Yes, the Mazda3 costs a bit more than your basic, mainstream hatchback or sedan. But it’s worth every penny. As we said when we selected the Mazda3 as Forbes Wheels’ Car of the Year for 2021, on twisty country roads it feels like a sports car with a bigger trunk and back seat. It sacrifices no practicality for its engaging and fun moves. For 2021 Mazda made it even better by adding more power.
The new Mazda3 2.5 Turbo underlines what makes this car such a standout, even as its price can soar into entry-luxury territory. The last turbocharged 3 was 2013’s fondly-remembered MazdaSpeed3, a high-performance hatchback with a real hooligan streak.
This new Turbo, available as a hatchback or sedan, is a different proposition: It’s fast and powerful, sure, with 250 horsepower and a beefy 320 pound-feet of torque, from the same 2.5-liter engine that’s available in Mazda’s CX-5 CX-9 and CX-30 SUVs. But this top-shelf Mazda3 is aimed more at would-be BMW buyers than Subaru WRX-loving performance junkies.
The 3’s lovely hatchback styling that would be at right at home on an Alfa Romeo, as would its class-above interior design, standard all-wheel drive and sophisticated road manners. And the Mazda is still a blast to drive, as the 2.5 Turbo hatchback happily demonstrated on a trip from New York to Boston and back.
Fast Finesse
Squeeze the throttle, and Mazda Turbo moves out with decisive, satisfying intent, whether from a red light or at highway speeds. The Turbo can dispatch 60 mph in about 5.9 seconds, dusting its non-turbocharged counterparts, which take about 8.0 seconds to nip 60 mph. It’s also notably quicker than Mercedes-Benz’s CLA250 or BMW’s 228i Gran Coupe, both of which cost quite a bit more.
That four-cylinder engine emits a pleasingly throaty growl, but without going overboard. That well-tuned exhaust note is a fine accompaniment to precise, corner-carving handling: Not as buttoned-down as the old Mazdaspeed3, but without that car’s stiff ride and raucous road and tire noise. Mazda’s fast-acting, i-ACTIVE AWD system eliminates the torque steer than can bedevil powerful front-drive cars, making this Mazda Turbo a more-compelling choice for shoppers in wintry climes.
A smooth six-speed automatic (with paddle shifters) gives up a gear or two to some competitors, and takes a small toll on fuel economy, with an EPA-rated 23/31 mpg in city and highway, and 26 mpg overall. Mazdas are notoriously thirsty and this Turbo is no different, returning 25 mpg in what was admittedly spirited driving. That’s mediocre mileage compared to the Honda Civic Si or Audi A3, but similar to Honda’s faster Civic Type R, a car more in the mold of the old MazdaSpeed3.
The shrimpy 12.7-gallon gas tank was nearly emptied by our 221-mile trek from Brooklyn to Boston, and fill ups are costly. The Mazda’s max horsepower and torque output require using 93-octane premium fuel; regular unleaded slightly reduces output, to 227 horses and 310 pound-feet.
Premium Feel, Popular Price
Honestly? The fuel consumption felt a reasonable price to pay for a practical hatchback that looks and drives this good, including a high-design interior.
There’s not a trace of cheap plastic or budget switchgear. Soft surfaces abound, including the buttery bed of crimson leather atop our test car’s slim, minimal dashboard. There’s a useful 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, or 47.1-cubes with those 60/40 rear chairs folded.
The features list says “luxury” as well, including standard LED headlamps, handsome 18-inch black alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and shift knob, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, a head-up display and rain-sensing wipers. Standard safety gear includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver-attention monitor and active lane centering.
Mazda’s “Commander” infotainment system gets the job done, but there’s still no touchscreen, as in the new Hyundai Elantra and most other competitors. Instead, the high-mounted, 8.8-inch display is managed by a rotary control knob that can over-complicate simple tasks. The only other knock on the Mazda is a tighter back seat than some competitors, including Honda’s Civic hatchback.
Where a front-wheel-drive Mazda3 sedan starts from $21,445, and $23,445 in hatchback form, these 2.5 Turbo models—with AWD and lavishly equipped—start from $30,845 in sedan form and $31,845 for the hatchback. Our fully loaded 2.5 Turbo hatchback added a Premium Package that lifted its base price to $34,695, on par with a loaded Volkswagen GTI. That Premium Package adds spoilers, leather upholstery, navigation, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree surround cameras and additional driver-assistance features: Self-steering for its adaptive cruise control below 40 mph, low-speed automated emergency braking, rear cross-traffic braking and traffic sign recognition.
To some economy-minded shoppers, a hatchback or sedan priced from roughly $31,000 to $35,000, from a non-luxury brand like Mazda, will be too rich to consider. But for people who’ve outgrown economy cars and want something more stylish, sophisticated and engaging to drive—without spending BMW or Mercedes money—the Mazda3 Turbo may be just the ticket.
