Used 2012 Mazda 3 for sale 

The 2012 Mazda 3 ranges across two main trim lines and six sub-trims at varying price points. The base-level i SV and iSport trims start at $15,200 and $16,845 respectively and come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque along with a lot of features such as 16-inch Steel Wheels, power accessories, keyless entry, 4-speaker sound system with a CD Player. 

The 3i Touring and 3i Grand Touring trim starts at $18,700 and $22,550, respectively. They get a new more advanced 2.0-liter four-cylinder (Skyactiv-G) engine that produces 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. These trims are equipped with more creature comforts, technology, and more. A sunroof and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system are standard on the 3i Grand Touring, alongside plenty of other features.

The s Touring and s Grand Touring trims start at $21,300 and $22,900, respectively. These trims are equipped with features such as a more powerful four-cylinder engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded brakes, fog lamps, LED taillights, a decklid spoiler, keyless ignition/entry, sport seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2012 Mazda 3i Touring trim is the best one to opt for an optimum performance coupled with great fuel efficiency. The 3i Touring trim comes equipped with features, including 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a rear-seat center armrest, a trip computer, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker sound system. Optional features include a sunroof and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system. 

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The 2012 Mazda 3 gets 3 engine options as a whole. While the base SV and Sport trim gets a 2L four-cylinder engine as standard which puts out 148 hp and 135 lb-ft. The Touring trim onwards are powered by a retuned version of the same engine generating 155 hp and 148 lb-ft. 

The Touring and Grand Touring trims are also powered by a larger 2.5L inline-4 engine that is rated to produce 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. All trims are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission as standard but buyers also get an option to opt for 5-speed automatic transmission. 

The Mazda 3 takes 8.4 seconds to reach a speed of 60 MPH from standstill and 16.4 seconds to cross the quarter-mile mark. The Mazda 3 powered by the more powerful version of the same engine does it marginally quicker while the one with the 2.5L engine can do it in around 7.5 seconds.

The Mazda is the most powerful of the lot outputting 155 hp and 148 lb-ft, followed by the Subaru that outputs 148 hp and an increased torque of 145 lb-ft, whereas the Cruze produces 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of power and torque, respectively. The Mazda 3 is the fastest in the acceleration test followed by the Corolla. The Corolla is the most affordable one here while Imprezza is far more expensive since it offers AWD as standard. 

The 2012 Mazda 3 is a pretty efficient car for the amount of performance it has to offer. While the base engine with manual transmission returns 28 MPG, the automatic is rated to return marginally more. The larger engine too is rated for 22/29/25 MPG in city/highway/combined as per EPA. The Mazda 3 has a fuel capacity of 14.5 gallons which offers over 400 miles of range in city and highway combined with most of its powertrain options. 

In comparison, the Corolla and Cruze are more frugal than the Mazda while Impreza offers similar MPG ratings as that of Mazda. Chevy Cruze also employs a larger gas tank which offers a substantially longer range, while the smaller fuel tank capacity of Toyota Corolla brings its range on par with the rivals. 

The 2012 Mazda 3 has a spacious cabin with lots of space in the front row seats, which are comfortable and supportive. The materials and elements in the interior are premium and feel expensive. There is an ample amount of space on the interior of the cabin even in the second row.

Most of the features and creature comforts are limited for the higher trims and Mazda offers interior upholstery color options. The 11.8 cu-ft trunk capacity may not impress most buyers while the folding rear seat does add more practicality to the cabin. 

The Subaru is the most spacious on the interior, having the most legroom in the front row, whereas the Mazda has more legroom in the second row. When it comes to cargo capacity, the Mazda 3 falls short of its rivals offering just 11.8 cu-ft, while the Subaru offers 12 cu-ft and the Chevy offers significantly better cargo space, measuring 15 cu-ft.

The Mazda 3 features a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, auxiliary audio jack, and steering wheel controls as standard. 

It can be upgraded to a 6 speaker unit while there is also a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system available in the higher trims. The infotainment unit comes with an optional navigation system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone & audio connectivity, and HD radio. Few key features include-

• Power driver seat & Heated Front Seats
• Leather-trimmed seats
• Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel And Shifter
• 6-speaker Sound System  or 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system
• Bluetooth connectivity & USB ports
• Sirius XM Radio & HD radio

The 2012 Mazda 3 looks a bit aggressive with a stylish and simple design language. The exterior of the Mazda 3 features Fog lights, LED Taillights, Deck Lid Spoiler, Adaptive Bi-xenon Headlights, Automatic Wipers, and 17-inch alloy wheels. It looks stylish and stands out from the crowd of compact sedans

While the lower trims get 16-inch steel wheels only, there are 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels offered with the higher trims. The low-slung 4.7-inch ground clearance may not be helpful on curbs and bumps but offers a sporty stance to the car. Mazda offers 7 paint color options for buyers to choose from.

The Chevrolet Cruze weighs the most, weighing in at 3,118 lbs, followed by the Subaru which weighs a lower 2,977 lbs, followed by the Mazda that weighs 2950 lbs. The Chevrolet is the longest and highest with a length and height of 181.0 and 58.1 inches, respectively, followed by the Mazda 3 and the Impreza. Compared to the Mazda 3, the Cruze and Subaru have slightly better ground clearance of 6.4 and 5.7 inches, respectively. Major exterior features of the sedan are-

• Fog lights 
• LED Taillights
• Deck Lid Spoiler 
• Adaptive Bi-xenon Headlights
• Automatic Wipers
• 17-inch alloy wheels

The 2012 Mazda 3 comes with a lot of standard safety features, which include ABS, stability and traction control, brake assist, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Other advanced safety tech includes Traction Control, Stability Control, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, Rearview Camera, 360-degree Camera, and Blind-Spot Monitoring. The Mazda 3 was given very good crash test scores by NHTSA. Major safety features include-

• Traction Control
• Stability Control
• ABS
• Blind Spot Warning System

2012 Mazda 3 vs 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevy Cruze is far slower than the Mazda 3 off the mark and is also far more expensive. That said, Chevy offers marginally higher MPG ratings and a larger trunk. Mazda offers a stylish and spacious cabin while Cruze looks better on the streets. The higher reliability tilts the scales towards the Mazda. 

2012 Mazda 3 vs 2012 Subaru Impreza

While the Impreza is priced much higher than the Mazda 3, it gets an AWD drivetrain as standard which adds practicality. Mazda does better on the streets with a sporty yet comfortable ride, and Subaru is better suited for when the going gets tough. Both offer similar fuel efficiency and cabin space, which makes the Mazda 3 the preferred choice unless you need the AWD. 

2012 Mazda 3 vs 2012 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla may be slower off the mark and have a higher price tag, it offers an impressive frugality and very a spacious cabin. Mazda offers similar cabin and trunk space but the Toyota car is better known for its reliability and lower running costs. Therefore, we would prefer the Corolla over the 3 sedan, despite the lackluster performance. 

The 2012 Mazda 3 is a very good car, with three engine options offering enough power on disposal and offering good handling and driving dynamics. But, the base engine of the Mazda 3 is not a proper sporty one. Although not as spacious as its rivals, the Mazda 3 still is a truly capable and spacious midsize sedan offering great ride quality, exceptional safety features, and crash test scores.