pipes.
- An array of safety features, including i-Activsense safety technology and traffic jam assist.
- State-of-the-art technology, which includes remote engine start, vehicle finder, and notifications about vehicle health and status.
As you can see, there are a variety of amazing features that make the Mazda 3 an appealing car to many people.
Many people wonder how long these great features will last, though, and that’s a valid concern. For a family vehicle like the Mazda 3, it’s important that the car can be driven safely and reliably for years to come.
What is the Average Mileage for Mazda 3s to Start Having Problems?
Let’s start by taking a look at common problems with the Mazda 3 and the average mileage that these vehicles start to have problems.
There is a customer sentiment that the Mazda 3s can drive for more than 100k miles with few issues and routine maintenance.
When it comes to reliability, much of this is based on the model year. If you’re looking to buy a used Mazda 3, it’s important to check out the statistics and common problems with that specific model year, as Mazda is constantly tweaking their vehicles.
Common problems will likely differ between the 2021 and the 2003 model, and that’s normal for a long-running flagship vehicle like this one.
What are the worst years for Mazda 3s?
The 2010 model of the Mazda 3 receives substantially more complaints than any other model year. One of the biggest problems with this specific Mazda 3 is the clutch failing, which happens on average around 37,650 miles and costs around $1200 to repair. While a 2010 Mazda 3 might not last the full 100k miles because of unusual problems, all of the other model years are incredibly reliable.
Besides the 2010 model, the Mazda 3 generally has few complaints, with many of them not severe. All of the model years for the Mazda 3 since 2015 have had very few complaints on car complaints.
Average Maintenance Costs for Mazda 3
Another thing to think about when considering the reliability of a vehicle is the average maintenance costs. If a car has high average maintenance costs, it could indicate that the vehicle either has intricate parts that are expensive to maintain or that there are yearly problems with the model that are costly to fix.
This isn’t the case for the Mazda 3, though. On average, experts found that the Mazda 3 costs on average $433 to maintain on a yearly basis. That’s almost $100 less than the average yearly maintenance cost for a compact car, making the Mazda an affordable and reliable choice.
What Makes Mazda 3s so Reliable?
So, now that we have all the facts, you might be wondering what makes the Mazda 3 so reliable. Numerous people report that their Mazda 3 has lasted upwards of 100k miles, with some Mazda 3s even making it past the 200k mark.
One of the reasons these cars last so long is certainly their craftsmanship. In 2020, the Mazda 3 won the World Car Design of the Year Award for its incredible design and technology. The Mazda 3 also has a wide variety of safety features, including traffic jam assist, which helps keep the vehicle from needing additional maintenance due to crashing.
Another reason the Mazda 3 is so reliable and lasts so long may be due to the consumer demographic.
The Mazda 3 is a family-style hatchback likely to be purchased for long-term or family use. As a result of this, owners might take better care of their Mazda 3 than the average car owner in general.
This is reflected in the average yearly maintenance costs we mentioned before, as well as the high number of people who have Mazda 3s with over 100k miles on them.
You may also be interested in learning about Mazda’s competitors if they fare well beyond 100k+ miles—
Wrapping it Up
Overall, while some model years may be better than others, the Mazda 3 is generally a very reliable vehicle with the ability to make it to well over 100k miles.
The flagship vehicle from Japanese auto manufacturer Mazda is constructed carefully with many features to ensure safety and reliability. Of course, keeping any car for a period of many years can be costly, but maintenance costs for the Mazda 3 come out to around $433 per year.
If you’re looking to buy a used Mazda 3, it seems that any model year besides 2010 has high reliability and safety ratings with few reported problems. It’s not clear exactly why the Mazda 3 is so reliable, but it’s likely due to a combination of many factors.
These include incredible safety and technology features, good craftsmanship, and the Mazda 3 demographic taking better care of their vehicles in general. If you’re on the market for a reliable sedan or hatchback, the Mazda 3 would be an excellent choice!
Make sure to stay updated on the latest car news and trends—
