@Jo
Not the person who posted, but we have the same Mazda 3 hatchback. It’s definitely doable as a family car but not ideal if you’re moving a lot of stuff or people. If you’re considering it, I’d recommend Graco SlimFit car seats—those can fit three across if needed.
As for the trunk, it’s decent for everyday use, but a stroller takes up most of the space. We got a lightweight folding stroller off Amazon for about $100 that works great. Bigger strollers or jogging ones are a hassle.
If we need more storage, we use my Audi S4. We’re thinking about upgrading to a CX-50 or CX-90 soon.
@Jo
We used a Mazda 3 as a family car for a while, and it works, but it’s not the most convenient. The small trunk, tight rear seat, and low roofline made things harder, especially with kids. We ended up selling ours.
Wait… do they offer black and red seats now? Back when I bought mine, the choices were full red, black, or beige. This looks awesome!
Side note: It’s an inline 4, so no ‘V’ shape for the engine.
Mal said:
Wait… do they offer black and red seats now? Back when I bought mine, the choices were full red, black, or beige. This looks awesome!
Side note: It’s an inline 4, so no ‘V’ shape for the engine.
The seats are actually this gorgeous caramel color. That interior really sealed the deal for me.
And yeah, I had no idea about the engine layout. Shows how little I know about cars! 
@Brady
No worries! It’s a common mix-up. Engines get labeled so many different ways.
Cue the ‘The More You Know’ gif
That’s a stunning car! Enjoy it!
Those seats look amazing!
Such a beautiful car!
Nice ride! That color is sharp.
By the way, it’s an inline 4 engine. The Skyactiv series has a solid reputation for reliability. My Mazda 6 has over 140,000 miles, and it still runs like a dream. If you keep up with maintenance, your car will last a long time.
@Jude
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely take good care of it. Mazda’s reliability was a big reason I went for it.
Also, love your username—it’s cool!
Brady said:
@Jude
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely take good care of it. Mazda’s reliability was a big reason I went for it.
Also, love your username—it’s cool!
No problem! Just keep up with oil changes and stick to OEM parts for anything related to the engine. For stuff like brakes or batteries, aftermarket is fine. That’s been my experience, at least!
The interior and exterior colors go together so well!
Looks awesome, congrats on the new car!
Such a nice car. I’m picking up mine next week!
Wow, that’s one good-looking car!
How’s the gas mileage on it? I’m deciding between the Carbon Editions and could use some advice.
Devon said:
How’s the gas mileage on it? I’m deciding between the Carbon Editions and could use some advice.
It’s pretty good—around 28 miles per gallon. The smaller tank holds about 300 miles’ worth, though. My old Ford had a 450-mile range, so I feel like I’m filling up more often.
What year and model is this? Also, what car did you have before?
Carmine said:
What year and model is this? Also, what car did you have before?
It’s a 2024 Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo. Before this, I drove a 2016 Ford Fusion.