Hello Guys. I left the Fit community when I traded my '08 Fit for a brand new Ford Escape. With my aggrssive driving style, I thought a taller ride and more power were in order.

Now the Escape (which I love!) has 70K miles on it, and I want a second car for fuel economy, and for local grocery store runs where the 22mpg Midsize SUV is a little excessive. I've narrowed it down to the 2018 Fit or a used Mazda 3, circa 2014-16. The reason for these two choices are I'm looking for 30-35 mpg, and I think a used Maz 3 will depreciate about the same as a new Fit.

In favor of the used Mazda are:
- I'll spend about $5K less.
- 184 horsepower/fun to drive, even automatic
- larger and more comfy than Fit
- claims same gas mileage as Fit
- I won't pay a destination charge on a used Mazda

In favor of new Fit
- Fit comes in orange. Mazda is black, white, gray, or red.
- I'm not buying somebody else's problem
- Fit instrument panel looks more recent than the Y2K dash of the Mazda
- The Fit has a tach for its 130 hp (Don't say Mazda has a tach. I don't call that thing a tach).
- It's a Honda.

Opinions?

 

If you want some punch under the hood, the 3 will be more fun to drive. You might also consider a VW Golf MK7, as both cars offer similar performance, size and capacity. Although the Golf (25/36 MPG) does it with a 1.8L Turbo making 170 HP/184 LB FT. You can't go too wrong with either the 3 or the Golf.

It's funny that you took note of the 3's old parts bin dash! I noticed the same thing when we were shopping. (We chose a Golf Wolfsburg 5-Speed and kept the Fit.)

 

this doesnt make sense to me. you drive aggressively and you bought a taller car with more power? you trying to kill people? if you bought a taller car to tame yourself, then i can understand..

honestly speaking it's a waste of money to 'save' your 70k mile escape. just drive it to the ground save your $15K+ and use it towards your next car... maybe a new escape?

GL

 

I went from a Mazda 3 to an older, used Fit. The Mazda is much more fun to drive, and much nicer on the highway. The Fit has much better fuel economy. The Fit is better for parking in tight spaces.

 

Mazda 3 hatch is not larger than current fit for interior space. Less rear leg room, less rear hedroom, less cargo space.

 

truedat. Mazda 3 has less front headroom as well. Drove me crazy. Love the tons of headroom in the Fit. Carrying capacity of the Fit is mind boggling. And the Mazda3, with its crazy flared fenders and very low ground clearance, is *always* getting wacked in parking situations.

 

I looked at both the 17 Mazda 3 Hatchback GT manual and 17 Honda Fit EX manual a few months ago. Having owned a 13 Fit Sport a few years back, I was sold on the versatility of the Honda Fit. But then I took the Mazda for a test drive. The drivers seat was 10x better than the Fit's. I am 6ft2 190lbs and have plenty of legroom and the driving position in the 3 is perfect. The steering is razor sharp and the engine pulls hard from idle to redline. Absolutely no rev hang. I have taken two 600 mile trips with my son and wife and the 3 is serene even at 85mph on the highway. Gas mileage is not as good as the Fit but still averaging close to 30mpg in the city. Close to 35 mpg on the highway. I do give up some cargo utility, but since I am the only one in the Mazda 99% of the time, there is plenty of useful room. I paid 22k OTD and with that I got heated leather seats, XM radio, a nine speaker Bose system and all the features that I wanted. The Fit is a great vehicle as well, I just found something that was more suited for my needs.

 

yes, the Mazda is *much* nicer on the highway. No comparison. The Mazda is a really good highway car. The Fit isn't.