Emerging from my igloo this morning after a night of freezing rain, I was not surprised to find the 2017 Mazda3 GS looking like an automotive ice sculpture. It is the way of our land at this time of year. A well-placed thump at roof level caused the ice to crack into shards that slid off the car as one, revealing its sparkling Eternal Blue Mica

It’s been almost three years since the Mazda3 was redesigned and while it’s still one of autoTRADER.ca’s favourite compact cars, the Mazda3 (sedan and hatchback) is now competing with recently redesigned competitors like the Honda Civic sedan, Hyundai Elantra sedan, Chevrolet Cruze sedan, Scion iM hatchback (soon to be Toyota Corolla iM), Kia Forte

You probably know by now that we’re smitten with the Mazda3. The third-generation Mazda3 was voted the best vehicle in our 11-car comparison test of compact cars and is a perennial favourite in our individual test drives with a slight edge going to the hatchback (Sport) for its increased practicality and stylishness. You probably know by now

In a world where SUVs and crossovers have largely stolen the hearts of most new car buyers, Mazda’s most important models remain a humble compact sedan and hatchback team. The Mazda3 – the brand’s affordable lineup for most Canadians and regularly one of the country’s best-selling cars – has been completely redesigned for 2019, bringing with it swe

A lot of new car launches are held in unfamiliar locations (to us journalists testing the cars), on perfectly smooth roads on a prescribed drive route that may or may not have been selected in order to avoid concerns or promote certain aspects of a cars handling, NVH or composure out on the public roads. Although this is a mild mid-cycle refr

So, you’re looking for something with all-wheel drive and have finally resigned yourself to the fact that you’ll have to buy an SUV. After all, that’s what all the neighbours are doing. The drive dynamics are very smooth, the interior is exceptionally quiet, and it all carries an air of luxury befitting a much more expensive vehicle.

The cover is officially off the fourth-generation, 2019 Mazda3 in Los Angeles, and as expected, it takes significant design cues from the Vision Coupe concept and, more aptly, the Kai concept that previewed tonight’s release when it was unveiled at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. On first glance, it doesn’t appear to be a jarring departure from th

Quality is subjective. Don’t believe me? Look at the smartphone market. Actually, scratch that – this is a car site. Look at the automotive market. For some, quality is solely about sporty driving experience. Does it turn in fast? Is it quick? Does it reward you with playful performance when you want it? For others, it’s about tomb-like cabin seren

The all-new 2019 Mazda3 knocks it out of the park with upscale looks and a game-changing cabin that outshines many other cars costing thousands more. New features and tech abound as well. This one’s a near no-brainer. The latest Mazda3 makes a great first impression, and backs drivers up with pleasing dynamics and appealing pricing. T

Vehicle Type Sedan / Hatchback History/Description Mazda unveiled the last complete generation of Mazda3 in 2013, launching their latest for model-year 2014. With a laundry list of awards for owner satisfaction, overall value, interior styling, safety, and more, this generation of Mazda3 proved to be one of the most compelling machines o

There are basically two reasons why auto manufacturers still put a stick shift into a vehicle. It can be a slick, well-tuned unit to make it more engaging for enthusiasts, which usually goes on a more expensive model, or it’ll be a slushy, long-throw cheapie so the ads can trumpet the lowest possible price. While it more than keeps up with ev

There are probably more than a few hatchback fans that are screaming from the rooftops, “There’s a new Mazda3 out… and it’s ALL-WHEEL DRIVE!!!” Indeed, wasn’t long ago that all-wheel drive was strictly the purview of SUVs and pickups. Oh, sure, you’ve been able to get a Subaru Impreza for awhile and there have been a few one-offs such as the For

Compact family cars may be small, affordable and somewhat cuddly, but the arena in which they duke it out is a bloody battlefield. Number one and two in sales for 2015, the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra have just been redone from nose to tail. They’re vastly improved and are currently tearing up the Canadian charts, both up about 20 percent year-

Vehicle Type Compact sedan / five-door History/Description With top-shelf styling, efficiency, feature content, and technology on board, the 2014 Mazda3 arrived on the scene back in 2013 with a promise to shake things up in the compact car segment. Key competitors included the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Corolla.

Pssst! Hey you! Yes, you – people of the rest of Canada. Did you know that British Columbia has some spectacular views and sensational driving roads? Even when climbing up the mountain passes, the little hatchback had enough horsepower (184, to be exact) to be properly frisky. Okay, you probably did know that; and maybe you also know t