Is it worth buying a second generation Mazda 3 - 2012, in the current market.

[Nicholas Alexander]

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Hi Everyone,

I’m interested in purchasing a 2012 (second-generation) Mazda 3, but I’m new to owning the brand and could use some guidance. I’d appreciate insights on the following:

• Fuel Efficiency

• Maintenance — Is it straightforward and affordable?

• Spare Parts Availability in Colombo

• Resale Value — Is it difficult to sell later on?

• Recommendations for a trustworthy garage or mechanic experienced with Mazda 3 in Colombo

Looking forward to advice from Mazda owners or enthusiasts. Thank you! 😊

[iRage]

On 9/11/2025 at 2:00 PM, Nicholas Alexander said:

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Hi Everyone,

I’m interested in purchasing a 2012 (second-generation) Mazda 3, but I’m new to owning the brand and could use some guidance. I’d appreciate insights on the following:

• Fuel Efficiency

• Maintenance — Is it straightforward and affordable?

• Spare Parts Availability in Colombo

• Resale Value — Is it difficult to sell later on?

• Recommendations for a trustworthy garage or mechanic experienced with Mazda 3 in Colombo

Looking forward to advice from Mazda owners or enthusiasts. Thank you! 😊

All the best on your purchase. At the end of the day only you can determine if it is worth the price you are paying (you would need to consider how much use you will and plan to get out of the car, what other alternatives are for as well). 

1. Fuel efficiency: Depends on the condition of the car. Remember this is a 13 year old car so none of the fuel figures we would have experienced 8 or even 5 years ago would not matter. You said Mazda3 so I am assuming this is a 1.6L variant imported through the agents. When new those engines averaged anything from 9 to 10kmpl. Depending on the condition of the engine, transmission, braking system, that figure could have gone lower.

2. Maintainability/Serivceability: Is there anything affordable in SL ? It is a no frills, pretty straight forward car. General maintenance would not be any higher or lesser than maintaining a Corolla or Sunny. It depends on how you choose to maintain it.

3. Spare parts: You will not have easy access to parts as you would for a Toyota (where you get plenty of cheap Chinese to counterfeit genuine to Genuine parts). So don't expect to walk down to Johnny malli's parts shop down the street and find any mechanical part you want. However, they can be found in Mazda specialist parts shops which you will have in most major cities (easiest would be in Colombo). As for body components, it is going to be a bit of a search compared to your Allions and Axios, etc...

4. Resaleability : Won't be any more difficult or easier than making an honest sale of any car. Sadly brokers have their dirty paws on all these cars. So even a Mazda3 a broker would be asking for a filthy price. So don't buy from a broker. However, when you are trying to sell the car the brokers will low ball you and offer a price that can only be descrbed as an insult to your existence. 
If properly maintained and the car is honest, the depreciation rate would not be any different than any other car. Remember, cars like Toyotas are over inflated. The brokers will ask and make you believe that the market value for Toyotas are extremely high and that your Mazda3 is worthless; that the Toyota will hold its value like gold.  This is nothing but their dirty sales tactic. The story will change depending on the car they are desperate to sell or eager to buy.
Actually if you ask me a car like an Axio, Allion can cost the actual owner more in depreciation than something like a Mazda3 as the owner would have bought Allion/Axios/etc...at a premium from a broker or car sale but the actual price to hand at sale would not be that much different from something like a Mazda3.