Quick Drive: 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback

Album created by William Maley · Updated May 9, 20197 yr

Photo gallery from our quick drive of the 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback in Soul Red Crystal Metallic, shot in wintry Michigan conditions. The Grand Touring brings MZD Connect navigation, gunmetal alloy wheels, and premium interior materials to the sporty Mazda3 hatchback. See all photos in the 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback quick drive review.

2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Interior with MZD Connect Navigation and Mazda Steering Wheel

By William Maley
2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Rear Three-Quarter View on Urban Street

By William Maley
2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Front Three-Quarter View with Evergreen Trees

By William Maley
2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Front Wheel and Gunmetal Alloy Wheel Detail

By William Maley
2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Straight Rear View with Mazda3 Badge

By William Maley
2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Passenger Side Profile View Against Concrete Wall

By William Maley
2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Hatchback Straight Front View in Soul Red

By William Maley

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Beautiful Cars Appreciation Thread
Beautiful Cars Appreciation Thread

G. David Felt replied to oldshurst442's topic in The Lounge

Found this lovely old Mercury at my local Business Costco today. Would love a car like this in EV format. Bet it would glid along.
- 12 hours ago12 hr
- 1,562 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

The thing is, I don't even care that those places near my don't have chargers. They charge out the @ss per kW so I would still only consider an EV if my charging was done at home 95+% of the time. Fast chargers that cost like $0.40-0.60/kW are not cheaper to run than an ICE vehicle getting like 30mpg. FWIW, at $0.50/kW, that's nearly exactly the same costs for an ICE driver getting 28mpg when gasoline is $4.00/gal. Below is customized at $3.99/gal of gasoline and $0.50/kW (DC fast charging prices) . It's basically a wash.
- 20 hours ago20 hr
- 30,837 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Sorry to hear that in your area, the retail sector has not embraced charging yet like it is on the west coast or east coast as I have seen. With an EV you change habits and instead of spending time in line at a gas station and then fuel up and go, you charge up over a longer period of time, 18 min on average at Walmart, Fred Meyers, Kroger's, Costco, etc. as here they all now have fast chargers and L2 chargers at up to 19 kW charging at the Shopping mall where you will spend even more time. Saw the first 4 chargers in stalled at the AME cinema last night driving by. While due to incompetent administration, the rest of the word has moved onto Super Fast chargers from BYD that does pretty much equal gas fueling in 10 min or less. The U.S. will get there, but following the rest of the world as we are no longer a leader. Bum that you do not have the options others have, but I think a BOLT EUV would be a good choice for a 3rd auto as Gas prices go back up again.
- 22 hours ago22 hr
- 30,837 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

How is it different? Are you serious? No EV is charging to 500 miles of range in 5-8 minutes in the US. I live in the midwest. There are two public non-dealership chargers in my town, both level 2, 7.2 kW charging, neither are at a Walmart, both cost more than charging at home. I can't refuel my Navigator at home. I can fill it up once a week in like 5-8 minutes though. I fill up every Friday at the same station and I am in and out in 10 minutes or less. The fastest charging EV in the US is not getting me a week's worth of driving (400-450 miles typically) in 10 minutes or less. I don't live in an area where I can go to the same grocery store that I always go to and just plug in while I shop. That is not how it is in the Midwest. You can make it work, but it's inconvenient and I would never consider an EV to spend the money and time charging. I'm not buying an EV to just have an EV. It has to benefit me and public charging as a must is not something that I'll even consider.
- 22 hours ago22 hr
- 30,837 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

I test drove a Prologue yesterday. I liked it, but didn’t love it. It seems like a perfectly fine daily driver in that class/size. I’m hesitant to lose the size I have right now, but $80/week in gas is brutal. This one in particular caught my eye because it has a clear CarFax, 21k miles, Honda CPO, and priced at $26,600…when first posted. The next day they added 2k to the price, but knew the initial price was a mistake. Of course they wouldn’t honor the mistake. At 28,600, I can find others and this one is just another one. I think I’m more leaning to getting a Bolt as a 3rd vehicle as opposed to replacing the Navigator.
- 23 hours ago23 hr
- 30,837 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

daves87rs replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Sad part is that I do still have some car friends left on it- lucky most don’t get too political anymore…..
- Monday at 02:05 AM2 days
- 30,837 replies
- - 2
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

So this has been gnawing at me, you say you would never consider an EV if you could not charge at your home! How is not being able to charge at home any different than the big inconvenience of fueling an ICE auto? One cannot fuel their ICE Auto at home. On top of all the additional maintenance once has to plan for such as Oil changes to just name one along with all the other maintenance needs of ICE. EVs can be charged at so many places that instead of a fueling stations you go to Walmart or the shopping mall, charge up while shopping killing two birds with one stone. Even Costco and Sam's Club are installing chargers so you can chare while shopping. You plug in your cell phone while sleeping, I get that, but what is so hard about charging while getting other needs taken care of from eating a meal out to shopping for your personal needs? If you do not have the ability to charge at home, why not plan to charge while getting your shopping done, or going to your medical appointments? I see so many people charge while getting their shopping needs done be it groceries, clothes, etc. It would also be more convenient for those that work they could plan to charge up while working.
- Sunday at 10:28 PM2 days
- 30,837 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Crown is their top line of Toyota in Japan and now in the U.S. before you step up to Lexus. Think of a Buick equal.
- Sunday at 08:58 PM2 days
- 30,837 replies
- - 2
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

trinacriabob replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

The Toyota Crown is sort of attractive. When it first showed up, I didn't know what it was. I have no idea where it slots into the lineup and what its price point is.
- Saturday at 09:01 PM3 days
- 30,837 replies
- - 1
Permanent Car Spotters
Permanent Car Spotters

trinacriabob replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in The Lounge

How I appreciate cars like this ... absence makes the heart grow fonder. I just parked next to this. The strength of this car was its sweeping dash that melded with the doors and its thinking out of the box provocative shape. The 3800 V6 could be seen as strong, but I didn't like that it was Series II. I did not care so much for the praying mantis grille.
- Saturday at 05:00 PM3 days
- 139 replies
- - car spotter