One of the most important add-on accessories for your Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 is a solid dashcam. By providing video evidence that can protect you from being falsely accused in the event of an accident, road rage, or encounter with drunk or reckless drivers, a dashcam offers far more value than its market cost.
Best Dash Cams for Mazda 3 & Mazda 6: Our Top 3 Picks
In this review of the best dash cams for Mazda 3 & Mazda 6, we feature 3 of the most well-designed dash cams, all equipped with premium features including wide view angles, superb video recording day or night, large memory capacity, and much more that make them perfect for use in mid-size vehicles ? like the Mazda 3 & 6.
1. Rove R2-4K Dash Cam
Though not the cheapest option on the market, the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam could be your perfect fit if you?re looking for something that records crystal-clear videos, has a screen big enough for easy on-device viewing, and offers a wide-angle view range.
It also comes with extra features including in-built Wi-Fi, GPS, a parking mode, motion detection, a G-sensor, emergency video lock, loop cycle recording, slow-mo video, and time-lapse video.
Image Quality
The image quality of this dash cam may be its best feature. It advertises 4K UHD 2160p for recording video, although the actual resolution is closer to 2880 x 2160p. While the resulting footage isn?t quite cinema quality, it still far exceeds many 1080p and 1440p dash cams on the market, delivering ultra HD clarity to capture even the smallest details like license plates with ease.
Like many of its competitors at a similar price point, the dash cam features an ultra-low-light sensor (NT96660 + OV4689) that helps to balance light and darkness, allowing the dash cam to capture clear videos even in low-light conditions.
Control
The large screen size on this dash cam doesn?t detract from the size of the easy-to-use buttons that cover all the device?s basic functions including the Menu button, up and down buttons, stop button, and OK button.
Mounting system
Do you prefer a suction mount that is easily removable for portability, or the extra security of an adhesive mount? Well, if you?re struggling to choose, the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam comes with both, allowing you the freedom to choose between them or even opt for the best of both worlds. What?s more, both mounts are strong and reliable so you can rest assured that your dash cam will stick and stay firmly regardless of the option you go for.
Display
This dash cam features a 2.4-inch LCD screen, providing ample space for clear viewing should you need on-device playback in an emergency situation while still being small enough not to obstruct your view when mounted on the windshield.
Storage
With the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam, you won?t have to worry about running out of storage space very quickly. It features a capacity large enough to support a MicroSD card up to 128GB, although this will need to be Class 10/U3 speed to be compatible.
Field of View
With a wide 150-degree field of view, the dash cam is capable of capturing footage of most of the road ahead with limited blind spots. To ensure that you still get high-quality video capture across the field of view, this dash cam uses Wide Dynamic Range technology and an F/1.8 aperture to deliver crystal-clear images at all times.
Pros
- Large memory capacity.
- High-quality daytime and nighttime video capture.
- Strong suction cup.
- Big screen for video viewing.
Cons
- Controls and menus feel a bit dated.
2. Garmin Dash Cam 66W
For those of us who put quality above everything else, a dash cam like the Garmin 66W has great potential to be the best buy for you. It comes with impressive features like a wide viewing angle, red light and speed detection, voice control, Garmin Travelapse, and driver alerts including forward collision and lane departure warnings.
Travelapse is a feature exclusive to Garmin dash cams which allows you to share a short compilation of footage from your journey, so it?s perfect for documenting your travels on road trips or easing the minds of worried relatives when heading somewhere new.
Image Quality
The Garmin Dash Cam is no 4K device, but its 1440p lenses capture clear videos day or night, enhanced in low-light conditions through its High Dynamic Range (or HDR) technology. While the more commonplace WDR does exceptionally well in balancing light and dark conditions to produce high-quality videos and images, HDR does it without distorting image quality or overexposing lighter areas?both common complaints with WDR.
Control
The Garmin Dash Cam is designed with control buttons at the side of the display screen. The buttons are of a good size, and control all the essential functions such as power and setting selection.
Mounting system
The Garmin Dash Cam 66W is suitable for a suction cup mount, although this comes at an additional cost, which is surprising given the high-ticket cost of the camera itself. However, the suction mount is very reliable and sticks firmly to most windshields, so you won?t be wasting precious funds if you purchase one.
Display
This dash cam is equipped with a 2.0-inch LCD that is sufficient for on-device viewing, though you may need to strain your eyes to make out small details on the screen.
Storage
While most dash cams only support 128GB storage or less, the Garmin Dash Cam 66W supports up to 512GB Class 10 and up MicroSD cards. This impressive capacity blows many competitors out of the water, allowing you to store as many videos as you want without fear of overwriting and losing precious footage by accident.
Field of View
An impressive 180-degree field of view ensures a near-panoramic view of the road ahead without the worry of blind spots.
Pros
- Extra-wide 180-degree field of view.
- High-quality HD video capture.
- Supports up to 512GB of memory card storage.
Cons
- Expensive
- Small temperature operating range ? not suitable for areas with extreme weather.
3. Street Guardian SG9665GC v3 Edition
The Street Guardian SG9665GC v3 Edition is a small, compact dash cam that proves to be an excellent option if you?re looking for a discreet, non-obstructive recording solution, not least because it can be mounted behind your rearview mirror rather than on your windshield. Given the impressive range of extras the dashcam offers, you?d be forgiven for thinking it came at a much higher price than it does in reality.
In addition to its high-quality video recording capabilities, this dash cam comes equipped with a 32GB microSD card. If you?re worried about purchasing the right microSD card for your dashcam, this makes for a good buy.
Image Quality
The SG9665GC v3 delivers FHD 1080p video footage, which is very impressive for its price, and means you won?t lose small details to low resolution. Furthermore, its WDR capabilities, Sony IMX322 CMOS Sensor, 6-glass + infrared cut filter, and f/2.0 aperture allow the dashcam to deliver sharp, crystal-clear videos around the clock for added peace of mind. Considering it has such an abundance of video and image focused features, it?s not hard to see why the SG9665GC v3 easily tops other front-facing dash cams within its price point.
Control
The SG9665GC v3 is extremely small, but it does feature usable control keys just below the screen, including a menu button. record button, stop button, and power button.
Mounting system
You could describe this device as a ?set it and forget it? dashcam; a fact which is only reinforced by the included adhesive mount that ensures the camera is a permanent fixture in your vehicle. With it, the device is held securely from the first day of use to the last, unlike suction cup mounts that too often suffer from diminished reliability over time.
Display
The SG9665GC v3 features a tiny 1.5 HD TFT screen, which is great for discreet recording, but means that you?ll have to turn to data transfer to access recordings?a less than an ideal solution in an emergency scenario.
Storage
With this device, you get an impressive 256GB storage capacity, although if you want to use the provided MicroSD card, this is capped at its 32GB of available space. Read the provided manual carefully for instructions on how to prepare the memory card for use if you plan to do so.
Field of View
For such an incredibly tiny dashcam, the SG9665GC v3 does offer a good 120-degree field of view. Though it is not as wide as that of many premium models, it should still allow you to see much of the road ahead with very few blind spots and remains impressive for the price.
Pros
- Fits right behind your rearview mirror.
- Superb video quality.
- Large memory capacity.
Cons
- Installation could be troublesome due to the adhesive mount.
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