2023 Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition AWD Hatchback - POV Driving Impressions
MSRP: $29,600
MPG: 26 city / 33 highway
Horsepower: 191 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
Curb weight: 3,092 lbs
0-60 mph: 6.7 seconds
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This was my first big girl purchase after driving the same old beater for the last 9 years. I get so excited every time I get to drive it since it was a mega upgrade🤘🏼😆 everyone who gets in loves it and is surprised by how luxurious it feels.
Same here! 😅 it’s such a joy to own. Congratulations!
Same here!
Same!!
Four years since the launch of this gen and that interior is still one of the nicest in any car under $50k. Just a really pleasant, premium feeling space from which to pilot the vehicle. I've got a CX-30 which is 95% the same view from the cockpit, but gives you an even lower feeling seating position given the high beltline. It's the poor man's Macan.
I can’t tell if you’re joking.
I work at a Mazda dealer, I had an older gentlemen trade in his 21 macan for a 23 cx-30 TPP mostly because of the payments @@bryanzotta1703
@@bryanzotta1703I drive an F90 M5 and I've driven a newer Mazda 3. It's a very nice interior, especially for the money.
Way better than anything toyota offers
Verypoor's Macan
That interior is so beautiful😍
I didn't even know these had a turbo option or even a manual! Really nice hatchback.
Lol Mazda puts that 2.5T as an option for their entire lineup.. how did you not know 😅 it’s literally their secret sauce.
@@Eric_Bassett The MX-5 doesn’t and most of their lineup is comprised of SUVs which I don’t look at that much.
Yeah except you can't get a manual with a turbo so a 6 speed auto just slow and sad.
@@robertblack6630 Mazdas 6 speed auto is actually pretty responsive, especially in sport mode. Their latest autos do not feel slow at all, I can easily modulate my pedal and know exactly what the transmission will do, it doesn’t hunt for gears at all.
@@layne4376 umm 227hp in a car this size is not slow. I’m not gonna say it’s the fastest thing on the road. But in a world of sub 160hp CVT econoboxes.. this is not particularly slow. I mean it has more HP than the original FRS, BRZ platform cars. I think it’s just right, enough power to be fun to drive but no enough to get you into trouble. I personally like a car that I can push on the road, cars with 600, 700, or 1000 hp are to fast to realistically enjoy on the road. Also let’s not forget, Mazda isn’t in the business of making drag cars. This is a backroads canyon carver kindve ride, plus with that AWD you’ll hook up every single time.
i was literally looking up pov videos on this exact car and this man decides to upload it 20 mins ago. what in earth
got mine couple of months ago,absolutely love it
Got this today. I love it. Deep crystal blue is so beautiful
always a good day when thetopher drops a video
Usually, I'm not this early, but here we are. Great video as always man! Keep it up ❤
Got my Mazda 6 Carbon Edition back in 2021, best car ever! Stoked every time I get in to drive it :)
Best car ever?? Ooookkkkkayyyy
people can have their opinions@@porfiriato84
@@porfiriato84 best affordable car lol
@@porfiriato84 The statement was relative to them, 3 and 6 definitely feel a lot sharper than most any of their competitors. Generally all the journalistic car reviewers all praise Mazda for having a slept on line up. They are very good drivers cars, my 6 is definitely my favorite of the vehicles I’ve owned so far.
I agree, I wish they kept making the 6 though, I have a 2017 mazda6, and it's all I could ever want in a car.
Solid option and nice spec
+1 for analog gauges! 👍
I have the 2022 Turbo and it's great. Power is great when you need it, but understandably fuel efficiency takes a hit. I came from an Audi A5 and was mentally preparing myself to really have to sacrifice comfort in the car, but honestly the cabin's a great space to be in. I've already done multiple road trips in it with my partner and it's just super comfortable to eat up the kilometres over long distances with adaptive cruise control
I drive a 22 2.5 manual, it's my favorite car I've ever owned and in America there's nothing else quite like it on sale, unless you step up to an Integra A spec
Acuras don't have the lifespan of Mazdas. That's the biggest difference. With great maintenance these mazdas can last you for years.
