The current Mazda3 dates to the 2019 model year, and Mazda has kept it competitive by adding equipment rather than redesigning it. The 2026 changes are modest: an eight-speaker Mazda Harmonic Acoustics stereo is now standard, with a 12-speaker Bose system still available on upper trims. The sedan starts at $24,650 and the hatchback at $25,650, before a $1,315 destination charge, and both prices are unchanged on mazdausa.com from Mazda's August 2025 announcement.
The lineup also includes two things shoppers often ask about: i-Activ all-wheel drive, standard on the Carbon Edition and the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, and a six-speed manual transmission, offered on the front-drive 2.5 S Premium hatchback.
Powertrain & Efficiency
Most Mazda3s use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at up to 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus makes up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane premium fuel, or 227 hp on 87-octane regular, and comes only with all-wheel drive.
Fuel economy is the trade-off. The EPA rates the front-drive sedan at 27 mpg city, 36 highway and 30 combined, and the AWD sedan at 29 combined. The hatchback is rated 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and the automatic, and 28 with either the manual or AWD. Turbo models are rated 27 mpg combined as a sedan and 26 as a hatchback. At 15,000 miles a year, a front-drive sedan at 30 mpg would use 500 gallons of fuel, while an AWD Turbo hatchback at 26 mpg would use about 577.
Those are reasonable numbers for a gas-only compact, but there is no hybrid Mazda3. Toyota's 2027 Corolla Hybrid LE lists at $25,175, $525 more than a base Mazda3 sedan, so buyers whose top priority is fuel cost have a cheap hybrid alternative.
Interior & Technology
Every Mazda3 has an 8.8-inch center display running Mazda Connect with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus push-button start, a rearview camera, two front USB-C ports, LED lighting and a year of Mazda Connected Services with a Wi-Fi hotspot trial. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, HD radio and Qi wireless charging arrive with the Carbon Edition. The Turbo Premium Plus gets a 10.25-inch display with touchscreen functionality when CarPlay or Android Auto is in use, the Bose system, a 360-degree view monitor and front and rear parking sensors.
The trim ladder is easy to follow. The Select Sport adds dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, black leatherette seats, a leather-wrapped wheel, 18-inch black wheels and Alexa Built-in. The Preferred adds a power moonroof, heated front seats and an eight-way power driver's seat with memory. The Carbon Edition pairs a red leather interior with AWD and black 18-inch wheels. The manual-only 2.5 S Premium hatchback adds Bose audio, a windshield-projected Active Driving Display, adaptive headlights, traffic sign recognition and navigation.
Safety
Safety is the Mazda3's strongest suit. NHTSA rates the 2026 sedan and hatchback five stars overall, with five-star frontal, side and rollover scores in both front- and all-wheel-drive form. IIHS named both body styles 2026 Top Safety Pick+ winners, with Good results in the small overlap, updated moderate overlap and updated side tests. Its standard pedestrian front crash prevention was rated Good and its vehicle-to-vehicle system Acceptable; headlight ratings vary by trim between Good and Acceptable.
The standard i-Activsense list on the base 2.5 S is long: radar cruise control with stop-and-go, Smart Brake Support, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, high beam control, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, vehicle exit warning and rear seat alert. The Turbo Premium Plus adds Cruising and Traffic Support.
Pricing & Trims
2026 Mazda3 prices
| Trim | Drivetrain | Sedan | Hatchback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 S | FWD, automatic | $24,650 | $25,650 |
| 2.5 S Select Sport | FWD, automatic | $25,540 | $26,840 |
| 2.5 S Preferred | FWD, automatic | $27,290 | $28,640 |
| 2.5 S Carbon Edition | AWD, automatic | $29,815 | $30,965 |
| 2.5 S Premium | FWD, 6-speed manual | — | $31,650 |
| 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus | AWD, automatic | $36,940 | $38,090 |
MSRP excludes $1,315 destination ($1,360 in Alaska). Source: Mazda North American Operations; mazdausa.com.
Our pick is the 2.5 S Select Sport sedan at $25,540. For $890 over the base car it adds dual-zone automatic climate control, advanced keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, leatherette seats and 18-inch wheels, while keeping the 30-mpg front-drive rating and the full safety suite. Buyers in snowy climates should step up to the Carbon Edition at $29,815 for AWD, wireless smartphone mirroring and wireless charging. The Turbo has the most power and equipment, but it costs $11,400 more than our pick.
Rivals
The Mazda3's closest competitors match it on crash-test credentials: IIHS lists the 2026 Kia K4 sedan as a Top Safety Pick+ and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra sedan as a Top Safety Pick. Toyota's 2027 Corolla starts at $23,325 for the gas LE and $25,175 for the Corolla Hybrid LE, according to Toyota's October 2026 price list. The Mazda3's case rests on available AWD, the turbo engine and a standard safety list that includes blind-spot monitoring.
How we rated it: this review is based on Mazda's specifications and pricing, EPA estimates and NHTSA/IIHS results available in October 2026. Drive Edition has not road-tested this vehicle.