The Mazda Sedan That Deserves More Attention Than Ever

The sedan market isn’t what it used to be. Not so long ago, the sight of sedans on driveways and out on the road used to be a lot more common. The SUV market takeover has helped to ensure that the number of new sedans available in the U.S. is nowhere near the number of new crossovers and SUVs.

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That being said, a lot of brands are still turning them out. We have the 2 Series Gran Coupe and 3 Series from BMW ; the Toyota Corolla and Camry Hybrid make a lot of sense for budget-conscious buyers, and the Cadillac CT-5 lineup provides a lot of luxury and power to the mid-size segment. However, as we find in a lot of segments, Mazda is somewhat overlooked, and the same thing has happened in the sedan market. It has built a compact sedan that deserves a lot more attention.

Compact Sedans Still Make More Sense Than Many SUVs

The U.S. auto market may have fallen hard for crossovers and SUVs, but there is still a big question: should you buy an SUV or a sedan? As vehicles steadily climb in price and interest rates remain high, some of us are beginning to look beyond ride height and rugged styling in favor of value. A modern compact sedan offers nearly everything we actually need from a car: comfortable seating, a usable trunk, good safety tech, and wallet-friendly fuel economy.

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While SUVs are more fashionable, and they do offer a lot in terms of cargo capacity, confidence, and space, physics haven’t changed. Sitting lower to the ground in a sedan means less body roll, better aerodynamics, and a more fun feel in the corners. For the majority of us who spend most of our time driving around suburbs and highways rather than mountain trails, a good sedan can deliver a more refined ride while costing less at the pump.

Why Value-Conscious Buyers Should Return To Sedans

Volkswagen

Budget-conscious drivers have arguably never had a better reason to consider a four-door sedan over an SUV. Starting prices are generally lower compared to a lot of compact SUVs, while standard equipment has gotten so much better over the last decade. Features that were once reserved for higher-end vehicles, like large infotainment systems, adaptive cruise control, and wireless phone connectivity, are now found very commonly in the segment.

Maybe more importantly, some compact sedans can maximize every dollar spent. Their lighter construction requires smaller engines for reasonable performance, their low profile can mean better fuel economy, and their generally simpler packaging often means lower ownership costs over the mid and long-term. In a market where affordability has become one of the biggest factors, the humble compact sedan can offer a lot of value.

The Segment’s Biggest Players Are Hard To Ignore

TopSpeed | John Beltz Snyder

Standing out in the compact sedan market is more of a challenge than ever, given the competition. The Honda Civic continues to make a name for itself in terms of balanced engineering, decent road manners, impressive practicality, and good resale value. The Corolla also remains a trusted choice with hybrid powertrain options, decent cargo capacity, and Toyota-grade reliability, while the new Hyundai Elantra has evolved into one of the techiest choices in the segment.

Then there are the likes of the new Nissan Sentra, the Kia K4, and the Volkswagen Jetta. All three do well for comfort, technology, efficiency, and some European driving character. Now that the market has more choice, it has been transformed from the entry-level, first-buyer choice into something a lot more competitive, well-rounded, and impressive.

The 2026 Mazda 3 Sedan Refuses To Follow The Crowd

Mazda

With low prices, a sleek design inside and out, fun driving dynamics, and very appealing running costs, the 2026 Mazda 3 sedan deserves the same kind of attention as the Corolla and Elantra. There are five trims available for this year’s Mazda 3: the 2.5 S, the 2.5 S Select Sport, the 2.5 S Preferred, the 2.5 S Carbon Edition, and the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. Prices range from $24,650 to $36,940.

Base Trim Engine

2.5L SKYACTIV-G I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

186 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

186 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

27/36/30 MPG

Make

Mazda

Model

Mazda 3 Sedan

Segment

Midsize Sedan

To put that pricing into perspective, the new Corolla has an MSRP of $23,125, and the new Civic has a starting price of $24,695, so it sits nicely at the low end between both of them. However, the new Mazda 3 does things a little differently from the admittedly small compact sedan market. The 2026 Mazda 3 sedan lineup has the following trim and price breakdown.

The 2026 Mazda 3 Sedan Does Things Its Own Way

Mazda

While a lot of its competitors have opted for CVTs and small turbocharged engines or hybrid powertrains, the new Mazda 3 sticks with a torque-converter automatic transmission and a naturally aspirated engine for most of its lineup (you can opt for a turbo at the highest end). The Mazda 3 also boasts smooth body lines instead of the faux-aggressive look that so many compact sedans strive for, and you still get a lot of luxuries inside the cabin for a low price.

However, what may make the new Mazda 3 stand out the most, and help it distinguish itself from the likes of the Civic, Corolla, and Elantra, is how it behaves on the road. Despite its affordable price tag, it feels a lot more fun behind the wheel compared to its similarly priced competition.

Engaging Driving Dynamics At A Low Price

Mazda

At the heart of the Mazda 3 are two engine options: one naturally aspirated, one turbocharged. The engine choices have the following specifications.

Owners who have left a review of the new Mazda 3 on Kelley Blue Book rate it 4.3 out of 5 overall, and more importantly here, 4.1 out of 5 for performance. On J.D. Power, it also gets 77 out of 100 for driving experience, so pretty good overall. 0–60 mph times for the NA engine models have been clocked at seven to 7.5 seconds, which is not immensely slow for its price.

Where things get better, though, is in the turbocharged model, which has a 0–60 mph time of 5.6 to 6.5 seconds. On top of that, you get Mazda’s available i-Activ AWD system, which constantly monitors steering angle, throttle position, wheel speed, and road conditions and shuffles torque between the axles when it detects slip.

