But during the same year-over-year period, Mazda lost nearly 4,800 sales from the Mazda 3, Mazda 6, and the MX-5 Miata, all of which recorded sharp U.S. sales declines. CARS ↓ After the 3, 6, and MX-5 combined for a 7-percent sales increase in calendar year 2015 — the car division's total volume fell 1 percent because of the Mazda 2's disappearance — plunging car sales have become the norm at Mazda this year. The midsize Mazda 6 is struggling as a low-tier player in a struggling segment, and lower-tier players inevitably suffer first and worst. Mazda 6 sales are down 25 percent this year. Despite a refresh and some added tech for model year 2017, it's unlikely that the oft-rejected Mazda 3, no matter how spectacularly it drives, can quickly rebound from 2016's discouraging results. Mazda 3 sales are down 10 percent this year.