If anything, the interior is even more appealing than the exterior, and for the same reasons. Mazda managed to find that perfect balance between the ultimate expression of minimalism while still retaining easy access to the features the driver and passengers use the most. The material quality is sublime and Mazda's current lineup continues to give the premium German trio and their exorbitant prices something to think about. The seats are comfortable across the range and clad in perforated leather on high-spec models. Visibility in the sedan is better than the hatch, thanks to a more conventionally shaped C-pillar.
Standard spec is generous across the lineup, with all models getting air conditioning (dual-zone climate control higher up), remote keyless entry with push-button start, and an 8.8-inch center display controlled by a rotary controller.
The Mazda 3 Sedan seats five occupants, but it isn't the most spacious in the segment. Front passengers get 42.3 inches of legroom and 38 inches of headroom. Rear passengers are a bit more cramped, with 35.1 inches of legroom and 37.2 inches of headroom. Models fitted with a sunroof decrease the headroom to 37.6 and 36.7 inches, respectively. While there is enough space for four average adults to get comfortable in the back, six-footers will struggle with the rear legroom. Both the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla provide more space, which means the Mazda 3 is slightly below par in this segment.
Mazda 3 Sedan Trims | 2.5 S | 2.5 S Select | 2.5 S Preferred | 2.5 S Carbon Edition | 2.5 S Premium | 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Headroom Front Seat | 38 in. | 38 in. | 37.6 in. | 37.6 in. | 37.6 in. | 37.6 in. |
Headroom Back Seat | 37.3 in. | 37.3 in. | 36.7 in. | 36.7 in. | 36.7 in. | 36.7 in. |
Legroom Front Seat | 42.3 in. | 42.3 in. | 42.3 in. | 42.3 in. | 42.3 in. | 42.3 in. |
Legroom Back Seat | 35.1 in. | 35.1 in. | 35.1 in. | 35.1 in. | 35.1 in. | 35.1 in. |
Shoulder Room Front | 55.7 in. | 55.7 in. | 55.7 in. | 55.7 in. | 55.7 in. | 55.7 in. |
Shoulder Room Rear | 53.5 in. | 53.5 in. | 53.5 in. | 53.5 in. | 53.5 in. | 53.5 in. |
Hip Room, Front | 54.6 in. | 54.6 in. | 54.6 in. | 54.6 in. | 54.6 in. | 54.6 in. |
Hip Room, Rear | 50.9 in. | 50.9 in. | 50.9 in. | 50.9 in. | 50.9 in. | 50.9 in. |
The type of materials may vary, but the quality doesn't - it's all exceptional, no matter which trim you look at. The base 2.5 S comes standard with black cloth sports seats. Black leatherette is standard on Select and Preferred trim, but the latter also has access to a gray-beige color called Greige. Premium and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus models get high-quality genuine leather in either black or white. In Premium models, the dash is also covered in leather, with a central strip matching the seats, while the upper and lower sections remain black. The Carbon Edition is the only trim to get standard red leather upholstery. The trim is simple, with a decorative aluminum accent strip running the width of the dash.
Mazda's 3 Sedan is merely average in this department. While the trunk is quite broad and low to the ground, it only offers 13.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The Honda Civic Sedan has 15.1 cubes, while the Mazda's hatch sibling provides a full 20.1 cubes. If cargo capacity is a significant concern, you'd be better off in the hatch. The rear seats do fold flat in a 60/40 split, but getaways with the whole family will require careful planning.
Interior storage is equally unremarkable. In keeping things minimal, Mazda forgot to add a few helpful storage spaces. It comes with dual cupholders up front and a small storage space underneath the center armrest. The door pockets are ample but unremarkable, and in the back, the rear center seatback folds forward for an armrest with extra cupholders.
Mazda 3 Sedan Trims | 2.5 S | 2.5 S Select | 2.5 S Preferred | 2.5 S Carbon Edition | 2.5 S Premium | 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trunk Volume | 13.2 cu. ft. | 13.2 cu. ft. | 13.2 cu. ft. | 13.2 cu. ft. | 13.2 cu. ft. | 13.2 cu. ft. |
The base 2.5 S gets manual air-conditioning, remote keyless entry with push-button start, manually adjustable seats, cloth upholstery, and steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise control switches. Dual-zone climate control and Mazda's advanced keyless entry system are only standard from the Select trim, while heated front seats with power adjustment only come into play from the Preferred. Only the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus gets a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror and heated steering wheel, while if you're looking for a head-up display, it's only found on the Premium and Turbo Premium Plus.
Safety specification remains generous, however. All models come as standard with smart brake support, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, driver-attention alert, tire-pressure monitoring, and automatic high beams. Select models upward also get blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, while Premium and Turbo Premium Plus add traffic-sign recognition and adaptive LED headlights for the full i-Activsense experience.
All models are equipped with an 8.8-inch center display without touch functionality. The base model comes with two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, voice command, and Pandora integration. An eight-speaker sound system is standard. It's not until the Premium that you start to see the full breadth of ability on offer with SiriusXM satellite radio, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, navigation, and flashy aluminum speaker grilles.
Since the screen isn't touch-compatible, the infotainment has to be controlled via a rotary control located between the seats. It's easy enough to learn but annoying since Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were both designed with touch functionality in mind. Thankfully, Mazda includes a few shortcut buttons for volume and skipping songs next to the primary controller.