by Anthony Fongaro - photos via Mazda- 07/12/2023
Chances are, you’ve seen a Mazda3 hatchback. It’s been on the market for a few years and has had some changes throughout this generation. Mazda has both sedan and hatchback versions of the 3, but the hatchback is better looking and more practical. The hatchback segment is quite small, so those who want a hatchback don’t have a lot of choice. You can go inexpensive with a Toyota Corolla hatchback, or more hot hatchback with a VW Golf GTI/Golf R. Is the Mazda similar to these, or does it blaze its own trail?
Inside, I’ll start with the material quality. It is excellent. The Mazda3 does not feel like a cheap car, especially being from a mainstream brand such as Mazda. I always love a red interior, and this pairs well with the gray exterior. Looking ahead, you see a slightly large steering wheel with all the controls you’d expect such as volume, music, and adaptive cruise control. The main digital dials are decent, but Premium-Plus modes have a head-up display. This shows your speed, speed limit, navigation, and more. Both the steering wheel and front seats are heated.
There is one thing that I’ve complained about in every Mazda: their navigation system. First, the screen feels too far away. Even though it is an 8.8” display, it looks slightly awkward. The worst thing about the navigation isn't the graphics, but how you control it. Mazda wants you to be careful when you drive, so you only use a swivel wheel. It’s quite annoying, especially when you’re using Apple CarPlay since you’re constantly swiveling and bumping the swivel wheel. I’m sure that in the future, Mazda will rectify this.
Looking under the hood is a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline four producing 250 horsepower/186 kW and 320 lb-ft/434 Nm. With a six-speed automatic and AWD, the Mazda3 goes from 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds. It has good power, especially for this segment. Driving around is a joy because the engine is so lively. I do wish that Mazda followed utilized a better automatic or a dual-clutch rather than the old six-speed automatic. It’s not a bad transmission but it feels old and clunky. You can chuck the 3 around the corner and, around the limit, will start to go wide. Other than that, the 3 is a fun car to drive. I did only manage 24 MPG which was a little surprising.
Looking at the options and pricing, Mazda does it quite easily. Since this is the top-of-the-line Premium Plus AWD turbo hatchback, it starts at $35,000. Along with the engine and AWD, upgrades are leather seats, parking sensors, a 360-degree reversing camera, and a few additional safety suite upgrades. These include traffic jam assist, auto-dimming mirrors, and traffic sign recognition. When you add the $495 Machine Gray Metallic Paint and taxes, this comes out to a little over $37,000. Something like a Volkswagen Golf GTI is around the same amount of money, but it lacks the fit-and-finish of the Mazda3.
So, should you get the Mazda3 at all? Absolutely. It has a great interior with a high fit-in finish. This has been a great vehicle for six years and continues to be. The engine has plenty of power and having AWD is a huge benefit. I hope that in the future, Mazda3s would get better transmissions. Although I am not a fan of the infotainment system, some like a regular rotary wheel. The 2023 Mazda3 is a great all-around vehicle and one I recommend.
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