[chucktang]

Hi all,

Just picked up a 2017 Mazda 3 grand touring hatchback with premium and i-activsense packages. I don't see a separate forum for this mid-cycle refresh so I'm posting in here. Car will serve as a commuter, extremely happy with it so far, though it's painfully obvious how limited Mazda's dealer network is compared to Honda/Toyota/etc even in the San Francisco Bay Area. Plenty of dealerships, but there's just a very "ehh" feeling when you pull up to them. They seem like they're 1/10th the size of Honda/Toyota/etc. which can definitely rub the general consumer the wrong way.

Extremely pleased with the car so far and happy to answer any questions. There does not seem to be a lot of info about the refreshed model. Previous/current cars and experience include Lexus IS250, Lexus RX330, Lexus LS430, BMW 335i, Porsche Cayman, Acura TL, Honda Civic, Audi A4, and about 30 current-generation rental cars .

 

[matkatmusic]

Pics!!!

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

 

[krazyboi]

nice! pics please!

 

[paulff3]

You'll find agreement here about the dealer network. It's the weak link in the Mazda proposition. Congratulations on your new 3. You chose wisely. ?

 

[Dante999]

Pics!!!

 

[GerryB]

Welcome aboard.

Sent from a Samsung that doesn't explode.

 

[alfpope]

I got the same, manual in deep blue crystal mica. I felt sad trading in my 15-year old RSX-S, but cars have really changed a lot in that time...

I was a bit skeptical about the i-activesense stuff, but some of it is actually really nice, like the radar cruise control. One thing I did notice is that if the sun is low in the sky and hits the camera just right the car turns on a couple of warning lights. Was a bit concerned at first...

 

[hau101]

How does the road/cabin noise compare with the Lexus/BMW? The 2017 model should have slightly more insulation from what I read. I have a 2016 hatch, and adding Dynamat to the doors and trunk floor barely helped.

 

[stevenvillatoro]

I test drove the 2017 for a good hour this week on rough roads, city streets, and on rutty concrete freeways. This was the first '3' that I'd ever driven... and I found the cabin to be without any excessive or unpleasant NHV.

In addition to the sound deadening and suspension modifications, I noticed that the tires are now Dunlop, rather than Bridgestone.

IMO, the Mazda3's cabin is a very nice place to be! Can't wait to get mine.

 

[Ezrush]

How does the road/cabin noise compare with the Lexus/BMW? The 2017 model should have slightly more insulation from what I read. I have a 2016 hatch, and adding Dynamat to the doors and trunk floor barely helped.

We just took our new 2017 on a 3 hour one way road trip and it's very quite. Now bare in mind I spend most of days in a speed 3. But compared to the Jeep we had previous to this it's a noticeable difference.

 

[shifty]

should be picking my 2017 2.5 touring hatch in eternal blue mica this week. What I can say about noise is this. I test drove both the 16 and 17 models a few times each. The last time I took one of each for quite a nice long test drive on the highway and then to the next town and back up the side roads bac to the dealer. There is no doubt in my opinion that the 17 is a quieter ride. Whatever llitle they did for improving sound did workout for the better. Its not overwhelming but is noticeably different. And mind you the 16 was the smaller engine and smaller tires while the 17 had the 2.5 and the 18" wheels and still was a quieter cabin so whatever they did has worked to help.