The 2010 Mazda3 only lasts around 150,000 miles with some serious clutch and anti-lock brake system issues. At $5,837 to $7,232 it’s affordable, but you’ll spend a lot of money fixing it up as it ages.
Is the 2010 Mazda3 a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 6/10 – 2010 is a bad year for the Mazda3. Owner reviews complain about excessive noise, frequent breakdowns, and lack of traction.
- Interior Quality 8/10 – There are high quality materials and comfortable seats, but the stereo system is basic compared to some other compact cars.
- Reliability 5/10 – We recommend avoiding the 2010 model due to poor reliability and going with something from 2006–2009 or 2011–2020 which are all better choices.
- Performance 7/10 – Power is average from the standard 4-cylinder engine, but the turbocharged motor is stronger than other compact cars.
- Safety 8/10 – The 2010 Mazda3 is a safe car, earning an overall rating of 5-stars in government crash tests, with the lowest score being 4-stars in the rear passenger side impact test.
- Gas Mileage 9/10 – Fuel economy is good at up to 28 MPG, which should get owners about 406 miles of range out of the 14.5 gallon gas tank.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Mazda3?
- Consumer Reports says the 2010 Mazda3 is noisier than other compact cars, and owner satisfaction scores are average.
- Edmunds rates the 2010 Mazda3 at 4.7/5 and praises the responsive steering, but doesn’t like the very firm suspension.
- Kelley Blue Book users give the Mazda3 a 4.6/5 and enjoy the fuel-efficient engines, but owners don’t like the frequent mechanical issues.
What Common Problems Does the 2010 Mazda3 Have?
The most common problems found on the 2010 Mazda3 include clutch failures, melting dashboards, and ABS system issues. Overall, these problems are more severe than in other compact cars from 2010, and the costs of repairing them are high as well.
Clutch failures with the manual transmission are the most widespread issue, showing up every 35,000 miles. The clutch assembly simply wears out quickly and has to be replaced. Installing a new clutch is expensive, costing about $1,200.
Melting dashboards are another problem reported by owners at around 60,000 miles. The plastics in the dash melt easily in high heat. Some owners choose to replace the dash for over $1,000, while others install a dash cover that only costs about $100 to cover up the damage.
Anti-lock brake system issues show up on some Mazda3 models at around 70,000 miles. The control module fails as the vehicle gets older. To fix the problem you have to replace the entire module, which costs around $800.
There are 3 recalls, better than other compact cars from 2010. The most serious is for the engine harness, which can short out and cause computer problems, and Mazda will replace the harness for free. The other recalls are for the rear lift gate on the hatchback, and seat links, and are not mechanical issues.
How Long Will the 2010 Mazda3 Last?
A well-maintained 2010 Mazda3 will last around 150,000 miles, which is about 100,000 miles worse than top-rated competitors like the Toyota Corolla. Regular annual maintenance costs are more expensive than other compact cars, according to Repair Pal, at $445 per year.
Since most 2010 Mazda3 models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace items including the valve timing actuator for $1,200, the coolant reservoir costing $380, and the knock sensor, which costs $300.
Very reliable on gas and drives super smooth. It is a 2010 so it sometimes has a few problems but not often.
I believe it has been reliable except the shocks on mine went out a year ago and have been somewhat of an issue even after repair.
No problems with the car at all. I have no issues to report at this time. I am happy driving with nothing bad to say about the vehicle.
My Mazda is very reliable, the only issue I have had is with the interior. The dashboard is made out of soft material that easily resolved with simple car cleaners. The dashboard is now sticky and impossible to clean.
It is very reliable and no not if taken care of it is a little low to the ground when driving some places but otherwise no complaints.
Yes it is reliable, however I have had problems recently with the brake calipers as well as stereo problems.
My Mazda does not have any issues at this time and is at 177,000 miles. Routine maintenance is important.
Yes, the Mazda 3 is a very reliable car. It has lasted me a long time. It has some cheaply made parts in it that have fallen apart over the years, but that comes with wear and tear over the years.
Is the 2010 Mazda3 a Good Value?
No, the Mazda3 is not a good value for 2010. Blue book priecs range from $5,837 to $7,232, making the Mazda3 close in price to similarly equipped rivals like the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta. When new, the price range was $15,345 to $22,945. Depreciation is average for a compact car, losing about 10% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Mazda3?
