Learn me: Kia Forte GT vs Mazda3 2.5 S Premium

My R53 MINI is getting long in the tooth, and it has rusted through at the tail light buckets like they all do up here. Searching local dealer inventories for manual transmission cars doesn't yield much, but I did find one Kia and one Mazda3 with sticks. They're close on wheelbase and weight. The turbo Kia has 10 more horses (201 vs 191). The Kia is a sedan and the Mazda a hatch. I do like hatches, but my golfing and hockey days may be over because of my health issues. Pricing favours the Kia by $4100, a not insignificant amount, but not a deal breaker as I keep vehicles for at least a decade, and at 71 years old I may well be buying my last car anyway. So, pros and cons of either would be welcome. I have not gone to see or drive either unit yet.

I vote Mazda. No turbo means better reliabilty over the long haul in my book. Plus the 2.5 seems to have a good record of running a long time. Rest of the car just seems much nicer too. I'm in the market for an older one myself as a winter beater.

Back in 2020, I test drove these both back-to-back. Here's what I thought at the time.

Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Hatch

Pros:
-Looks really great
-Interior felt WAY upscale, like $100k Mercedes upscale
-Bank vault quiet 
-Heads-Up Display!!!

Cons:
-Cramped cabin
-Tons of blind spots due to the massive C-pillar
-Really slow and boring to drive, even with the 6-speed manual
-Expensive
-Annoying infotainment interface

Kia Forte GT Sedan

Pros:
-Nice interior
-Genuinely fun to drive
-Infotainment really easy to use and sounds/looks good
-Looks great
-Tons of interior and trunk space for the size/class
-Priced below competition

Cons:
-No LSD
-Would "Kia quality" actually hold up over time?
-Nice interior, but not nearly as nice as the Mazda

I ended up choosing the Kia. Coming from a Mazda 3, I just assumed I'd get another one, but the current cars are a disappointment to say the least in NA/6MT form. It really lost its identity from the previous generations, and it's no longer fun. If we're talking turbo AWD ones, those are a hoot, but only available in the automatic. My wife's CX-50 has that drivetrain in a much heavier car, and it is a blast. Plus, the Kia is about $10k less than the 3 Turbo, so there was no competition for me there. A few of us on here have the Forte GT's and we generally like them. Mine's had a few minor hiccups but I'd buy it again in a heartbeat if I had to make that decision again. 

Tony Sestito said:

Back in 2020, I test drove these both back-to-back. Here's what I thought at the time.

Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Hatch

Pros:
-Looks really great
-Interior felt WAY upscale, like $100k Mercedes upscale
-Bank vault quiet 
-Heads-Up Display!!!

Cons:
-Cramped cabin
-Tons of blind spots due to the massive C-pillar
-Really slow and boring to drive, even with the 6-speed manual
-Expensive
-Annoying infotainment interface

Kia Forte GT Sedan

Pros:
-Nice interior
-Genuinely fun to drive
-Infotainment really easy to use and sounds/looks good
-Looks great
-Tons of interior and trunk space for the size/class
-Priced below competition

Cons:
-No LSD
-Would "Kia quality" actually hold up over time?
-Nice interior, but not nearly as nice as the Mazda

I ended up choosing the Kia. Coming from a Mazda 3, I just assumed I'd get another one, but the current cars are a disappointment to say the least in NA/6MT form. It really lost its identity from the previous generations, and it's no longer fun. If we're talking turbo AWD ones, those are a hoot, but only available in the automatic. My wife's CX-50 has that drivetrain in a much heavier car, and it is a blast. Plus, the Kia is about $10k less than the 3 Turbo, so there was no competition for me there. A few of us on here have the Forte GT's and we generally like them. Mine's had a few minor hiccups but I'd buy it again in a heartbeat if I had to make that decision again. 

what he said except the 3 hatch looking good. They remind me of a high top tennis shoe, or the Daewoo Lanos. Neither is a positive.

I saw a 3 at lunch today and I was wondering in my head if they came in stick and here are all the details. I'm curious about that Mercedes like interior.

My point of comparison was the 2018 3 vs the Elantra GT with the turbo. Both very nice. Settled on the 3. The drivetrain and torque steer on the Hyundai made it a bit annoying to drive. Ymmv 

Check insurance rates before purchasing. Some insurers stopped issuing policies on Hyundai Kia thanks to the recent theft spree associated with the lack of an immobilizer 

amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) said:

My point of comparison was the 2018 3 vs the Elantra GT with the turbo. Both very nice. Settled on the 3. The drivetrain and torque steer on the Hyundai made it a bit annoying to drive. Ymmv 

 

Check insurance rates before purchasing. Some insurers stopped issuing policies on Hyundai Kia thanks to the recent theft spree associated with the lack of an immobilizer 

Does not apply to the GT or any Hyundai/Kia with pushbotton start. Full coverage on our 23 GT is about $475/year.

EDIT, just checked the policy it's $364 

In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :

Bobzilla beat me to it, but yeah, the Forte GT has a push button start so there's no KIA BOYZ activities to worry about here. No issues with insurance, either. 

