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2021 Mazda 3

Rating7.7

Ranked #3 in

Compact Sedan

Write Review

$20,650 - $33,900

Starting Price

Year

Nathan Dyer

Senior Editor,

Updated on January 31, 2024

Pros	Cons	What's New
Attractive exterior design	Lack of manual transmission	Two new engine options
Sharp handling and driving dynamics	Average trunk space	Shuffling of features between trims
Premium cabin design and materials quality	Limited rear-seat legroom
Potent and efficient engine options
Available all-wheel drive

Specs & Features

$20,650

price

155 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

150 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

torque

6-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

2.0L 4cyl FWD 6A

engine

basic warranty

Overview

A couple of years after a complete overhaul, the 2021 Mazda 3 gets two new engine options on either end of its trim lineup. The Base model now gets a 2-liter naturally aspirated 155 hp unit while the top Mazda 3 Turbo and Premium Plus models are powered by a 2.5-liter 227 hp turbo-4 engine. Other than that, the only changes to the 2021 Mazda3 sedan include the shuffling of features between the trims. The Mazda 3 2021 price starts at $20,650 excluding the $995 destination and handling fees. Therefore, there is a price drop of $800 over the previous model year.

Featuring a 7-trim lineup of Base, 2.5 S, Select, Preferred, Premium, 2.5 Turbo, and Premium Plus, the 2021 Mazda 3 MSRP can be an expense of $21,645-$33,595 this season. Having said that, it simply translates to the fact that the range-leader 2021 Mazda 3 Premium Plus will cost you $11,950 more than the Base for enhanced specs and assets.

We Recommend

With a perfect amalgamation of features and a competitive price tag to fit in the pockets of most buyers, the 2021 Mazda 3 Select sedan is the one that you should go for.

The Mazda 3 2021 competes in a very competitive compact sedan segment and offers the fun-to-drive and sporty appeal that lacks in what is a mundane and daily driver segment. The 2021 Mazda 3 interior and exterior designs are one of the best in the segment and the premium materials and build quality. While the Mazda 3 hatchback 2021 offers better trunk space, the Mazda 3 sedan 2021 feels every penny. The available AWD makes it stand out in the segment dominated by the likes of the ever-popular Honda Civic, the affordable Hyundai Elantra, and the very reliable Toyota Corolla.

2021 Mazda 3 for sale

Buyers can get hold of the Mazda 3 sedan with finance options starting at $372/month for a 60-month period at 3.9% APR. The Mazda 3 lease deals begin at $303/month for a 36-month tenure with a $2,499 down payment for both offers.

For budget-oriented buyers, the used Mazda 3 can be availed of with a base price of $1,200. Going for older model years like the 2019 Mazda 3 could be a matter of $14,990 and Mazda 3 2019 can cost as much as $29,995 along with a listing of up to 337 in total.

Buying Advice

Although the higher trims add a lot of creature comforts to the mix, it also appreciates the cost quite a bit. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for the Select trim which is also the most popular trim, as it is powered by a larger and powerful engine and also offers a lot of functionality.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

Amongst the more affordable and frugal rivals, Mazda hasn’t managed to garner large sales volumes in the recent past, but with a complete overhaul as recent as the 2019 model year and the addition of new-age driver aids for the 2021 model year, it is all set to offer immense value to its buyers. The prices begin at an MSRP of $20,650 as it competes against the stalwarts like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Forte.

Features
8.0/10

The 2021 Mazda 3 is offered in four major trims with the base trim available with the larger 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine as well for an added premium of just $1,000 which is standard on the other trims. Apart from the base trim, all other trims also offer an optional AWD system which is pretty for the segment. There are plenty of features loaded from lower down the trim ladder and the higher trims add more convenience and premium features to the mix.

Trims	Base 2.0	Select	Preferred	Premium
MSRP (FWD)	$20,650	$22,850	$24,500	$27,000
MSRP (RWD)	-	$24,250	$25,900	$28,400
Key Features	Dusk Sensing LED Headlamps	2.5L, 186 hp & 186 lb-ft inline-4 engine	8 -Way Power Driver Seat	Adaptive Front-lighting System
	Lane Departure Warning	Blind Spot Warning	SiriusXM Satellite Radio	3 Months Of Paid Satellite Radio Service
	8-speaker audio system	Leather Steering Wheel	Multi-Level Heating Front Seats	12-speaker Bose audio system
	Adaptive Cruise Control	Dual Zone Front Climate Control	Black Metallic-finish Front Grille	Power-sliding Glass Sunroof
	Rear View Camera	Hands-Free Entry		Leather Upholstery
	Cloth Upholstery	Leatherette Upholstery
	Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel	18-inch Alloy Wheels
	16-inch Alloy Wheels

Which trim should you buy?

