Mazda MAZDA3 Generation 1 (2004–2010)

Mazda MAZDA3 Generation 1 (2004–2010) — production years, market prices by model year, NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, and live listings for sale on VehiSales.

Mazda MAZDA3 — body generations

Generation Produced Facelift
Generation 1 2004–2010 —
Generation 2 2011–2013 —
Generation 3 2014–2018 —
Generation 4 2019–present —

Vehicles within one generation share the same platform and body style.

Engines used in the MAZDA3

Engine families this model shipped with, by NHTSA VIN build data — each links to every model that shares it.

Engine Years in this model Also used in VIN builds ⓘ
Mazda 2.5L Skyactiv-G 2014–2026 11 models 213
Mazda 2.0L 4-cylinder 2014–2023 10 models 98

Used Mazda MAZDA3 prices by year →

About this generation

The BK series Mazda3 was first unveiled at the 60th Frankfurt Motor Show on 10 September 2003, and launched in Japan in October 2003 as the Axela. The model was well received by the automotive press for its performance, handling, styling and interior, with some describing it as feeling like a more expensive sports sedan/saloon despite its value-oriented price. Some criticisms have included fuel economy and crash test results (only receiving four out of a maximum five stars from the Euro NCAP Safety Testing Programme) the latter of which was rectified by making six airbags standard.

In 2006, the Mazda3 was the second best-selling car in Canada. The Mazda3 is based on the Ford global C1 platform, shared with the latest European Ford Focus and Volvo S40. Previewed by the MX-Sportif concept car, the first-generation Mazda3 was available in two body styles, a four-door fastback sedan/saloon, marketed as a "4-door coupé style" in Europe, and a five-door hatchback, branded the Sport version in Canada, Japan, and the United States.

Design work began under chief designer Hideki Suzuki in 1999 at three Mazda design centres in California, United States; Frankfurt, Germany; and Hiroshima, Japan. By 2001, Hasip Girgin's design was chosen as a finalist. Girgin was sent to work in Hiroshima for 6 months, after which the final design was frozen for scheduled 2003 production. The front suspension comprises MacPherson struts, with coil springs and an anti-roll bar.

The rear suspension is a Ford-designed "E-link" multi-link suspension, with four locating links per wheel and an anti-roll bar, suspended on coil springs that are mounted inboard of the shock absorbers to reduce suspension intrusion into the cargo area. The first generation Mazda3 has been known to have spontaneous piston failure in the form of the piston itself cracking which is a result of manufacturing anomalies that has plagued a small percentage of the normally reliable car.

Four-wheel Disc brakes are fitted, with discs in the front and discs in the rear; ABS and electronic brake force distribution are available as standard, depending on the model. Wheel and tire sizes vary with model, from 15-inch on base models to optional 17-inch wheels on upper-level models. The Mazda3 was used as a regular police patrol car by the Public Security Police Force of Macau alongside the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic police cars in Macau, China.

When first introduced, United States-market Mazda3 models were available in only two trim levels, i and s, with the 2.0 L and 2.3 L engines, respectively. Since then Mazda has introduced additional models under the Touring and Grand Touring labels. British Mazda3s are offered in S, TS, TS2, Sport, and a top end 2.3 L turbocharged Mazda3 MPS (Mazda Performance Series) models. Since April 2008, when there was a mainly cosmetic facelift of the Mazda3, there have been some changes to the trim designations for UK cars, with the models became the entry-level S, then Takara (which replaced TS and TS2), the Tamura Special Edition and the Sport and MPS as before.

All three models use the inline-4 Mazda MZR engine, with various types, displacements and outputs including the MZ-CD turbo-diesel, depending on model and market. Transmissions are a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic transmission; since the 2006 model year, a five-speed automatic is optional on models with the 2.3 L engine. This transmission became standard on the 2.0 L engine in Japan (FWD models only), as part of a minor facelift in early 2008 which includes different front/rear bumper designs, new wheel designs and body colours, stiffened chassis, and better interior materials.

The MPS / Mazdaspeed version is only available with a six-speed manual. In the Philippines, the BK3 replaced the (BH) 323 in 2004. There are three trim levels, "1.6S", "1.6V and " 2.0R".

Source: Wikipedia — Mazda3 — First generation (BK; 2003), CC BY-SA.

Recalls & complaints by year (NHTSA)

Year Recalls Complaints Most reported
2004 3 170 Engine And Engine Cooling, Air Bags, Power Train
2005 3 103 Air Bags, Engine And Engine Cooling, Electrical System
2006 2 166 Steering, Air Bags, Electrical System
2007 3 222 Steering, Air Bags, Engine
2008 3 303 Steering, Tires, Wheels
2009 4 119 Steering, Tires, Wheels
2010 3 686 Structure, Unknown Or Other, Seats

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

For sale right now