My dream car, can’t wait to get it
I have the sedan version of this 2.5NA AWD and I get 6.5L/100km highway avg; very efficient drivetrain. Love this car so much.
The 3 sedan is beautiful. The hatch has a pretty large blind spot, but still looks good.
@@67tomcateh that blind spot can be covered by getting blind spot side mirror attachments
WHAT THE HELL🦅🦅🦅KILOMETERS 🦅🦅🦅
@@bigrunts9768RAAHHH 🇺🇸🦅
@@67tomcatblind spot monitoring pretty much counters that
The OG Topher is back! Phew.
Substitute topher is kinda meh so I agree! Nothing like OG Topher😈
Substitute Topher is good.
Yeah, sub Topher is a car guy and a skilled speaker/presenter, I don’t doubt that… But he’s just not as knowledgeable as OG Topher, and nowhere near as good at driving. That isn’t to say that sub Topher can’t get better at driving or improve his automotive knowledge. He’s just not there at the moment.
@@TranceFur 100%. Nothing against sub Topher but I subbed many years ago to watch the real Topher. Now when I click a video and it’s sub Topher I don’t tend to watch the whole thing
@@TranceFurI found Tedward as the most skilled driver of the trio, but each one has enough skills and charisma for the videos.
Really want to see you drive a gen 4 manual, it's really a fantastic transmission
I like the front design.
Man that grey is sleek
You got weight wrong in description, I almost got excited seeing that number. Found them: 3,148 (AT, FWD) 3,300 (AWD) 3,088 (MT FWD) 3,393 (Turbo)
Finally no more stop start
Probably the most handsome looking modern hatchback today. Especially in red.
I have it & I stare @ it all the time. I have so many pictures of it lol
I have this car !!! Just under 9k miles and it’s been fantastic
Is the cabin on the quiet or noisy side?
@@Sleepyboiwonderit’s pretty quiet
I’m glad they added more power it’s more helpful
2023 Premium is the one to get over Carbon Edition. For less than a grand the signature lighting really steps up the exterior look. Also paddle shifters, HUD & nav, headlamp steering, gloss b-pillar, and a full-red interior instead of just the seats.
I think thats the only mazda that offers full red interior! But you lose the AWD.
If you get the top trim u can get polymetal grey and the red interior along with red dashboard. @@mitchellsteindler
@@mitchellsteindler When I said less than a grand more, that is comparing like models (both AWD/AT). 2023 Premium can be had AWD/AT. 2024 Premium seems to be MT only but this may be a glitch in the configurator.
@@vipermoon_ ah okay, that's what I was looking at
Premium only comes in manual tho .. u also don’t get AWD
Still looking for that first 2024 Mazda3 sedan Turbo Premium Plus review. Thanks for this review though!
The red seats are the stars of your show. The color pops on video. I just wish the doors, trunk and floor mats had some red too. The camera struggles to focus when the interior is too dark.
Yours must have the holographic spedometer. I just got my 2024 awd gt and it has the holographic right in the drivers side windshield. Full color and shows all signs, even shows your google maps navigation! Super rad
No stop start ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
cannot wait to get a new gen Mazda some day
i’ve had a CX-30 turbo for almost a year, and so far i’ve modify the following: 1.- axleback exhaust for some noise 2.- coilovers 3.- cold air intake 4.- strut bar the car feels way better even with stock tires and brakes. it’s a fun car to drive and it feels similar to a Mazda 3 now. transmission is sweet and it shifts nicely, no stutters either. hope you review a new stock CX-30 soon :)
Can you detail why you made these upgrades and how it feels compared to before?
