Hi team, I am confused on which trim to go for in a 2014-2016 Mazda 3. At the moment the only thing going against sport nav model is that it has low profile tires. Things I love with sports nav are Bose speakers and front parking sensors. I can lobe with out from parking sensors, but would like to know if speakers in se l nav version is good enough or not. Also is the tire noise in sports nav versions so bad? Would love to know your opinion. Thank you
SEs will likely only come shod on the 205/60 R16 tyres unless one of the previous owners (foolishly) decided to pay for an 'upgrade' to the 18in low profile ones. Why the would, I don't know, given the cost. Far better to stay with 16in and up the rest of the spec to the below...
SE-Ls and the Nav variant often can come on either, although like the SE I believe the 'default' spec is the 16in rims. I think the SE-L spec is the best value, as it has 95%+ of all the things most people would want.
To be honest, I could barely tell any difference between the (new) cars shod on 16in and 18in tyres as far as handling, but ride quality is much better on the 16in ones.
As I've mentioned in other threads, this sort of tyre also has the added benefit (when fitted to inately decent handling cars) of reducing costs, given they are longer-lasting via wear and (including the alloys) are less susceptiable to kerbing and pothole damage.
On a like-for-like basis, they are also better in snow and as regards aquaplaning resistance. They are also about 25-40% cheaper than the 18in 'equivalents to buy, more so when lifespan and slightly better mpg (less width - I think the 18in ones are 215/45 R18) is factored in.
Note also that 'Sport' models, whether just the top spec variants or all will use the boot spare wheel well for the upgraded sound system, meaning the car cannot take a space-saver wheel/tyre 'kit' (which is itself expensive at £400 if a savvy first owner didn't order it as an optional extra), and thus any spare would have to go 'loose' in the boot.
Note that the presence of the space tyre 'kit' in the underboot area will raise it up a bit, reducing useable boot space. That could make a difference if you have significant requirements for the boot space.
The fastback (saloon) has a much bigger boot to start with, but the opening is small - fine for general luggage, not so good for cube-shaped boxes, as I've found (I own a 2005 gen-1 saloon version).
The OEM tyres Mazda fits have, in my view, never been that well regarded by owners from the opinions on the Mazda3 forum site. Not necessarily because they are noisy, more often they were/are not so common as on previous versions of the car like mine and thus expensive and/or difficult to get hold of replacements, some wear a bit quickly or aren't so good in the wet.
The 205/60 R16s in summer tyre format cost between (not incl. fitting) £80 - £120 for decent makes, compared to my car's 205/55 R16 OEMs at around £50 - £85 and my latest set (changed the wheels when they corroded) which are 195/65 R15 at about 10-15% less than the previous ones.
My car still handles well on the 15in tyres, thus the newer 16in size should do very well and apparently can be fitted to the Sport models, though I'm not sure about the 'top spec' 165PS version, which may come with bigger brakes.
The tyre noise on the Sport versions may be more apparent depending upon which tyre is used and how worn they are.
The later 'upgraded' gen-3 car version is seen as being worth paying the bit extra over the earlier version. For me, the best one to buy would be a SE-L (I can take the Nav or leave it, especially if you have a mobile phone on contract which can then use Google Maps).
This one from late 2016 to just before the reg change on 01/04/17 makes good financial sence as it benefits from the better spec and still the 2001-17 Band C VED at £35pa rather than cars registered from 01/04/17 at £180pa.
The only other spec difference coming after that was an upgrade to the Nav system - possibly in 2018 - to add Apple Car Play and Android auto, although I'm not sure whether it is worth or even can be upgraded to take the latest software on that front, and the cost, which likely won't be cheap. The earlier Nav models apparently could (at the time the upgraded spec came out) be upgraded after the fact, but again, no cheap, but that was then.
I'd personally stick to the 'plain' SE-L and use your mobile phone for the SatNav. The sound system is fine for most people, and as some have said, if you're really serious about such a system, you'd get a professional upgrade.
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