2023 Mazda 3 Hatchback

The 2023 Mazda3 will be offered in four trim levels; however, the complete details of all the trim levels haven't been released by the brand yet. With a base price tag of $24,615, the Mazda3 is rather well-equipped when compared to a majority of its rivals. Other than that, the car will get its front wheels powered as standard while AWD will also be on the table for those who need it. The turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter motor dials up the performance aspect to several notches, giving it a hot-hatch feeling from behind the wheels. Coming to the features, some of them include 16-inch alloy wheels, a sizable 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, an 8-speaker audio setup, adaptive cruise control, drowsy driver monitor, and lane keeping assist among several others. On top of the trims, several packages are offered to better equip the car such as the Select package, Preferred package, and Premium package.

We Recommend

If you’re on a tight budget, we would recommend the base trim since all the basics along with the safety aspect are covered quite well. The Premium package makes the most sense if you wish to further equip your Mazda3 hatchback.

Release Date

As per the brand, the Mazda3 hatchback has been released and is expected to hit the roads by winter 2022.

The 2023 Mazda Mazda3 hatchback will be powered by a 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G PY-VPTS I-4 motor that employs the brilliant Skyactiv tech developed by the brand. The tech helps in improving both fuel efficiency and performance of the motor while keeping the emission levels low. In its base tune, the motor pumps out a healthy 191 horsepower, up by 5 horses over the 2022 model, along with 186 lb-ft of torque. Definitely a level up than the even more basic 2.0-liter mill on the sedan version, the 2.5L motor has adequate grunt on tap always, to take care of all your daily running and then some more to satiate your highway cruising needs. While the turbocharged version of this motor takes the performance of the car to a whole new level with a 0-60 mph sprint time of 6.1 seconds only, the 8.1-second 0-60 mph run time of this unit isn’t less impressive for the class. The motor is mated to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission that is quick to deliver the shifts and drives the front wheels of the hatchback. With the optional AWD layout, you can drive without worrying much over slippery surfaces or tarmacs having lower-than-usual traction.

The Honda Civic hatchback gets a standard 2.0-liter I-4 powerplant that delivers 158 horses along with only 138 lb-ft of torque. Despite that, the car is quick enough for the class and propels to 60 mph from a standstill within 7.9 seconds flat. The Toyota Corolla hatchback also gets a 2.0-liter I-4 motor under its hood. It makes more power and torque than the Civic but is quicker than both the latter and the Mazda3 as well. The Subaru Impreza hatch here has the most dated motor, a 2.0-liter H-4 unit. While both the power and torque output figures are decent at the most, it is the slowest one off the line here amidst the rivals.

2023 Mazda3 hatchback Ride and Handling

Mazda vehicles have made a name for themselves in this competitive market due to their desirable handling as compared to the rivals they face in their respective classes. The Mazda3 also has surprisingly sporty handling for a compact hatchback. You might think that the car sacrifices ride comfort for athleticism, but no, it doesn’t. The ride remains settled over most surfaces at all speeds, and high-speed stability out on the highways is impressive. The quick and responsive steering makes tight space maneuvering a breeze inside the city limits. While driving at high speeds, the steering weighs up nicely giving you enough confidence.

2023 Mazda3 hatchback Braking Performance

Apart from the impressive driving dynamics and the brisk acceleration capabilities, the 2023 Mazda3 has good enough braking prowess too. At the front, the car gets a pair of 11.6-inch rotors and at the rear, the wheels get a pair of 10.4-inch rotors. While the Mazda3 weighs a little more than 3,000 lbs, the brakes are strong enough to halt the car within 120 feet while traveling at 60 mph. While driving, the brakes deliver a progressive performance with smooth stops but bite strongly during emergency braking situations.

