2023 Mazda 3

The 2023 Mazda 3 Sedan comes with four trims to offer: 2.5 S, Carbon edition, Turbo, Turbo Premium Plus. The brand discontinued its base 2.0L Inline-4 trim. The base price starts at an MSRP of $23,615 for the 2.5 S variant and goes up to the MSRP $33,100 for the Premium Plus. The standard engine available is a 2.5L Inline-4 enginewith the 2.5 S, whereas the turbocharged powertrain is offered with the Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus trims. The Mazda 3 turbo comes with features from 2.5 S with the contents of Preferred and Premium packages without the leather upholstery and navigation system. The Carbon edition trim was added in the 2022 edition.

The brand provides an option of all-wheel drive (AWD) with an additional cost of $1400 over the price of Carbon edition. The 2.5 S has it as an optional feature, while the Turbo trim provides it as a standard drivetrain. There are three packages with the 3 launched by Mazda that include a Select package priced at $23,550, a Preferred package at $25,550, and Premium Package at $29,400. The brand will charge a delivery fee of $1,065 in 49 states and $1,110 in Alaska.

Select package:-

• Simulated leather upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert 
• Keyless ignition and entry

Preferred package:-

• Power-adjustable driver's seat with memory settings
• Heated front seats
• Sunroof

Premium package:-

• 18-inch wheels
• Upgraded exterior lighting with adaptive headlights 
• Head-up display 
• Leather seats
• Paddle shifters
• Integrated navigation system
• 12-speaker Bose audio system

We Recommend

The best trim for the 2023 Mazda 3 will be the new Carbon edition trim. Priced at $28,600, the trim offers both drivetrain options and an abundance of features. The car has dual interior options and an impressive exterior profile with its 18-inch all-season alloy wheels.

Release Date

The 2023 Mazda 3 Sedan is expected to launch around the early fall of 2022.

The car comes with two engine types. The 2.5L Inline-4 engine is standard for the 2.5 S trim option. It generates 191 horsepower whereas the powerful turbocharged 2.5L Inline-4 engine is also available for Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus trims that give 250 horsepower output. The turbocharged engine, however, compromises fuel economy. The six-speed manual is available with the FWD only and the six-speed automatic comes with the AWD. The front-wheel drive comes as standard in 2.5 S, while Carbon Edition and Turbo trim come with both options to select from. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim comes with the AWD drivetrain only. The 0-60 MPH is covered in 7.9 seconds with the naturally aspirated 2.5L Inline-4 engine. With the turbo engine, it covers 0-60 MPH in an impressive 5.6 seconds.

The 2023 Mazda 3 offers a better power output than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. The turbocharged engine of the car generates a power of 227 horsepower which leads the Corolla and the Civic and stands at par with the Jetta. The naturally aspirated engine delivers 150 lb-ft of torque which is more than the Corolla and the Jetta. The turbocharged engine delivers 310 lb-ft of torque which is more than all three competitors. The top speed of the car is 134 MPH which is similar to the Corolla and the Jetta. The Civic has the highest top speed at 170 MPH. The car has quick acceleration and dominates the Corolla and the Civic in 0-60 MPH. The sedan has better quarter-mile timing than the Honda Civic. 

2023 Mazda 3 Ride and Handling

The 2023 Mazda 3 offers a comfortable and composed ride over the straight and twisty roadway. The Mazda 3 has an Independent Macpherson strut front suspension and a Torsion beam axle rear suspension that is aptly calibrated for all types of roads. The Gas-Pressurized Shock Absorbers with the sedan work well and absorb the unnecessary vibrations from the bumps and potholes. The car offers minimal body roll and maintains control over corners. The car comes with Electric Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) is responsive and feels natural for most of the ride. However, it can feel a bit sluggish around the twists and the corners. The turning circle diameter of the car is 37.3 ft. 

2023 Mazda 3 Braking Performance

The braking hardware is similar to the previous editions. The 2023 Mazda 3 comes with 4-wheel disc brakes. The brake pads of the vehicle last about 25,000-65,000 miles. It comes with 11 in and 10.4 in brake rotors in front and rear respectively. The brake pedal response is excellent. The 6-speed automatic has an aggressive engine braking through downshifting that aids the deceleration. The brand offers Smart Brake Support-Rear Crossing, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Stability Control, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).

