2014/Next-generation Mazda 3 mega-thread

[Scottie]

Thank you! Best piece of info in a while... Now I'll ask the dealer to update it to V31 at my next oil change. Just updated to V29 a month ago...

No problem.

You may have to tell them that you are having issues with your infotainment... else they may not update you.

I have been trying to keep up to date on the infotainment news... fingers have been crossed for a while that we are going to get the google software. But looks like the first cars to get it won't be until late this year (Sonata!? WTF)

Scott

[gta_driver]

No problem.

You may have to tell them that you are having issues with your infotainment... else they may not update you.

Yeah, i am having problems with nav

And interesting about Google software, although I doubt Mazda will overwrite its own proprietary system, perhaps only with a new model release, or a refreshed model...

I don't mind our software, except for some annoyances - such as no touch when driving, certain functions being disabled when driving, and of course, the nav mute issue (prior to v.31)

[sandy]

There seem to be a lot of nav/infotainment system complaints - more than you might expect given that the vehicle has been around for 10 months with several software upgrades. How many people here have used the full capability of these systems with no problems?

[Victorminator]

I've had a relatively stable experience in the last 2 weeks of having the car. Only once did it reboot randomly after turning it on.
The only thing I'm kinda confused about is why sometimes it will turn on and have a full intro sequence with the logo transition zoom in to the main menu wheel while other times (even on a fresh start in the morning) it will show the logo then quickly go to the legal message and be ready.

I've found the nav system to be very fast and effective, despite the lack of true traffic. It reroutes immediately if I don't take the turn it suggested.
It's also incredibly well designed from a UX perspective.

I guess I'll stick with v29 until I hear of a new update (after v31) with new features.

[Victorminator]

One thing I've also noticed is that the material quality of the matte switchgear is spotty and very susceptible to scratches that stay on. For instance if my fingernails rub over the turn signal stalk or the window switches' top, I will see the entire trace on it. Does anyone have a cleaning solution for that? If not, the interior's gonna look very beat up by lease end, and it looks really bad too. I've already been pretty careful by buying a leather cleaning and conditioning kit to clean out jean stains (happened on my driver's seat with regularly washed jeans) and an interior cleaning product. The matte material issue hasn't seemed to resolve from the interior cleaning solution.

[lazycro]

I just use megs interior detailing stuff

[TheEngLife]

Hey all, I just purchased a brand new 2014 Sport GS. I am really enjoying the car except when I am at a red light. The car seems to vibrate quite noticeably and I am wondering if there is something off with the car or it is just typical of Mazdas?

[caveman924]

I had a problem similar to this. It was a known problem and it was located near the passenger side front window. It's covered by warranty. I think they said it was something loose near the "A" pillar or something like that.

[Victorminator]

Has anyone noticed when fuelling that you can still pump quite a few more litres after the first click? Is it advisable? I realize there is a risk of overfilling but I find it hard to believe it clicks out and lets you still add so much more fuel. It makes me worried I'm never truly fuelling to full and can't get a good accurate measure of fuel consumption if done manually (I log mine in an app to compare to the car's version).

For what it's worth I've found the car's fuel reporting is underreporting in most cases where your FE is around 10. I was getting a reading of about 10.2-10.5 on the trip average, and my phone's app was reporting 9.13L/100km. That's a massive difference and the car is actually doing better than Mazda's telling me.
This is different from yesterday's fillup where I got 6.3L/100km on both the trip computer and the mobile app. The biggest thing however is that I clicked many times after fuelling to "full" so there is no knowing if I overdid it and my F.E. is actually better than 6.3 (due to overfilling and skewing the numbers).
If you're wondering, this is on a GT driving out the highway and country roads of Perth, Lanark and Sharbot Lake to and from Ottawa. It was a mix of 80-100km/h with slight inclines and descents, some hard acceleration spurts and occasional 110+km/h stints mostly in the city's highways. AC was on at all times and I had a passenger.

My advice for everyone is to not trust the onboard computer and always do your numbers elsewhere. It takes more time but you'll know for sure how well you did.

[sandy]

Has anyone noticed when fuelling that you can still pump quite a few more litres after the first click? Is it advisable? I realize there is a risk of overfilling but I find it hard to believe it clicks out and lets you still add so much more fuel. It makes me worried I'm never truly fuelling to full and can't get a good accurate measure of fuel consumption if done manually (I log mine in an app to compare to the car's version). ....

If you fill to the first click each time and take a reading, you should get a more consistent value. Let us know if that proves to be the case.

[hkintel]

No problem.

You may have to tell them that you are having issues with your infotainment... else they may not update you.

I have been trying to keep up to date on the infotainment news... fingers have been crossed for a while that we are going to get the google software. But looks like the first cars to get it won't be until late this year (Sonata!? WTF)

Can I update the Mazda OS system by myself?

Scott

can I update the Mazda OS system by myself?

[lazycro]

no

[Victorminator]

can I update the Mazda OS system by myself?

To clarify, no but you can update the map if you have navigation. Up to 3 years free through the Mazda Toolbox software.
I did it last week and noticed they added red light cameras aplenty now.

[Victorminator]

If you fill to the first click each time and take a reading, you should get a more consistent value. Let us know if that proves to be the case.

I think I developed a habit of continuing because the first pump I filled my first gas tank in the 3 seemed to be pretty sensitive as a fuel semi was unloading at that station; I suspected the pumps were not fully running reliably. That uncertainty must have made me think each pump since then is cursed hah.

