new vios AT vs facelifted Mazda3 (entry level)

[cta2]

My priority is AT... sorry but Honda is out of the picture... No old altis also (i find it too old)

New Vios AT at 765T pesos, no discounts available
Facelifted Mazda 3 at 769T pesos (30T discount from 799)

My logic tells me Toyota.... but the Mazda seems a good buy for the price...

regarding Depreciation... I think both will have similar scrap value in 4-5 years...

gasoline plus or minus naman sya... and if you factor everything... its not much (coz I dont travel that far)

what do you guys think?

[orly_andico]

The vios 1.5G AT will definitely be faster than the mazda, and better fuel economy too: 107hp, with a lighter body, vs 105hp with a pig-heavy body.

i have personal experience in the crawling demeanor of the mazda3

you'll prolly get 9-10km/L on the vios, but only 7-8km/L on the mazda3.

mas mabagal na, mas laklak pa sa gas!!!

but, unless you're talking about the all-new Yaris based vios, in my opinion the mazda3 is a much nicer car. and roomier too.

but -- the vios G has dual airbags and ABS. the entry-level mazda3 only has one airbag.

if I were going for a mazda3 i'd go for the midrange, 839K (cheaper now, down from 879K) or the midrange HATCH (dati walang midrange hatch, entry-level hatch lang) at 879K.

the midrange mazda3 is the best deal, dual airbags, ABS, digital climate control, leather... i think meron na ring HID yung midrange ngayon.

it's still slow

Focus 1.6L AT nalang kaya? discounted din yun ngayon kasi desperado si Ford for sales. The entry level Focus has 1 airbag and ABS, so at least di siya gaanong talo compared sa Vios G in the safety department. Anyway the Focus and Mazda3 are the same car (so the Focus is slow too... )

[BlueBimmer]

mz3 ako...

[kpy555]

Both are good choices, pero I heard from one Mazda3 1.6L that it consummes more gas than the 2.0L. Ewan ko lang kung totoo but I doubt.

Among the choices, I'd get the Mazda3 (if you need it badly now). But if you can still wait, get the all-new Vios coming soon.

[niky]

The Mazda3 has a better suspension, better steering and more supportive seats than the Vios. More elbow room, too.

The new Vios has a bit more legroom (paradoxically), but it's narrower. It's faster and more economical than the Mazda3, but more so on the highway. In city traffic, it's not that far off (as per Orly)... simply because Toyota's automatics suck ass. Mazda's Activematic is more responsive, but the small engine versus the big body through the mediation of that auto? You can drive economically in a Mazda3, but only by not using too much power. And since it's so slow, you tend to use more power just to get back up to speed. Easy does it and you'll be fine.

I don't like the suspension and sound insulation of the Toyota as much, and the engine sounds thrashy. But it's a decent car, anyway... comfortable enough for city use and pretty roomy.

If you're going to buy a Vios, buy the 1.3 MT. Punchy enough for traffic duties and about as fuel efficient as a Honda City (we'll know when it comes out). The AT option is just a waste of money. Seriously, if you want an automatic vehicle, you can't beat Honda's CVT.

If you're buying the Mazda3, the 2.0R is the best choice, but the 1.6 ain't bad. It's not as fuel efficient as the current Honda Civic 1.8 AT or the Toyota Corolla 1.6 AT, but it's as good as most older 1.6 ATs, despite the extra weight. And it feels like an expensive car compared to the Toyota Vios... which, despite being dressed up... is still entry-level. Of course, with the Mazda3, you'll have to be a very patient driver. Every time you pull out to overtake, you can just imagine: "vroom-vroom... ten pesos of gas... vroom vroom... twenty pesos of gas..."

[orly_andico]

pareho lang daw halos ang gas consumption ng 1.6L and 2.0L mazda3, the mazda3 2.0 does worse in traffic but better in highway.

the 1.6L engine is heavily taxed to pull that large and heavy mazda3 body. mazda's engines are already weak to begin with (1.6L 105hp, compared with say the toyota corolla which is 116hp) tapos mabigat pa kaha. the mazda3 weighs MORE than the mazda 626 which was a mid-sized car before. the mazda3 also has a longer wheelbase than the 626...

basically that's the thing. the vios is a subcompact, the mazda3 is a compact. so the mazda3 gives you more space. medyo matigas nga lang yung suspension... but then that's "zoom zoom" for you..

EDIT: to add to niky's comments. the mazda3/ford focus is considered to have THE BEST suspension of ANY compact front-wheel drive car. End of story. So if you're after responsive steering, that might count.. yun nga lang the 1.6L mazda3 is let down by its piss poor engine and throttle response..