Fuel Economy
6.9/10

The base engine may not offer great performance but is pretty frugal in nature, returning 31 mpg in combined city and highway driving conditions. The larger 2.5-liter engine is rated for 26/35/30 in the city/highway/combined conditions while the mighty turbo-4 engine is rated for 23/32/27 by the EPA. The 13.2-gallon fuel tank is decent for the segment and offers a driving range of over 350 miles even with the less frugal 2.5-liter turbocharged engine.

Model	2021 Mazda 3	2021 Honda Civic	2021 Hyundai Elantra	2021 Toyota Corolla
MPG (City)	28	30	33	30
MPG (Highway)	36	38	43	38
MPG (Combined)	31	33	37	33
Fuel Tank Capacity (gal)	13.2	12.4	14.0	13.2
Range (City/Highway/Combined) (miles)	370/475/419	372/471/409	462/602/518	396/502/436

Even the base and least powerful engine of the Mazda 3 sedan isn’t even close to the frugality offered by its rivals. The Hyundai Elantra is by far the most frugal one in the segment and the larger gas tank results in a class-leading driving range of about 500 miles on a single tank of gas. Both the Honda Civic and Corolla have identical fuel efficiency ratings but the Civic needs more frequent visits to the gas station due to the marginally smaller fuel tank capacity.

Interior
6.9/10

The cabin of the Mazda 3 feels extremely premium, especially for a compact sedan. Most of the touchpoints are either made of soft-touch plastics or are covered in leather, and the build quality too is on par with the Germans. The design is simple and elegant and is one of the most appealing cabins in the segment, if not the most attractive one. The seats are very comfortable and supportive and the perforated leather upholstery on the Premium trim feels just exceptional.

In terms of cabin space, at the front people of all sizes can fit in rather comfortably and although we understand it is a compact sedan, the space at the back is pretty limited. The legroom is tight and taller passengers will find it difficult for one long journey. The trunk capacity too is just average for the segment at 13.2 cu-ft but the rear seats can be folded down when needed. The cabin storage spots are limited and not the best and the base trim even misses out on the rear center armrest with cup holders, while the sunglasses holder in the overhead compartment is limited to just the top trims.

Model	2021 Mazda 3	2021 Honda Civic	2021 Hyundai Elantra	2021 Toyota Corolla
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)	38.0/55.7/42.3	39.3/57.0/42.3	40.6/56.5/42.3	38.3/54.0/42.0
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)	37.3/53.5/35.1	37.1/55.0/37.4	37.3/55.6/38.0	37.1/51.7/34.8
Trunk Capacity (cu-ft)	13.2	15.1	14.2	13.1

Both the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla offer similar cabin and luggage space with hardly any differences between the two. Hyundai Elantra feels the most spacious here, offering plenty of headroom and legroom for both the front seat and rear seat occupants. That being said, the Honda Civic has a pretty similarly sized cabin but offers class-leading boot space. Though none of the rivals offer the build and materials quality as good as the Mazda 3.

8-way power driver seat with power lumbar support and 2-position memory
Heated Front Sport Seats
60-40 Folding Bench Fold Forward Rear Seat
Leather Seat Trim and Leatherette Upholstered Dashboard & Door Trim Insert
Tilt/Telescoping Leather Steering Wheel
Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
Head-Up Display

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2021 Mazda 3?

Mazda offers the vertically oriented 8.8-inch infotainment system as standard across the range and that is a great thing for low-budget buyers. And although this variant of Mazda connects ditches the touchscreen controls, the rotary control with control buttons is fairly intuitive to use.

Though the lack of colors in the system makes it feel dated, the list of standard features is pretty impressive. The navigation system is an optional extra for $450 even with the Premium trim and the Bose audios system is really the greatest as well.

