2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback Review: A Hatchback With Class
A realigned 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback lineup went on sale in the USA this summer to fight for an ever-shrinking slice of the compact hatchback segment, where buyers now prefer crossovers such as the CX-50. For traditionalists committed to the passenger car, the news is good, as the sole surviving Mazda hatchback is an impressive car in this class, with an upscale interior and impeccable driving manners. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder offers acceptable performance, but the powertrain to have is the spicier turbo with up to 250 hp on tap. This puts it in a strong position against the 180-hp versions of the Honda Civic Hatchback but makes the rally-bred 300-hp Toyota Corolla Hatchback in GR guise look irresistible, considering it overlaps with the top trims of the Mazda 3 on price. Now more expensive without last year's base trim, the Mazda 3 has its work cut out for it against such popular rivals. Let's see if it will prevail.
New for 2024
The starting price of a new Mazda 3 Hatchback increases by more than $2k this year because last year's base S trim is dropped, so the next-up S Select - this year renamed S Select Sport - becomes the new base trim. A new Carbon Turbo trim is added to the 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback range, combining a more basic feature set with the turbocharged powertrain. It comes with a darkened exterior, Zircon Sand Metallic paintwork only, and upholstery in a Terracotta leatherette/black suede combo. The touchscreen of the two Turbo trims is upgraded to a larger 10.25-inch item and comes with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Last of all, the 2.5 S Carbon Edition trim is now exclusively available with all-wheel drive.
2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback Price: Which One to Buy
Because the S Select Sport is now the base trim, the starting price of the 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback is now $25,690. This is followed by the 2.5 S Preferred at $27,390, the 2.5 S Carbon Edition at $30,260, and the 2.5 S Premium at $30,350. These trims all use the naturally aspirated 191-hp engine. The two turbocharged 250-hp trims are the 2.5 Turbo Carbon at $32,950 and the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, which will cost you $36,650. Note that these prices are MSRP and exclude extra-cost paint or the $1,165 destination charge.
It would be lovely to opt for a turbocharged trim, but the $33k Carbon Turbo loses quite a few nice features that come standard with the 2.5 S Premium. To restore balance to its spec sheet, you have to go for the flagship, which is even more expensive than the base GR Corolla - a more exciting and quicker hot hatch. Its generous spec would have made the Premium the best non-turbo trim, but it only comes in a manual this year, which is unfortunate if you want a self-shifter. So, as you can see, the way the range is structured now, it's difficult to select a favorite. If you don't have sporting pretensions, the 2.5 S Carbon Edition probably strikes the best balance between features and price - and comes with the automatic transmission.
2.5 S Select Sport | 2.5 S Carbon Edition | 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus |
---|---|---|
Base | Good Bet | Fully Loaded |
$ 25690 | $ 30260 | $ 36650 |
2.5-liter I4 (191 hp/186 lb-ft), six-speed automatic, FWD | Based on the 2.5 S Preferred trim, plus: | Based on the 2.5 Carbon Turbo trim, plus: |
Black 18” alloys, LED head- & taillights | i-ACTIV AWD | Air guides & air dam, rear aero spoiler, adaptive headlights |
Leatherette upholstery, dual-zone climate control | Polymetal Gray paint and black 18” alloys | SiriusXM, navigation |
Seven-inch & 8.8-inch displays, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, six-speaker audio | Red leather upholstery | 12-speaker Bose audio system |
Adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist | Wireless charging pad | Surround-view camera & head-up display |
HD Radio, eight-speaker audio system | Smart Brake Support Rear & Rear Crossing |
Best Deals on 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback
Interior and Features
The near-premium dashboard is very stylish, extremely well-made, and looks striking with the red accent color on the trims with the red leather.
The cabin is a cut above what you'd expect in this class, with elegant styling, premium materials, and an upscale feel. The design and color choices speak of meticulous attention to detail, making it a very pleasant place to spend time. The stylish dashboard is softly padded and ergonomically sound, with physical controls for the HVAC, a seven-inch driver-information display, and a smart leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel. The wide, flat touchscreen isn't very big, but the top trims get a larger one. Comfort is generally excellent, the seats supportive, and noise levels low, but interior space doesn't challenge the class-leading Civic hatch, though it beats the cramped Corolla hatch hands-down. Getting inside requires you to step down to assume your low-slung seating position, from where visibility out the back isn't great.
Space
The Mazda 3's 107.4-inch wheelbase nearly equals that of the Civic, but the interior isn't as roomy. The on-paper figures look reasonably good, and two adults will be fairly comfortable in the second row, but it all feels a little hemmed in, probably because of the mild sense of claustrophobia the narrowing glasshouse and thick rear pillars create. Rear-seat passengers also have to stoop well down to clear the sloping roofline, lest they bump their heads while getting in. On the bright side, the 35.1 inches of space available for knees and legs in the second row outstretches the cramped Corolla hatch by more than five inches.