Another thing: never tried a G-spec Vios, but I have had the misfortune of riding in an (Avis rent-a-car, very new) E-spec Vios 1.3L. Gads. Low rent talaga. The mouse fur roof can scratch your fingers! it's REALLY NOISY on the highway (either the tires, or poor NVH, or both). BUT... the Vios doors slam better than the Mazda3. for some reason tunog lata talaga doors ng Mazda3. If that bothers you, the Ford Focus 1.6L is the same car (more or less..) but cheaper and with more-solid doors. Kinda looks grand-daddy-ish though.

[niky]

The 1.5 Vios has decent sound insulation, but it's still noisier. The new Mazda3 also has softer springs. It's not as rigidly controlled as the old Mazda3 (which is bad if you're a boy-racer), but it's still 100% better than any non-Mazda/Ford compact on the market right now.

And the funny thing... A Toyota will understeer no matter how sticky the tires you put on it (found this out at the World of Toyota, where I had a chance to drive a "G" on low-profile Potenzas), whereas a Mazda3 will turn in beautifully on the crappiest rubber known to man.

True, the "3" is a questionable value in terms of economy and resale compared to the Vios... but for the same price, you're buying more luxury and solidity. That's got to count for something.

[orly_andico]

The 1.5 Vios has decent sound insulation, but it's still noisier. The new Mazda3 also has softer springs. It's not as rigidly controlled as the old Mazda3 (which is bad if you're a boy-racer), but it's still 100% better than any non-Mazda/Ford compact on the market right now.

Niky, you mean the facelifted one?
Haven't seen very many of those on the streets yet.

The pre-facelift is really firm. Everyone here in the office (for some reason Oracle people are buying Mazda3's in droves) is complaining about it, vis-a-vis Honda and Toyota. But for me it's fine. Not fantastic (the FD Civic is cushy by comparison) but I like it not leaning in turns.

True, the "3" is a questionable value in terms of economy and resale compared to the Vios... but for the same price, you're buying more luxury and solidity. That's got to count for something.

It's a matter of priorities. The 3 gives you more room and luxury, at the expense of worse resale and fuel consumption. If all you want is reliable AT transport, then the Jazz 1.3 CVT cannot be beat by ANYTHING.

Makes me wonder why the OP doesn't like the Jazz.. it sure beats the Vios in the practicality department (even the Mazda3 hatch cannot swallow a FRIDGE, but the Jazz can...)

[niky]

Yup. The facelift. My cousin is an old "3" owner and he doesn't like the ride on the new one... but everybody else loves it. I'm a fence-sitter. I love that buttoned down feeling, but I think it's okay enough... kinda like the Focus, actually.

RE: basta wag Honda: Some people tend that way. Somehow "common" is a bad thing... ...I was talking to a buyer the other day, and he was looking for a college car for his son. I told him, straight out: The Jazz is the best college car you can buy.

He said: It's automatically out of the picture. His son doesn't want one because both of his older sisters have Jazzes already. :hysterical:

[cta2]

wow!... a lot replied

New Vios (I mean the new body), you can already order in any toyota dealer... the price I got is the official price.

Mazda 3 is the facelifted one (entry level)... yes it might be slow... but it really feels better inside, out... does not look cheap... even if its the entry level (at least for me)

I can not stretch any more money and my priority is the Automatic... so out of the question lower end Vios (coz no AT... actually a 1.3AT is my choice kung meron)... sorry no Honda City/Jazz for me... and no old-new altis... which I know are good value

Automatic to be used by wife, driver/kids and most likely for my color coding...

Medyo hati ang replies... actually pati ako

Maintenance - plus or minus, I can tolerate... basta Japanese level pricing (No Euro price)... same with the Gasoline... Im not buying any 6cylinder car anyway...


765T pesos VS 769T pesos... sobrang dikit!

[Djerms]

I find the Vios in a different category vs the MZ3. If not for the comparable engine of these two, I'd choose the MZ3 anytime.

IMO, MZ3 has more lux than the vios.

[zman]

Automatic to be used by wife, driver/kids and most likely for my color coding...
Maintenance - plus or minus, I can tolerate... basta Japanese level pricing (No Euro price)... same with the Gasoline... Im not buying any 6cylinder car anyway...

Get the Mazda 3, if only for more space (for the kids) and as I quote "it really feels better inside, out".

Though, personally I'd choose the Vios for myself. I fancy the fuel economy plus good acceleration.

[hominid]

Tama, d ka level. Mazda3 mas match sa Civic. So Mazda3 na.

