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Mazda3 Buying Guide (2014–2018, Gen 6)

This covers the third-generation Mazda3 (chassis codes BM, 2014–2016, and BN, the 2017–2018 facelift). It’s the generation running the Gen 6 Mazda Connect head unit — the same CMU as the contemporary CX-5, Mazda6, and ND Miata. The 2019+ Mazda3 is a different car on a different infotainment platform; if you’re shopping that, start at /mazda3/2019-plus-infotainment/.

BM vs BN: what the 2017 facelift changed

Section titled “BM vs BN: what the 2017 facelift changed”

Mazda split this generation in two. The pre-facelift BM (2014–2016) and the facelifted BN (2017–2018) share the same chassis and engines, so the differences are mostly trim and detail:

  • Electronic parking brake replaced the handbrake lever.
  • G-Vectoring Control added on the facelift — a torque-management feature that trims engine output slightly during turn-in. It’s subtle; don’t shop on it.
  • Updated cluster graphics, available full-color head-up display, revised front styling, and more sound deadening in the wheel wells and doors.

Both run the same Mazda Connect system, so the infotainment shopping notes below apply to the whole generation.

2.0 vs 2.5

Section titled “2.0 vs 2.5”

Two naturally aspirated SkyActiv-G four-cylinders, both available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive only:

  • 2.0L — 155 hp / 150 lb-ft. The volume engine on lower trims (badged i on early US cars). Better fuel economy, adequate but not quick. Fine if the car is a commuter.
  • 2.5L — 184 hp / 185 lb-ft. The engine you actually want. Noticeably stronger mid-range, and on the 2018 cars Mazda dropped the 2.0 from the Touring trim so Touring and Grand Touring both got the 2.5.

If you want the engagement these cars are known for, find a 2.5 with the manual. The 2.0 manual is still a good drive; the 2.0 automatic is the slow combination.

There was no turbo on this generation in North America, and the diesel was dropped before the facelift. If a listing claims a turbo, it’s mislabeled.

Trims

Section titled “Trims”

US trims ran roughly i Sport → i Touring → i Grand Touring on the 2.0, and s Touring → s Grand Touring on the 2.5, with the lineup simplifying to Sport / Touring / Grand Touring by 2018. Grand Touring is where the leather, larger wheels, head-up display, and the navigation-equipped Mazda Connect units live. Bose audio appeared on upper trims — the same Gen 6 Bose amp setup covered in /mazda-connect/bose-audio/.

CarPlay: which years, and the retrofit

Section titled “CarPlay: which years, and the retrofit”

No 2014–2018 Mazda3 left the factory with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The generation predates Mazda enabling it. So when a used listing or a private seller says “has CarPlay,” one of two things is true:

  1. The car got Mazda’s official dealer retrofit — a firmware reflash plus a replacement USB hub and wiring. This is the legitimate path and it works well.
  2. Someone installed an aftermarket box, or the seller is wrong.

Mazda’s retrofit was rolled out for 2018-and-earlier Mazda Connect cars (the 2018s could often get it as a running change or dealer add). Whether a specific car has it is a per-VIN question, not a model-year guarantee — confirm by plugging in a phone, not by reading the window sticker.

If the car you’re buying doesn’t have it, you can add it yourself. The full picture (official kit versus DIY versus aftermarket, what the parts are, and how the firmware side works) is one canonical writeup, not duplicated per model:

What to check on a used one

Section titled “What to check on a used one”

Most of this generation’s weak points are shared platform issues, not Mazda3-specific. Verify all of these before money changes hands:

  • Infotainment touchscreen. Watch for an unresponsive screen, ghost touches (phantom presses that navigate menus or change volume on their own), and delamination — the top layer bubbling or clouding near the edges. These are documented Gen 6 problems. The mechanism and fixes live at /mazda-connect/ghost-touch/ and /mazda-connect/common-problems/. A 2025 class-action settlement covers Mazda Connect screen repairs on 2014–2023 cars — see /mazda-connect/class-action-settlement/, and ask the seller whether any prior screen claim was filed.
  • Slow boot. A ~48 second cold-boot to an interactive screen is normal for stock Gen 6, not a fault. Background at /mazda-connect/slow-boot-fix/.
  • Carbon buildup (2.5 especially). Direct-injection engines coke up intake valves over time. Listen for a rough cold idle and ask about any walnut-blast cleaning.
  • Clutch and shifter (manuals). These boxes are good but high-mile clutches wear; check for slip under load.
  • Tire wear and alignment. Uneven inner-edge wear points to a tired car or a curb hit.
  • Firmware version. Pull the version from the hidden menu so you know where the car sits before you buy or modify anything: /mazda-connect/check-firmware/.

Where this lands for software

Section titled “Where this lands for software”

This generation’s Mazda Connect is the supported Gen 6 platform — the boot-time and UI tweaks documented across this site apply. If that’s why you’re shopping, confirm the unit’s firmware first via the link above and check /compatibility/supported-vehicles/.

Further reading

Section titled “Further reading”