Cargo
Trunk space is average in this class and significantly better than the Mazda 3 Sedan. The total available with the second row in place is 20.1 cubic feet, which is well short of the Civic Hatchback's 24.5 cu-ft but beats the Corolla Hatchback handsomely unless you forego its spare wheel and opt for a tire-repair kit, in which case you can push the Toyota's trunk to 23 cubes. The Mazda's trunk volume can be expanded to 47.1 cu-ft with the 60/40-split second row folded flat, but you cannot do this from the trunk, only from inside the car.
Storage options in the front cabin include a glovebox, an overhead sunglasses holder, a small receptacle to the left of the steering wheel, a storage bin, dual cupholders, a phone rest/wireless charging pad, and a proper tray in the center console. The are four door pockets of average size, and the front ones incorporate bottle holders. The rear-seat passengers have one seatback pocket on the passenger side and dual cupholders in the fold-down center armrest.
Mazda 3 Hatchback | Honda Civic Hatchback | Toyota Corolla Hatchback | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 Seater | 5 Seater | 5 Seater |
Headroom | 37.5 - 38 in. front 36.5 - 37.2 in. rear | 37.6 - 39.3 in. front 37.1 in. rear | 38.4 in. front 37.6 in. rear |
Legroom | 42.3 in. front 34.4-35.1 in. rear | 42.3 in. front 37.4 in. rear | 42 in. front 29.9 in. rear |
Trunk Space | 20.1 - 47.1 ft³ | 24.5 - TBA ft³ | 17.8/23 - TBA ft³ |
Materials and Colors
The two lowest trims and the Carbon Turbo get leatherette on the seats, but interior colors are limited - Black only on the S Select Sport, with Greige as an available second option on the S Preferred. The Carbon Turbo gets a unique Terracotta leatherette with suede inserts. All the other trims get genuine leather upholstery in Red (S Carbon Edition) or a choice of Black or Red (S Premium and Turbo Premium Plus). Where applicable, the accent color is also applied to the dashboard and door panels. The steering wheel and shifter knob are trimmed in leather in all trims.
Features and Infotainment
Interior features at the bottom of the range include leatherette upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, an overhead sunglasses holder, dual-zone climate control, and a seven-inch digital gauge cluster. Each trim adds progressively more features, such as a power-sliding glass moonroof with a sunshade, an eight-way power driver's seat with memory, heated front seats, leather upholstery, paddle shifters, a heated steering wheel, and more. Mazda offers six trim levels to cater to your needs rather than packages to spec up base trims.
The 3's infotainment system has an 8.8-inch touchscreen and comes with a three-year Mazda Connected Services trial subscription, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth with audio streaming, two USB ports, 911 emergency notification, voice commands, Pandora internet radio integration, and a six-speaker audio system. The 2.5 S Carbon Edition gets wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, HD Radio, and an upgraded audio system with eight speakers. The 2.5 S Premium is upgraded with SiriusXM with a three-month trial subscription, HD Radio, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system with Centerpoint and AudioPilot and aluminum speaker grilles. The 2.5 Carbon Turbo has a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen but no navigation or SiriusXM; it also reverts to the eight-speaker Bose setup. The flagship regains the 2.5 S Premium's 12-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and SiriusXM, but also gets the Carbon Turbo's 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless charging pad, and wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2.5 S Select Sport | 2.5 S Carbon Edition | 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus | |
---|---|---|---|
Dual display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | S | S | S |
Leather upholstery | N/A | S | S |
Heated front seats, power driver's seat | N/A | S | S |
12-speaker Bose audio system | N/A | N/A | S |
Power glass sunroof | N/A | S | S |
Performance
The base engine is adequate at most, and the feisty and powerful turbo is only fitted to the top two trims, so you can’t get it without parting with at least $33k.
The engine in every Mazda 3 Hatchback is the same basic 2.5L inline four-cylinder, but the bottom four trims get the naturally aspirated version with 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, while the two Turbo trims add turbocharging for 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on Premium gas; this drops to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on Regular fuel. Power is transferred either through a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drivetrain, depending on the trim. Both Turbo trims are AWD auto only. The base engine gives the Mazda 3 Hatchback a 0-60 time of about 8.2 seconds - acceptable performance, but by no means quick. The turbocharged powertrain drops that right down to about 5.9 to 6.1 seconds. All-season tires are standard, limiting the 3's top speed to 130 mph.
The turbocharged engine is punchy, but it does its best work in the mid-range, running out of puff at high revs, and requiring short-shifting before the redline to produce the best sprint times. Even so, the transmission is smooth and unhurried, slurring the shifts and never feeling sporty. This sets the scene for the rest of the driving experience, with the Mazda exuding a refined, European air, flowing down the road without unduly jostling or shaking the occupants, despite firm damping. It's a superb companion on the daily commute, with good ride quality and low noise levels. Show it a corner, and the SkyActive Vehicle Dynamics with G-Vectoring Control subtly rotates the car into the curve, making it feel agile and pointy. Both the steering and brakes provide proper feedback and are a pleasure to use. That said, it always feels composed and smooth, so you might want to look at the GR Corolla if you want a proper hot hatch. The base engine doesn't disgrace itself but is a fairly languid performer with adequate but unexciting acceleration in normal driving.
