The 2019 Mazda 3 sedan is offered with 4 different trim levels and each trim level is different from one another by the features it comes with. All the trims use only one engine option which is a 2.5 liter DOHC 16 valve 4 cylinder engine. The base trim is priced at $21,920 and goes all the way up to $30,415 for the top of its line. As standard, it includes features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a navigation system, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The following table gives you an insight into all the trims and features offered with the 2013 Mazda 3 Sedan.

Which Trim should you buy?

We Recommend the Preferred trim as it is one trim above the mid variant and balances the best bits of both worlds. It gets all the best features from the higher trim as well as lower trim. Moreover, paying around $2,200 will fetch you a great value for money package. If all these features don’t meet your expectations, then going for the higher trim is the perfect choice as it offers plenty of stellar features like a Sunroof, adaptive headlights, and Simulated leather upholstery.

The engine of the 2019 Mazda 3 comes with only one choice of engine which is a 2.5-liter inline-four engine that is capable of punching out 186 hp and 186 lb.-ft. of torque which is quite impressive. As standard, All the trims of the 2019 Mazda 3 come equipped as either front-wheel-drive version or all-wheel drive, and all the power is transmitted to the wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission for improved gear ratios.

 It can boost from a standstill to the 60 MPH mark in a legit quick 7 seconds and can attain a quarter-mile time of 15.4 seconds. The Mazda never compromised when it comes to performance which further affects its fuel economy. Moreover, this charming little hatchback can hit a top speed of 121 mph which makes it the fastest and most frolic car in its segment owing to its wonderful engine.

In comparison, the 2019 Kia Forte is the car with the least power output. While Volkswagen golf produces the highest power output of 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque respectively. All these compact sedans except for the Mazda come with front-wheel drive regardless of their trims. However, the Mazda 3 is the fastest to 60 mph and clocks a time of 7 seconds, and also continues its victory streak in the top speed test with a top speed of 121 mph. On the other hand, Kia’s performance is not really up to the mark due to its sluggish performance figures.

How well does the 2019 Mazda 3 ride and handle?:

 When it comes to handling, the Mazda 3 handles quite well but not as agile as its rivals due to its heavyweight but the all-wheel-drive version has an advantage over its rivals and provides loads of traction while driving through corners. The independent suspensions on all four wheels offer a comfortable and offer good ride quality even on bumpy roads. It uses Strut Suspension w/Coil Springs in the front and Torsion Beam Rear Suspension w/Coil Springs.

The traction control features further assists to keep the car on track without any understeer even in high-speed corners. The suspension has been returned to give better feedback in rough terrains and eliminates damping quite well which gives a comfortable ride on any kind of terrains. The powerful engine helps the car to achieve good traction while coming out of the corner and it is stable even at high speeds.

2019 Mazda 3 Braking Performance:

Moving on to the brakes, the Mazda 3 appears to have the largest rotors in its class. On the downside, it is also the heaviest car in its segment weighing 3248 lbs but the Mazda 3 somehow manages to edge over its rivals in the braking test stopping at 112 ft from 60 mph. The 2019 Mazda 3 also features a host of active safety features that enhance its braking performance like Smart Brake Support (SBS) and ABS And Driveline Traction Control. 

The 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan however has the largest brakes on offer measuring 11.6 inches in the front and 10.4 inches in the rear. Also, the brakes are very responsive and firm and it lets the driver hardly feel any lag during braking in everyday situations. Albeit weighing the heaviest in the segment, the 2019 Mazda 3 comes to a halt better than any of its rivals which is pretty impressive.

Among the competition, the 2019 Mazda 3 offers the largest rotors in its class followed by the Honda Civic which is only one foot behind the Mazda by stopping from 60 mph in 113 feet. The Honda Civic comes with 11.1 inches in the front and 10.2 inches in the rear and weighs much lesser than the Mazda weighing only 2838 which happens to be the lightest car in its class. On the other hand, Toyota disappoints the buyers when it comes to braking performance. Despite being one of the lightest cars, the Toyota Corolla offers a weak braking performance.

The fuel economy of the 2019 Mazda 3 is on the downside due to its high-powered engine. It sure does offer a decent mileage when seen in isolation but when it comes to competition, it doesn’t really live up to the expectations which is a shame. The fuel-economy figures of the Mazda 3 are pretty below average when compared to most of its competitors. 

Boosted by a 2.5 liter inline 4 engine, the sedan manages to give a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highways. Combined, it gives a mileage of 28 mpg. The Mazda 3 comes equipped with a modest fuel tank in the segment with a capacity of 23.2 gallons which in turn allows the car to travel a distance of 330 miles and 369.6 miles in the city on the highways respectively. When combined it offers a range of 435.6 miles.

Among the competition, the Kia Forte is the most fuel-efficient sedan in its class, with its MPG numbers right above par with the best of its segment. The Kia Forte also provides the best city and combined mileage in its segment, making it a perfect choice for people who travel a lot. On the other hand, the Honda Civic is a bit of a guzzler and returns similar fuel figures to the Mazda 3.

The interior is surprisingly premium and tastefully dealt with. To start with, the center displaying looks redefines classiness. The dashboard and the materials used in the cabin are superior in quality and could easily be one of the striking-looking cabins. The higher trims provide premium leather upholstery for utmost comfort wherever you go and yet you can find some plastics here and there in mid trims but well-curated. 