The Volkswagen Jetta has bigger brake rotors than others. Being heavier, Jetta carries more momentum while speeding and, thereby, requires bigger rotors. The 2023 Mazda 3’s brake rotors are similar in size to the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. The Mazda gives excellent deceleration while braking. The stopping distance of the car from 60-0 ft is just 120 ft. The data for the 60-0 MPH braking performance is not available yet. The brake pedal response is similar in the segment.

The fuel economy of the 2023 Mazda 3 depends on your engine and drivetrain choice. The most economical among the options is the naturally aspirated 2.5L Inline-4 engine with FWD that offers 28 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. The more powerful turbocharged 2.5L Inline 4 powertrain with AWD on upper trims gives 25 MPG city and 33 MPG highway. The sedan offers 13.2 gallons of a fuel tank which can ensure a ride up to 369.6 miles over the city roads and 476 miles on highways with the naturally aspirated engine. 

The Mazda 3 offers better fuel economy in the city than the Volkswagen Jetta. It also performs better in combined fuel economy. The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla lead in this aspect in both the city and highway economy. The fuel capacity of the tank of the 2022 Mazda 3 is the same as the Corolla and the Jetta, but larger than the Civic. However, the range of the Mazda 3 sedan is disappointing at 476 miles on a highway as compared to the Corolla, the Jetta, and the Civic. The range in the city is better than the Volkswagen Jetta.

2023 Mazda 3 comes with a premium and luxury interior. The door cards and dashboard comes with soft-touch plastics. The interior is offered in a standard black tone with white stitching and inserts. The heated leather seats are of top quality with comfortable upholstery. It has 8-way power adjustable driver’s seats with power-adjustable lumbar support and two-position memory. The steering is leather wrapped, and so is the gear lever. The car provides interior ambient LED lighting to the customers. The interior is also incorporated with dual-zone automatic climate control. There is plenty of utility space to offer with the storage compartments, seatback pocket, glove compartment and bottle/cup holders. The interior color tone is offered in 3 options namely Black Leatherette, Greige Leatherette, and Red Leather.

The 2023 Mazda 3 Sedan offers 92.8 cu-ft of total passenger volume which is more than the 88.6 cu-ft in the Toyota Corolla. However, it falls short of the space in front of the Jetta’s 94.7 cu-ft and the Civic’s 99 cu-ft. The car offers similar interior features as the others but lacks the wifi-hotspot that the Jetta offers. Mazda leads in terms of quality and feel of the material. It dominates the conventional interior design of the Civic and the Corolla. The cargo capacity up to the second row of the Mazda 3 is more than the Corolla’s.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Mazda 3 include:

• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Heated seats
• Cold weather Package
• Leather upholstery
• Ambient interior lighting
• Dual zone automatic climate control

How intuitive is the 2023 Mazda 3 infotainment system?

The 2023 Mazda 3 comes with an 8.8 inch full-color center display with a Bose 12 speaker premium audio system with Centerpoint 2 and Autopilot. The display is responsive and user-friendly. It supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The Mazda Connect infotainment system also incorporates features like Mobile 911 automatic emergency notification, HD Radio, Voice command, Multifunction Commander control, Pandora internet radio integration, Radio Broadcast Data system program information, SMS text message audio delivery and reply, and Mazda Connected services.

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Mazda 3 include:

• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a 3-month trial subscription
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Mazda Navigation System 
• Windshield-projected sull-color Active Driving Display
• 2 USB audio outputs 

Mazda 3 got a full redesign in its 2019 edition. The car looks sporty and stylish. The major part of the front is covered with the black grille with the prominent Mazda logo at the center. The car also provides a dual tone exterior to enhance its look. The car’s headlights and taillights look analogous and carry a slim design. The rear profile of the car looks carries a neutral profile, unlike the aggressive front. With the addition of Carbon Edition trim in the lineup in 2022, the brand offers gray metallic paint. The car comes in 7 color options: Jet Black Mica, Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Platinum Quartz Metallic, Machine Gray Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, and Polymetal Gray metallic. The Sedan stands at 56.9 inches of height and has a ground clearance of about 5.5 inches.