@@brianbodedelacruz8741 honestly the reason why is just because i wanted to mod the car. also, there’s barely any modded CX-30’s in the wild, so i wanted to take that step too. i like the CX-30 chassis overall, even tho if it’s similar the Mazda 3 Hatch. just something different:)
Damn Toph, I wish you would review the 2.5 S Premium, with the 6sp manual and front wheel drive. I bet it’s even more engaging to drive than the Carbon Edition!
I love mine!!
THE SHADE AT THE IMPREZA RS 🤣
11:13 Exactly why i chose the Mazda6 2019. Used but still drives smooth and sporty. I always have a fun time driving and getting 37-42 mpg. Only gripe i have is the cylinder deactivation, always causes the car to jerk when i come off and on throttle. Have to be very gentle and smooth with the throttle but i kinda like it since it gives a manual feel to the inputs.
I have a 2021 AWD in a lower trim. I am only missing the sunroof, leather, and Bose. The standard stereo isn’t bad and it’s thousands less… a real bargain. Reviewers love to teach on the infotainment controls, but I agree that one gets used to it very quickly and now when I drive rentals with touch screens they seem quite stupid. Mazda included buttons to quickly toggle to the most frequently used functions without taking your eyes off the road. When I try to use a touch screen on a bumpy road it just feels dangerous in comparison.
I'm still bummed they don't offer the turbo with the manual and front-wheel drive (has anyone manual-swapped the current AWD turbo?). Also, they only pair the white leather interior with the sedan, for some reason. Still, this has always been a great car overall, and I'll definitely look at one next time I'm car shopping. In the future, if I had to get an electric/PHEVehicle, I'd love if Mazda used a longer range version of their MX-30 platform with the rotary range-extender on the Mazda3.
Have you tried it on the highway, how loud is the hum in the interior, wind, mirrors, mine is a 2014 gasoline model, it has 50,000 km, but it is brutally loud at highway speeds..
That bose item with the spare is an amplifier to power the stereo
I prefer Mazdas blind spot monitoring. For me, the entire car is in the mirror and still a tad behind me vs other brands the car is near the rear 3/4 area and next to me before it activates.
Would love to see you drive the 3 in a manual premium trim. I’m really thinking about getting one
I wish they did a Mazdaspeed version of these, something to compete with the Hyundai N and Honda Type R bracket.
Nice ride
Proudly made in Japan 🗾 Kekw 😂🎉
I like this car.
Please review the mazda3 manual and civic hatch manual 2.0 and give us your thoughts
I'm between this and the Corolla hatchback. The power is what got me leaning towards the Mazda 3. Depends if I can get a good deal on the turbo on.
I am looking at a 2023 mazda 3 GT, but coming from a vehicle that has given be stressful reliability issues, my main concern with this car is long term reliability. I don't abuse my cars and take care of them the best I possibly can, but so far I keep getting mixed reviews from owners of this car, some saying they have had no issues, some saying engine and transmission issues galore.
About 90% of the people have had no problems. People with the problems will always be louder than the ones without problems
Dang I never thought he’d review my car I just have the sedan version cuz I don’t like hatchbacks and I have the acrylic blue
Still nice
If they offered this with the turbo motor, awd and a 6mt. I would have bought it already
Is the turbo more fun than the 155hp manual?
Huh this is pretty nice. I never even considered one of these.
I was all about a Bronco Sport or Outlander and scoffed at Mazdas but I love driving and the CX-50 is more my speed but these Mazdas are growing on me really quick. I will drive my 2010 Escape into the ground as much as possible. I don’t miss car payments 😂
Could you do a Mazda3 manual transmission by chance?
I lucked out and got a '23 Premium AWD with the Head Up Display - I don't think you can get that with the naturally aspirated powertrain anymore, as it looks like the Carbon trim lacks that feature. Oh yeah, and paddle shifters too!
that car looks fire! I'm a VW head but yo . But only the turbo model
By far my favorite car to be in that I’ve owned, definitely happy I took it over a GTI, but it’s nowhere near as responsive or fun as my e90
Can you do the manual version too please
Its a good day when the Topher reviews a Mazda 3
Mazda 3 needs a redesign, Civic and Corolla are better options........
