The Mazda Mazda3 is a vehicle built from 2004 to 2026 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 87.3% of those on record. Between 2004 and 2026 it grew 1 cm longer and gained 87 kg. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Mazda3 is
The Mazda Mazda3 is a vehicle that Mazda built from 2004 to 2026 — 23 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2014. Its closest siblings in the Mazda range: CX-5, CX-50, MX-5.
Where the Mazda3 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,566 Mazda3s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JM1 | 2004-2024 | |
| Mexico | 3MZ | 2014-2024 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mazda VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Mazda3 belongs to. What every character in a Mazda3 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mazda Mazda3 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mazda3 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Mazda3's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Mazda3 that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-2013 | 451 cm | 264 cm | 1251 kg | - | - |
| 2014-2026 | 452 cm | 270 cm | 1338 kg | +1 cm | +87 kg |
Between 2004 and 2026 the Mazda3 gained 1 cm in length (+0.2%) and 87 kg in weight (+7.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Mazda3 that is 87 kg against 1 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mazda Mazda3 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Mazda3 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mazda Mazda3 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The Mazda3 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mazda Mazda3. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Mazda3 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 81 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,006 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Used value | 732 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mazda Mazda3?
The Mazda3 is a vehicle, built from 2004 to 2026 across 2 generations.
Where is the Mazda Mazda3 made?
Across 2,566 cars in our records the split is: Japan (87.3%), Mexico (12.7%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Mazda3 have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2014. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Mazda3 grew 1 cm longer and gained 87 kg.
What is the Mazda Mazda3 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Mazda3 reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Mazda3?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mazda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 2013–2026 | 33 | 38 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-50 | 2023–2026 | 10 | 38 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda MX-5 | 1990–2026 | 34 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 1981–1996 | 23 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-30 | 2020–2026 | 11 | 29 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-90 | 2024–2026 | 15 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |