Hello, this is my first post on this forum, and would like to know some information. I am starting to get into the market for a new car, and have narrowed my selection to the focus and the Mazda 3. I know it will be biased, but which is the better car? My big things are reliability and mpg, so anyone with either car, please put in your input. Thank you!

 

When you say 2013, do you mean the 2009-2013 shape or the 2013-2016 shape Mazda 3?

 

I want the skyactiv tech, and that is also about when the focus got an update.

 

Sorry, just reread what you said. I want like the gen 2 body, 2012-2013 time. Same with the focus. Also, forgot to mention that I am looking at the hatchback versions.

 

I think you'll find the Mazda3 has considerably more room in the back seat for passengers; that and the Mazda was a heck of a lot more fun to drive when I compared the two (I only drove manual transmission versions).

I assume you're only interested in the 2.0 liter engine as I believe the 2012-2013 cars with the 2.5 weren't SkyActiv.

 

Yeah, I'm looking at the 2.0. And really, I heard the Mazda back seats were smaller.

 

The older Focus had decent rear seat room; the newer one, not so much.

 

Ah, ok. Do you have any experience with the reliability of either?

 

I've had two Mazda3s, a Gen 1 and a Gen3; both were pretty much rock-solid reliable. My daughter's ex-boyfriend bought a new 2015 Focus and it wound up back at the dealership three times in the first two years. Keep in mind, this is a VERY small sample size and not at all relevant to the bigger picture.

If I were in your shoes, I'd drive both cars and buy the one which felt the best; everything else is close enough to not matter all that much.

 

I planned on doing that tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for the info, I have read alot of problems with the focus' dual clutch transmittion. I have not heard anything about the Mazda, good or bad, so it is good to hear they are solid cars.