2005 Mazda Mazda3 Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
24 -26 City / 29 -34 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
148 -160
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Hunter G
The vehicle is a manual which makes it very fun to drive.
I really enjoy the car. It is a manual, so i did not enjoy learning how to drive it but now that i have had it for a couple years i really like it. The clutch has burnt out once which is frustrating since it is expensive but other than that i love it.
accountCircle Martha I
The Mazda 2005 runs pretty good. A full gas tank takes me up to 300 plus miles.
It is good, so far, it has no problems. It is good on gas mileage. The car runs smooth. For a 2005 year car, it runs pretty nice. The car runs great and it does not have any issues. As long as one keeps it well maintain, oil change and such, it should run for many years.
accountCircle Bianca B
Mazda is great on gas and the suspension is dependable.
The Mazda that I have is great on gas and drives like a dream. There have been recalls on the airbags but I haven't experienced any problems with them personally. The seating controls are convenient and assure the driver can sit up straight and see over the steering wheel properly. Though the vehicle is 15 years it still drives the same way when I first got it. I've only experienced 2 mechanical problems with this vehicle one being with the brakes and the other with the heating and cooling meter. Other than that this machine is tried and true.
accountCircle Jenny R
The car is compact easy to park in tight spaces and reliable.
It is a very reliable car. It currently has 196,000 miles & I just recently changed the shocks and motor mounts. My headlights have gone out several times for unknown reasons. That has probably been my main problem which is not bad considering the miles it has.
accountCircle Naomi K
It's lasted me 13 years without breaking down. It's a reliable car
It's 13 years old and still runs pretty well. I don't have many complaints about it.
accountCircle Cat S
Mazda. . . A great little mover.
This car has a quick pick-up (manual transmission). I have had little maintenance. It does not get the greatest mileage (this is compared to my old Honda Civic), but it works. I have also heard that rust can be a problem with this particular make and I have seen some of that on the panels, etc.
accountCircle Tara L
Good gas mileage. Looks like sport car.Drives good.
I like everything about my car. I don't have any complaints at all
accountCircle Heather B
Mazdas are good vehicles. They have a good brand and make a car that lasts.
I like that my vehicle is a manual. I enjoy how it drives. I like that it keeps going and going even though it is 13 years old. I don't like the rust.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Hadley H
Most interesting detail is that the car is a manual, and a nice sunroof.
I have a 2005 Mazda that I drive which is really easy to say that I love, super reliable and is a manual which is always a plus, I have had no issues so far, the size of the car is great and the interior looks really updated for only being a 2005, seats are comfortable and I like how far back you can move the seats.
accountCircle Morgan B
It has a lot of issues with the engine.
It gets me around for now anyways. It is made of plastic and falling apart. I keep having engine issues, but at this point the car is not worth fixing.
accountCircle Meg A
It seems to be holding up mechanically.
The car is slow, eats gas, and getting older. I like the space in it though, especially the hatchback. That is the best feature.
accountCircle Jessica B
Mazda problems: can cars just fix themselves?! Haha.
The car is great but just recently I started to have a lot of issues with it, i.e. Bumper broken, check engine light is on, broken brake light. . . It is to the point now where I am putting in more money in the car then it is worth:(
accountCircle Chris C
The tires wear more in the back due to a non adjustable camber.
It is not that great on mileage for a 4 cylinder. Fits 5 not so comfortable. Compact makes for easy parking.
accountCircle Matthew p
It is a reliable car for getting to work.
I like the look of the car. The car handles well and gets good gas mileage. I do not like how difficult it is to see out of the rear window because of the height of the window. I would rather the gas tank be on the drivers side not the passenger side.
accountCircle Maren K
I like that it gets good gas mileage. I also like that it's small and easy to drive. I like that it can get me to work and school and back without spending a fortune.
I think the most important thing that people should know about my car is that it gets great gas mileage it runs really well and I don't have to spend a fortune driving it.
accountCircle Austin L
The first car I ever feel in love with.
Bad air conditioning, comfortable to drive, hard to find parts which are often expensive, doesn't age well.

