Video: 2026 Mazda3 Review: Likes and Dislikes

It corners crisply, and the steering tuning is excellent. It provides good road feel and feedback, but it's never harsh or nervous-feeling on the road. The Mazda3's base engine is also a step above the class norm. It's a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated four cylinder that makes 186 horsepower. Now, that's not enough to make the three a high performance machine, but it comfortably tops the base power plans in most class competitors. Mazda also offers a turbocharged version of this engine that makes up to 250 horsepower, but it's only in the priciest trim level. All-wheel drive is a rare feature among mainstream brand compact cars, and it comes standard on the Carbon Edition trim we're testing here. I really appreciated the extra grip of the all-wheel drive system in the wet and slushy roads around Chicagoland this time of year. And the Mazda3's all-wheel drive hit something of a sweet spot within the class. Among its all-wheel drive equipped competitors, the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla Hybrid aren't as much fun to drive, while the performance-focused Subaru WRX and Toyota GR Corolla are significantly more expensive. Now, styling is obviously subjective, but in my book, the Mazda3 hatchback and sedan are still among the best-looking compact cars around, and that's six-plus years after they originally debuted. There's nothing weird, there's nothing over the top. Just clean styling and excellent proportions. Now this is mainly a tall guy problem, but the three's door openings are on the stingy side as well. Granted, I'm six-foot-six, and average height folks won't have as much trouble, but I have to squeeze through the driver's door to get in. And because I have the seat set all the way back, the B pillar blocks my view to the side. The Mazda3 moved upmarket with its redesign for the 2019 model year, and even now, it is one of the most upscale vehicles in the mainstream compact car class. We've got high quality materials, padded surfaces, contrast stitching, and some nice red leather upholstery on the Carbon Edition trim. This cabin compares favorably to some entry-level Audi and BMW models. Most of our editors agree that the biggest shortcoming of late model Mazdas is the company's infotainment system. Instead of a traditional touchscreen interface, there's a console mounted knob just after the shifter to control infotainment functions. And we just don't find it as intuitive or easy to use as a touchscreen-based system. Now the three does have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and they are wireless in the Carbon Edition trim and above. But even then, with the smartphone mirroring, you're still stuck using the console-mounted controller and it's just not as intuitive or easy to use. Even by compact car standards, the three's backseat space is stingy. Now, there's no chance a tall guy like me is going to fit back there, but even my tween sons didn't have quite enough space, and most average size adults are not going to be comfortable either. If you're gonna be regularly using the backseat, something like a Honda Civic, or a Kia K4 is a much better choice. If you're all about an engaging driving experience, the Mazda3 might be just the ticket for you. But if you want a robust state-of-the-art tech interface, you might wanna look at something else. For my full review of the 2026 Mazda3, be sure to check out cars.com/news. (upbeat music)