2024 Mazda 3 Sedan Review and Test Drive

Safe, stylish, and a ton of fun to drive, the value of a Mazda 3 depends on your perspective.

Christian Wardlaw | 

Feb 12, 2025 | 6 min read

Christian Wardlaw

When you think about small cars to buy, the Mazda 3 might escape your consideration, but it's a worthy option. Available in hatchback and sedan body styles, the 2024 Mazda 3 lineup features an available turbocharged engine, optional all-wheel drive (AWD), impressive style and refinement for the class, and Top Safety Pick+ crash-test ratings.

The Mazda 3 was last redesigned in 2019 and is now in its sixth model year. However, it doesn't look, feel, or drive like an aging design. In part, that's because Mazda has continually refined the car over the years. For example, the 2024 Mazda 3 gains available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and some versions include a larger 10.3-inch infotainment display. In addition, the base trim adds more safety features, and a couple of new trim levels have debuted.

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This review focuses on the Mazda 3 Sedan. For commentary on the hatchback, check out the 2022 Mazda 3 Review.

Base prices for the 2024 Mazda 3 Sedan start from the mid-$20,000s to the mid-$30,000s, including the destination charge to ship the car from the Salamanca, Mexico, factory that builds it to your local dealership.

For this 2024 Mazda 3 review, I test-drove a 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Sedan in Southern California. The only option was Snowflake White Pearl paint, which brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of the test vehicle to $37,060, including the $1,165 destination charge. Mazda provided the vehicle for this Mazda 3 Sedan review.

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The Mazda 3 Offers Premium Driving Dynamics

There are two ways to consider my test car's lofty price tag. One is to compare it with loaded versions of a Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla, or Volkswagen Jetta and conclude that Mazda is getting too pricey with that MSRP. The other is to compare the Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus with small entry-level luxury cars such as the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and Mercedes-Benz CLA, against which it offers exceptional value.

It's a tough spot for this excellent small car. However, having spent a week driving the turbocharged Mazda 3 Sedan, I can say that it has the style, quality, refinement, and driving dynamics to justify a price premium over mainstream offerings and to provide value compared with luxury models.

While I like the turbocharged engine, it isn't worth considering, given its price premium. A Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo costs more to buy, gets worse gas mileage, and requires costly premium gas to get maximum power from the engine. Stick with the standard powerplant, and a 2024 Mazda 3 Sedan's price aligns with its conventional rivals. All you'll give up in exchange is the turbo model's quicker acceleration.

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Regardless of which drivetrain you choose, the Mazda 3 is a delight. Sharp steering, stout brakes, capable handling, and a supple ride add fun to every commute, errand, and trip. In addition, a Sport mode and snappy shifts from the six-speed transmission make the car eager to accelerate.

It's been years since I sampled a current-generation Mazda 3 equipped with its standard engine, but I recall the experience fondly. With 191 horses available, the Mazda 3 2.5 S offers more power than you'll find in many small cars.

According to the EPA, the turbocharged AWD powertrain returns 23/32/27 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, compared with 26/35/30 mpg for the standard engine and AWD. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus averaged 23.9 mpg on my mountainous Southern California testing loop. That makes this car a thirsty choice. Also, because it has a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank, I stopped to refill it every 250 to 275 miles, which was no fun.

Christian Wardlaw

Impressive Safety, Modern Technology, and Decent Utility

As evidenced by being a Top Safety Pick+ according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2024 Mazda 3 Sedan is rated a safe car (the hatchback is, too).

Mazda takes that a step further this year by adding standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems.In addition, the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus has an adaptive front lighting system that aims the headlights around corners and curves, a traffic sign recognition system, a surround-view camera, and a system Mazda calls Cruising and Traffic Support.

During my evaluation of Cruising and Traffic Support, the hands-on adaptive cruise control and lane-centering-assist system demonstrated indecision when passing exit and entrance ramps. In curves, the steering feels heavy, sticky, and unnatural. Also, the system reduces the Mazda 3's speed far too much in bends, creating problems with motorists following behind the car. The technology is accurate; it just needs some fine-tuning.

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The other new tech in the 2024 Mazda 3 Sedan is the larger 10.3-inch infotainment screen in the 2.5 Turbo models. It remains deftly integrated into the top of the dashboard and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a complimentary three-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus gets an exclusive 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system that sounds good and has classy-looking aluminum speaker covers.

Mazda offers touchscreen operation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but locates the display quite a distance away from the driver and front passenger. Other functions require the use of controls on the center console or steering wheel. It has voice recognition, too, but it's not conversational. Follow the prompts on the screen, and it will ultimately produce results, sometimes through trial and error.

While the Mazda 3 Sedan doesn't offer the same utility as the Mazda 3 Hatchback, you might be surprised by how accommodating its 13.2 cubic-foot trunk is. For example, I loaded a full-size suitcase stored on its side, which isn't possible in some small SUVs or larger midsize cars. However, the sedan's rear seat is just as cramped as the hatchback's. The cushion is comfortable, but the legroom is tight. Fortunately, Mazda softly pads the front seatbacks to be kind to knees and shins.

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An Excellent Small Car, but Mazda Should Mind the Gap

Overall, the 2024 Mazda 3 Sedan is an excellent small car. It is stylish, safe, and fun to drive.

Unfortunately, the only two versions between the nicely priced 2.5 S Preferred and the overpriced 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus are the Carbon Edition and the Carbon Turbo. The problem is the Carbon models offer no choice in paint or interior color, so if you don't like Polymetal Gray with Red leather (Carbon Edition) or Zircon Sand with Terracotta leatherette bolsters (Carbon Turbo), you're out of luck.

What's missing is a Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium trim level for $31,000 or so. Dress it out like the Preferred with some of the goodies from the Premium Plus, and Mazda would have an affordable, efficient, and upscale alternative to top-trim competitors in the segment.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Christian Wardlaw

Chris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.