A premium car at a bargain price, the 2022 Mazda3 is not only sporty but comfortable, and offered as either a sedan or a hatchback. Despite pricing that starts just north of $20,000, the Mazda3 is full of luxury touches and exudes a much more premium feel than its cost would suggest. The base trim has cloth seats, but higher trims get leatherette and top trims get full leather. There are lots of soft-touch materials and an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Driving the Mazda3, in either sedan or hatchback form, is a pleasure. It’s athletic and tight, with a great chassis and excellent steering feel, imbuing it with a sporty vibe that takes it beyond anything else in its price range.
The base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is only available in the entry-level sedan, which is front-wheel drive only. Above that is the 2.5-liter I4 with considerably more zest, which can be matched with front-wheel drive (FWD) or, in some trims, all-wheel drive (AWD). However, our true love is for the top 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, which makes 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel and is paired exclusively with all-wheel drive.
Practically speaking, the 2022 Mazda3 sedan has plenty of space for four passengers and five in a pinch, with a relatively modest 13 cubic feet of storage. The hatchback has a more useful 20 cubic feet, and 60/40-split rear seats fold for better use of space. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring, helping it earn a 5-Star NHTSA rating.
Eight Trim Levels
While there are technically eight trim levels of the 2022 Mazda3, the base model with the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is available only as a sedan and only with front-wheel drive. Starting at $20,800, it’s only slightly less expensive than the next-up S trim and has only cloth seats and no Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. We speculate that most of these will end up in rental car fleets. Other standard features include Wi-Fi, an 8.8-inch infotainment display, keyless entry/ignition, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and eight speakers.
Next up is the S, which adds the larger engine, the option of a hatchback or sedan body, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. The next trim is Select, which adds simulated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Preferred is the first trim with optional all-wheel drive, and also adds a moonroof and 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.
New this year is the Carbon Edition, which comes in either body style but with front-wheel drive only. Most significantly, it’s decked out in red leather upholstery and has an upgraded 12-speaker Bose audio system. Above that is the Premium model, with that same Bose audio system, satellite radio, navigation, and a head-up display. The Premium is the only trim available with a 6-speed manual transmission, and only in the hatchback model.
At the top are the Turbos, both available as sedan or hatchback and with standard all-wheel drive. The top Premium Plus, which tops out just shy of $35,000 for the hatchback, has leather, navigation, some aerodynamic trim pieces, a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and Traffic Jam Assist.
Here’s the Complete Rundown on 2022 Mazda3 Trims and Prices:
2022 Mazda3 2.0: $20,800
- 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan only
- Front-wheel drive
- Push-button start
- Adaptive cruise control
- 8.8-inch infotainment screen
2022 Mazda3 2.5 S: $21,750-$22,750
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback body style
- Front-wheel drive
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity
2022 Mazda3 Select: $23,100-$24,100
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback body style
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Simulated leather upholstery
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
2022 Mazda3 Preferred: $24,750-$25,750
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback
- Optional all-wheel drive
- Power-sliding glass moonroof
- 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with 2-position memory
- Heated front seats
2022 Mazda3 Carbon Edition: $26,400-$27,400
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback
- Front-wheel drive only
- Red leather upholstery
- 12-speaker Bose audio system
2022 Mazda3 Premium: $27,350-$28,350
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback
- Optional all-wheel drive
- 12-speaker Bose audio system
- Satellite radio
- Navigation
- Optional 6-speed manual (hatchback only)
2022 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo: $30,550-$31,550
- 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Heated steering wheel
- Windshield wiper de-icer
2022 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus: $33,100-$34,400
- 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
- Sedan or hatchback
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Leather seating
- Navigation
- 360-degree camera
Ready to buy a 2022 Mazda3? Shop for one on sale now near you.
