2010 Prius vs 2010 Mazda 3

I was in the same frame of mind until a 2nd-hand Prius popped up at a great price. Reasons I initially went for the Mazda3 are driving enjoyment, great range of gadgets at the asking price and exterior styling [I quite like the smiley face ]. However, the Prius was always at the back of my mind due to its excellent fuel economy, more advanced gadgets and making more of a environmental statement, especially around my work place.

The leasing cost for a Prius is not much dearer than Mazda3. This is because Mazda3's higher running, maintenance and insurance costs. With this discounted Prius, the lease cost is almost the same. That's amazing given the cost differential between the two of almost AUD15k! Of course the residual value would be higher at the end of lease.

All I can say is I can't wait to get my Prius, that's strange because if I would have gone for the Mazda3, I just felt like... it's just another car.

Good luck with your choice, either car would be fine IMO.

 

You've never worked on a Mazada before have you? Never buy a Mazada car the components they use will shock you like they have shocked me when my bro worked on Mazadas.

 

Based on the two options then I think you've gone for the right one for sure. Congrats. Hope you get a cool colour.

 

I know you're now decided but I thought I'd post anyway.

Comfort:

I've found our Prius II to be no less comfortable on longer drives (75 each way) than our other cars (2008 Civic LX, 2000 Mercury Sable). Unless I make myself sit back I tend to lean forward slightly so I start feeling some discomfort on longer drives but I don't think I can blame the car. I don't think my wife has had any problem with it* and she suffers from regular back pain.

Hills:

What do you mean by slight hills? I295/I95 in Maine undulates and the Prius has no problem with the hills. The only problem you may find is cringing as the Prius hits the power zone on steeper hills. Although dealing with the hills probably affects the mileage I've still found that with temperatures above freezing the car's in the high 40s to 50s** on mileage at 65mph. I haven't had enough experience with my wife driving at 70mph to know what hit it will take but it's no more than a few mpg.

Here's my mileage log. On my commutes I drive at posted speed and sometimes only 60mph on I95 but a good chunk of the miles on the last few tanks have been 150 mile round trips at 65mph or 70mph. Also note that gas I buy is all E10.

I suggest you put the cruise on at 65mph to 70mph, switch the display to 1 minute consumption, put on some music or an audio book, relax and enjoy the $500 or more per year the car will pay you back in saved gas.

I think my most enjoyable experience (apart from the worry about being late) was rolling slowly in a tailback caused by an accident on I295 and watching the average fuel economy on the display rise. It's just a shame that everybody else (except 1 Gen II Prius driver) would be burning more gas.

Thank you for reducing US gas consumption.

* I'm the primary driver but my wife has driven the Prius on round trips of 40, 45, 78 and 150 miles.
** Calculated

 

If you're still looking at the 2010 Mazda 3, watch out for the front seats ....

they are reaalllyy squeezy. I'm pretty slim and the seat bottom side bolsters squeeze quite a bit (they are too high and aggresive for being on the plain 3. The speed3 was always like that. All it takes is some stupid suggestions from a design team ... hey, let's put the supersporty seats in the Mazda3 too ... ok, good, consider it done. Stupid.

Seatbacks are too squeezy too.

Moot point anyway - the rearseat room in a Mazda3 is terrible unless you've got 4 people all under about 5'6".

 

It's funny, someone mentioned bottoming out with the 3, and I had that problem bigtime with my Protege... the slightest bump would make the thing bottom out from day one. Drove me crazy!

As far as having room for taller people, I'm 6' 5", and I found the 3 a bit easier to drive because of the telescoping steering wheel, which the prius unfortunately doesn't have. I also test drove a 2006 prius and found there to be not as much leg room for some reason as the 2005 I bought... anyone notice this?

-Ken

 

2005 and 2006 Prius seating is the same .... designed for those definitely under 6' tall. That is unless one likes their knees crammed up near the dashboard.

 

I drove Mazda 3 for two years for 60 miles a day. Sure it may have easier acceleration than prius but it is small and wasn't stable in wind and snow. Especially it was really bad on snow which was the main reason I traded in. On the other hand my prius now feels like a luxury car to compare to my 2008 Mazda and it's roomier and can accelerate as fast as Mazda 3 on PWR mode. And last thing I have to mention is I like how solid and stable prius feels during strong wind and I have had a lot better snow driving experience this year with my Prius. So my pick between the two is two hands up for Prius, a good choice, you won't regret!

 

2010 Prius does have telescopic steering wheel.

 

Having driven both, I would take a Mazda 3 over the Prius any day.

The seats are far more comfortable and supportive than the ones in the Prius. While some may dislike the aggressive side bolsters, I actually like them. Then again, I am only about 5'10" and 200 lbs, so taller individuals may not share the same feelings.

The Mazda 3 with the smaller engine will likely see low to mid 30s on the highway. The larger engine will be more enjoyable to drive and will handle and brake better due to the larger and grippier tires, but at the expense of fuel economy. Maintenance wise, the Mazda 3 will probably need rear brake pads fairly often if it is driven aggressively, but that's about the only difference I can think of.

 

I've now driven both and they are not comparable. The Prius delivers what one would expect, which is mileage. From a driving perspective it delivers also what one would expect, which is a poor experience. It is a slow vehicle. It's sufficiently fast, but it is slow, and it is not as nice a vehicle to drive as the Mazda 3. But then it also does get absurd mileage, so from a cost perspective, especially with current lease deals, it is absolutely obscenely cheap.

 

Tarusse1, after owning the Prius for 4 days, I just have one word for it... AMAZING!

The only problem you might attract is that you will find yourself explaining over and over again of things this car can do, fuel consumption, design, etc etc to your work colleagues because that's just happening to me as we speak!

Good luck with the new Prius mate!

 

I'd choose the Prius, but thats me.
It feels more like a Lexus but has an eye catching price tag of only 22,000 new.
Plus you get all the different driving areas, electirc, gasoline, or both.
and 50mpg!

 

What he said. That, and in the States anyway, you might also be telling them that, no, it doesn't constantly accelerate out of control, spew nerve gas at pedestrians, smack you upside the head with its unruly floor mats, cause more environmental degradation than a Hummer, and, yes, astonishingly, the brakes do in fact bring the car to a stop. (Assuming, that is, one has the sense to step on the correct pedal, preferably while not simultaneously alternately standing on the other one.)