I said it before and I’ll say it again. I have yet to test a Mazda I didn’t like. And that goes for their 2026 Mazda3 AWD hatchback crossover.
Mazda3 is available in 2.5S, 2.5 Select Sport, S Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium and Premium Plus that we were privileged to test. It’s also offered in 4-door sedan or 5-door hatchback.
The Mazda3 AWD Hatchback had an aero swopping, slippery styling design that was enhanced with blacked-out rear spoiler and front air dam. Its interior is also upscale with premium heated leather trimmed, ventilated front seats, a low-profile 10.25-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, built-in Alexa, online navigation through Mazda Connect Services, Bose audio, XM Radio and more. And it’s all controlled by a rotary dial on the console. It also serves rear and front view camera systems.
HVAC controls are simple dials and switches that are easy to view and use. On the console below them, is a wireless phone charger and a hefty gear selector for the 6-speed automatic transmission that’s supplemented with paddle shifters on the steering column. And Mazda3 is one of the few crossovers that is still available with a 6-speed manual transmission. There’s also a toggle switch there for Sport and Normal modes, plus a sunroof.
Kudo’s goes to Mazda interior designers as it’s one of the rarest cars to have a soft, cushioned dash. Most cars today only offer hard plastic dash boards.
Over on the analog gauge cluster, the gauges are big and easily readable. That too is refreshing compared to digital one-gauge multiple use type gauges.
Back in the rear seat, it’s a bit cramped for six-foot-plus passengers. And the rear doors could also open wider. But the seats themselves are soft and comfy.
In the cargo area, and with the rear seatbacks upright, the area measures 36.5 inches deep, 39 high and 21 wide. It’s spacious enough for two overhead bin size suitcases. Flip the rear seatbacks and space almost triples to 94 inches.
Mazda3 gets its spunk from a 2.5-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder that generates 227-hp and 310 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 23 city, 31-highway mpg. This powerplant easily moves Mazda3’s 3,417 pounds curb weight with ease. In Sport mode, rpm’s increase by 500 that makes robust and quick acceleration, especially when the turbo kicks in.
Operationally, Mazda3 parks easily with a tight 17.4-foot curb-curb turn radius. Despite being a short wheelbase compact hatchback crossover, Mazda3 rides quietly and smoothly and its suspension easily absorbs nasty road imperfections. It can be tossed in the turns, and it remains planted.
One nicety is that upon selecting Park gear, the parking brake automatically engages and disengages upon selecting Drive mode. It’s a thoughtful safety feature that few drivers rarely employ other than when parking on an incline.
With its AWD system and 5.5 inches of ground clearance, Mazda3 can handle modest snow depths. Mazda3’s only demerit was that the liftgate was manual, not powered as on some competitor vehicles. But it’s not a heavy gate, that can be lifted with one hand.
Mazda3 came with an exhaustive list of standard features and safety features such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind stop monitoring, driver attention alert, rear cross traffic alert, rear seat alert, rain-sensing wipers, dynamic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and many more. For all this, Mazda3 carried a base price of $37,890.
The options list included all weather high wall floor mats ($190), illuminated door sill plates ($575), Snowflake White Pearl paint ($595) plus an appearance package with a long list of features ($1,075) that took the bottom line to $41,560 with a delivery charge of $1,238. Not only is this a competitive price, but it excels with the amount of most-wanted safety features that are standard. The base model 2.5S can be had for a low $25,550.
With all its attributes, Mazda3 is actually fun to drive and is market-value priced.
The 2026 Mazda3 comes with a 60 month/60K mile powertrain, 36 month/36K mile new-car limited warranty, plus 24-hour roadside assistance.
Mazda3 would make a terrific second car, commuter car, college-student or retiree all-weather AWD Hatchback crossover. It has to be driven to enjoy and appreciate all its attributes.