@@crow_2k11beatsbydre8 I respectfully disagree I think that the interior of the Mazda 3 particularly is superb
@@nanashi7779 Torsion beam rear suspension is cheap and rear seating is cramped for taller individuals, poor blind spot visibility on the hatch, infotainment system with that outdated rotary knob is lame in 2023 and resale/trade in values are subpar compared to Civic and Corolla, look eleswhere folks.........
love me the cabron edition - think it's only sold in mexico though
its just a great car, but I don’t have the Bose I would like to put an aftermarket speaker in then would be perfect 👍 ❤ it’s not a bad car
did they opt to not color the dash red like 2022?
I really wish there was an AWD turbo manual, or at least a turbo manual. It would be my next car for sure.
Yea, that’s why I got the Forte GT
@@extremeencounter7458 The Forte GT offers a lot for the price. I was looking at them for a while, but the Kia/Hyundai theft in my area is absolutely real. Three coworkers who've had their Hyundais stolen over the years, and one friend who's had their Kia broken into multiple times. I just can't own one. Even with the push button start, people still mess with the vehicles. I'm back to looking at other options. Plus, ultimately I do want a hatch, so that disqualifies the Forte, but I wanted to give it a shout for being a cool car and not just one of those people who turn their nose up at the brand.
You def thought that button was a power lift gate. I did to
We need to make you a campaign-styled poster that says "I'm 5"10', and I'm pretty comfortable back here."
😂
ججكحنمتالس
Does it have cylinder deactivation? My 2023 CX5 has CD and it's annoying at lower speed, always jerking.
The turbo model is basically a Mazdaspeed3, they should’ve just called it that!!
There was one next to me this morning. I definitely like the look of it. In a car world of constantly enlarging "bubble" shaped NPC vehicles - this smaller and rather stylish car is refreshing. It still seems 2010's shape and the pricing is pretty competitive. I'm still shocked at how expensive vehicles became in the past few years.
I think the car looks nice, but it has to be one of the most "bubble" designs out there. There are almost no sharp lines anywhere on the body
@@mittortz Looks like an suv or crossover.
8:45 there is something strange about that 1st to 2nd shift. Almost like it lags when 2nd is engaged before accelerating again. Happen later in the video as well
i can confirm there is something laggy about the throttle in those first gears. We've own 2 2014 Mazda 3's and a 2 2016 Mazda CX-5's and the throttle is just weird. I also don't like their brakes and hard seats.
My (2017) mazda6 behaves the same way. Love Mazdas but the next one I'd get would have to be a manual.
Yeah, mine (turbo) does the same. Overall the transmission is laggy.
I'm driving for more than 20 years now, I just learned we need to tap our feet before entering. Does that add more horse power? lol
This hatchback reminds me of a Mini CX-5 SUV.
Lmaooo facts!! 😂 mann I miss the speed 3 I wish they made those body styles again
this carbon edition polymetalic gray only comes with red seats
The only problem with this car is how small it is on the inside. Besides that, it's incredibly fun to drive. Not so fun to get in and out of lmao
Great video. The 3 is manufactured in Japan, where the CX-30 is made in the states.
I'm pretty sure the only 2 vehicles made in Japan and sold in the states are the miata and the cx5. Everything else is made in Mexico or Bama.
Yup cx30 and 50 built in Mexico and I have experience zero issues with build quality on my 22 cx30 with 40k mileage Even after a small fender bender and adding a 10' custom sub , still not issues
@@mitchellsteindler The 3 is made in Japan. It is clearly mentioned on my invoice here in Mexico.
@goldorakrak8939 3's made for the US market are not made in Japan. They're made in Alabama ir Mexico.