Mazda

You also get SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics with G-Vectoring Control Plus as standard. This system subtly adjusts engine torque on corner entry and applies braking on corner exit, which shores up stability at speed and makes this budget-friendly compact sedan feel a lot more composed than it should. This impression from our review of the Mazda 3 Turbo sums it up nicely:

Why The Mazda 3 Really Stands Out

Mazda

Compact sedans generally serve the purpose of being budget-friendly and practical. Mazda hasn’t forgotten that, and alongside being a small sleeper sedan (especially the turbo model), the new Mazda 3 ticks a lot of boxes for useful everyday, affordable driving with a luxe twist.

Dimensions are on the compact side, at 183.5 inches in length by 70.7 inches in width by 56.9 inches in height. However, despite the city-friendly stature, you get a passenger volume of 92.8 cubic feet. This equates to seating for five people and a maximum cargo capacity of 13.2 cubic feet. You also get a respectable amount of room for you and your passengers over both rows, with the following interior dimensions.

The IIHS has also given the new Mazda 3 a Top Safety Pick+ award, so on top of the usable amount of space, you get peace of mind for family driving. You get the i-Activsense safety suite as standard, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor.

Mazda generally teeters on the edge of being luxurious in some models, and not in others. For the new Mazda 3, though, there is no arguing that it is very upscale for its price point. Don’t expect BMW levels, but there isn’t much to complain about.

Few Compact Sedans Feel This Upscale For The Money

Mazda

All trims of the new Mazda 3 sedan get a good helping of upscale additions; the entry-level 2.5 S is equipped with a clean, driver-centric dash centered around an 8.8-inch Mazda Connect display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is complemented by an eight-speaker audio system.

The 2.5 S Select Sport gets a richer feel to it, thanks to leatherette-trimmed sport seats, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift. The Preferred trim builds on this with heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and a power moonroof.

The Carbon Edition takes a notable step up, with an exclusive red leather upholstery and Polymetal Gray exterior pairing. At the top of the range, though, is the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus; it feels like a small flagship sedan.

You get a 10.25-inch infotainment display, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel, the 360-degree View Monitor, a frameless auto-dim mirror, and soft-touch materials throughout a very nicely thought-out, gimmick-free cabin. All that for under $40,000 gives you a nice bang-for-your-buck feeling.

Strong Value And Low Costs Go Beyond The Purchase Price

Mazda

At the top end, the price of a Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus may be a little high for some budgets, but you do get strong performance and prices comparable to the top tier of the new Camry (the XSE, which has a starting price of $35,700). This Camry can get to 60 mph in around 6.5 to 7.1 seconds, so the Mazda is far quicker.

When it comes to general running costs as well, the new Mazda 3 sedan does a good job at not busting your wallet. CarEdge says it will cost you $36,526 to own a Mazda 3 over five years , and give it an “A-” value rating. To put that into perspective, a Corolla is estimated to cost you $34,616 over the same time, and an Elantra $36,043. CarEdge has provided the following five-year costs for a Mazda 3 sedan.

RepairPal rates the Mazda 3 4 out of 5 for reliability, and says that the average annual maintenance cost is $433, so somewhat below the compact car market average of $526; this places it in ninth position out of the 36 compact cars they monitor.

Fuel efficiency is also commendable, considering that it is not a hybrid. FuelEconomy.gov estimates that the least fuel-efficient sedan model is the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, which can achieve 26 combined mpg (23 mpg city/31 mpg highway).

The AWD naturally aspirated models can achieve 28 combined mpg (25 mpg city/34 mpg highway), and the most fuel-efficient models are the front-wheel drive trims with the base-level engine, which can achieve 30 combined mpg (27 mpg city/36 mpg highway). FuelEconomy.gov has provided the following fuel cost information for the Mazda 3 sedan lineup.

The 2026 Mazda 3 Sedan Might Be The Segment’s Best-Kept Secret

Mazda

The compact sedan market is not like it once was, but what is available makes it a healthy place. The Elantra leans heavily into tech and dramatic styling, the Civic remains the benchmark for all-round goodness, the Corolla has built a nearly unshakable reputation for dependability, and the Nissan Sentra continues to offer plenty of value. All of them have a clear idea of what they offer, but very few manage to feel genuinely distinctive once you’re behind the wheel.

That’s where the Mazda 3 sedan separates itself. Rather than chasing huge touchscreens or the boldest body creases, Mazda has focused on the basics that make a car enjoyable to live with every day. As we have found with a lot of Mazda models in the past, it feels engineered first and marketed second.

Mazda

The controls in the cabin have good weighting behind them, visibility is good, the seating is comfortable, and the cabin is laid out for easy access to things and for a pseudo-sporty feel. The compact sedan formula is very simple, and Mazda hasn’t tried to change it; they have just delivered it with a layer of polish. If there is one complaint about the sedan, it is that, for its on-road dynamics, it is only available with an automatic transmission, while the Mazda 3 Hatchback is available with a six-speed manual.

That said, the automatic transmission in the sedan reportedly avoids the rubber-band sensation that has become synonymous with so many CVT-equipped rivals, and owners have praised the feel of it. Mazda says that there has been a bit of a boost in Mazda 3 sedan sales in 2026, with 2,781 models sold in May 2026 alone; this is an improvement compared to the 1,670 sold in May 2025. We can see why.

Mazda

Sales may be some way behind its rivals, and it does not generate a huge amount of hype compared to some of the better-known and sportier sedans out there, but the Mazda 3 sedan quietly excels in almost every area that actually matters. If you are looking to spend budget-friendly amounts and still want something a little more than just simple transport, the new Mazda 3 sedan looks to deliver.

Sources: Mazda, J.D. Power, iSeeCars, Kelley Blue Book, IIHS, RepairPal, and FuelEconomy.gov