There are six versions of the Mazda3 offered for the 2010 model year including the 3i, 3s, and high-performance Mazdaspeed3 models.
3i SV is the entry-level model with:
- 16-Inch Steel Wheels
- Cloth Seating
- Power Windows & Mirrors
- 4-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo With 3.5mm AUX
- Manual Transmission
3i Sport is a step up adding:
- Air Conditioning
- Optional Automatic Transmission
- Improved Suspension
3i Touring is next in the lineup and adds:
- 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Keyless Entry
- Power Door Locks
- Cruise Control
- 6-Speaker Stereo With Bluetooth
3s Sport is another upgrade with:
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Fog Lights
- Upgraded Cloth Seating
- Leather Steering Wheel
3s Grand Touring is the luxury model and has:
- Leather Seating
- Bi-Xenon Headlights
- Dual-Zone Climate Control
- Power Driver’s Seat
Mazdaspeed3 is the high-performance version with:
- 18-Inch Wheels
- Limited Slip Differential
- Leather & Cloth Seating
- 10-Speaker Bose Stereo
What Engines Come In the Mazda3?
- The base engine is an average 2.0L-4-cylinder which makes 148 horsepower and gets up to 28 MPG.
- An available upgrade is the stronger 2.5L 4-cylinder which produces 167 horsepower and gets up to 24 MPG.
- The flagship engine is the very powerful 2.3L 4-cylinder turbo which generates 263 horsepower while getting around 21 MPG. Performance is excellent, taking 5.2 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.
What Colors Does the Mazda3 Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Mazda3?
The 2010 Mazda3 is a very comfortable compact car with high-quality seats and soft cushions. It’s similar in size to the Ford Focus and Mini Cooper and is available as both a 4-door sedan and 5-door wagon.
Passenger room is okay for a compact car, but the back seats have less legroom than some competitors.
How Is the Storage In the Mazda3?
Cargo space is worse than other compact cars with only enough space for 2-3 suitcases in the trunk of the sedan, and 4-5 behind the backseats in the wagon model.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The second generation of the Mazda3 was introduced in 2010, and replaced by the third generation in 2014.
2008: Front side airbags are standard on S models.
2009: Standard anti lock brakes, and remote trunk on key fob.
2010: Second generation released with updated exterior styling, more efficient engine, and upgraded interior.
2011: Standard stability control on all models, and new stereo system available.
2012: New more fuel efficient engine available.
2013: Larger navigation screen and USB input.
2014: Third generation released with complete redesign with all new standard equipment and styling.
How Does the Mazda3 Compare to the Competition?
The Mazda3 is a bad car for the 2010 model year since there are way more problems compared to other years, we recommend going with one from 2011–2020, which are all more reliable.
The Toyota Corolla is a competitor which costs about $1,500 more. Reliability ratings are better in the Toyota Corolla, but the Mazda3 has a higher quality interior. We recommend the Toyota Corolla since they are less expensive to own long term and have fewer mechanical issues.
The Honda Civic is another compact car in the same price range. Technology is better in the Honda Civic, but the Mazda3 has a more comfortable interior. We recommend the Honda Civic for the 2010 model year since it’s more reliable, but the competition is closer in other years.
Do Owners Recommend the Mazda3?
Yes, it has very good gas mileage and very reliable. If I do have any repairs to do it is usually on the cheaper side and never takes long to fix.
Yes! I love my car, I have had it for 4 years now. I plan on purchasing another Mazda vehicle in the future.
Yes very good. Safe and trustworthy. It is a fun vehicle to drive right now. It is a car we purchased for our daughter, and I am in between cars right now and am very happy driving this car.
Yes it is a great vehicle, the interior is very spacious and comfortable. I have the base model and it is not enough speed to safely get in the highway and maintaining the vehicle is very easy.
Yes I love it is great on miles and very comfortable to travel in. It has enough room for a lot of things in the trunk and is great on gas.
It has been the most reliable vehicle I have owned, however this past month it has come up with some problems that will need to be fixed.
It drives great is clean comfortable and affordable on gas with nice features. It also has tiptronic.
Yes, it gets very good gas mileage. It has been a very reliable car that has lasted a long time. It could use updated features, but overall a good car.