Should I buy? Mazda 3 Longevity / Fuel Efficiency

[sdboers]

G'day,
First post here - just joined today. Wanted some opinions on Mazda 3, and figured this would be a pretty good place to start... Who better than a Mazda owner to tell me if they love it or hate it.

My current vehicle is a 2010 Jetta TDI. Other than the lying cheating company that produced it - it's a wonderful car. I'm at about 400,000km on it now (high mileage driver!). Maintenance has been minimal and the mileage is fantastic (running 5.3L/100km on my commute). At 400,000km, it's time to start thinking about the inevitable replacement... It may last another couple hundred thousand, it may keel over tomorrow. Never can tell.

Is a Mazda 3 that replacement? Need your opinions...

1) Can it go the distance? I need a car that can achieve a half million kilometers without a catastrophic failure. Mazda's new warranty is cause for celebration here for me.
2) Is the fuel efficiency as good as claimed (at 5.7L/100km highway). While this isn't as good as I'm getting on my Jetta, it's close if it's real.
3) Maintenance costs - If and when it needs servicing not covered by warranty - what are parts and labour pricing comparatively speaking? Likely cheaper than VW I would think.
4) Other thoughts?

Sean.

[loki]

you won't get 5.7L/100kms

[mazdasport]

I do not believe the drive train will last as long as your TDI either

[ryan2.3]

should just get another TDI. Not many other cars get run that high these days

[sdboers]

Appreciate the honest feedback - even if I was hoping for different answers. I put just shy of a half million km on my first TDI before "trading it in" for this one. After 400,000km on this one, I certainly know they'll go the distance for sure. And the fuel economy is stunning.

My concern for the TDI is quite frankly - if and when they will even be for sale again in North America. May have to look at the used spectrum. Don't want to hijack this forum with too much griping about the emissions scandal.

If I end up with a gasser - I'm certainly interested in the Mazda, but I think more research is needed. Thanks folks!

SEan.

[CRS Automotive Oakville]

Definitely you won't get that from Mazda, what you're used to with Jetta. My opinion is to find something similar with it, I recommend diesel again.

[Canadianbacon]

Skyactive are reliable, never seen anyone engine fail

[r4BBiT]

Skyactiv are still to young in my opinion

[Three]

Mazdas make reliable cars. Skyactiv is too young of an engine to have proper statistical data available. The fuel economy on my 2015 GS is awesome, the same amount of gas lasts me 1.5 X times of what I had with 2.0/148 hp lancer. To be honest, I haven't driven a gasoline engine car yet that would give me better performance/fuel economy ratio. On the other hand, I haven't driven a lot of cars, but what I have driven doesn't come close.

[CarLadyLisa]

Just like to point out the Unlimited mileage Warranty. Looks like you'll make the most of it. www.mazdaunlimited.ca

[sdboers]

Just like to point out the Unlimited mileage Warranty. Looks like you'll make the most of it. www.mazdaunlimited.ca

Absolutely. It is that warranty in fact that first caused me to become "mazda-curious"... Provided I keep proper documentation of all required service - this warranty can remove some of my risk in moving to a gas vehicle for that kind of mileage.

Sean.

[drazen]

How is @greyseason's sky mazda 3 holding up with 200k?? We should ask him.

[greyseason]

How is @greyseason's sky mazda 3 holding up with 200k?? We should ask him.

good as gold. Hasnt needed anything major at all. ive just changed spark plugs for peace of mind, and the tranny fluid. original brakes, belts, everything

[Stathakos]

Again, I do agree that Skyactiv is way too young of an engine to tell anything about longetivity.

I would say go for it, as you cannot buy a new TDI at the moment anyway, and buying used has its own headaches. I like the unlimited mileage warranty option, but if you expect to rack up the half a million km on a mazda3, for sure it won't come without a few trips to get warranty work done.