8.8-inch MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system
12-speaker Bose premium audio system
SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month trial subscription
Mazda navigation system w/3-year Traffic and Travel Link trial
Traffic sign recognition
HD Radio and Pandora internet radio
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility
Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming
Voice command and mobile 911 automatic emergency notification

Exterior
6.9/10

The smooth and flowing curves that embody Mazda’s Kodo "Soul of Motion" design language provides a very clean and classy appeal to the car. The sleek headlights and large front grille look striking. The chrome trim, larger 18-inch bright finish alloy wheels, moonroof, and adaptive headlights all add to the premium feel of the car.

Model	2021 Mazda 3	2021 Honda Civic	2021 Hyundai Elantra	2021 Toyota Corolla
Curb Weight (lbs)	2,984	2,771	2,868	2,910
Length (in)	183.5	182.7	184.1	182.3
Width (in)	70.7	70.9	71.9	70.1
Height (in)	56.9	55.7	55.7	56.5
Ground Clearance (in)	5.5	6.5	5.3	5.1
Wheelbase (in)	107.3	106.3	107.1	106.3

The Honda Civic is one of the smaller sedans of the segment and is also the lightest, the Hyundai Elantra is the longest and widest in this comparison. The longer wheelbase of the Elantra opens up more space on the inside. The Civic has the highest ground clearance to offer while the Toyota Corolla rides the lowest to the ground.

Automatic Projector Beam LED Auto-Leveling, Directionally Adaptive, Auto High-Beam, Daytime Running Lights Preference Setting Headlamps
LED Brakelights
Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
Power Side Mirrors w/Tilt Down and Turn Signal Indicator
Black Grille, Side Windows Trim, and Front Windshield Trim
Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Sunroof w/Sunshade
18-inch Bright Finish Alloy Wheels

Safety
9.9/10

Mazda has always been at the forefront in terms of safety and the 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and the “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS received by 2021 Mazda 3 is a testament to that. Add to that the additional new age driver aids that Mazda has added for the 2021 model year, the 3 has become safer than ever. There are plenty of safety and driver assistance features on offer, most of which are standard across the lineup, a highlight of which is listed below.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Driveline Traction Control
Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning
Blind Spot Monitoring
Smart Brake Support (SBS)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
Back-Up Camera

Competition
8.0/10

2021 Mazda 3 Sedan vs 2021 Honda Civic

The market favorite of the segment, the Honda Civic is one of the biggest rivals for Mazda 3 from its homeland. While the 3 sedan is more affordable than the Civic with very little difference between the two in terms of performance and handling, the Civic is more frugal and reliable.

The cabin is more spacious and the Civic also has a larger trunk on offer. That being said, Mazda offers a more premium cabin with plenty of features on offer. Therefore, it is a matter of priorities, if space is more important than features and quality, Civic is the one for you.

2021 Mazda 3 Sedan vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The low cost and feature-loaded nature of the Hyundai Elantra have created quite a fan following for itself in the market. The acceleration performance is pretty much similar to the Mazda but the fuel efficiency is the best in the market.

The Mazda 3 2021 has a more premium cabin and superior braking performance, while the Hyundai Elantra is far more spacious. Since the compact segment is all about affordability and value, Hyundai Elantra seems like a logical choice between the two.

2021 Mazda 3 Sedan vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

Another crowd favorite and fellow Japanese rival, the Toyota Corolla signifies dependability and safety to many buyers all over the world. And although the Corolla is marginally less expensive than the Mazda 3 sedan, the Mazda offers impressive acceleration and braking performance.

The Corolla has frugality going for it, but the 3 offers a bit more spacious rear seat and a well-built premium cabin with plenty of technology and safety features on offer. Therefore, in our opinion, the Mazda 3 offers more value for money than the Corolla.

Final Verdict

The Mazda 3 sedan has evolved a lot over the years and although it has created a special place in the heart of the purists, it struggles to excel in any particular aspect. Though the cabin has a premium design and build, the space is limited at the rear. The base engine isn’t very entertaining and the more potent engines hikes the prices up and further reduces frugality. Therefore, the 2021 Mazda 3 is what we like to call the jack of all trades, but master of none.

