Hey all!
Looking into options for my gf with the Mazda 3 GS. Was debating between the FWD or AWD option ($4000 CAD difference between the two but AWD comes with luxury package). She lives out in Montreal Quebec where winters can get a little rough sometimes. Would just FWD with a good set of winter tires suffice with the Mazda3? Or should she try to save up more for the AWD option? Trying to look into the most budget friendly option but also suitable for the area she lives in.
Note: she also commutes 45mins to a smaller city for work if we are taking in gas mileage into consideration as well
AWD!
It will activate in like 2-5% of the driving time, but when it will do it, it will allow to easily pass the difficult weather and road conditions.
I will for sure not go back to FWD, even if the majority of time I’m driving on dry roads. But the fact that I have good sets of summer and winter tiers + AWD, it gave me confidence to drive on muddy, icy, heavy snow or wet mild-off-road conditions (in the small amount of situations I have been through). Except floods, in all the other situations I just get up and drive.
I live in Washington state and when I first moved to the state in 2014 I owned a 2011 Mazda 3 FWD. It did alright driving in the snow my first winter here, but I soon traded it in for an AWD vehicle. The following winter was bad and with an AWD I drove in areas many FWD vehicles couldn’t. Today, I own two Mazdas and both are AWD. I have never regretted the decision to switch to AWD. In the long run, up front might be more expensive to purchase an AWD, but think of all the potential accidents you can avoid in bad weather that could jack up your car insurance. Get the AWD.
I am also in quebec, and AWD for sure. AWD is the king in winter time
AWD offers better traction and stability in snow if that helps.
Montreal? Definitely AWD.
If you are looking at new, I would recommend looking at certified pre owned and get AWD. I live in New England so similar weather and my wife had an AWD 3 for a bit. The AWD system for Mazda is outstanding in the snow and worth it.
My gf has a Subaru Crosstrek. If you were looking AWD I would definitely cross shop one of those. Its a nice car.
I’m getting one to replace my 3 because of the bigger rear leg room for the kids and we actually prefer the design over that of the CX-30.
I’m getting one to replace my 3 because of the bigger rear leg room for the kids and we actually prefer the design over that of the CX-30.
The 2.0 is kinda gutless but its good on fuel. That is literally my only complaint with the car.
At least that engine is improved over the first-generation ones. I had a Crosstrek as a loaner and merged on the highway gas on the floor. Talk about a slug.
The snow tires themselves will matter more than FWD vs AWD, but all other things being equal, AWD with snow tires will be better than FWD with snow tires.
Most ideal to least ideal:
- AWD with snow tires
- FWD with snow tires
- AWD with all seasons
- FWD with all seasons
I’m in Quebec City and I love my FWD 2014 and I got a very good set of winter tires, but every winter I long for my old AWD IS250. It’s not I would’ve paid an extra 4k in a heartbeat if the option was available for the 3rd gen M3 back then.
AWD.
Montrealer here, I have no regrets getting the AWD version. I have yet to get myself stuck anywhere, and i have a somewhat steep incline to get out of my parking spot. You can definitely get by with FWD and good winters (they’re legally required anyway), but AWD with good winters is a whole new game. She’ll be looking forward to driving in bad weather with a car that’s not going to let her down.
AWD
Can’t say much about Quebec winters, but, lots of experience with Mazda 3’s in Western Canada, mainly Winnipeg. I’ve rented a few FWD’s with winter tires. They did the job most of the time. The AWD with winter tires is so much better. Never going to be perfect. As far as the mileage difference, in the real world, I’ve noticed just below 2L/100km difference.
I live in Montréal and have a 2016 mazda 3 (FWD only for gen 3s).
Only been once or twice where I had some trouble going up a steep incline from a dead stop up the mountain during an actual blizzard. I have great snow tires though (Nokian hakkapeliitta), and understand low traction driving dynamics, so your mileage may vary.
We also have a FWD 3 with Nokian Hakkapellitas. Excellent in the snow and ice.
We also have a FWD 3 with Nokian Hakkapellitas. Excellent in the snow and ice.