First let me say, I love my Mazda3. The dealership I went through was terrible, but so worth it for the car. It runs like a champ, I have had 9 years and it has never been to the shop. We run the wheels of this car, and it keeps on going without any complaints. We live down a dirt road and it handles the mud and dirt just as well as our AWD Nissan Murano.

I was motivated to get this vehicle based on the performance and engine power compared to other small compact cars, and after a few years of driving, I must say that this has been its best quality. The Mazda 3 S has very good pick-up and acceleration. It handles corners well and drives comfortably. But there have been so many nagging issues, like things breaking down or needing replaced, that overall the car has become quite a headache.