Mazda 3
The 2022 Mazda 3 offers a luxury package at a usual compact-car price for customers having exquisite taste but only a sparkling-cider budget. It is offered as a sedan and a hatchback, and both body styles may be upgraded with all-wheel drive, a strong turbo engine, and just enough upscale features to compete with small Audi’s, BMWs, and entry-level cars are clearly not as luxurious, but the 3 looks pretty good and will attract too enthusiastic drivers, despite it having front-wheel drive and a base engine. Consequently, we included it in our list of top 5.
Although the Mazda is similarly priced to rivals like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta, it offers a quality of sophisticated style that those cars can’t match.
Starting at $23,615 for the 2023 Mazda 3.
The 2023 Mazda 3 aims to compete with more expensive cars despite being priced like other compacts, and in many ways, it achieves. Both the sedan and hatchback variants of the 3 are attractive and sporty cars. There really are two four-cylinder engines offered, one of which is a powerful turbo, and you can even choose for all-wheel drive, although doing so means forgoing the outstanding six-speed manual. The Mazda 3 is intended for buyers who value a pleasant driving experience and prefer premium interior materials in their small car. Other compact cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta might seem more practical or have greater name recognition.
What has changed for 2023?
For 2023, Mazda will no longer offer the 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the 3’s base engine rather, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that was available in the past as an upgrade will now produce 191 horsepower. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder has now cylinder deactivation, which improves its fuel economy to 28 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway, as according to EPA calculations. All-wheel drive is now an option on the midrange Carbon Edition variant. All grades now come standard with Apple CarPlay and Google Auto.
Base: $23,615
Select: $25,015
Preferred: $26,615
Carbon Edition: $29,265
Premium: $30,215
Turbo: $33,515
Premium Plus: $35,065
The 3 hatchbacks are attractive because of its unique design, but vision is compromised by the hatch’s wide backside. We’d prefer to use the sedan instead. A power-adjustable driver’s seat featuring memory settings and heated front seats are available as standard features when you choose the Preferred trim level. All-wheel drive is a choice on the Carbon Edition and Premium models, and it comes as standard on the Turbo cars, so those who want it must choose one of those.
Performance - Engine, Transmission, as well as other: -
With the 3, Mazda offers two alternative engines, the base being a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 horsepower. With this engine, you have the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive here on Carbon Edition or Premium trims. Only the costliest models come with the 250-hp 2.5-liter turbo engine. If customers select front-wheel drive, they can receive a six-speed manual. If all-wheel drive is used, a six-speed auto gearbox is required. Just the turbocharged engine gives the 3 satisfyingly speedy, even though every 3 responds well to gas-pedal input.
Fuel efficiency and actual MPG: -
The Mazda 3 sedan with the basic 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has the highest fuel economy, according to the EPA, with ratings of 28 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. The least fuel-efficient model is an all-wheel drive turbocharged hatchback, which gets 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway.
Cargo, Comfort, and the Interior: -
Mazda used high-quality components when designing the 3’s interior. There are many desirable features that buyers can add to either body style, but the finest ones are linked to the trim-level structure. For instance, the top trims are the only ones that include a head-up screen, heated front seats and leather interior. Even so, both the 3 sedans and hatchback have decent seats for the occupants. The two-box variant, on the other hand, has the lowest rear visibility among tiny hatchbacks because of its curved form emphasizing line of sight. Although there is sufficient interior cubby storage, buyers looking for the greatest cargo room should choose for the sedan, which could fit six carry-on luggage in the trunk as opposed to the hatchback’s five. With the rear seat folding, each could fit 16 bags.
Connectivity and entertainment: -
Standard entertainment screen size is 8.8 inches, but it appears larger than it really is due to a well-crafted border that hovers between two dash pads that resembled cushions. The technology is simple to use and only requires a rotating knob mounted on the console. Although an optional 12-speaker Bose audio equipment and SiriusXM satellite radio are available, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features.
Features for Driver Assistance and Safety: -
Every model also comes equipped with a multitude of standard driver-assistance features, including automated high beams and emergency braking.
Important safety elements include: -
pedestrian recognition in automatic braking assist and the typical lane-departure warning available in stop-and-go technology for adaptive cruise control