In reply to bobzilla :

Who are you insured with? Any of my vehicles are more than that.

In reply to bobzilla :

YMMV there, obviously. The one I looked at was a dark gray with black wheels and a red interior. The hatchbacks are an acquired taste, but that color combo was cool. 

The Kias offer any interior color you like, as long as it's black. Really wish they would do at least a red interior like they do with some of their CUVs. At least there's red piping and GT embossed into the front seats. 

I lean toward Mazda, after owning multiple and still having an '18 Mazda 3. I've thought about putting coils and wider wheels on it, but since it's now the fiance's car, I'll leave it alone.  With they'd put that 2.5 with some bigger cams in the Miata. It's a great little engine. 

As far as insurance rates, that is dependent on so many things trying to make general comparisons is essentially worthless. 

In reply to z31maniac :

The 2014-19 Mazda 3 with that engine is a much different story. I almost bought a 2018 Grand Touring hatch myself! They still feel "right", as did my old 2012 3 with the 2.5 MZR. I can't explain it, but the magic was completely gone with the '20 I drove. I'm sure it's a good car, but it didn't feel like the previous generations of 3 that I was used to. If it makes any sense, it felt like it was a pro Olympic runner bundled up like the little brother from A Christmas Story when he's getting dressed for school and can't move. It was muffled, muted, and disappointing. It no longer had that edge the old ones did which made it fun. 

Strangely enough, our CX-50 Turbo DOES have that edge, especially in Sport Mode. That thing has no business driving as fun as it does. I would imagine that drivetrain in the current 3 would fix a lot of my complaints. I drove a 6 with the FWD Turbo setup, and that was a hoot as well. 

Tony Sestito said:

In reply to z31maniac :

The 2014-19 Mazda 3 with that engine is a much different story. I almost bought a 2018 Grand Touring hatch myself! They still feel "right", as did my old 2012 3 with the 2.5 MZR. I can't explain it, but the magic was completely gone with the '20 I drove. I'm sure it's a good car, but it didn't feel like the previous generations of 3 that I was used to. If it makes any sense, it felt like it was a pro Olympic runner bundled up like the little brother from A Christmas Story when he's getting dressed for school and can't move. It was muffled, muted, and disappointing. It no longer had that edge the old ones did which made it fun. 

Strangely enough, our CX-50 Turbo DOES have that edge, especially in Sport Mode. That thing has no business driving as fun as it does. I would imagine that drivetrain in the current 3 would fix a lot of my complaints. I drove a 6 with the FWD Turbo setup, and that was a hoot as well. 

Completely understand, and definitely with Sport mode. When I showed the fiance that, she really started to like the car. 

She still misses the 135i with the DCT though. I do too, but don't miss the maintenance bills it entailed. 

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

State Farm. 4 cars and a house. No accidents or tickets in 2 decades (wife one ticket when we got married) and in our late 40's. Multiple discounts through the school district included. 

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to bobzilla :

Who are you insured with? Any of my vehicles are more than that.

mine too. It's a Michigan thing. My brother in Georgia insures 4 cars for what I pay on my 2.

Who'd have thought that one day a Kia would be the more fun to drive option when compared to a Mazda!

In reply to BlueInGreen - Jon :

I mean... I have been saying it for a while. Just took you yahoo's a while to catch on. 

The previous gen 3 (the third generation) has more of the zoom zoom edge. The newer 3 has slower steering, lacks a fully independent rear suspension and was engineered to be more sedate, which is the biggest difference. I personally love the way they look though. Mazda still nails the Miata and their SUVs are the most fun to drive, but they took a different angle with the latest 3, trying for some sort of Audi wanna be instead. I hope they change it back, personally. I doubt they sold more by going that direction, but I think it's part of their image change. 

My dad has a 2015 3 Grand Touring spec (leather, heads up display, heated seats) and it has been crazy reliable, as in it has needed nothing except tires and oil changes. It's truly fun to drive, (reminds me of a FWD E36 in its power and handling) and will probably last a long time. It's a nice car and looks good. Better than the Kia in my opinion. 

That said, I haven't driven the Forte GT. So YMMV. I'd drive both the third gen 3 and the Kia and see what you think.

OP I'm in the same boat as you looking at the Mazda3 and the Forte GT. Have you taken a look at the current gen Jetta? Can find a great deal on Sports/SEs

In reply to z31maniac :

Ymmv, but Progressive quoted me $60 more a month for the Mazda3 compared to the Forte GT (wtf)

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Since I started this I'll update you guys on what has transpired. I bought another R53. It's a low mileage (68K) rust free example, but it has been neglected and will need a bunch of stuff fixed. Most obvious need is a new clutch. Since this will take time i decided I need something new, aside from my truck, to travel in. This afternoon I test drove a new Miata ND-RF. No decision on ordering one yet.

Starts thread asking about something else, then ends up buying a Miata. Sounds like GRM is alive and well.