2024 Mazda3 2.5 T Review: A Compact Sedan for People Who Love Driving
2024 | awd | compact cars | mazda | mazda3 | sedans

If there’s one thing Mazda knows how to do really well, it’s make cars that are fun to drive. The latest Mazda3 continues this tradition. Available as either a sedan or a hatchback, the Mazda3 combines appealing looks with a sporty demeanor. I spent a week getting to know the top-of-the-line Premium Plus variant, powered by Mazda’s 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G turbo engine and sending power to all four wheels.
Slathered in Mazda’s Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint, this red delicious ride looks tasty enough to take a bite out of. I’ve done my best to capture the sheen of the paint on a sunny day, but the way it glimmers in person is hard to convey in photos. Up front, the sedan has that cat-like grille found on all modern Mazdas, done up in gloss black, along with bright LED headlights and running lights.
While I prefer the profile of the Mazda3 Hatchback, the sedan has a curvy and dynamic look that stands out compared to the competition. This trim rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels with a metallic black finish – those are 2 inches larger than the ones found on the base 2.5 S trim. Around the back, you’ll find dual chrome exhaust tips and the world’s skinniest trunk lid spoiler, which is clearly more aesthetic than functional.
While most Mazda3s come with a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine, the 2.5 Carbon Turbo and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus offer considerably more grunt than the base engine’s 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft. of torque. On 93-octane fuel, the Skyactiv-G turbo engine will produce up to 250 horsepower and an impressive 310 lb-ft. of torque. The result is a car that will put a big grin on your face when you press on the gas pedal. It doesn’t hurt that Mazda stuck to a 6-speed automatic instead of the whiny and uninspiring CVTs found so often these days. There’s plenty of punch here, with the lag-free engine and gearbox combo launching the car from 0 to 60 in about 5.6 seconds in Sport mode.
The electrically assisted power steering system does a good job of providing feedback and just enough weight. The MacPherson front struts and torsion beam rear axle aren’t as nimble as a completely independent suspension setup, so you feel bumps a bit more than you would in fancier suspension systems. That said, the system is tuned on the sportier side of things, which adds to the sense of engagement. For a front-biased all-wheel drive car, it corners quite well, thanks to Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus system, which slightly reduces power output when turning the wheel, making the front tires grip better and improving control. Forward visibility is excellent, thanks to the skinny A-pillar design.
As the best-equipped Mazda3, the Premium Plus trim has leather-trimmed seats with heated surfaces and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel. The overall look is upscale but not overworked, with soft-touch stitched surfaces on the dashboard, center console, and door panels. A punchy 12-speaker Bose premium audio system rounds out the cabin’s creature comforts. Build quality seems excellent, with no squeaks, rattles, or uneven stitches to be found. There’s just a small bit of piano black plastic on the center console, which was already showing scratches. I hope my dream of piano black plastic being eliminated from the planet someday will come true.
Since Mazda is more focused on the driving experience than some companies, technology isn’t what’s front and center on the dashboard. There’s a lot of safety tech working behind the scenes, including lane keep assist, radar adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium Plus also adds smart front and rear braking support, traffic sign recognition, a crystal-clear 360º surround camera for parking, and more. The 10.25-inch multimedia display is designed to be unobtrusive and is elevated from the dashboard, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to use it.
While it is a touchscreen, it’s a bit of a reach, and Mazda expects you to use the scroll wheel controller on the center console for most interactions. I found this a little frustrating when attempting to use the wireless Apple CarPlay functionality. By default, you can only use the touchscreen while parked. Fortunately, I found an option in the system that lets you enable touchscreen input at all times.
Like most small sedans, the rear seat of the Mazda3 is best for kids or smaller adults. Headroom is good, but as a 6-foot-tall human, my knees were pressed against the front seat backs when I sat in the back. The leather seating materials are as nice as the front seats, but you won’t find amenities like rear vents or charging ports.
For cargo handling versatility, the rear seats can fold in a 60/40 split, providing a pass-through to the trunk. At 13.2 cubic feet, the trunk isn’t huge, but it’s got enough room for a week’s worth of luggage for four passengers and is wide enough at the back for golf clubs.
I’m impressed with Mazda’s dedication to what they call Jinba-Ittai – the idea that a horse and its rider are one. Translated to modern automobiles, Mazda’s engineers build vehicles that are engaging and enhance driver confidence, from the compact MX-5 to the three-row CX-90. The Mazda3 reviewed here is no exception to that ideology, with its great driving dynamics and a zesty turbocharged engine for motivation. While the base Mazda3 2.5 S starts at just $24,170, this turbocharged Premium Plus model is quite a bit more, with a base price of $35,450. Tack onto that $595 for the shiny red paint job and $1165 for delivery and handling, and you’ve got a sticker price of $37,210.