2020 Mazda 3

The Select package of the 2020 Mazda 3 sedan is the most valued package. Adding just over $1000 to the base price, Mazda 3 Select fetches you more comfort and safety features including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, proximity keyless entry, synthetic leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rear-seat center armrest, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2020 Mazda 3 sedan is available in four trim levels - Base, Select, Preferred, and Premium. The Mazda 3 price range lies between $21,500 for the base trim and goes up to $27,900 for the top-of-the-line Mazda 3 Premium AWD. All variants of the Mazda 3 sedan are powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. All the sedan trims come with a front-wheel-drive as standard, with all-wheel-drive available as an option for all except the base sedan.

There's no manual transmission on offer with the 3 sedan and enthusiasts will have to go for the Mazda 3 hatchback for the stick. While the base model comes pretty much loaded with decent amount of technology, only the higher Preferred and Premium model feels luxurious and premium. The Mazda 3 Select on the other hand adds more creature comforts that adds more value to the car for just a minor price hike. 

The generous power output of the 2020 Mazda 3 sedan doesn't come without any trade-offs. The 2020 Mazda 3 FWD sedan with automatic transmission gets an EPA estimated 26/35 MPG rating in city highway conditions, which puts it at the bottom of the barrel in this price range. The automatic Mazda 3 with cylinder deactivation improves the fuel economy by 1 MPG. The AWD-equipped models are rated at 25/33/28 MPG in city/highway/combined testing conditions respectively. The 13.2-gallon fuel tank doesn't do justice to the range and offers a maximum highway cruising range of about 462 miles. 

The Kia Forte leads the pack in terms of frugality in the compact sedan segment which is very closely followed by its sibling, the Elantra. The Honda Civic is next in line and offers a great balance of performance and efficiency but lacks in terms of gas tank capacity. That said, its range still fairs better than the Mazda which has a marginally larger fuel tank. The Korean twins also offer the largest fuel tank which translates to a class-leading driving range. 

"Mazda has succeeded in delivering a sporty premium experience without sacrificing comfort. Credit its compliant ride, comfortable and supportive seating, and sufficiently noise-insulated cabin."-Edmunds

The quality of the interior of the 2020 Mazda 3 might be mistaken for a much more expensive luxury sedan. It is well-built with each panel assembled with precision. The tech inside the 2020 Mazda 3 finally came in line with all the latest trends in technology, as it tries to add a few of its own. You now get a standard 8.8-inch infotainment screen and a 7-inch driver information display. Most of the trims offer leather upholstery, so the cabin feels supple and smooth to the touch from every seating position. The heated seats have multiple levels of heating, providing maximum comfort over a wide range of temperatures.

Mazda uses old-fashioned knobs and dials to make it easier to access the climate controls, unlike the fancier Mercs which have a screen and ten different menus just to cool the cabin down on a hot California summer day. The 2020 Mazda 3 offers a generous 13.2 cubic feet of boot space which is adequate for the size of this sedan. It has a wide trunk lid that makes it easier to load in luggage. If required, the back seats can be folded down to increase the trunk space.  There is plenty of headroom and legroom for all occupants, though taller passengers in the back might feel cramped. The sloping roofline might make it difficult to get in and out of the cabin, but the wide-open doors ensure that doesn't become much of a problem. 

The Civic comes the closest since it has a long list of standard features that are mostly offered as options on the Mazda. The Kia Forte has the biggest boot in the bunch. With all seats upright, the Kia can store up to 15.3 cubic feet of luggage. In terms of cabin space, the Honda Civic is the king of this segment with the best front and rear seat legroom on offer. While the Elantra and Forte offer more features right from the base trim, it is the Civic and the Mazda 3 that feel more premium of the lot. 

Some other infotainment features include:

"Few will argue with the sedan’s beauty. We think it is among the most stylish in its segment."-Kelley Blue Book

It certainly seems like the designers worked hard for the 2020 update of the Mazda 3. It is easy to mistake it for a sports sedan from afar. Its smooth streaks and elegant lines over the front running uninterruptedly through the back of the car remind us a lot of the Porsche 911. It is a beauty to look at, with no aggressive outlines or sharp edges that disrupt the finish of the car. The doors merge with the body of the car seamlessly. The slim LED headlights go well with the low-slung design of the Mazda 3.

