As car pricing cools down, there are many deals to take advantage of across the market. If you’re in the market for a sensible used sedan, the 2013 Mazda3 is worth checking out. During a week-long vacation in northern California, I had the privilege of borrowing my cousin’s Mazda3 sedan, which was a departure from the fancy new cars I was used to driving.
However, I quickly found out that this sturdy little car could get me around the Bay Area just as well as anything you could find on a new dealership lot. In fact, it did so in a surprisingly steadfast, sporty, and fuel-efficient manner.
The 2013 Mazda3 came in a few different flavors
When shopping for a used Mazda3, it’s important to know the basics of what to look for. Barring the high-performance Mazdaspeed3, there are five different trim levels to choose from:
- I SV
- I Sport
- I Touring
- I Grand Touring
- S Grand Touring
The Mazda3 in this vintage also comes in hatchback form. But my cousin said she opted for the sedan body style when she bought the car at the end of 2013 because the hatchback cost a little more. This rings true on the used market as well, as the hatchback models that I found carried slightly higher price tags than their trunk-bearing counterparts.
Back to the trim levels, the base I SV trim level comes with the basics including a tilt steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and a 4-speaker sound system with an auxiliary input jack.
To be honest, I’m not sure which trim level I drove, but I do know it had Bluetooth, a CD player, and a dual-zone auto climate control system that worked well in the fickle Bay Area climate. So, I’m guessing it was the I Sport.
The higher trim levels come with a little more tech gadgetry like a blind-spot monitoring system, a navigation system, power front seats, a leather interior, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system.
Although those amenities are nice to have, I found out that they aren’t necessary when commuting around town. However, I miss having Apple CarPlay, so if it were my car, I would probably add an aftermarket head unit to get it.
The Mazda3 will run well if it’s well-maintained
Considering my trusty borrowed car had over 130,000 miles on the odometer, I didn’t have high hopes regarding its driving dynamics. After all, 10 years of hard-earned miles can take its toll and I have no idea how my cousin treats her cars. Apparently, she treats them pretty well.
To my surprise, the little Mazda3 idles smoothly and shifts even smoother. Under its hood is a SkyActiv 155-hp engine that’s mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The optional six-speed manual would have made it more fun, but the auto-shifting car made it easier to drive. Needless to say, the car’s powertrain has seemingly held up well through the years and has been well-maintained.
The same can be said for the car’s suspension. Mazda has always been known for tuning sportiness into its cars and this little car is no exception. I drove the white Mazda3 through a canyon road and its responsive steering feel complemented its handling agility through the tight turns. The road I drove it one was a little bumpy, so the road imperfections were transmitted through the cabin, but that was to be expected.
Even the 2023 Mazda3 reacts the same way on uneven surfaces. Sporty indeed.
My only gripe, though, was the clunking noise that came from the rear of the car. I’m not sure if it was a worn-out sway bar end link, an old bushing, or something in the trunk. But it didn’t seem to affect the car’s handling capabilities or overall driving.
Driving dynamics aside, the Mazda3 returned excellent fuel economy numbers. I was shocked when I glanced at the fuel gauge, which read that the tank was half full. Evidently, the decade-old car achieved an average of 38.9 mpg, which is on par with the EPA’s original rating.
This car found the fountain of youth, despite its dirty appearance.
How much does a 2013 Mazda3 cost, and should you get one?
Checking out the latest offering on CarGurus, there are plenty of 2013 Mazda3s selling for less than $10,000 nationwide. Many of them sell for around $6,000, which makes this little sedan a true bargain for anyone in need of a little car to drive around town in.
It may not have been super fancy, but at the end of the day (or week), it didn’t really matter.