Mazda 3 hatchback is made in Japan. I have one and is says made in Japan on Door. The mazda 3 sedan is made in Mexico.@@mitchellsteindler
I love this car but I'm confused about their decision not to include paddle shifters
Put your seat belt on before you start the car and NO seat belt chimes! I love my 2023 Mazda3 with the 2.5L and a 6 speed MT for even more fun and engagement in driving.
U could get the sedan model .
Plymouth township!
My Mazda have same interior 🙃👍
Can you test a 05-06 z71 Tahoe
No paddle shifters for the Carbon Edition? Wow I’m lucky to have gotten the Premium then.
Wish they sold the 2.5 in EU.. we only have the Skyactiv-X which is nice and efficient but the combination of active EGR and DI is worrysome to me, and the 2.0 G-150 feels anemic.
Howdy!
No paddle shift ??? WTF ! Mine is a 2021 model and is equipped with it.
I'd buy one of these if they made the awd with a manual.....
I have a 2021 Mazda3 turbo. Love the car, only complaint is that my hood is peppered with paint chips. The exterior paint is not very durable.
What have u done to take care of it Karen? Lol If you're running it thru the automatic car wash then that's the answer to your question on why it's doing that 😂 if u actually do it by hand there's no issues I own a 2022 cx30 with 40k mileage and have like zero paint chips cause it's ceramic coated
I am happy to see some toyos on that car, I got a turbo 3 2021 with the Bridgestone tires and they were dogshit, once I drove through the fronts I got some falken tires and 2 tire set up makes it great to get a bit more rotation on tight corners and at speed 2:42
I bet they didn’t offer a manual cause they know it’ll steal Miata sales. The Miata with a 2.5 turbo would be amazing
The secret is to buy an nc and install a turbo 2.5 with nice cams.
The engine sounds so different than the cx5 with the same engine
Bring back the 6 Mazda....
Helpful review. That is the spec I’d go for. No turbo drama. I have an MX5 ND and need to trade my XK8. My heart wants a Mazda 3 and my back says an LS460. 😂
Maybe the cx-30 is a good in-between?
@@maisondav1d Maybe, but have you seen the lounge chairs in the ls460?
I love everything about this car, but no idea why they put the manual transmission in the non turbo version of the car. I test drove it and loved it, but it felt so slow
I had a Protege5 as my first car, love Mazda. When I bought my new car, I was sad they ditched the Mazdaspeed, so I got a Veloster N instead. As much as I love my VN, wish Mazda would have kept up the mazdaspeed performance line.
My folks have one. These have a lot going for them, but they’re just too cramped and confining. I felt like I was sitting in a WWII pillbox. Also I found the parking brake turning on automatically to be incredibly irritating
I love small cars, coupes specifically.
The parking brake turns off when u go into drive after u put on your seat belt but keep in mind at times that button can save u , cause you'll want to rush out in a hurry and the button on and next thing u know big f250 pass by and u didn't see a thing but u didn't go anywhere lol
When the small car is small 😱
plz test drive dodge durango
the dash and doors no longer have red leather elements, just accent stitching.
which is SO sad
@@duhitsbautistaI think the opposite. The dash red seems forced.
You should see if you can get your hands on a '24 Premium hatch. They only come in manual for that trim now, automatic isn't even an option -- which is great
Mazda site says you can build them in automatics
@@carljohnson7 Are you looking at the hatch or the sedan? In the U.S., the premium is not avaliable with an automatic unless you step up to a Turbo model.
I like this car but I wonder is the rear visibility a dealbreaker. It kind of looks this way. I don't like the sedan so that isn't an option. The WRX is nice but it's not a hatch which I want. And the CIvic I don't like the crummy 1.5 liter engine. Maybe when the Civic hybrid comes that will be the one to get.
I still wish Mazda would bring back the Speed3 but unfortunately it will never happen…
For a short person is this a good car in terms of visibility?
I wish i owned this car one day😢