While I have a newer 3
I have a 2010 Mazda3 sedan that I love, but while I haven't driven an original 3 to compare it with, I have driven my Mom's red 2010 TDI JSW, which is also a great car, just very, very different when compared to my 3 (which my mom also loves driving, but it doesn't get good enough gas mileage for her work commute).
The 2010 3 has a much larger center console and a larger glovebox than the 2010 JSW. The storage bins in the doors and the overhead consoles seem about equal. While the central storage space under the HVAC controls in the Jetta is larger, that's really the only storage area in the front two seats where the Jetta exceeds the 3 in storage (and my mom only puts her garage door opener there, go figure).
Of course the JSW holds much more overall with the seats folded. In fact, I'm posting this from my mom's house today because I came over to help her load a large dresser into the back of her wagon. Frankly I'm amazed that it fit, but it did.
The differences I've noticed between the 2010 Mazda3 and TDI JSW are as follows, if any cares to read:
- I MUCH prefer the 6-speed & 2.5 engine in my 3 over the JSW. It is much easier to shift, more fun to shift, and the engine's more fun to rev. The Jetta gets much better gas mileage of course. So far her best is 42mpg and mine's only 29mpg. But my car's much harder to stall accidentally than hers.
- The JSW feels like a rolling bank vault compared to the 3 when you shut a door. The 3 feels flimsy when you shut the door with a window partially rolled down. And the perceived quality of anyone riding in the JSW is much higher than what they'd say about the 3.
- The JSW has a useful backseat, the 3...nearly unusable.
- The 3 has better headlights on low & high beams (but utterly useless foglights)
- I love the panoramic sunroof in the JSW, and I'm amazed how I can drive it down the interstate with all the windows down and the sunroof opened all the way with such minimal wind buffeting. The 3 has much more wind buffeting with everything open (mine also has a sunroof). It's a lot of fun to drive on a clear night with a full moon and the sunroof totally open in the JSW, an experience the 3 really can't replicate very well.
- The Bose stereo (optional) in the 3 sounds better than the stereo in the JSW, but I had to pay a freaking fortune to have the iPod adapter cable installed ($500 for the kit & installation) while the JSW came with it already installed (but the cable's too short, in my opinion).
- The iPod adapter works much better in the 3 than it does in the JSW, which responds slowly to input. I think the audio controls in general are easier to use on the 3, and the HVAC knobs are much easier to use (why did VW use those tiny little tick marks on completely round control dials?).
- The rear windows on the 3 go all the way down, they don't stop with the tiny bit sticking out like the JSW, but on the 3 only the drivers window is 1-touch down & up.
- The JSW rides more comfortably and feels more solid on the road, very different in character than the 3. Feels less fun to drive, though, and it doesn't inspire you to rev it up and have fun tossing it around like the 3 does.
- My mom and I are equally happy with our cars and they serve different purposes for each of us.
Not a great picture, but the only one I could find with both of our cars in it.