[hkintel]

To clarify, no but you can update the map if you have navigation. Up to 3 years free through the Mazda Toolbox software.
I did it last week and noticed they added red light cameras aplenty now.

Thx, I just update the map yesterday... Just wonder what is the latest version Mazda OS system in Canada?

[Kiewan]

Someone bring a gen3 to a meet sometime please.

[$lickology]

So I'm back from my trip up north, (Ottawa to Elliot Lake) 648kms no sport mode and A/C on the whole way (Cuz it was freakin hot!!) I filled up in Ottawa thursday night (I also filled a click or two over) the range indicator said 480km (probably cuz my car has only been driven in city) Once I reached Sudbury I topped up the fuel, again because of price (elliot lake $148.9/L vs Sudbury $141.8/L) This time the range indicator said 654km, on the drive back home tuesday I topped up again in Sudbury and this time range indicator said 698km, made it back home with a range of 189km to empty remaining, this drive was all done in manual mode (I always drive in M mode) this was especially helpful cause of all the hills, 6th gear is great can go 120km with rpm slightly hovering above the 2000rpm mark. I am no fuel miser at all, I'm sure many of you will achieve higher results and that's great, but to have any fun at all with a 2014 GT you gotta get on it, and that's what I'm about.

Average fuel economy was 7.1 on my trip.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Victorminator]

So I'm back from my trip up north, (Ottawa to Elliot Lake) 648kms no sport mode and A/C on the whole way (Cuz it was freakin hot!!) I filled up in Ottawa thursday night (I also filled a click or two over) the range indicator said 480km (probably cuz my car has only been driven in city) Once I reached Sudbury I topped up the fuel, again because of price (elliot lake $148.9/L vs Sudbury $141.8/L) This time the range indicator said 654km, on the drive back home tuesday I topped up again in Sudbury and this time range indicator said 698km, made it back home with a range of 189km to empty remaining, this drive was all done in manual mode (I always drive in M mode) this was especially helpful cause of all the hills, 6th gear is great can go 120km with rpm slightly hovering above the 2000rpm mark. I am no fuel miser at all, I'm sure many of you will achieve higher results and that's great, but to have any fun at all with a 2014 GT you gotta get on it, and that's what I'm about.

Average fuel economy was 7.1 on my trip.

[IMG][/IMG]

Those are great numbers I would say! I'd be very curious how I'd do if I did the Montreal stretch. Will be doing it in August and will report back. I think the car can do great with a light foot just like it can go pretty badly high on a heavy foot. That being said, Slick, I'd love to see what you get if you manually calculated your numbers. Especially when you'd get those 10+ values, just to see if the trip computer isn't being a bit pessimistic.

I wish there was a way to accurately test with and without iEloop in the city with AC, as I imagine this is where it most gets used.

[lazycro]

Good numbers. I usually hover around 6.4 on cottage weekend trips which is only 500km in total. Then I come back to the city and destroy it at 10.0 today :-(

[TheEngLife]

With my 3Sport GS manual I was able to get 4.4L/100km coming into work this morning. If that keeps up I will be pleasantly surprised with this car!

[$lickology]

Good to hear other members are supportive of my recent numbers, in the beginning I was simply enjoying this awesome car not really caring about the numbers, the new 3 is def capable of pulling in fantastic fuel economy numbers provided one keeps his foot light and keeps the sport button on off as vick pointed out earlier. Lazy your city numbers are more realistic especially when you factor in the size of the city you are in?

[lazycro]

Also when you're being chased down by a tiny little fiat cause he decided to pull out beside you without signaling

[gta_driver]

The only thing I'm kinda confused about is why sometimes it will turn on and have a full intro sequence with the logo transition zoom in to the main menu wheel while other times (even on a fresh start in the morning) it will show the logo then quickly go to the legal message and be ready.

It's a hard reboot, versus wake-from-sleep.

[gta_driver]

Has anyone noticed when fuelling that you can still pump quite a few more litres after the first click? Is it advisable?

Best to fill it up to the first click, maybe another litre or 2 max, not more.

It makes me worried I'm never truly fuelling to full and can't get a good accurate measure of fuel consumption if done manually (I log mine in an app to compare to the car's version).

You're truly full when you fill up the first click. The neck holds some fuel, but it is not calculated as part of fuel tank capacity. Also, how much you fill up makes no difference on fuel calculation in the long term. Short-term, try to fill up consistently. If you add 4L after the first click, then add 4L after the first click, if you want reliable manual mileage calculation from that tank of gas. Otherwise, don't worry about it, because it averages out with each new fill-up.

For what it's worth I've found the car's fuel reporting is underreporting in most cases where your FE is around 10. I was getting a reading of about 10.2-10.5 on the trip average, and my phone's app was reporting 9.13L/100km. That's a massive difference and the car is actually doing better than Mazda's telling me.

Negligible differences. Your car is still very new, and everything is learning and adjusting. My car-reported mileage has been too optimistic at first, by about 0.5L per 100 km, but now it's within 0.2L, still too optimistic. Much depends on your driving conditions.

My advice for everyone is to not trust the onboard computer and always do your numbers elsewhere. It takes more time but you'll know for sure how well you did.

True of every car that has a mileage indicator.

[gta_driver]

Average fuel economy was 7.1 on my trip.

Seems a tad high, considering that Mazda rates the 2.5L as marginally worse than the 2.0L.

In my GS, which uses 2.0L, my highway mileage is about 6 L/100 km, that's just my normal driving, 110 - 130 km/h varying speed, no cruise control.