About Mazda3
The Mazda3 has spent two decades proving that a sensible compact car can still be fun. It arrived for the 2004 model year as the replacement for the Protege, sold as both a sedan and a hatchback, and quickly earned a reputation for handling that put rivals like the Corolla and Civic to shame. The turbocharged Mazdaspeed3 that followed was a cult hit with enthusiasts, a front-drive hooligan with a reputation for wrestling its steering wheel.
The current, fourth-generation Mazda3, launched in 2019, took a bold step upmarket with a minimalist, elegant design and a cabin that critics compared to luxury cars. Mazda added all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine in the United States, while in Europe it introduced the innovative Skyactiv-X engine that uses spark-controlled compression ignition. Reviewers have consistently praised its driving feel and interior quality, while pointing out the hatchback's thick rear pillars and the back seat's tight space.
The compact car segment has shrunk as buyers moved to crossovers, and the Mazda3 now competes with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Kia K4, Nissan Sentra and Volkswagen Jetta. In some markets the lineup is shrinking too; the sedan has been dropped in the United Kingdom, leaving only the hatchback. Its crossover twin, the CX-30, often outsells it. This page follows Mazda3 news from around the world, including reviews, pricing, special editions, recalls and sales, along with the uncertain future of the Skyactiv-X engine and what a next generation might bring. For buyers who still want a car rather than a crossover, the Mazda3 remains a reference point.