Gallery: 2018 Mazda 3
What is it: Mazda’s 3 is well built, handles nicely and is good-looking. It’s been an Autoweek favorite for years. Our tester, the Grand Touring version, is the top of the line, above the Sport and Touring models. Touring and Grand Touring get you a half-liter more displacement and 29 hp more than Sport, but really you’d likely be happy with any 3.
Key Competitors: Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla
Base Price: $24,945 As-Tested Price: $28,035
Highlights: The Mazda 3’s look was subtly upgraded last year inside and out. For 2018 the 3 gets more standard equipment including City Brake Support (autonomous low-speed braking) and LED headlights with auto leveling (on the Grand Touring). All models now have standard G-Vectoring Control -- the system uses software to put more load on the front wheels during turn in, aiding grip, responsiveness and handling.
Gallery: 2018 Mazda 3 interior
Our Opinion: “Once again,” says the Mazda press kit, “the Mazda spirit has been embodied in a compact car that is designed to be driven.”
I don’t usually agree with an automaker’s press kit but this time I mostly do. Mazda puts plenty of effort toward making driver’s cars, and if this car had a six-speed manual, and Volkswagen’s Golf didn’t exist, I’d remove “mostly” from the last sentence. With its quick steering and excellent ride/handling balance, the Mazda 3 is indeed an appealing driver.
It’d be even more so with a manual trans, but this example was fitted with the optional six-speed auto. The 2.5-liter equipped version accelerates quickly and smoothly for the most part and the automatic is smooth enough. And while the car isn’t really a hot hatch (with either transmission) at least the manual would let me get the most from the four and put the light, nimble chassis to best use.
The price made me suck in my breath a bit, mostly because the last Golf I drove was $4,500 less. Both the Golf and the Mazda are the rare cars that as I drive them I think “I’d spend my own money on one of these.”
--Wes Raynal, editor
Other Voices: I’m just going to add here that after five days of not driving on vacation, this 3 was a great little sedan to get back to. It’s not just the Miata that’s tuned properly by Mazda. The steering, in particular, is near perfect in this era of electric power assist. It feels dialed in on-center and has just the right weight buildup as the wheel turns. This is...not as fun to drive as a Miata on freeway cloverleafs, but it’s damn close if you need space for four.
It IS small. It’s tough with two cars seats in the back and two adults up front. It’ll get easier though when all of the kids are in forward-facing seats. As I write that I’m trying to decide if any family of four would go for this over a small crossover in today’s market. The Mazda 3 outsold the CX-3 crossover 3-to-1 in June, and about the same over the first six months of this year. So that’s good news. Maybe Mazda buyers are looking for a little more fun in their daily driving, hence fewer crossovers. On the other hand, it sold even more CX-5s than 3s and CX-3s combined, so maybe families are just stepping up a size.
I’m with Wes: This and the Golf are two cars that I would and do recommend often. Unfortunately both are far down the sales list well behind the Honda Civic (good car), Toyota Corolla (better than it was), Hyundai Elantra (OK car) and Nissan Sentra (not a good car).
--Jake Lingeman, road test editor
Options: Premium EQ package including Mazda navigation, paddle shifters, adaptive front lighting, smart brake support, Mazda radar cruise control, traffic sign recognition, auto-dim Homelink rearview mirror, heated steering wheel, high-beam control, lane departure warning system, lane keep assist ($1,600); soul red paint ($300); sill trim plates ($125); rear bumper scuff guard ($100); cargo mat ($75)
Vehicle Model Information
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $24,945
AS TESTED PRICE: $28,035
POWERTRAIN: 2.5-liter I4, FWD, six-speed automatic
OUTPUT: 184 hp @ 5,700 rpm; 185 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 3,098 lb
FUEL ECONOMY: 26/35/30 mpg
PROS: Among the best-driving small cars available
CONS: Tight back seat