Trims

Base
$20,650 onwards

60/40-Split folding rear seats
8.8-Inch infotainment display
Eight-Speaker audio system
Led headlights
Rain-Sensing wipers

S
$21,650 onwards

Android Auto
Apple CarPlay

Select
$22,850 onwards

Blind-Spot monitor
Dual-Zone automatic climate control
Keyless ignition and entry
Rear cross-traffic alert
Simulated leather upholstery

Preferred
$25,500 onwards

Heated Front Seats
Power-Adjustable driver's seat with memory settings
Sunroof

Premium
$27,000 onwards

Exterior lighting with adaptive headlights
Head-Up display
Integrated navigation system
Paddle shifters

Premium Plus
$32,600 onwards

Parking sensors
Surround-View camera system
Trunklid spoiler
Universal Garage Door Opener

Compare to similar cars

7.7

2021 Mazda 3

Price

$20,650- $33,900

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.74

Horsepower

250 hp @ 5000 rpm

Torque

310 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

Capacity

Read Review

6.9

2021 Toyota Corolla

$20,025- $28,310

Gasoline

6.92

139 hp @ 6100 rpm

126 lb.-ft. @ 3900 rpm

Read Review

7.4

2021 Toyota Camry

$25,045- $35,620

Gasoline

7.38

208 hp @ 5700 rpm

163 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm

Read Review

7.2

2021 Honda Civic

$21,050- $29,200

Gasoline

7.23

158 hp @ 6500 rpm

138 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm

Read Review

6.9

2021 Nissan Altima

$24,550- $34,250

Gasoline

6.88

188 hp @ 6000 rpm

180 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

Read Review

8.1

2021 Honda Accord

$24,770- $36,700

Gasoline

8.14

192 hp @ 5500 rpm

192 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

Read Review

6.5

2021 Nissan Sentra

$19,510- $21,850

Gasoline

6.53

149 hp @ 6400 rpm

146 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

Read Review

7.4

2021 Mazda 6

$24,475- $35,900

Gasoline

7.43

187 hp @ 6000 rpm

186 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

Read Review

6.5

2021 Volkswagen Jetta

$18,995- $31,545

Gasoline

6.45

147 hp @ 5000 rpm

184 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm

Read Review

7.1

2021 Hyundai Elantra

$19,650- $25,450

Gasoline

7.14

147 hp @ 6200 rpm

132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

Read Review

2021 Mazda 3 vs competitor's 0-60

Car Name	0-60 MPH	Quarter Mile	Top Speed
2021 Mazda 3 Ranked #9	9.4 sec	17.9 sec	106 mph
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #1	5.3 sec	14.0 sec	145 mph
2021 Honda Accord Ranked #2	7.2 sec	15.5 sec	124 mph
2021 Volkswagen Jetta Ranked #3	7.7 sec	-	127 mph
2021 Kia Forte Ranked #4	7.9 sec	16.2 sec	123 mph
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #5	8.1 sec	16.0 sec	120 mph

Car Name	MPG City	MPG Highway	MPG Combined	Fuel Tank Capacity	Range (C/H)
2021 Mazda 3 Ranked #5	28 mpg	36 mpg	31 mpg	13.2 gal.	369.6/475.2 mi.
2021 Hyundai Elantra Ranked #1	33 mpg	43 mpg	37 mpg	12.4 gal.	409.2/533.2 mi.
2021 Volkswagen Jetta Ranked #2	30 mpg	41 mpg	34 mpg	13.5 gal.	405/553.5 mi.
2021 Toyota Corolla Ranked #3	30 mpg	38 mpg	33 mpg	13.2 gal.	396/501.6 mi.
2021 Honda Accord Ranked #3	30 mpg	38 mpg	33 mpg	14.8 gal.	444/562.4 mi.
2021 Nissan Sentra Ranked #3	29 mpg	39 mpg	33 mpg	12.4 gal.	359.6/483.6 mi.

2021 Mazda 3 vs competitor's dimensions

Car Name	Length	Width	Height	Ground Clearance	Wheelbase
2021 Mazda 3 Ranked #5	183.5 in.	70.7 in.	56.9 in.	5.5 in.	107.3 in.
2021 Honda Accord Ranked #1	196.1 in.	73.3 in.	57.1 in.	6.7 in.	111.4 in.
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #2	192.9 in.	72.9 in.	56.7 in.	4.9 in.	111.2 in.
2021 Mazda 6 Ranked #3	192.7 in.	72.4 in.	57.1 in.	6.5 in.	111.4 in.
2021 Volkswagen Jetta Ranked #4	185.1 in.	70.8 in.	57.6 in.	5.6 in.	105.7 in.
2021 Nissan Sentra Ranked #6	182.7 in.	71.5 in.	56.9 in.	4.8 in.	106.8 in.

