When you were shopping, which other cars made the running?
We test drove:
Buick Verano - needed a backup camera and lacked any 'wow' factor
GMC Terrain (rented) - a bit louder, but smoother ride, not as good of mpg and could never find the trim/color/options combo we wanted. More expensive, especially for what you get.
VW Jetta (rented) - side mirror whistled, a bit expensive if you get a nicer one
Acura TSX - too big and kinda blah
Acura TL (prior generation, used) - too big and a bit detached
Nissan Rogue - not sporty enough styling
Infiniti G25/G37 - we felt like we 'should' like it, we just didn't. bad mpg too
Chevy Cruze (rented) - passenger airbag wouldn't turn on for my wife, shifted poorly
Nissan Altima (rented) - Kinda Bland
Mazda6 4cyl (rented) - didn't feel like a Mazda
Pontiac G8 GT - felt too big, bad mpg.
Honda Accord 4 cyl - Drove like an older Buick
Buick Regal - dealer tried to jack up the price by $4,000 we walked and lost interest
Lexus IS250 - weren't crazy about the styling, dealer kept trying to play games with the price.
Looked at (didn't bother driving):
Acura ILX - no 'wow' factor and really expensive if you wanted toys
Subaru Impreza - just seemed too basic and cheap interior (except the price)
Honda CRV - didn't 'wow'
Chevy Equinox - preferred the Terrain look
We already had a Mazda3 but considered just getting a 2nd one. But the extra room, smoother ride, higher seating position, better ground clearance just offered too many pluses to not get something 'different'.
When I commented to my wife that we were brand loyal to Mazda after buying our 3rd one she said "not really, we looked at everything else out there first"
We test drove:
Buick Verano - needed a backup camera and lacked any 'wow' factor
GMC Terrain (rented) - a bit louder, but smoother ride, not as good of mpg and could never find the trim/color/options combo we wanted. More expensive, especially for what you get.
VW Jetta (rented) - side mirror whistled, a bit expensive if you get a nicer one
Acura TSX - too big and kinda blah
Acura TL (prior generation, used) - too big and a bit detached
Nissan Rogue - not sporty enough styling
Infiniti G25/G37 - we felt like we 'should' like it, we just didn't. bad mpg too
Chevy Cruze (rented) - passenger airbag wouldn't turn on for my wife, shifted poorly
Nissan Altima (rented) - Kinda Bland
Mazda6 4cyl (rented) - didn't feel like a Mazda
Pontiac G8 GT - felt too big, bad mpg.
Honda Accord 4 cyl - Drove like an older Buick
Buick Regal - dealer tried to jack up the price by $4,000 we walked and lost interest
Lexus IS250 - weren't crazy about the styling, dealer kept trying to play games with the price.
Looked at (didn't bother driving):
Acura ILX - no 'wow' factor and really expensive if you wanted toys
Subaru Impreza - just seemed too basic and cheap interior (except the price)
Honda CRV - didn't 'wow'
Chevy Equinox - preferred the Terrain look
We already had a Mazda3 but considered just getting a 2nd one. But the extra room, smoother ride, higher seating position, better ground clearance just offered too many pluses to not get something 'different'.
When I commented to my wife that we were brand loyal to Mazda after buying our 3rd one she said "not really, we looked at everything else out there first"
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