Mazda 3 2011–2013 car dimensions: 4460 mm long, 1755 mm wide and 1470 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,280 kg. Braked towing is 900 kg.
The cabin offers a driver-focused layout with supportive seats and a multi-information display. Lower grades use manual air conditioning while higher ones add dual-zone automatic climate control. Cruise control appears on mid and upper trims with steering-wheel buttons. A touchscreen arrives with the optional navigation system on select grades. Parking sensors and rear vehicle monitoring are available as options in some markets. No automatic emergency braking or lane-keep systems feature.
The hatchback boot holds 340 litres with seats up. Folding the 60/40 rear seats expands space to 1360 litres for longer loads.
Braked towing capacity reaches 900 kg in key markets with unbraked rated at 500-550 kg. No heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension packages appear beyond the MPS sport setup.
Cabin provides supportive front bucket seats with available leather trim and five-level heating on higher grades plus an 8-way power driver's seat. Dual-zone automatic climate control is offered on upper trims along with a power sliding-glass moonroof. Interior feels refined and sporty with good shoulder room, electroluminescent gauges, and padded armrests on better-equipped models.
EPA fuel economy up to 25 city/33 highway mpg on 2.0L manual
Engine oil and filter replace every 7,500 miles or 6 months
Euro NCAP 5-star rating
IIHS Top Safety Pick
Standard advanced dual front airbags, side-impact airbags, side curtains, DSC, TCS, ABS with EBD and brake assist
Fuel use varies by engine. The 2.0L returns EPA figures of 25 city and 33 highway mpg with manual transmission or 24/33 with automatic. The 2.5L is rated 20/28 mpg manual or 22/29 automatic. SKYACTIV 2.0L versions improve on those numbers. Tank capacity is 14.5 or 15.9 gallons depending on model.
Follow the owner's manual schedules. Under normal conditions oil and filter changes occur every 7,500 miles or 6 months. Severe service shortens that. Cabin filter replaces every 25,000 miles or 2 years. Spark plugs last to 75,000 miles. Coolant intervals reach 120,000 miles on FL22 type.
Safety kit is comprehensive for the era. All models include advanced dual front airbags with sensors, front side-impact airbags, side-impact curtains covering front and rear, pretensioners with force limiters, active front headrests, LATCH anchors, tire pressure monitoring, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control and dynamic stability control. The generation earned a 5-star Euro NCAP result and IIHS Top Safety Pick status after roof-strength upgrades.
Keep the car by sticking to the stated intervals and using the specified 0W-20 oil. Triple-H body construction and standard electronic aids help long-term durability when maintained as directed.
Length 4460 mm, Width 1755 mm, Height 1470 mm, Wheelbase 2640 mm (3 2011–2013)
Sources: manufacturer data, Mazda Italian brochure and Australian facelift press kit.