- The Mazda3 is available as a sedan or hatchback
- Pricing starts at $25,785 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Mazda3 models for sale near you
When you’re assigned to design a compact sedan, it can’t be easy to give it a distinctive character. There are many high-quality examples that hit almost every note. Yet, somehow, the Mazda3 stands out.
That’s because, unlike the majority of its rivals, the Mazda3 is actually fun to drive.
The most agile compact sedan, the Mazda3, has tighter, more communicative handling than anything else in its class.
Whether you choose the 186-horsepower 4-cylinder engine — a bit more power than most rivals offer — or the turbocharged engine that delivers up to 250 hp, you get a bit of sports car character in a comfortable commuter. There’s even an option for all-wheel drive (AWD), another rare trait in this class.
Hatchback models offer an option for a manual transmission instead of the standard 6-speed automatic.
Let’s take a look inside the 2026 Mazda3 to see what else it has to offer.
Passenger Room and Comfort
The Mazda3 on dealer lots today was first released in 2019. Over the years, we’ve put thousands of miles on it, driving several trim levels every year and even keeping one for a year as a long-term tester. In all that time, no editor who has driven it has had serious complaints about the seats.
The well-bolstered front seats are all-day comfortable and have a special way of coddling you, especially in spirited driving. We especially like the 8-way power-adjustable seat in higher trims, which allowed us to find the perfect driving position.
In back, legroom of 35.1 inches is on the lower end within this segment, but still enough for average-sized adults to be reasonably comfortable.
Features and Tech
Less-expensive trim levels get an 8.8-inch center screen, while the Turbo Premium Plus model gets a 10.25-inch screen. Either is integrated into the top part of the dash within easy line of sight. Some competitors make you look down from the roadway to see the screen.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment, but wireless connectivity is only available on the turbo-equipped models, as well as the 2.5 S Carbon Edition (sedan and hatchback) and the 2.5 S Premium (hatchback only).
Rather than using a touchscreen-based system, the Mazda3’s infotainment system is primarily managed via a rotary knob and auxiliary buttons located in the center console, directly behind the transmission lever. It took us only a day to become accustomed to and appreciate it.
We also love that the Mazda3 comes with a full suite of active safety and driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring.
Materials and design
“Is this a luxury car?” That might be your first thought when sitting down in the Mazda3. It really looks — and feels — that nice. This becomes apparent the moment you touch the steering wheel — you know, the thing in the car that you’ll touch all the time.
To our hands, the Mazda3 has the nicest-feeling steering wheel in its class. All but base models have a leather-wrapped one, and we think that touch alone is worth the mere $890 difference between the S and S Select Sport trims. Yet that relatively small price difference also gets you leatherette upholstery instead of cloth.
Another way in which you might mistake the Mazda3 for a car wearing a luxury badge is in its choice of interior colors. This isn’t just the usual choice of black, gray, or beige. The Mazda3’s cabin can pop with beautiful red or white leather. Imagine being welcomed by that every time you open the door.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
At 13.2 cubic feet, the Mazda3 sedan’s trunk is big enough to hold plenty of grocery bags, while standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats allow for the accommodation of longer items and larger loads. But if you value cargo space as much as you do premium design and frisky driving manners, turn your attention to the Mazda3 Hatchback. It boasts 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat, and that space easily more than doubles with the seats folded. Incredibly, our Mazda3 Hatchback test model swallowed a vintage trunk after a glorious day of thrifting. Who needs an SUV?
Build and price your own version of the Mazda3 to see this week’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, or check out Mazda3 models for sale near you.
