One of my favorite things about my car is the gas mileage. On average over the almost two years that I have it I get 38-39 miles per gallon. I mostly drive highway miles for reference. I like the size of the car itself as it is small and easy to drive and maneuver. The look of the car is great and it seems to be holding up well. I have put roughly 40,000 miles on it in the time I have had it and there have been no issues so far mechanically speaking. As far as exterior durability I have mixed emotions. On one hand I have gotten rear ended by an older model truck and got minimal damage. On the other hand we have hit a raccoon and it tore the front bumper off.

I received my 2010 Mazda 3 as a present for my college graduation. After much research, my dad and I picked this car for its fuel efficiency, easy handling, and exterior/interior appearance. After eight years and about 100,000 miles, I am still very happy with my Mazda 3. First of all, it is a very easy car to drive. The turn radius and handling is superb. For my purposes, the four-cylinder engine provides great gas mileage, about 35-30 mpg highway. I have not had to have any maintenance other than the routine like changing the brake pads since owning it. As someone who doesn't know a lot about cars, the reliable dashboard lights have been really helpful, like the low tire pressure light that alerts me to check my tires. The inside of the car is comfortable, maybe a bit small for some people, but as someone with no children and who doesn't do a whole lot of driving, this isn't a big deal to me. Mine has a nice sound system/Bluetooth audio, which is standard in most cars now but was a big upgrade for me in 2010! I think the exterior of the car is attractive, but I can see why it might be considered by some to be a bit "feminine." As a grad student who also works full time, I needed a car to last me through these years that wouldn't cost me a ton of money in repairs and fuel--the Mazda 3 has been exactly that, and I will continue to drive it as long as possible, which I foresee to be a good amount of time!