Fuel Efficiency
The EPA's gas mileage estimates are very good, with both the manual and automatic Mazda 3 Hatchback's mpg figures coming to 30 mpg combined when fitted with the naturally aspirated 191-hp engine and FWD. The manual gets 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, as opposed to the automatic's figures of 27 mpg and 35 mpg, respectively. The AWD automatic with the base engine isn't far behind with 26/33/29 mpg, but the turbocharged engine (by default AWD auto) is a fair bit thirstier with 23/31/26 mpg. The FWD trims have a fuel capacity of 13.2 gallons, providing the base trims with a maximum range of around 396 miles on the combined cycles. The AWD trims have a smaller 12.7-gallon gas tank, which restricts it to around 330 miles in turbocharged AWD format.
2.5L Inline-4 NA Gas 6-Speed Automatic FWD | 2.5L Inline-4 NA Gas 6-Speed Automatic AWD | 2.5L Inline-4 NA Gas 6-Speed Manual FWD | 2.5L Inline-4 Turbo Gas 6-Speed Automatic AWD | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Power | 191 hp | 191 hp | 191 hp | 250 hp |
Top speed | 130 mph | 130 mph | 130 mph | 130 mph |
MPG | 27/35/30 mpg | 26/33/29 mpg | 26/36/30 mpg | 23/31/26 mpg |
0-60 | Est. 8.2 sec. | Est. 8.2 sec. | Est. 8.2 sec. | Est. 5.9-6.1 sec. |
Safety
The Mazda’s unbeatable safety credentials include a comprehensive assist suite and class-leading crash scores.
The Mazda 3 Hatchback passes every safety review it's subjected to with flying colors. The NHTSA gives the 2024 model a full five stars overall and for every individual test. The IIHS gives it its top Good rating for all crash tests, and even the slightly marked-down Acceptable rating for the regular non-adaptive LED headlights on the base trims could not prevent it from bagging a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ award - the agency's highest accolade.
Even at the base level, the driver-assistance suite includes adaptive cruise control with stop & go, front Smart Brake Support, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, driver-alertness monitoring, and a rear-seat alert. Because it's a manual, the 2.5 S Premium's adaptive cruise control loses its stop & go function, but traffic sign recognition and a color head-up display are added to the list of driver assists. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus combines all the top features of lower trims and includes a color head-up display, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive headlights. It's the only trim to also get a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, a surround-view camera, cruising/traffic support, and Smart Brake Support Rear and Rear Crossing.
2.5 S Select Sport | 2.5 S Carbon Edition | 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus | |
---|---|---|---|
Adaptive cruise control w/ Front Smart Brake Support | S | S | S |
Lane-departure alert w/ lane-keep assist | S | S | S |
Blind-spot monitoring w/ rear cross-traffic alert | S | S | S |
Surround-view camera | N/A | N/A | S |
Head-up display | N/A | N/A | S |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
---|---|---|---|
5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Reliability
JD Power gives the 2024 Mazda 3 sedans and hatchback, a reliability rating of 74 out of 100 when judged by the criteria of its Quality & Reliability test. This result is well behind the Civic's score of 82, but there have been very few recalls of the Mazda. The 2024 model with the surround-view camera is being recalled for some of the cameras' images failing to display, but that's the only recall listed for the last three model years.
The 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback's limited warranty is valid for three years/36,000 miles, and its powertrain warranty runs for five years/50,000 miles.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
Design
With a ground clearance of just 5.5 inches and a roof height of less than 57 inches, the low-slung Mazda 3 hugs the road and won't appeal to the crossover set. But it looks sleekly purposeful, with a steely squint and flowing lines showing off the traditional hatchback body style to great effect. Every single trim comes with 18-inch alloys in varying colors, LED headlights, and a roof spoiler. Every trim above the base gets a power glass moonroof. Carbon grades have blacked-out exterior trim and have access to limited paint colors, while the flagship Turbo Premium Plus gains aero aids to set it apart.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback A Good Car?
The Mazda 3 has a lot going for it, not least its near-premium cabin, excellent road manners, top-notch safety credentials, and high equipment level at a good price. By all accounts, it should be selling better, but the 11th-generation Honda Civic is a fearsome opponent, outdoing the Mazda on cabin and trunk space while scoring better in the reliability stakes. The oddly structured trim lineup means it's difficult to get the right spec with the right powertrain and, price-wise, the top trims are knocking on the door of proper hot hatches like the GR Corolla. If you prefer finish and features over hard-core thrills, you can do much worse than the well-balanced 3, and it should certainly be on your shortlist for a test drive.