The Honda Civic hatchback weighs less than the Mazda3 and gets almost similar-sized brake rotors both at the front and rear. However, it takes 134 feet to come to a complete stop while traveling at 60 mph. The Toyota Corolla hatchback also gets a decent set of braking hardware both at the front and rear and weighs 3,060 lbs. While its stopping distance from 60mph is unknown, it takes 172 feet to come to a halt from 70 mph on its speedo. The Subaru Impreza gets similar-sized front and rear brake rotors and requires 124 feet only to come to a complete stop from 60 mph.

Not only handling but Mazda vehicles are quite fuel efficient too courtesy of the unique Skyactiv technology. With a slight increase in power for the 2023 model year, the Mazda3 hatchback will see no changes in its mpg figures though. Inside the city limits, the car will return an average of 26 mpg while out on the highways, the number will climb to 35 mpg. Combined mileage output is rated at 30 mpg only, a solid figure considering its impressive output figures from the powertrain. The gas tank is a decent-sized one at 13.2 gallons and allows the car to cover about 343 miles inside the city and over 450 miles out on the highways.

The Honda Civic hatch is the most fuel-efficient one here though by a slight margin only. However, it loses out to its rivals in terms of driving range numbers due to its 12.4-gallon gas tank. The Toyota Corolla hatchback has the best highway mileage here at 37 mpg, giving a few hybrids a run for their money. With a similar-sized gas tank to the Mazda3, the Corolla can drive as much as 370 miles inside the city limits along with clocking close to 500 miles out on the highways. The Subaru Impreza also returns commendable mpg numbers despite having an aged powertrain. As a result, it trails the Corolla here quite closely, beating the Mazda3.

We have seen Mazda delivering some impressive cabins on its vehicles, but the brand decided to level it up with the latest version of the Mazda3. With the 2023 Mazda3 hatch seeing no changes on the inside, the upscale and premium cabin will be back once again. Considering the base price of the car, the cabin looks and feels quite premium, and the steering wheel might remind you of certain Porsche cars. To minimize the exposed plasticky appearance, the dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials with white stitching and the overall design is quite eye-pleasing as well. The driver gets a set of three dials as instrument clusters where both the speedo and the tacho are analog units on either side of the multi-information display in the middle that also sports a circular design as well. The center console houses the gear selector stick along with a couple of cup holders and a rotary knob for controlling the infotainment system. The front seats have manual adjustments however, you can equip them with power adjustments through the optional packages. Both headroom and legroom are ample on both the front and rear seats, and tall passengers would find themselves comfortable as well. The cargo capacity is also decent for the class at 20 cu-ft of space behind the rear seats which can be increased to 55 cu-ft after folding the seats as well.

Honda made some big changes inside the Civic hatchback after the latest facelift, and the car now looks more premium than ever on the inside. Other than providing oodles of headroom and legroom for all the occupants, the cabin also offers a unique appeal upfront with that chicken-wire-style dashboard design that neatly hides the air-con vents while all the controls are now more easily accessible from the driver’s seat. Cargo capacity behind the rear seats is excellent too with 22.6 cu-ft on offer. Toyota has kept it simple inside the Corolla hatch with an uncluttered dashboard and center console. All the controls of the Corolla are placed around and below the infotainment display, making it easier to access them from the driver’s seat. However, the cargo capacity behind the rear seats is sub-par with only 17.8 cu-ft on offer. The Subaru Impreza has a rather old but practical cabin but the cluttered layout of the dashboard makes it look and feel even older. However, the comfort levels are right on point and the cabin feels right at home for tall passengers as well.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Mazda3 hatchback include:

• Folding 60/40-split rear seats
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather seats
• Paddle shifters
• Heated steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2023 Mazda3 hatchback’s infotainment system?

Coming to the infotainment unit, the 2023 Mazda3 gets a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen display that runs a proprietary user interface. The layout of the menu is user-friendly and the interface is fluid as well as intuitive too. Standard features include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, an 8-speaker audio setup, voice control capabilities, HD radio, and Bluetooth along with a couple of USB ports. Additionally, you can upgrade the audio system to a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system, and have satellite radio along with an integrated navigation system as well.

