Why would anyone choose a Honda Fit over a Mazda 3 Sport (hatchback)? The base Mazda costs less than a Fit Sport ($17.9k vs. $18.9k in Canada). The Fit is a subcompact. The Mazda 3 is a compact, which is the next step up (like comparing a Yaris vs Corolla). For the same price, the Mazda 3 feels like a MUCH more expensive car (better quality interior dashboard, seats) and also drives/feels like a much more expensive car. Styling wise, in my opinion, the Mazda 3 is better looking- the Fit just looks odd. You get so much more car with the Mazda compared to Fit.

So my question is: why buy a Fit instead of a Mazda 3? WHY???? WHY???

 

IMHO Mazda 3 is cool if it's the SPEED 3, other then that I wouldn't get one personally.

 

I rented a Mazda 3 for a week a while back.

Great vehicle and I would purchase one; however, for me the Fit
seemed to be the right vehicle:

-great reports all over the place on the Fit
-great dealership that is very close to home
-Fit reliability
-economical to operate & purchase
-flexible interior with plenty of cargo room
-great value to the money
-high resale value

 

Any Mazda 3 5-door (only 5-door) always makes me look, but the front-end is a bit much, and the MPG is lacking overall. 2012 with SkyActiv engine will make for a sweet overall car, except for the over the top front end smiley face.

 

The base Mazda 3 hatchback is over $21k (USD) vs. 18k for the Fit Sport non-Navi. I also agree that if I wanted a Mazda 3, I wouldn't get the base, especially if I'm paying more than the Fit.

Now if the prices of the 3 is lower in the US, I would probably still choose the Fit because it has greater cargo space and the better mileage.

 

Because Honda.

Because MPG.

Because transmission.



My reasoning. I looked at a Mazda3 too but picked the Fit instead.

 

I have a 2008 Mazda 3 base car with the Touring Value Edition package. Package includes 17" wheels and low profile tires and several other nice features including a sport shifter for the automatic. It handles better than than my 2011 Fit Sport. with auto.

We recently drove the Mazda to Colorado and back to NC, averaged 35-36 mpg for
the trip. Not sure the Fit would have done any better. It shifts too much in hills due
to it's gearing and low torque. The Mazda shifts less frequently.

I like both cars. The Fit doors open much wider than the Mazda doors. If you are a senior citizen that's important, makes easier to get in and out with our stiff joints. Mazda seats are more comfortable. Both cars have a noisy ride, the Fit is a little worse than the Mazda.

Both are fun to drive and handle well with the Mazda handling a tad better in the twisties.

Clifton

 

There is no Mazda 3 hatch back version that is cheaper that the Fit. A 3 Hacth is 21k base.

I wanted a hatch back for around 17k = Fit

 

Only in the US Mazda doesn't offer a base version of the Mazda 3 hatchback. In Canada, the base hatchback has the 2.0L engine with 148 hp. Starting price, at $17900 is more expensive than the base Fit ($14900) but still less than the Fit Sport ($18900).

 

INteresting thread. This was a serious contender for me against the Fit, also a Miata is tempting. But my mind is made up for the Fit. I think.

 

I have a fully loaded 2011 Mazda3 5door and love it. We had a 2009 as well but traded out when they offered 0% on the 2011s. Granted, it's got all the bells and whistles, but it came in around $25k, our 09 GT with everything except Nav was about $21.5k so the new ones have come up.

I don't have my 2012 Fit yet, just put the deposit on it. Based on the test drive I did of the 2010 and crawling around inside it, I would say that IF the price was the same, the Mazda wins in terms of luxury, power, and features. Fit wins in Economy and flexibility inside. I bet I could fit more stuff in the Fit than the Mazda even though it's bigger. So far, our 2011 Mazda3 averages about 28mpg, usually runs about 31.5-33.0 on the highway.

Looks are subjective, both have their place, depends on what is important to you. I like them both, and have both :-)

 

Comparing the Mazda3 hatch to the Fit is an apples to oranges comparison. But as mentioned by several others here, in the US, there is what I would call a considerable price difference between the two.

With that said, I had an 06 Mazda3 GT sedan and loved it. I had an issue with the gauge cluster and a missing bolt (re: cost savings) connecting the manual tranny cables on the firewall, but otherwise it was an excellent car. If the Mazda3 happened to be the same price as the Fit, I would have to go with the Mazda (and that's coming from a Honda fan). I was even eyeing the MS3 before I purchased the Fit (but needed long term reliability [not that Mazda doesn't have that] and stellar mpg while being versatile).

 

Long-term cost of ownership is something to consider, i.e. maintenance and repair costs, insurance, etc....seems like the Fit is hard to beat on that. Also the Fit is relatively simple mechanically compared to many cars and doesn't necessarily require being taken to any kind of "specialty" place to be worked on....not quite so sure about the Mazda. There is a lot to be said for simple and cheap, but perhaps I am building up the Mazda to be something it is not (like a BMW ).

I know I have looked into the Mazda before but need to refresh my memory on it, for example I am thinking it takes premium gas but maybe not....I am pretty set on the Fit though.

 

I love the Mazda 3, but when I told my dad about it and he went out and bought the hatchback grand touring model. When I started looking at a car, I was going to buy the mazda, but the price was so high and I did NOT want a sedan! So I kept looking, I finally came across the fit when test driving the 2012 civic. It's spunkier than the civic and I love how it handles.

The mazda and fit are very similar in ride, but when I drove the fit, I just knew it was for me and I couldn't pass up the great deal!

 

I don't want a sedan either!

 

Then go buy a Mazda.

 

1. Because you don't like the Mazda
2. Because you've owned 5 other Hondas and want a Honda Hatchback
3. Most Importantly, Because I want to.

~SB

 

honda is honda,,,chevy is chevy,,,mercedez benz is mercedes benz

best value&quality for the money? Honda,, imo

 

Like others have said, two completely different animals. I had a 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 and loved every minute of it. I was just worried about the day I was going to blow it up, so I had to get rid of it.

I don't think I could consider a base Mazda 3 when for only a couple grand more, I could have the Mazdaspeed.

 

I considered the Mazda 3, as I had owned its predecessor (Mazda Protege 5). But the Nagare derived "clown face" drove me away. That & the Fit gets TONS better gas mileage. Also, the old left knee was telling me that my days of driving a manual were over- and the Fit has Paddle Shifts!!