Having said that, the interior is also quite roomy and cozy. It has a decent-sized cabin but not spacious enough. Sadly, it offers the smallest cabin in its class only by a very minute margin. It offers a front headroom space of 38 inches in the front and 37.2 inches in the rear. Moreover, it also offers solid shoulder support for peaceful driving.

In comparison, The Mazda 3 gets thrashed by its rivals in terms of interior spacing. All cars have seats for 5 passengers. However, Honda wins the competition on this front by a considerable margin. The Kia on the other hand wins the cargo capacity competition with a tremendous 15.3 cubic feet trunk. On the contrary, Toyota loses to its rivals in terms of cargo space offering only 13 cubic feet. Some notable interior features include:

• Front Bucket Seats -inc: adjustable front and rear headrests
• 8-Way Driver Seat -inc: Manual Recline, Height Adjustment, Fore/Aft Movement, and Cushion Tilt
• 4-Way Passenger Seat -inc: Manual Recline and Fore/Aft Movement
• 60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
• Leather Steering Wheel & Shift Knob

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment system on the Dodge Durango gains some modern infotainment features and makes up a quite exciting infotainment system. It features an 8.8-inch user-friendly LCD screen with a Navigation system and a long list of standard features. Moreover, it leaves behind the touch screen and it can be controlled by the center knob which is also nice to use. The MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system and 8-speaker full-range door-mounted type sound system are the highlights of the infotainment system. Some other standout features include

• 8-speaker full-range door-mounted type sound system
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio
• 2 USB ports
• Multi-function commander control
• Radio broadcast data system program information
• 2 LCD Monitors in the front
• Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility

The 2019 Mazda 3 is hands down a spectacular-looking sedan with striking design cues and clean lines that give it killer looks. The sharp and sleek headlights look aggressive and imposing from any angle. The honeycomb front grille is huge and surrounded by chrome bits. The horizontal tail lights with LEDs add to the rear end of the car. The dual exhaust pipes give it a sporty design.

The bodywork of the car is designed for more aero efficiency than its previous generation. In terms of exterior proportions, the Mazda 3 seems to be a pretty big car. It measures a length of 183.5 inches, a width of 70.7 inches, and 56.9 inches tall. It is also 5.5 inches above the ground. Moving on to the wheelbase, it has a wheelbase of 107.3 inches which is the longest in its class.

Though the difference in dimensions and overall proportions may seem microscopic, Both Kia Forte and Honda Civic are the smallest cars in the segment measuring 182.7 inches and 70.7 inches wide. Surprisingly, all three cars except for Mazda have the same wheelbase. The Honda seems to have the lowest ground clearance which further affects the ride quality while going on rough terrains. Some of the prominent features are as follows.

• Clearcoat Paint
• Body-Colored Door Handles
• LED Brakelights
• Fully Galvanized Steel Panels
• Side Mirror Turn Lamps
• Fixed Rear Window w/Defroster
• Front Lower Bumper Black Gloss Decoration

The Mazda 3 procures a stellar rating of 5 stars from NHTSA and scores a ‘Good’ rating from the Insurance Institute for highway safety and also earned the 2019 top pick award for mid-size sedans. The scores really do the talking when it comes to the build quality of the car. It gets four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with an ABS system and Electronic traction control with superb braking performance. Some of the standout safety features include

• MazdaConnect Emergency SOS
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Blind Spot Monitoring System
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts
• Back-Up Camera with Cross-Traffic Alert
• Side Impact Beams
• Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Emergency Braking

2019 Mazda 3 vs 2019 Kia Forte:

The Kia Forte is a better car when it comes to ergonomics and overall comfort but it falls short when it comes to engine performance but what takes everyone by surprise is the tremendous fuel economy it offers which helps with fuss-free long drives and less refueling. The Exterior also looks as good as the Mazda 3. It is one of the most affordable cars in its class and good value for money.

2019 Mazda 3 vs 2019 Honda Civic :

The Honda Civic has a very successful history in the American car market for many years now. The new-gen Civic is nothing short of a well-packed sedan. It comes second in terms of performance after the Mazda 3 but smashes the Mazda in terms of fuel efficiency by a considerable margin. When it comes to the interior, the fit and finish are on point but the Mazda looks a bit more premium. It is clearly a serious contender in its competition.

2019 Mazda 3 vs 2019 Toyota Corolla:

The Toyota Corolla is not the best performer in its class but definitely a safe and reliable car. It is focussed more on providing a family car but lags behind in other aspects. The engine performance and fuel efficiency are not the best in class and fail to keep pace with its rivals. Furthermore, it is one of the lightest cars in the competition which offers good driving dynamics and handling. It is a good car but there are better cars in its competition for a more affordable price tag.

The Mazda 3 is such a fun car to drive and offers oodles of comfort and engine performance. Moreover, it is the most powerful car in its competition. In terms of exterior design, the Mazda 3 is definitely the most appealing car in its segment and it grabs a lot of attention and has a strong character. Nevertheless, it fails to offer a good fuel economy and it’s a bit of a letdown when it comes to overall performance. Furthermore, it greets you with a plush and eye-catchy interior design and it is absolutely a nice place to be in. In a nutshell, the 2019 Mazda 3 is the number one option in the compact sedan class and it is truly a desirable car.