[flex]

i think it boils down to what you're after...or what you're looking for....

fuel economy or comfort & mas me dating?

If it's just for daily driving for the wife and kids....hmm i'll go with the Vios....but it's just me

Medyo a little cramp din naman un rear ng MZ3...imho

[number001]

I'm sure you have reasons why you don't want to settle for a Honda but they do have a competitive line-up to consider.

For starters, if you want a very affordable sedan sans the safety features then go for the City 1.3 S CVT at PHP 665,000.00 . Adding a more powerful VTEC and safety features then go for the City 1.5 V CVT (w/ SRS and ABS) at PHP 745,000.00 .

This is probably a long shot as per your budget, but if you really want a sedan sans any safety features, then go the Civic 1.8 V AT at PHP 817,000.00 .

I have to agree, the MZ3 is not that spacious esp. the back seat. However, I find that it (MZ3) has a better driving position (at least to me) compared to the FD Civic, which has a big steering column and steering wheel sticking out. This awkward arrangement position the steering wheel too close and forcing one to sit further away from the floor pedals (which is an impediment if a person is vertically challenged).

But if it were just downt to the MZ3 and the new Vios, then I will settle for the MZ3. The MZ3 has a better looking body overall. I like its driving position and dash layout except for the dash integrated audio system (which can be a bum to upgrade or at least replace). The front seats are positioned quite high so passengers at the back may feel dwarfed by this.


In terms of safety, for the FRONTAL OFFSET TEST both cars got a rating of "GOOD" from the IIHS.

Mazda 3 2004-07 models FRONTAL OFFSET TEST


Toyota Yaris 2007 models FRONTAL OFFSET TEST


As for the SIDE IMPACT TEST, since both cars will likely never come equipped with side airbags, both got a rating of "POOR" from the IIHS.

Mazda 3 2005-07 models SIDE IMPACT TEST

Toyota Yaris 2007 models SIDE IMPACT TEST

Bottomline: Safety-wise, as with all things constant (or when both vehicles are similarly equipped in terms of safety features), both vehicles are on equal footing.

[AG4]

Medyo a little cramp din naman un rear ng MZ3...imho

True, I always pictured the Mazda 3 sedan as the Focus's stylish but less practically styled cousin.
Small rear doors, small trunk opening, slightly less rear leg-room etc.

Toyota Vios 1.5G A/T

Max Power: 107 hp * 6000 rpm
Max Torque: 142 Nm * 4200 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed A/T
Curb weight: 1055 kg (Yaris 1.5 sedan A/T)
Safety features: Dual SRS Airbags and ABS with EBD

Mazda 3 1.6 A/T

Max Power: 104 hp * 6000 rpm
Max Torque: 145 Nm * 4000 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed A/T
Curb weight: 1240 kg
Safety features: Driver's Airbag

[orly_andico]

Well, at least regarding the small trunk opening, what I did was get the hatch

Not as flexible as the Jazz in terms of cargo space (no ULT seats) and much less fuel-efficient as well but much better looking in my opinion.. form wins over function.

[Bravoexo]

T-A-X-I, I'm sorry but Toyata shafted VIOS owners bigtime with that one... promising VIOS won't be a fleet car... yeah right.

Anyway, if that doesn't mar the experience for you... just pimp it out I guess. I love the VIOS with the FLAMING front decal... that was shinitz when I first saw it on the road...

[cta2]

Thanks guys... all your inputs did cross my mind...

Was already set for the Vios... its only when I saw the Mazda (displayed in Greenhills a few weeks ago) that made me think twice...

Vios for me is good value... the AT version however a bit overpriced (thats marketing for you)... the reason why im considering other models...

I dont want to add to the confusion but can I also add the Yaris AT version in the equation?...

was surprised that its actually cheaper than the Vios... What I know hatch is more expensive when created equal (both AT and both 1.5 liters... and both have dual airbags!)... like Jazz/City... Mazd3/Hatch

So it seems that the Yaris is better value than the Vios (in AT form)... my only hesitation is that it will be used by the driver as well... para kasing kapag hatch dapat personally driven

Just my own thoughts... still have time anyway...

[bender]

I think the best solution to your dilemma is to test drive the units. i've been using a Vios 1.5G A/T for almost 4 years now as a daily driver and i haven't had any problems with it. The only major mechanical problems i had was wheel alignment but that is a problem with the condition of our roads more than anything.
Also, how many kids do you have? if you only have 3 and below, the space wouldn't really be much of an issue if you chose the mazda 3, the vios & the yaris.