Mazda 3 wet weather test! (Chasing Cars 10,000km long term review)

Our Mazda 3 Evolve SP hatchback is settling into the Chasing Cars test fleet under the watchful eyes of Deputy Editor Nathan Ponchard.

But how is the Mazda 3 to live with in the real world? Sydney’s insistent rain over the past few months has highlighted some of the Mazda 3 hatchback’s flaws which Nathan Ponchard investigates in today’s long term update review.

Introduction: 00:00
Driving: 01:37
Safety systems: 03:19
Lighting: 03:49
Final thoughts: 05:17


Our Mazda 3 is finished in Polymetal Grey over black cloth inside and features a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine making 139kW (186 hp) and 252Nm of torque (185 lb ft). It competes with the Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato and others.

Do you have any requests for what you want to see us do in the Mazda 3? Let us know in the comments section down below and ewe’ll action as many as we can

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[Ben-ytrv]

Thank you for this insight Mr Ponchard. This is the the sort of information that buyers want to know, but regular car reviews would not highlight. Keep them coming, the good and that not so good.

[benhubert]

I have to admit, four months and 1, 100km into ownership of my G25 Astina, the Adaptive LED Headlights on that model are a cut above. Excellent low and high beam performance, and below 40(ish) km/h the ‘side lights’ turn on to illuminate the immediate surroundings a little more. The Astina also illuminates the four ‘rings’ in the taillights instead of two - meaning that the ‘rings’ around the indicators and reverse lights are on when the headlights are. I’ve driven home multiple times late at night, in the absolute pouring rain, and have had no issues whatsoever (having the rear demister on the de-fog the side mirrors helps too). I love this car so much I’m planning to order a CX-30 Astina in a year or two as a roadtrip car (hopefully in Polymetal Grey 😉) - the Adaptive LED Headlights on that are even better, as the indicators act as auxiliary lights when the headlights are on (and the indicators aren’t), illuminating all the way up to below the door mirrors.

Love this type of real-world review. This is one of two automotive channels on YouTube I actually trust. Keep it up 👍🏼!

[ChannelTwentyTwo]

I own a 2022 Mazda 3 G25 Astina (in Polymetal Grey too) and the Adaptive LED lights are incredible and a game changer. Also the DRLs on the Astina are LED which is fantastic - shame they don’t do that on the lower trims.

I’ve had many rainy rides including some disastrous rain-filled journies interstate in VIC and my car did fine. The AC, de-fogging mirrors, auto dimming rearview and side mirrors, heated seats, heated steering wheels, everything came together to make my ride incredible.

I’m not sure how the experience can be so different on a G25 Evolve SP but I guess to each their own.

If you have the cash, I still highly recommend the Astina because it’s incredible. The red leather interior is amazing and always receives wonderful comments. I added the Kuroi sports kit to my car which adds an important aggression to the design that takes it to a whole other level, and to top it off I got the interior “welcome illumination” blue lights too. Truly a luxury feel.

[camdcam]

Super helpful information re critical functions like lights and wipers. It would be great to have this information (particularly headlight performance at night) in all reviews. Looking forward to the next update.

[johntowle]

04:20 You can't see through the window when reversing? My Mazda 3 BP Astina Sedan has a rear reversing camera with a 360 degree birds eye view.. I don't have any problems reversing whatsoever. even in the rain. That's a problem with all hatchback models. Poor rear vision. Not just the Mazda 3.

[graemedunn]

I have an early 2021 G25 Evolve sedan, and have found the headlights to be more than adequate. The halogen DRLs were pretty rubbish, but $20 and 20 minutes to install some nice white and bright LED globes fixed that issue.

[stevoc]

What's your experience with G25's cylinder deactivation system?

[eponymous]

It's amazing how tyres can change the perception of a vehicle's abilities. I went from Dunlop SP to Michelin PS3's (I know I know, budget to performance) and the wheel spinning/tc intervention at take off completely dissipated. Got Bridgestone Potenza RE003's at the moment which give decent performance at a lowish price point (4 for 3 deal)

[ayfj]

Great information as I’m about to pull the trigger on a Mazda 3. I was going to get a manual hatch however after watching this I think I’ll go for the sedan. The rear view out of the hatch is just too limited in critical situations as this review points out. I really want a manual and unfortunately they are virtually extinct in Aus apart from the Mazda 3, in this type of affordable car at a a high equipment level. I have heard the Astina lights are better, so I think that’s what I’ll get. Will be sad when/if Mazda drop the manual. In 5-10 years kids won’t know what a manual transmission is.

