Used 2021 MAZDA MAZDA3

We’re big fans of the Mazda3 chassis, but we’ve criticized the car in the past for not having the power to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen GTI or Hyundai Veloster N. That, however, has changed for 2021 with the debut of the new Mazda3 2.5 Turbo model, which puts out 250 horsepower and a stout 320 lb-ft of torque (on 93-octane fuel).

The new Mazda3 2.5 Turbo model, available as a hatchback or sedan, is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. Look for it to arrive in late 2020 as a 2021 model.

Also making its debut for 2021 is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 155-horsepower. It’s standard in the Mazda3 2.0, a new price-leading model available only as a front-wheel-drive sedan.

Although the 2021 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback are priced on the lower end of the spectrum, they exude a premium feel, and there’s obvious attention to detail inside the 5-seat cabin. We also like the exterior style of the Mazda3, which manages to look dynamic without being heavy-handed.

The Mazda3 boasts a long list of standard safety features as well as numerous options ranging from a Bose audio system to wireless phone charging. This is a driver’s car, with superb ride and handling and a quiet cabin. Almost all models can be ordered with all-wheel drive, a feature not found on many of the Mazda3’s rivals, which include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Nissan Sentra, and numerous others.

The Mazda3 remains one of the most athletic cars in its class, aided by a tight chassis and excellent steering feel. All the while, this compact but agile Mazda has the hushed interior noise levels and comfortable ride of a premium car.

The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is carryover, with 186 horsepower. That’s a respectable amount, and it’s sent to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic that is absolutely sublime. Switch into Sport mode and start attacking corners, and the system knows exactly when to downshift or hold gears.

If there’s one loss, it’s this: The only way to get a manual transmission in a 2021 Mazda3 is to order a hatchback with the Premium package.

One look inside the 2021 Mazda3’s cabin, and you’ll realize this is no ordinary small car. Even the base model with its cloth seats and black interior looks stylish. Most other trims get a convincing synthetic Leatherette, while top-line cars get the real thing. Soft-touch materials abound, covering the dash, door panels, and center armrest. Cool white light illuminates the gauges and switchgear, while a bright 8.8-inch view screen serves as the hub for the audio and navigation. Oddly, the display is not a touch screen but instead is controlled via a console-mounted rotary knob very similar to Audi’s MMI and BMW’s iDrive.

The Mazda3’s driver’s seat is snug but comfortable, providing a good driving position regardless of the driver’s height. Rear-seat legroom is only average, and that’s only if the driver doesn’t have the seat in the rearmost position. In the Mazda3 sedan, a modest trunk offers 13 cubic feet of storage, while the hatchback elevates that figure to a more useful 20 cubic feet. The 60/40-split rear seats in both models fold flat to create more space. If there is one drawback to the Mazda3 design, it’s the large blind spots created by the rear C-pillars, especially noticeable on the sleek hatchback.

The 2021 Mazda3 continues to be available as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. Both are sleek and a testament to Mazda’s design language. Few will argue with the sedan’s beauty. We think it is among the most stylish in its segment. With its thick C-pillars, the Mazda3 hatchback is more polarizing but more practical.

Another key difference between the Mazda3 sedan and hatch is the length. The car measures 183.5 inches, while the hatch is an even more garage-friendly 175.6 inches. Base sedans ride on 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; all other models get snazzier 18-inch alloys.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
Mazda’s “predictive” i-Activ all-wheel drive is available in most new Mazda3s. Standard in the new 2.5 Turbo models and offered only with the automatic transmission, this traction-enhancing option helps the Mazda3 perform better on wet or snow-covered roads, as well as corner better on dry pavement. This gives the 2021 Mazda3 a leg up on many competitors.

MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
Long a sore spot with technophiles, the latest Mazda3 infotainment and in-cabin technology setup has finally stepped into the 21st century. It features an available digital instrument gauge cluster and a standard 8.8-inch central display screen, the latter operated via a rotary controller just below the driver’s resting right hand. The infotainment system can even accommodate high-res digital FLAC music files.

The least expensive new Mazda3 is the new 2.0. It comes with keyless entry, push-button start, automatic transmission, and an infotainment system with an 8.8-inch screen, 8-speaker audio, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and rain-sensing wipers. Even this base sedan has adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

The new 2.5 Turbo models, as you might expect, are loaded. In addition to a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, the 2.5 Turbo models are equipped with a head-up display, a power moonroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and leatherette upholstery. They also have a modern safety suite that includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure warning, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert (with braking).

Stand-alone options on the 2021 Mazda3 include a navigation system, wireless charging pad, and black exterior accent package. All-wheel drive is available on all models except the base sedan. If you want a manual-transmission Mazda3, you have but one option: a front-drive hatchback in Premium trim.

Three premium paint colors are available: Soul Red Crystal Metallic ($595), Machine Gray Metallic ($495), and Snowflake White Pearl Mica ($395).

The base version of the 2021 Mazda3 is the 2.0, a front-wheel-drive sedan powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque.

Most other 2021 Mazda3s are powered by the Skyactiv G 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. That power reaches the wheels via a responsive 6-speed automatic transmission, a breath of fresh air in an increasing sea of CVTs. Mazda still offers a very good 6-speed manual too, but only on the top line Premium hatchback.

All Mazda3s (except the new 2.5 Turbo models) are FWD, with all but the base sedan offering optional AWD. Fuel economy is about average, and certain 2.5-liter models have CDA (cylinder deactivation) for improved efficiency.

2.0-liter inline-4
155 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
150 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/36 mpg (FWD sedan only)

2.5-liter inline-4
186 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
186 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/35 mpg (manual, FWD hatchback), 26/35 mpg (automatic, FWD sedan), 27/36 mpg (automatic, FWD sedan with CDA), 26/35 mpg (FWD hatchback), 25/33 mpg (AWD sedan), 24/32 mpg (AWD hatchback)

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
227 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm (87 octane)
250 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm (93 octane)
310 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm (87 octane)
320 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm (93 octane)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/32 mpg (AWD sedan), 23/31 mpg (AWD hatchback)