Mazda3 – Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More

The Mazda3 covers a large section of the compact car market. The naturally aspirated sedan battles the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra . The model’s all-wheel drive hatchback goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the Subaru Impreza. At the other end of the segment, the turbocharged Mazda3 holds its own against models like the Acura Integra and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

With three engine choices, two drivetrains, and attractive styling, there’s a lot to like about this small car.

What you are looking at are the only two AWD compact sedans on the market.

It’s true: the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and the Mazda3 sedan carry the torch, now that the Subaru Impreza has gone hatch-only for 2024. The only other choices are to move up a size or head to SUV town—and even some of those are just skipping AWD altogether.

Despite representing 100 percent of this particular niche, the Toyota and Mazda are quite different in execution. The Corolla saw an update for 2023, improving the hybrid powertrain and adding AWD for good measure. Meanwhile the 3 has been offering all-paw grip basically since this generation launched, and continues to hold a reputation as the driver’s choice in the segment. Managing editor Mike Schlee and I spent a week with these two opposing forces to see which does the job better.

Read the full comparison here.

What we have here are two hatchbacks looking to separate themselves from their respective histories.

Both the reborn Acura Integra and turbocharged Mazda3 are, fairly or not, judged against what came before. When Mazda dropped its muscular turbo engine into the pretty current-gen Mazda3 hatchback, visions of reborn Mazdaspeed3 clouded some enthusiasts minds. Meanwhile the Integra’s revival had many pining for the buzzy GS-R and Type R of the late ’90s—nevermind that those made up just a tiny fraction of Integra production.

No, these two hatchbacks are not a continuation of past models. They couldn’t be. Instead, both the Integra and Mazda3 target a more premium portion of the market. There’s still more driving fun to be had in either of these than the boggo-spec German alternatives, too. Which one is the better buy? Managing editor Mike Schlee and I spent a week with both to find out.

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Mazda keeps inching towards the premium market, but this car right here does it best thanks to one key change: more power.

On paper, the Mazda3 Turbo, specifically in sedan form, is the clearest shot at the entry-level luxury market. A muscular turbocharged engine, swanky looks inside and out, standard AWD, a reputation for enthusiast appeal—it’s a BMW 228i Gran Coupe competitor for those who’d rather skip the German badge and pocket at least $5,000. What’s not to like?

Thanks to a slight scheduling mishap, I had 24 hours with the Turbo to address that very question. It wasn’t enough to do a full review—it’ll happen!—but with it happening so close to my drive of the BMW, it was impossible not to contrast and compare. Here’s where Mazda succeeds in graduating to the big leagues—and ways it still has some work to do.

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It’s time for a rematch.

When we last pit the Mazda3 against the (outgoing) Honda Civic, it was a hatchback head-to-head. The Civic emerged victorious, but this time we’re looking at the classic four-door shape for both.

The current Mazda3 reset the bar for how premium a mainstream compact sedan could feel. With a lux-feeling interior and grown-up driving dynamics, it straddles the line between the categories. Honda evidently took notes, because the latest Civic is so much classier than the edgy previous generation. There’s a lot of carry-over under the skin though—and the Mazda has the advantage of available all-wheel drive, a rarity in this class. So which one is more deserving of your hard-earned?

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Have you watched Hot Ones, the interview series where they eat progressively hotter chicken wings? It’s a blast.

During this masochistic 10-wing run, many guests have been knocked down a peg or two by one sauce, and surprisingly, it isn’t the final one. No, it’s Da’ Bomb Beyond Insanity sauce. The response is usually shock, lots of cursing, and a general realization of one’s fragile mortality.

The old Mazdaspeed 3 was the four-wheeled equivalent of Da’ Bomb. It certainly could be “fun” trying to tame the torque steer, if you’re the type to hunt down peppers with a Scoville number in the seven digits. But that sort of tomfoolery doesn’t jibe with modern Mazda’s march upmarket. To be honest, it wouldn’t have even worked against the current batch of hot hatches.

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Does practicality inevitably lead to compromising on driving dynamics?

While browsing through brochures you come across a Mini Cooper. You’re considering buying a hatch and it’s one of the few cars the heart instantly gravitates towards. But you remember you also have a family. Keeping that in mind your wife hands you the brochure (it’s just website links now) to the Mazda 3. It looks nice, quite practical, has enough power and according to reports drives quite well too. But then you also realize the Cooper now comes with four doors and is now a car worth considering. That burning confusion has inevitably led you here.

The Mini Cooper S is an icon and an absolute hoot to drive while the Mazda 3, now with the Turbo motor pushing out 250 hp teeters on the edge of hot hatch territory. But do the two extra doors really make the Mini Cooper S that much more practical and do the Mazda 3 Turbo’s extra horses translate to a more engaging drive? it’s time for some answers.

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