Used 2013 Mazda 3 for sale 

The Mazda 3 is offered in 5 trims with an option for either a manual or an automatic transmission. Apart from the features that get added as we go up the trim ladder, there are also different engine options on offer that increase the performance output of the car. All models can get an option for either a manual or an automatic transmission. 

There is a decent level of equipment on the base trim, but as you move up in the trim ladder, it adds a lot of creature comforts and technology to the car. All the premium features are reserved for the s Grand Touring trim, although those can be had with the i Grand Touring trim with the Technology package. 

The i Touring trim is the way to go for all budget-minded buyers, as it gets the higher tuned 2-liter engine with more power, and also features many of the comfort and safety features that aren’t available in the lower trims. Although to enjoy the Mazda 3 to its full potential, one has to go all the way to the top trim. 

Build your own 2013 Mazda 3 sedan and get massive discounts when you buy from Carindigo >>

The 2013 Mazda 3 is offered with a range of engine options across the lineup. The base i SV trim gets a 2L four-cylinder engine rated to produce 148 hp & 135 lb-ft, while the Sport trim gets a retuned version producing 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. 

The s Grand Touring on the other hand is powered by a 2.5L inline-4 engine that generates 167 hp and 168 lb-ft. Both the engines are mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission which powers only the front wheels. 

The base engine also offers decent performance, taking 8.7 seconds for the 0-60 MPH run while the quarter-mile takes 16.8 seconds to cover, while its retuned version shaves of about two-tenth of a second. The larger engine on the other hand can do the same in around 7.5 seconds. 

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best sellers of this segment, thanks to its low MSRP and the high-reliability factor, although it is also the slowest off the line. The updated Hyundai Elantra is amongst the quickest of the lot despite having almost similar engine output as that of the Mazda 3’s base engine. There is not much difference in the costs of all the four compact sedans present here.

The 2013 Mazda 3 is pretty efficient for the kind of performance that it has to offer even with its base engine. The overall combined fuel efficiency is rated for 28 MPG, which is reduced by 1 MPG on the higher-powered version. The larger 2.5-liter engine is rated for a humble 23/39/31 MPG in city/highway/combined as per the EPA. The 14.5-gallon fuel tank does help in providing a decent driving range while opting for the automatic transmission does get you marginally better efficiency. 

The Hyundai Elantra is not only the quickest but is also the most frugal amongst all the cars here. The Chevy Cruze on the other hand is only marginally more efficient than the Mazda 3 but employs a much larger tank which helps it offer the best driving range in this comparison. Corolla has a lower fuel consumption than the Mazda and Chevy, but the smaller gas tank means frequent gas station visits.

The 2013 Mazda 3 is not just driver-centric only in terms of the driving dynamics, the interiors too follow the same philosophy. Although it may not be the best in the business today, it still offers a very pleasant and stylish cabin with even the lowest trim, featuring soft-touch materials and cushioning on the armrests and panels.

The seats are pretty comfortable and feel very premium with the leather upholstery available on the higher trim with black and beige upholstery color options, but the cabin space is just on par with the segment. The sedan comes with a cargo capacity of 11.8 cubic feet, which is the smallest in the competition, but the split-folding rear seat aid in offering additional cargo space. 

While the front seat has average space, the rear seat is amongst the most spacious ones here in the Mazda. Elantra offers the best headroom and legroom up front but has to compromise on the rear seat space. The Chevy Cruze has the most spacious trunk and a well-balanced front and rear row of seats, in terms of space.

The biggest change for the 2013 model year is the new and larger touchscreen. 

It doubles up as the navigation display and is now also traditionally mounted. The audio system is the same as last year and is something that we all love, and it also features all of the latest technology and connectivity that one expects from a modern-day 2013 car. Major interior features include-

• 8-way power driver seat & sport-type heated front bucket seats
• Leather seat trim & Leather-wrapped black shift knob
• Dual-zone auto climate control
• 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 10-speaker 256W Centerpoint surround sound audio system
• HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio w/4 month trial subscription
• Navigation system w/real time traffic
• Voice-commands & Bluetooth hands-free phone & audio

The 2013 Mazda 3 has a pleasant exterior appearance with the swept-back headlights and the front grille with the thick plastic bar that simulates a smiling face. Things are pretty simple from the side profile as with the shoulder line rising nicely and a character line running across the lower end of the doors. Overall, it is a pretty stylish car that is quintessentially Mazda when looking at it from the rear end.

Mazda offers steel wheels as standard on lower players, the 16-inch alloy wheels are only available from the Touring trims onwards. Only the top-of-the-line i Grand Touring trim gets the stylish 17-inch alloy wheels as standard. Mazda offers a trunk-mounted spoiler as well while there are 7 different paint color options to choose from. 

The Hyundai Elantra is the shortest in length in this comparison but yet offers the longest wheelbase and also weighs the least. The Mazda 3 rides closest to the ground while the Chevy Cruze offers the best ground clearance and is also substantially heavier than all the cars present here. 

• Automatic on/off Bi-Xenon HID headlights w/pivoting adaptive front lighting system and auto-leveling
• LED taillights
• Heated power mirrors w/turn signal lamps
• Automatic rain-sensing intermittent front windshield wipers
• Sport-type black gloss grille insert & trim
• Body-color rear lip spoiler
• Power moonroof
• 17-inch alloy wheels w/black center caps

Mazda has been known for its solid safety history, and the 2013 Mazda 3 does not do anything to hamper that image of the brand. It scores an overall 4-star rating out of a possible 5-star rating from the NHTSA, while the IIHS has chosen it as their ‘Top Safety Pick’ choice for the 2013 model year. There are various safety features baked into the 3, and some of them are listed below. 

• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA)
• Dynamic stability control (DSC) w/traction control system (TCS)
• Crash zone, driver's seat position, and passenger weight sensors
• Blindspot monitor
• Collapsible steering column and Crashable brake pedal
• Tire pressure monitoring system

2013 Mazda 3 vs 2013 Chevrolet Cruze

The Mazda 3 offers a more engaging and quicker driving experience than the Chevy Cruze while the Cruze is marginally better in terms of its efficiency. Chevy also offers decent cabin space for all occupants and there is a larger trunk as well. Cruze also looks more imposing to look at and hence feels worth the additional 500 bucks. 

2013 Mazda 3 vs 2013 Hyundai Elantra

The 2013 Elantra offers a similar acceleration performance and similar price tag as the Mazda 3, but it cannot match up with it in terms of the driving experience. The Elantra is also more frugal and has a larger boot. Mazda on the other hand comes with a more spacious cabin and has higher resale value in the market, making it the preferred choice here. 

2013 Mazda 3 vs 2013 Toyota Corolla

The ever-popular 2013 Corolla is marginally cheaper than Mazda, but it struggles considerably in terms of acceleration performance. That said, it offers higher fuel economy figures, has a spacious cabin, and has a high demand in the market due to its impressive reliability. This makes the Toyota Corolla the obvious choice between the two. 

The 2013 Mazda 3 is an affordable sedan that tries to offer a ‘best of all worlds’ experience to its buyers by providing solid performance, decent fuel economy, extensive interior and safety features, and a dynamic driving experience without compromising on the ride quality. Other brands offer a better overall package, but for a true Mazda fan, the 3 sedan is one of the best compact sedans out there.