The Skyactiv-X version of the 2023 Mazda has a bigger exhaust tip as in the Mazda 6. The car looks sportier than the Corolla and the Jetta. The exterior of the Civic is similar to that of the Accord. However, the Mazda looks more premium with its wide set lights, and elegant side profile. The 2023 Mazda 3 also has an edge over the Volkswagen Jetta and Honda Civic in terms of ground clearance. The wheelbase of the sedan is more than that of the Jetta's and the Corolla's. The car is also taller than the Corolla and the Civic but is shorter than Jetta’s 57.9 ft height.

Some standout exterior features include:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• 22-inch black wheels 
• Adaptive headlights
• Black exterior trim
• Panoramic sunroof and Slide Moonroof
• LED tail lights

The Mazda 3 comes with a SKYACTIV body made from high tensile steel which is rigidity and toughness to the exterior of the sedan. The 2023 Mazda 3 provides Dual front airbags, front and side seat mounted airbags, and side impact air curtains. Additionally, It has a driver's and front passenger’s knee airbag. There are a plethora of safety features available with the i-Activsense safety technology of the car. Some of them are Lane Departure Warning System, Driver Attention Alert, High Beam Control, Rear View Monitor, Engine-immobilizer anti-theft system, keyless remote panic system, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, LATCH rear child safety seat anchors and upper tethers, Adaptive Front-lighting System, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

The 2022 Mazda 3 has received a ‘Good’ rating in six of the safety tests that Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts. The Headlights and Front Crash Prevention category received ‘Acceptable’ and ‘Superior’ ratings. The Sedan also received the highest rating which is five out of five stars National Highway Traffic Safety Administration side crash, rollover tests, and frontal tests. 

Some of the major safety features available with the 2023 Mazda 3 include

• Mazda Radar cruise control
• Smart brake support
• Adaptive front lights
• Traffic jam assist
• Driver Attention Alert
• Traffic sign recognition system

2023 Mazda 3 vs 2023 Toyota Corolla 

The 2023 Toyota Corolla offers a better fuel economy than the 2023 Mazda 3 sedan. The car dominates the Mazda 3 with its reliable brand image. The Toyota ensures a comfortable ride with a number of features. On the other hand, the Mazda 3 has established its name due to its superior driving dynamics and excellent handling. The car also leads in providing an upscale cabin to the customers.

2023 Mazda 3 vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta

The Mazda 3 provides better performance and safety. The car comes with an AWD option with its trim line-up, while the Volkswagen Jetta provides better efficiency and passenger space. The Volkswagen Jetta also provides a wifi-hotspot and better basic warranty coverage. The Mazda, however, has better powertrain warranty coverage.

2023 Mazda 3 vs 2022 Honda Civic

Both the cars offer composed handling, powerful engines, and a comfortable ride. The option of AWD is unavailable in the Civic that is offered in the Mazda 3. The Mazda offers a better interior than the Honda Civic. However, the Honda offers a more spacious and roomy cabin than the Mazda. The Honda also dominates with the reliability aspect over the Mazda.

The 2023 Mazda is a promising sedan with lots of features to offer. The car offers amazing handling dynamics and ride quality to the users. The cabin feels upscale and premium. The 8.8 inch touchscreen display is responsive and enhances the quality of the interior. The stylish exterior remains eye-catching on the road. The car has a number of configurations to offer with the option of all-wheel drive (AWD) and a turbocharged engine. For the Mazda 3, the fuel economy is decent but not the best in class. The Mazda 3 does justice with the safety features as well and has also achieved the highest ratings from IIHS and NHTSA. The SKYACTIV body feels robust and tough on the outside. The best trim from the lineup to be considered for buying is the Carbon Edition. The feature-loaded trim is an excellent choice in the mid-size sedan segment.