New Mazda reliability? Skyactiv Series.

[2016 Camaro SS]

I've been doing a lot of research in this area because soon I'll be in the market for a CX-5 for the future wife and possibly a Mazda 3 for myself as well. After driving these cars, it really seems Mazda has stepped up their game since they split from Ford. Reliability information is still missing on a lot of sites, but a few have shown very little problems. (mostly flashing the infotainment system with an update)

Any Mazda owners have experience with their Skyactiv series and any input that would keep me from purchasing one of these? I've considered the other half with Honda and Toyota. The Accord has always been a personal favorite since it was my very first car at 16, a 1990 teal one with a sunroof! The rock solid reliability and only needing to change a belt at 100k miles was insanely awesome.

I'm looking for the same kind of life of the new Mazda's. Ones that will go 200k miles pretty worry free with putting high quality synthetic oil in the engines, and only filling up at top tier gas stations along with regular maintenance and checking fluids/tire rotations, etc.

[P@ul]

Mazda has always been a quirky company, never had anything to do with Ford. I think the turbo CX7 was the last Mazda that had a lot of issues. That turbo motor was pretty problematic. I think they fixed most of the issues by the Mazdaspeed6 and the Mazdaspeed 3.

Any of the old cars with the N/A iron block like the protoge5 and the Miata were tanks. The Mazdaspeed Protégé had issues, but the Mazdaspeed Miatas were fine.

[Tcoat]

Probably not a factor for you but Mazda's here still seem to suffer from terminal rust issues. They may have fixed that in the last couple of years my son in laws 02 Protégé and 08 Mazda3 both were seriously rotted out after just 5 years. His 03 was retired at just 6 years old after the front strut tower rotted through from below and the strut blew through the hood. Both were still running like a top though.

[superpenguin]

I had 2 2010 Mazda3s and one 2012. The 10s were awful with weird gremlins and engine problems, but the 2012 was magnificent.

I don't have any experience with the newest gen, but if the 2012 is anything to go by, it'll be a super reliable car and a little more fun to drive than the competition (Honda, Toyota)

I miss the Speed3!

[2016 Camaro SS]

Yeah, I'm thinking the 2013+ ones are looking pretty solid. Reviews all over are positive, and the last consumer reports I read on the newer ones rated them above average on reliability.

As for the rust issues, I read about those. I'm in Texas so it shouldn't be due to salted roads unless it's just regular rust from age and wet roads. I'm hoping they've countered those complaints with the newer models but I feel like it's just too early to tell how good the Skyactiv ones are.

The Mazda 3 pretty much leads the non-hybrid compact car class in MPG on the 2.5L engine especially with the Technology package and the regenerative braking. The engine got so much praise that Toyota is partnering with Mazda for them to share their green technology and Skyactiv tech with them and in return, Toyota is giving them Hybrid drive train tech.

Thanks for the input so far guys. I figured the pre 2012 ones were having some issues. Also learned that the VIN numbers that start with "J" in them are all from Japan, and not Mazda's Mexico plant. That was another fear since that plant is fairly recent.

Mazda really doesn't market their cars hard like the others. After driving a 2015/2016 CX-5 Grand Touring and the 2015 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring, they were really fun, and felt like well built cars. The compression ratio on those skyactiv engines is insane though at 13:1. I thought the FR-S had a high compression till I saw that engine.

2017 the Mazda 3 is supposed to receive a new sheet metal before it goes to an all new platform for 2018. That would probably be the last possible chance to grab one before the new gens.

[Tcoat]

Not sure if you could find a good one still but the Mazdaspeed 3s were a great car even if the FWD haters will tell you they are crap.

[superpenguin]

Our 2012 Skyactiv got about 40mpg on the highway.

Also, the only reason we got a Rav4 instead of a CX5 for a baby-mobile is because you can get a lot better deal on the Rav 4 (and the Mazda dealers here in Phoenix are sketchy as hell)

[Frost]

If you look up the Mazda forums, the first launch of the current gen Mazda 3 had what was initially reported to be an excellent manual transmission but then it suffered lots of issues in the first run. Supposedly fixed now.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by 2016 Camaro SS

As for the rust issues, I read about those. I'm in Texas so it shouldn't be due to salted roads unless it's just regular rust from age and wet roads. I'm hoping they've countered those complaints with the newer models but I feel like it's just too early to tell how good the Skyactiv ones are.

It is most definitely a snow/salt/rust belt thing, plenty of 15+ year old Mazda's running around in California. I'm actually interested in potentially picking up a Protege5 if the stars align and while @Tcoat may have seen several rust away in about 5 years, out here at 12-13 years old many look pristine.

[superpenguin]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

It is most definitely a snow/salt/rust belt thing, plenty of 15+ year old Mazda's running around in California. I'm actually interested in potentially picking up a Protege5 if the stars align and while @Tcoat may have seen several rust away in about 5 years, out here at 12-13 years old many look pristine.

My wife had a Protege5 when we first got together. A lot of the Mazda guys say the motors had issues but that was a GREAT little car for us.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

It is most definitely a snow/salt/rust belt thing, plenty of 15+ year old Mazda's running around in California. I'm actually interested in potentially picking up a Protege5 if the stars align and while @Tcoat may have seen several rust away in about 5 years, out here at 12-13 years old many look pristine.

Actually it is sort of hit and miss here as I do see many that still look great on the road as well as the rust buckets.

[df.dima]

We have 12 and in 55k kms no issues, its fine car, we liked it better than civic or corolla of same year. New grn is even better im sure. Id love to get 2.5gt manual hatch, but with the one we have is too new and too little miles just to let it go yet.

[2016 Camaro SS]

Originally Posted by df.dima

We have 12 and in 55k kms no issues, its fine car, we liked it better than civic or corolla of same year. New grn is even better im sure. Id love to get 2.5gt manual hatch, but with the one we have is too new and too little miles just to let it go yet.

Awesome, thanks for the input!

[2016 Camaro SS]

Well, went and drove a 2015 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring hatchback with the Tech package over the weekend and I'm sold on it. Wasn't the exact model I was looking for, but it gave me the feel and all the features I got to use on the highway and man, I must say the technology package is incredible. The 2.5L Skyactiv engine has plenty of power to pass and accelerate at a good rate while maintaining outstanding gas mileage. I'm also 6'6" and I couldn't believe the fit for me inside that car. So much leg room, lots of headroom even with the sunroof, and the seats are firm and very comfortable. The interior is very nice and upscale too. I had just driven a Corolla and Camry earlier in the day and realized how boring and bland they were. Sure they get the job done, but Mazda just does it better and a lot more fun.

I was able to get the price to $26,500 before TTL with my local dealer for a 2015 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring in Deep Crystal Blue Mica, sedan with the Tech package. These MSRP for close to $30,000 and invoice just a bit below that so I think I'm at my target area.

The 2016 I was told would probably be $1,000 more if it were to come out by the time I'm ready once I sell my car. They are scheduled to come out this fall.

If you haven't driven a Mazda and are considering a daily driver for errands, getting to work, and occasionally taking people around, DO IT. They've really come a long way with this new series.