Every so often we test a vehicle that just knocks our socks off. Some are very fun, some very frugal, some very practical. And then there are the ones that just seem like they beat the competition at what they were designed to do. The Mazda3 is one of these. It’s a hatchback or a sedan, and the fact that it is a car is unusual these days. The Mazda3 excels at what it is intended for.

Cars are few and far between in this age of crossovers and SUVs. We’re glad Mazda still makes the Mazda3, one of its lowest-volume models. We love driving the Mazda3. It has that Goldilocks aspect of being just right. Not too sporty, but sporty enough to make the car enjoyable.

We favor the hatchback for its versatility and unique styling. The rear end of the Mazda3 is one of the best in the business. In addition to having a pretty useful cargo space, there is a spare tire under the cargo floor plus lots of room to stuff your emergency kit.

The Mazda3 is in the same vein as Acura, Lexus, Buick, and Audi when it comes to technology, refinement, and material quality. We’d score its interior as highly as any vehicle its size from any premium or luxury manufacturer.

With over four decades of doling out trusted automotive advice and extensive vehicle knowledge, both behind the wheel and under the hood, Car Talk's founder and original Tappet Brother Ray Magliozzi shares his first-hand experience test driving the Mazda3.

In the Mazda3 Turbo’s price range, the Acura Integra is a vehicle that we think offers the same premium feel and driving satisfaction. However, the Integra is front-wheel drive only. You can get a manual Integra, but the automatic is a CVT, which we cannot condone. The Civic is a great alternative for those with fewer dollars in the budget. The Integra and Civic hatchback are meaningfully larger in size and feel than the Mazda3. Not a god or bad thing, just a fact.

Volkswagen doesn't support the Northeast automotive media, so we have not tested a GTI in many years. However, from our memory banks, we remember the GTI having a solid feel and a sporty nature. The GTI still offers a manual, but its automatic is a DSG, which we don’t prefer. If you can find a VW GTI to try, it may be a good comparison vehicle to the Mazda3.

One of the closest vehicles to the Mazda3 is its sibling, the CX-30 small crossover. These are two peas in a pod with similar prices. They are almost identical to the casual observer and have the same powertrains. If you want the sporty nature of the Mazda3 but need a smidge more space and some ground clearance, the CX-30 is the way to go. We’d almost say the sensible way to go. (Get the turbo).

The least expensive Mazda3 is the front-wheel drive non-turbo sedan 2.5S trim. It is priced at about $26K. The hatchback is about $1K more. The Carbon Edition starts at about $32 with AWD. The turbocharged Mazda3s all have AWD included and they start at under $35K. Go all in on a Mazda3 Hatchback Turbo Premium with added paint and appearance packages and your price comes to $39,505 including the Destination Fee.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

2024 is a carry-over year for the Mazda3. The only two meaningful changes are the addition of the Carbon Trims and a larger infotainment screen which has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The reason for the Mazda3’s existence is its satisfying drive. This is not an economy car. It’s hard to even call it an affordable car. And if you want practicality, the CX-30 crossover is a far better value. What you get when you opt into the Mazda3 (car) is a driving experience that is a bit better than almost anything else at this price point short of a pure sports car, like a Miata, or a Toyota GR86. Those are much more fun to drive, but they are far less practical in the real world.

We equate the Mazda3 with its turbocharged engine. We’ve driven Mazda’s 2.5-liter engine and geared transmission in a lot of Mazda’s models and it’s fine. However, the turbo with AWD is a lot better than just “fine.” We say it borders on great. If it had two more gears or a manual six-speed option it would be easy to call great.

The turbo adds torque more than it adds power. You feel it when you drive in almost all situations. Off the line in sedate driving, the Mazda3 turbo is a bit sluggish, sadly. You get used to it, but with a snappier first gear, this car would be outstanding. Using Sport mode solves the problem, but then Sport holds its gears as you drive along, and it can be annoying if you are not being playful with the car.

Pin the throttle, and the Mazda3 turbo gives you as much power as is practical to use on public roads. More would be OK, but in my testing, I never used all of the Mazda3’s speed capabilities. It would be too risky. What we are trying to say is that the Mazda3 may not have the best 0-60 times on paper, but on public roads, it’s plenty quick and very fun to drive aggressively when you have the space to do so.

The handling is a big part of why we love the Mazda3. It is low-slung, has a wide track, and holds the road in a firm grip. The folks at Mazda tuned this vehicle perfectly. Its steering is pretty sharp, and it is easy to say it handles like a sports car. Better yet, it is not overly firm and soaks up bumps nicely. The AWD makes launches in wet weather safe and predictable. Of course, AWD is also handy in winter. The brakes are good, not great, and they get the job done. Our tester had 10K miles on it and the brake pedal feel was a bit less than firm.

Comfort is key to the Mazda3’s success. Its seats are large enough for real people and it has enough headroom for tall drivers. It feels like it’s about 7/5ths the size of a Miata. The ergonomics are very good. The HVAC controls have real buttons and knobs, and there is a volume knob on the console. We don't like the rotary mouse to control the infotainment screen, but some Mazda owners do.

Putting children and teens in the back is practical. There is enough room for four people inside, and there is a fifth seatbelt for the rear center seating position.

Safety scores matter more in smaller vehicles. The Mazda3 earns the industry’s highest safety rating, the IIHS Top Safety Pick+. We love the curve-adaptive headlights found on the top trims. During our time in the Mazda3, we never experienced any false active safety alerts.

Mazda’s score on the 2024 J.D. Power Dependability Study is impressive. The brand ranks seventh overall, out scoring such brands as Acura and Audi. The Mazda3 earns a solid 72/100 from Consumer Reports. By contrast, the Honda Civic scores 60, and the brand is ranked much lower on the Dependability Study.

Mazda’s Mazda3 is a decent car in all its configurations, but we’d opt for the turbocharged engine. It makes a meaningful difference in how the vehicle is enjoyed.

Mazda’s warranty is nothing to brag about. It is among the brands that offer just the basics, and maintenance is also not included.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• Powertrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

Prior to the 2022 model year, the Mazda3’s reliability record was spotty. We would suggest buying new or buying a certified pre-owned Mazda3 with a warranty.

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