2024 MAZDA MAZDA3

The Mazda3 is one of our favorite compact cars to drive. It’s long been one of the more athletic choices in its class, and it upholds that reputation with fun driving dynamics. It also has plenty to offer in terms of practicality, with lots of modern technology, two available body styles, and available all-wheel drive. While you’re enjoying the drive, you and your passengers are treated to an upscale interior you’d expect to find in a more expensive car.

The Mazda3 competes with compact car royalty like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, both of which are also available as a sedan or hatchback.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of compact cars, including the Mazda3. The test model seen here is a 2024 Mazda3 Hatchback 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus coated in Polymetal Grey Metallic (+$450) with a sticker price of $38,265.

The Mazda3 gets a few minor updates for the 2024 model year. It has two new trims: Carbon Turbo and Select Sport. The Carbon Turbo trim takes the appearance package of the Carbon Edition and adds turbo performance and more premium features like terracotta leatherette upholstery.

The Select Sport model is basically a renaming of the now-defunct Select trim. It has conveniences like dual-zone automatic climate control, a rear center armrest, and black leatherette seats while keeping the price reasonable.

The Mazda3 is on the higher end of the price range for compact cars. Its starting price is slightly higher than its closest rivals, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte are two other more affordable alternatives.

Before buying a Mazda3, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Mazda3 resale value is about average for the segment.

Most 2024 Mazda3 models feature a 191-horsepower 4-cylinder engine matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. The Premium hatchback model is available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The Mazda3 has outstanding driving dynamics no matter how it’s optioned. Our testing found this compact car comfortable in daily city and highway driving but entertaining when driven a little harder.

Most compact cars benefit from nimble handling, but the excellent chassis of the Mazda3 delivers responsiveness and agility without sacrificing suppleness or poise. This ability to accommodate the demands of a wide range of driving styles makes the Mazda3 special.

One thing we don’t enjoy about driving the Mazda3 is the large blind spots in the hatchback, thanks to the chunky rear pillars. It makes us grateful that blind-spot monitoring is standard in the hatchback.

We have no complaints about the more common engine, but the enthusiast in us prefers the optional 250-horsepower turbocharged engine. This is a significant upgrade in power and torque and turns the Mazda3 into a true sport compact in the vein of the Honda Civic Si.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is available in the upper trims, coming in at the Carbon Edition level or standard with the turbocharged engine. Power delivery can vary between the front and rear axles, according to the needs of the moment.

Fuel Economy

The Mazda3 returns up to 31 combined mpg with the base engine. Adding AWD drops that to 30 mpg, and the turbocharged Mazda3 returns up to 27 mpg. According to EPA estimates, the difference in monthly fuel costs between the base engine and the turbo is about $20.

Most compacts aren’t as powerful as the Mazda3, but they’re more efficient. The Hyundai Elantra achieves up to 37 mpg, the Honda Civic gets up to 36 mpg, and the Toyota Corolla returns up to 35 mpg. Of note, the Corolla and Elantra both have even more efficient hybrid powertrains available.

Learn more about the Mazda3’s fuel economy at the EPA website.

Fine materials in the cabin of the Mazda3 are arranged into an interior design with a neatness that would impress an Audi or BMW owner. A similar level of Germanic attention to detail goes into the front seats, shaped to keep the spine in the right position to help the driver remain alert yet relaxed. Even the way the body has been welded together helps reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. We found that it all came together to make a supremely comfortable interior for a car in this price range.

Sedan or hatchback, rear legroom is the same at 35.1 inches. That’s just okay for the compact car class. The Hyundai Elantra, for example, has 38 inches, and the Honda Civic boasts 37.4 inches.

The Mazda3 sedan has 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space, which is a little small for this class. For reference, the Honda Civic’s trunk has 14.8 cubic feet of room.

Naturally, the hatchback has more cargo space than the sedan. It has 20.1 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats, which is still a little small compared to the 24.5 cubic-foot cargo hold in the Honda Civic hatchback. The key advantage of the Mazda3 hatchback over the sedan is its 47.1 cubic feet of maximum cargo space when the rear seats are folded down. One of our editors has loaded bicycles, dressers, and surfboards into an even older, smaller Mazda3 hatchback, and another was able to fit an antique cedar chest in the hatch of this latest generation.

The big decision is choosing a sedan or a hatchback version of the Mazda3. Either way, it’s a stylish compact car that we think could easily wear a badge from one of the luxury marques, and no one would think anything was amiss.

Mazda Connect infotainment systems
Two different infotainment systems are available in the Mazda3, and we like both. The standard 8.8-inch screen uses a multi-function command knob, and the 10.25-inch screen on the turbo models has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Available i-Activ AWD
All-wheel drive is an uncommon option in this class, and we’re happy to see it available on the Mazda3. It’s perfect for drivers who want the all-weather traction of AWD but don’t want an SUV.

Exciting turbo engine
The available 250-horsepower turbocharged engine turns the Mazda3 into a veritable sport compact. It adds to the driving excitement without sacrificing its daily practicality.

i-Activsense safety features
The standard safety tech suite in the Mazda3 includes driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. Additional optional features include blind-spot monitoring and an adaptive front lighting system.

Two body styles
The Mazda3 offers two distinct body styles. The sedan is more affordable, but the stylish hatchback adds greater versatility with more cargo space.

Carbon trims
The Carbon Edition and new Carbon Turbo model enhance the sporty aesthetics of the Mazda3 with special paint colors, black wheels, gloss black exterior trim, and unique interior touches like red contrast stitching in the Carbon Turbo trim.

Most versions of the Mazda3 are powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. A more energetic turbo engine is available, making 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque when fed premium gas.

Front-wheel drive is standard with the base engine, but the Carbon Edition adds all-wheel drive (AWD). Meanwhile, AWD comes standard on all turbocharged models.

The Mazda3 gets up to 31 combined mpg with the base engine and 27 mpg with the turbo engine. Across the board, the sedan is a bit more fuel-efficient than the hatchback when equipped with the same engine.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Mazda3 is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. That coverage is average for this segment.

Safety

The Mazda3 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation for 2024. It gets favorable crash-test ratings and is well-equipped with standard safety features, including full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention alert.