2006 Mazda 3 Reviews and Owner Comments

Engine replaced at 49k miles due to bad connecting rod (under warranty). A/C compressor locked down at 56k miles, no longer under warranty. I replaced with a used one for $250. I've owned the car for seven years now and, despite the mechanical issues, I still love it. It has 93k miles on it now and the interior still looks brand new. Still fun to drive and looks great!

Overall an excellent compact car. Bought new in 2006 in California. Had a couple problems with car that were taken care of promptly by Mazda; 1. Clutch was defective right out of the box. With only 24 miles on the car (driven by a person who has had a couple m/t cars before), the clutch broke. 2. #3 engine mount broke at around 29K miles, requiring replacement of the front axles and the mount. I would suggest having the dealer take a look at your car for this - it's a Ford motor mount so quality is questionable. Besides those problems, the car has been great. Handling is responsive and the car is very easy to drive. Engine is powerful enough for a small car but if you like performance then the 2.3 or 2.5L is a better choice.

I've had the car for nearly 3 years and haven't had any issues with it. I've just done normal maintenance and it's been very reliable. It's fun to drive and I get 35mpg on the highway.