The 2020 Mazda 3 sedan is a big and heavy car. It has a wide tread on the road and you may want to keep it separated from tight confines or narrow streets as much as possible. The smaller sedans in this price range may not handle quite as smoothly, but their compactness would make it easier to park in a crowded lot. Mazda offers up to 6 paint color options with the 3 sedan and offers 2 different alloy wheel styles based on the trims. 

The Mazda 3 is the longest and tallest sedan in this comparison and hence offers great legroom and headroom inside the cabin, with no compromise being made in the trunk capacity as well. The ground clearance of 5.5-inches is also amongst the best as the Civic rides about half an inch lower to the ground. The Elantra is the shortest one here while the Forte is the lightest. In terms of design, it is the Mazda that shall attract the most eyeballs on the streets. 

 Exterior Features

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• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power sliding sunroof
• 18-inch bright finish alloy wheels

The IIHS has rated the 2020 Mazda 3 sedan with the highest grade of 'Good' in all crash-test categories, which proves beyond any doubt that the Mazda 3 can ensure the safety of the occupants in the event of any crash. So far, there has been no report from the NHTSA regarding the crashworthiness of the 2020 Mazda 3, though we can safely assume it will share a similar result. 

Tests from the IIHS proved that the Mazda 3 is capable of avoiding a head-on collision at speeds up to 25 mph. An array of blind spot sensors can alert the driver of any potential obstacles out of the line of sight. A Driver Attention Alert System is standard for the Select trim and above. This system monitors 70 different parameters to determine the signs of fatigue or if enough attention is paid on the road ahead. 

Safety Features

• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• MazdaConnect Emergency SOS
• Driver Attention Alert
• Lane Departure Warning And Lane Keep Assist
• Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Emergency Braking
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Blind Spot Monitoring System
• Back-Up Camera with Cross-Traffic Alert

2020 Mazda 3 vs 2020 Honda Civic

The Civic has been a cult offering from Honda in the US car market for a very long time now. When compared with the 2020 Mazda 3 sedan, Honda Civic stands on the second podium due to a less powerful engine on the Mazda 3 which in turn strips the car of drive quality and acceleration. Although when compared in terms of safety, the Civic definitely feels more eligible due to the standard Honda Sense suite safety technologies. The interiors of the Mazda 3 are designed plusher and premium giving it an upper edge when compared to the slightly less posh and practical Honda Civic. Better safety features, enhanced performance, and improved reliability make the Mazda 3 a clear winner.

2020 Mazda 3 vs 2020 Kia Forte

Mazda has redesigned the sedan for 2020 and this has resulted in a slight change in the legroom of the car. It is not that much of an inconvenience, though the Kia Forte is a car that offers better passenger space than the Mazda 3. In terms of performance, the Mazda 3 can run circles around the Forte, albeit with less fuel efficiency. The standard safety suite and a gorgeous exterior design tip the decision in favor of the Mazda 3. Not to mention the Mazda is not as prone to safety and operational hazards as much as any Kia in the US market.

2020 Mazda 3 vs 2020 Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra creates great value for its buyers with the lower price tag and plenty of standard features right from the lower trims. Add to that the exhaustive warranty package offered by Hyundai and the solid fuel efficiency, there is hardly anything to fault in the sedan. That said, it is no match to the performance and handling offered by the Mazda and the cabin too doesn't feel as premium even in the higher trims. Although the match-up is pretty balanced between the two, the superior safety ratings tilt scales lightly towards the Mazda 3. 

The 2020 Mazda 3 sedan is a promising offering in the US car market, with almost all the features possible in a sedan coupled with amazing aesthetics and a powerful engine. The cabin feels plush and spacious and there is plenty of technology and safety aids to make it feel worth the selling price. If the lower fuel efficiency figures and slightly higher price tag feels worth the additional investment for the added performance boost, the Mazda 3 pretty sweeps the entire competition off the floor.