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Mazda3 hatchback include:

• 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• HD radio
• Satellite radio
• Voice controls
• USB ports

On the outside, the Mazda3 looks absolutely striking, especially after the redesign it went through back in 2019. The exterior doesn't have many cuts or creases but the front end looks quite aggressive with the big front grille and the sleek yet extended headlamp units. The hood gets a clamshell-like design along with having a couple of character lines on either side. The side profile is smooth and the rear end finishes with a rakish rear glass design. The tail lights have a combination of extended, sleek yet rounded designs and are split into two halves with each of them on the rear fenders and the tailgate. The rakish roofline, however, hampers the rear visibility quite a bit.

Honestly, the Honda Civic never looked quite dull but after the latest redesign, it looks more premium but in a subtle way. The longer nose and the longer boot make it look like a small sedan, but thanks to the extensive dimensions, the cabin now has more space. If you desire a sporty-looking compact car for your city runs, the Toyota Corolla hatchback makes a great option due to its striking front-end design. However, it is also the most compact one here. Subaru is reluctant to move away from its traditional wagon-style design for its vehicles, and the same can be found on the Impreza hatchback as well.

Some standout exterior features include:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Sunroof
• Black-painted wheels(optional)
• Black heated mirrors(optional)

In terms of safety, Mazda has equipped the Mazda3 with all the necessary safety techs including several ADAS techs as well. Moreover, the car bagged a top 5-star rating from the NHTSA along with securing the Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS as well. The standard ADAS features include Forward collision mitigation, Adaptive cruise control, Lane keeping assist, Automatic high beams, Drowsy driver monitor. Additionally, you can equip the car with Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, Traffic Jam Assist, and Rear automatic braking.

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Forward collision mitigation
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keeping assist
• Automatic high beams
• Drowsy driver monitor
• Traffic Jam Assist

2023 Mazda3 hatchback vs 2022 Honda Civic hatchback

The Honda Civic has been a no-nonsense car for a long time now and has been receiving timely upgrades too. As such, one cannot go wrong with the Civic over the Mazda3. The Civic challenges the Mazda3 in terms of handling, and interior comfort, and offers slightly more rear seat space than the latter as well. The fuel efficiency department is better on the Civic too as compared to the Mazda3. However, the Mazda3 has an edge over the Civic with its optional AWD layout without asking for a hefty premium.

2023 Mazda3 hatchback vs 2022 Toyota Corolla hatchback

Like the Civic, the Corolla has been a long-standing and capable contender in the class, and with the hatchback version, it makes things more competent. When compared with the Mazda3, the Corolla lacks the oomph and premium feel offered by the former and the latter isn’t as engaging to drive as the Mazda3 as well. Moreover, the interior space is so-so inside the Corolla, especially at the rear, and it lacks adequate cargo space too. Overall, the Mazda3 is a superior option in the segment to the Corolla at a similar price point.

2023 Mazda3 hatchback vs 2022 Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza has been winning hearts since its launch with its spacious and cozy cabin, cavernous cargo area, and standard AWD. However, due to a lack of updates, the Impreza has been aging for more than a couple of model years now. However, it fights it off with the Mazda3 with its impressive standard safety features list and the Symmetrical AWD layout right from the base trim whereas the latter gets it as an option. The Mazda3 has an edge over the Impreza with its better handling, power figures, and that optional turbocharged motor.

In a word, yes! The Mazda3 offers a complete package with lucrative price tags and it is hard to match it in the class. Despite having slightly less legroom at the rear than the Civic or the Impreza, the Mazda3 triumphs with its performance, optional AWD, athletic handling, and upscale cabin. The optional extras offered with the car are also worthy trying since none of the features are useless. Overall, the Mazda3 makes a solid option in the competitive segment it sells.