[TheHappyCoder]

What year is it? I haven't noticed any issues while driving in the rain except I wish I could have wipers on the mirrors. But then again, I am not a professional and didn't drive a lot of different cars to be able to compare.

[slugger]

Great video mate. Really useful info about the lights.

[stevebarila]

I was about to order a Mazda 3 next week. Good thing I saw this honest review. Will be looking for other options. Talk about dodging a bullet!

[RizHail]

I need an advise for this car in Canada. I have 2 options Mazda 3 Sedan GS with Luxury package vs Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE Upgrade Sedan version. Which are will last me longer and drive better and safer on Wet or snowy roads? Both have same price of CAD 34, 000 All inclusive of taxes and all other fees. I need a family commute car drive about 60 to 80 KM daily.
Family of 3 (husband, wife, a 3-year-old child) .

[cityplanner]

I have the Cx 30 and I’m very impressed with the headlights upgrading from ASX. If we have the same headlights as America, IIHS has rated them good

One significant issue is the side windows during quite heavy rain. I could not see my mirrors, I could only rely on blind spot monitoring. There just seems to be so much water that sticks to the side windows. I could easily see other cars even in heavy rain when driving the ASX

P.S I know this a Mazda 3 review but CX 30 is based on the 3

[glenntankard]

I just watched this vid for the second time and on retrospect I think there are 2 main issues,
1. Toyo tyres
2. Headlights
Tyres can be sorted by ordering Bridgestone
Headlights (Not sure?) - does anybody know if you are able to change the Evolve lights to Astina adaptive headlights ? Is it possible as an after market item ? I take delivery of Evolve SP in 4 weeks time.

[worrywart]

So apart from the lousy lights, the lousy wipers, the mediocre tyres and the fact that you can't see the wing mirrors, it's absolutely fine in the wet?

[cruisyguy]

I drive a 2020 CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve and I have found the wiper sensors to function very well. We have hard rains to light drizzle often here. In terms of the headlights I have found them to be quite adequate here in rain, snow, sleet and in many environments. Maybe the 3 has lesser quality lights?

[unitedttillidie]

Just picked up my mazda 3 g25 hatch 2 weeks ago and its been raining on and off all week here in sydney and I have to say this mans opinion couldnt be more wrong. The car runs super smooth in the rain, the fog on both the sides and front window clear almost instantly when u turn on the aircon. However my mazda did come with bridgestone tyres not sure what tires he had on in this video, (I think it was the japanese brand tyres cant remember the name) but all things aside, the vision is perfect in the rain from all mirrors and windows, headlights are super bright and effective in the rain and the car runs super smooth rain or shine. I also do wear prescription glasses to drive at night and in bad weather so this guy may need to change his prescriptions to suit his eyesight because this car is a beast and ive loved every minute driving it so far.

[vrsr]

With the persistent rain, hopefully you had no issues with water filling up the spare wheel well in the boot like a bird bath. My 2015 SP25 that I have owned since new has that issue and was apparently fixed once during warranty by Mazda by replacing the rubber seal behind the brake lights but it never fixed it and now that its out of warranty, Mazda says take it to a panel beater even though I have shown them video recording of water entering through a factory made hole behind the brake lights. When I voiced my displeasure that a car of this age and condition should not have leaks from rain entering down the water channel around boot the response from Mazda was the car is not that new and no car is perfect. I have bandaid fixed it myself by using some leukoplast waterproof tape on the outside channel where the brake light overlaps and no issue in heavy rain anymore but poor from for Mazda to wipe their hands of the issue, especially when their are multiple reports of this issue.

[wrigzzx]

This is a brutal review. My partner has this mazda 3 in similar spec and most of these issues are non-existent. If I was to compare my own skoda kamiqs auto wiper performance to the mazda 3 the skodas are unsafe and should be illegal by comparison.