Anyone have one of these? Looking for a fun commuter car that will accommodate a booster seat in the rear and can carry enough for a road trip. Have a 2012 WRX hatch and love it but hate fuel economy for a 60 mile round trip for work. I want something similar in size but better fuel economy.

have 2010.  

Loud highway noise.  Not a thrifty on gas as current models.  Fun to drive factor is real as long as you get the low profile rims and wheels.  

We like ours.  It has been reliable, just over 100k on the ticker.

The 2014 may have corrected some of the issues, I believe they updated the model in 2015.

I would keep the WRX.

Hold what you got

Buy with confidence.  You probably want the 2.5L engine, though.

My wife has a 14 mazda 3 hatchback.

It's been a good little car, bout to tick 70k miles.  Hers has the 2.5 engine, and she gets low 30s (32ish) MPG and severely abuses the car daily.  She speeds ALOT... She also runs over shit and her low life brother took it offroading once when he was visiting and she let him borrow it. (he won't do that no more).  It's never had a problem, though it's pretty trashed, everything works and the car still drives like new.

I average high 30s (37ish) when I drive it.


I also have a 2016 accord 4cyl cvt.   Her car is more comfortable and is better on fuel.  The mazda also has a real transmission and not a CVT.  It also has an amazing sound system.

My only complaint about her mazda is that the headlights kinda suck, drive it at night and see what you think.
Mazda is 100% g2g.

I drive a 2011 Mazda 3 hatchback.  I love it.  Mine has the 2.5 and a six speed.  My daily commute is 50 miles (mostly highway) and I average 26.5 mpg.  It's the most fun car I have driven in many a year.

dbl tapped.

No, but the Mazda 3 is on the short list of cars I want to purchase. On paper, they're an excellent value, and people(arfcommers included) seem to love them.

I found a '14 GT trim hatch with a stick for 18K. Thinking of biting. The seats felt like butter and it seemed pretty easy to work on.