2021 Mazda 3 vs competitor's trunk space

Car Name	Trunk Capacity	Passenger Volume	Max Trunk Volume
2021 Mazda 3 Ranked #8	13.2 cu.ft.	92.8 cu.ft.	-
2021 Toyota Corolla Ranked #1	13.1 cu.ft.	88.6 cu.ft.	176 cu.ft.
2021 Mazda 6 Ranked #2	14.7 cu.ft.	99.8 cu.ft.	148.9 cu.ft.
2021 Honda Accord Ranked #3	16.7 cu.ft.	105.6 cu.ft.	134.3 cu.ft.
2021 Kia Forte Ranked #4	15.3 cu.ft.	96 cu.ft.	108.8 cu.ft.
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #5	12 cu.ft.	96.6 cu.ft.	74 cu.ft.

2021 Mazda 3 vs competitor's cargo space

Car Name	Cargo Volume	Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area	Max Cargo Volume	Bed Length
2021 Mazda 3 Ranked #1	-	13.2 cu.ft.	-	-
2021 Nissan Sentra Ranked #2	-	14.3 cu.ft.	-	-
2021 Honda Accord Ranked #3	134.3 cu.ft.	16.7 cu.ft.	134.3 cu.ft.	-
2021 Toyota Corolla Ranked #4	176 cu.ft.	13.1 cu.ft.	176 cu.ft.	-
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #5	74 cu.ft.	12 cu.ft.	74 cu.ft.	-
2021 Mazda 6 Ranked #6	148.9 cu.ft.	14.7 cu.ft.	148.9 cu.ft.	-

2021 Mazda 3 vs competitor's towing capacity

Car Name	Payload Capacity	Weight
2021 Mazda 3 Ranked #1	-	2984 lbs.
2021 Nissan Sentra Ranked #1	921 lbs.	3036 lbs.
2021 Mazda 6 Ranked #1	1036 lbs.	3437 lbs.
2021 Subaru Impreza Ranked #1	1252 lbs.	2976 lbs.
2021 Kia Forte Ranked #1	884 lbs.	2707 lbs.
2021 Honda Accord Ranked #1	1149 lbs.	3150 lbs.

Top Mazda Cars

2021 Mazda CX-9

Horsepower : 250 hp @ 5000 rpm

MPG Combined : 24 mpg

0-60 : 6.9 sec

2021 Mazda 6

Horsepower : 187 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG Combined : 29 mpg

0-60 : 8.1 sec

2021 Mazda CX-5

Horsepower : 187 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG Combined : 28 mpg

0-60 : 8.6 sec

2021 Mazda CX-30

Horsepower : 186 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG Combined : 28 mpg

0-60 : 7.8 sec

2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Horsepower : 181 hp @ 7000 rpm

MPG Combined : 29 mpg

0-60 : 5.9 sec

2021 Mazda 3

Horsepower : 155 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG Combined : 31 mpg

0-60 : 9.4 sec

2021 Mazda CX-3

Horsepower : 148 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG Combined : 31 mpg

0-60 : 8.9 sec

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Mazda 3 a good car?

The Mazda 3 sedan offers a comprehensive package to its buyers with strong and potent engine options, premium quality cabin, spacious interiors, and top-notch safety standards as well, making it a solid offering in the compact car segment.

Are Mazda 3 expensive to maintain?

The Mazda 3 5-year cost of ownership is expected to be around $34,848 which is on par with the segment standards. That said, Mazda 3 gets a lot of premium features and a more capable powertrain, which makes it feel worth the slightly higher investment.

What is a 2021 Mazda3 worth?

The 2021 Mazda 3 price starts at $20,650 excluding the $995 destination fee for the base trim and goes all the way to $32,600 for the top-of-the-line Turbo Premium Plus model.

Is Mazda 3 a long-lasting car?

The Mazda 3 has been on sale for almost two decades now and the early-generation models can still be seen on the streets. With the car doing 200,000-250,000 miles with proper care, the Mazda 3 can easily be considered a practical and reliable car in the long run.

2021 Mazda 3 User Reviews

0.0

[1 Reviews]

[0.0%] [0 Reviews]

David Adams

2022 Mazda 3

4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)

Not Rated

User Overall Rating

Posted On: July 29, 2024

Good lil car

Pros - ["Gas mileage", "Performance", "Low maintenance"]

Cons - ["Hard on tires", "Oil filter", "Draw backs"]

Love the car gets me where I need to go but has problems with the tires gas is good transmission is good for lil car bout only problems I have with it but further then that it's a good running car....