Mazda Mazda3 Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
i
148 HP 30-30 MPG 5 Seats
car
s
160 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
car
Special Edition
160 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Mazda Mazda3 Owner Reviews

4.11
66 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 35%
4 stars 45%
3 stars 15%
2 stars 5%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Leyla H on May 20, 2021
Very comfortable and fancy car.
It's really good. And am glad that I bought it. Has a lot of good features, like sports mode. I would suggest anyone to buy it, because the quality. I even had so many people asking to buy my car. I don't think I would ever change it unless something bad happens but even if that happened I would buy the same car again.
accountCircle Hayley H on March 8, 2021
The vehicle is very reliable and has very good gas mileage.
Very reliable. Lots of mileage but has had very little problems with it. Lots of room, perfect glove box and trunk. Good gas mileage, the only problem that I have is that the car makes a very loud noise when driving. There have been no major problems with it though. I love the car, I have had it for six years.
View All Reviews (66) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Anna G.

Gas mileage is excellent. Easy to maneuver in small spaces and turning radius and switching lanes. Durable. No big repairs needed, just normal maintenance. Stylish. Looks good, has a spoiler. Cheap to insure and less expensive to renew tabs.

likeFilled Victoria Q.

It is highly dependable, can get cheap parts, it has great gas mileage, it runs smoothly, it has a durable motor, it is super fast, it is easy to use, it is best next to Mazda 6, durable leather interior.

likeFilled Ashley B.

It has a sunroof, the seats are comfortable, I like the color of the interior. I like that it is fairly updated for an older model. I was able to replace the old, outdated radio with a newer Bluetooth touch screen one.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Anna G.

It has a leak so the water collects in the trunk and passenger rear door. It has rust and paint chips so appearance is not appealing. Small so cannot hold large volume of items. Radio antenna has broken.

dislikeFilled Victoria Q.

It is low to the ground, the paint has chipped quickly and easily, it needs tire rotation often, it is black inside and out which is very hot during the summer, it wears tires quickly, the motor needs to be replaced.

dislikeFilled Ashley B.

It is kind of small for my family because my toddler is kind of large for his age. It is a foreign car, so sometimes the parts are more expensive, if something major goes out. Though I like the look of the interior, it is kind of hot in the summertime. Seems to have cooling issues.

Ranks #8 Small Cars by Owners

The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 has an average owner rating of 4.07 out of 5 which ranks it #8 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2005 Volkswagen Golf
4.67
2
car
2005 Toyota Echo
4.56
8
Tie
car
2005 Mazda Mazda3
4.11

Ranks #5 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 has a combined MPG of 35 which ranks it #5 of 23 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2005 Toyota Echo
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
2005 Volkswagen Jetta
43 MPG
5
Tie
car
2005 Mazda Mazda3
34 MPG

Is The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 A Good Car?

Yes the car is a great car. In great condition has lasted me many years with no problems recommend.
Sabrina R.
Awesome, very dependable and out lives most other makes. It will not disappoint you. I love the fastness and look of the car.
Tell B.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Mazda Mazda3?

No problems so far highly recommend very small reliable car. Easy to drive every day. Easy commuter.
Sabrina R.
As I explained before yes it is very reliable and definitely dependable. As far as problems, you shouldn't run into any if you take care of it.
Bill L.

Is The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 A Good Value?

Depends on the conditions of the car. If the car is brand new 4500 the most since it is old but used the lowest 1000.
Sabrina R.
My Mazda was just under 10,000 it had under 50,000 mile on it , 5 years ago. I put 120,000 miles on it and it still drives like my little speed demon.
Brittany S.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2005 Mazda 3 tcm location?

Answer: The TCM in a 2005 Mazda3 can be found on the top of the transmission housing under a cover that is on it. There will be wires that are heading into the cover and that will let You know You've found the right...

What's the 2005 Mazda 3 fuel pump relay location?

Answer: If the fuel pump on Your 2005 Mazda3 is failing or working intermittently, one of the first things You should check is the fuel pump relay. Not only is it much less expensive to replace, it's often the first...

What's the 2005 Mazda 3 fuel filter location?

Answer: The 2005 Mazda3 fuel filter location is found by watching: https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=mPlz-5Sgj7U Vehicle parts will eventually become ineffective. The fuel filter needs to be replaced every 30,000 miles...

What's the 2005 Mazda 3 2.0 Oil capacity?

Answer: For the 2005 Mazda3 with the 2.0 L 4Cylinder engine the oil capacity iS4.5 quarts or 4.3 litres with a filter. The recommended F-TYPEor the best performance iS5W-20 Synthetic and the torque for the drain plug...

What's the 2005 mazda 3 windshield wipers size?

Answer: The windshield wiper blades on the 2005 Mazda Mazda3 are 21 inches on the driver's side and 19 inches on the passenger's side. There is also a 14-inch one on the rear window. You can generally buy all three...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety