The numbers tell the story
Roseville, Calif. – We've been fans of the Mazda3 for a long time. It's considered a very good car that's attractive, fun to drive, and delivers good handling, all factors that combine to make it a standout in the compact sedan class.
So, why does the Mazda3 cost less this year than in 2024? In a move that is unconventional in this tariff-induced economy, the price of the standard 2025 Mazda3 has come down around $1,500 this year. It goes for roughly $24,200, although we must say a fully loaded Mazda3 can balloon to more than $36,000.
There's a mix of reasons why the Mazda3 is offered for less this year. Among the primary reasons is it lacks a hybrid option to compete with some tough competitors (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra), the company has suffered specific production issues, and the popularity of small SUVs.
The numbers
The numbers tell the story. From 2007 to 2015, Mazda3 sales exceeded 100,000 or more eight of nine years. But sales of the popular compact sedan/hatchback sank to an all-time low of 27,767 in 2022. That's a monumental decline of nearly 107,000 from all-time high sales of 134,636 in 2012.
The company also made some minor changes, but essentially the 2025 version is the same fourth generation Mazda3 that was introduced in 2019. Does Mazda need to rethink its once popular sedan? The answer comes back loud and clear – Yes.
For anyone seeking performance, the turbo engine is the way to go. Borrowed from the Mazda CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs, the Mazda3 is a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder that produces 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. The turbo model is energetic, going 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Of course, the fuel economy (23-31 mpg) suffers and is far below any compact hybrid.
The standard Mazda3 engine is a less energetic, a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder that produces 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. It goes 0-60 in 7.0 seconds and gas mileage is 27-35 mpg.
AT A GLANCE – 2025 MAZDA3
- Performance: 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, 191 horsepower; turbocharged 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, 250 horsepower
- Mileage estimate: 27-37 mpg; 23-31 mpg
- Estimated price: $24,200 to $36,100
- Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles; drivetrain: 5 years/60,000 miles; roadside assistance: 3 years/36,000 miles; corrosion: 7 years/100,000
The Mazda3 has traditionally received solid marks for how it performs and the turbo option definitely gives the vehicle a fun factor, something that's generally lacking in this class. The Mazda3 offers great precision when navigating tight turns, providing the driver with a high level of confidence.
Standard driver safety features include blind sport monitoring, driver attention alert, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking.
Interior
The interior has an 8.8-inch display (optional 10.23 inch) that's not a touchscreen. It's controlled solely by a console-mounted rotary knob that's preferable for some, but considered unnecessary by others. Even though the Mazda3 interior is considered old school, getting acquainted with the system does require some time – not everything is intuitive.
Seating is fine for front-seat passengers, but the back seat is tight and lacking in leg room. The Mazda3 provides less cargo capacity than several other small cars. The sedan has 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space that increases to 20.1 cubes in the hatchback version.
Despite being a solid compact sedan/hatchback, sales remain low. With no major improvements, the 2025 Mazda3 might suffer the same fate – poor sales.