Tag Archives: Mazda3

2026 Mazda Mazda3 2.5 S Premium Hatchback

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An unexpected feature in this particular trim. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

“(a) Rule required.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator and the Federal Communications Commission, shall issue a rule—

(1) requiring devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations be installed as standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles—

(A) manufactured in the United States for sale in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce; and

(B) manufactured after the effective date of the rule;

(2) requiring access to AM broadcast stations through the devices required under paragraph (1) in a manner that is easily accessible to drivers. . . .”

That is language from S.315 – AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025. The Senate bill, which has  bipartisan support, is still making its molasses-like way through Congress. Some OEMs for reasons ranging from electric vehicles producing electromagnetic interference with AM band reception to car makers figuring that there are few people who listen to AM on radios, so why not reduce costs?

It is probably not a good thing for fans of manual transmissions that there isn’t something like the National Association of Broadcasters lobbying of behalf of the continuation of manuals because they are decreasing.

There are about seven 2026 MY vehicles with stickers under $50,000 that have one.

The 2026 Mazda Mazda 2.5 S Premium is counted among that number.

Another great feature: that superb styling (Image: Mazda)

What’s interesting is that there are six trims in the Mazda3 lineup and this particular model is the only one offering a six-speed manual transmission. (It is also notable that the Mazda3 is the only non-crossover in the Mazda lineup.)

It once was that an argument made on behalf of manuals was that better gas mileage could be achieved. (Funny thing is: that argument was made when gas was really quite cheap, and I don’t mean just in context of the current huge run-up at the pump.)

But in the case of the Mazda3 in question, which is a front-drive car, it is stickered at 25/34/29 city/highway/combined miles per gallon and a Mazda3 with an automatic transmission and the same 186-hp  engine is stickered at 26/34/29 mpg.

Yes, the automatic does a bit better when it comes to squeezing out the mileage.

(“But it is not as much fun to drive!” say the stick enthusiasts. True. But generally driving is if not bumper-to-bumper than traffic signal-to-traffic signal, so the rare moments of fun give way to tedium.)

Not surprisingly, because this is the sportier variant there are things like 18-inch black-finish aluminum alloy wheels and piano black side garnishes.

The front and rear lights are LED and the headlights have an auto-leveling function.

The vehicle is equipped with an “Active Driving Display,” which is generally called a “head up display.” No matter what you call it, it keeps the drivers eyes looking forward, where they should be looking.

The leather driver’s seat is 8-way power adjustable and heated.

And on the subject of seating, the vehicle offers 91.2 cubic feet of passenger volume, biased, of course, to the front passengers, though people can sit in the back.

There is an 8.8-inch color infotainment screen. It uses the large knob for controlling what’s on that screen called the “Multifunction Command Controller” (which is really a bit much for a knob). And on the subject of physical interfaces, the HVAC control is performed via dials, not embedded in the screen.

There is an abundance of safety tech standard including lane departure warning and lane-keep assist, radar cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, rear cross traffic alert, and more.

And there is a Bose 12-speaker premium audio system with aluminum speaker grilles, which add a nice touch to the already nice interior color and materials execution.

While there is a complementary three-month trial for SiriusXM, presumably there are some people who would prefer you listen to AM.

2025 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus

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Where function meets fun. . . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Mazda has long had a reputation for superb ride-and-handling performance at an affordable price.

I think in some regards this reputation—well earned—doesn’t necessarily translate into the array of crossovers it has on the market, despite many reviewers giving those vehicles high marks for those characteristics: It is something of a reputation-based belief (i.e., if Mazdas in the past were X, then Mazdas of today are X, too).

The thing is: This doesn’t give credit where credit is due.

And the Mazda3 deserves a whole lot of credit. (Some of the crossovers: not so much. Sorry.)

This is the car—and yes, it is a car, and in this case, a hatchback (!)*—that not only has the litheness, maneuverability, and performance that are associated with Mazda. And, yes, there is the issue of affordability, too.

That is, this Turbo Premium Plus model, with AWD, the top-of-the-line model in the lineup, has an MSRP of $37,150—or some $10,000 less than the average transaction price (ATP) for vehicles out there.

Mazda3: This is a car that has all of that Mazda goodness you’ve heard about. (Image: Mazda)

Of course, the ATP covers vehicles of all configurations and sizes, and while, according to the EPA classification, the Mazda3 is a midsize car, it is on the compact side. (That is, it is 175.6 inches long, 70.7 inches high, 56.7 inches wide, and has a 107.3-inch wheelbase.)

The EPA calculates the categories based on interior volume, with midsize vehicles having from 110 to 119.9 cubic feet of space. The Mazda3 hatch has 92.7 cubic feet of passenger volume and 20.1 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seat up, so it comes in at 112.8 cubic feet.

(The 2025 Bentley Flying Spur is also in the EPA midsize category, which just goes to show you that one man’s categorized vehicle is another man’s absurdity.)

The thing is, the Premium Plus package puts things on the outside, like a rear spoiler and front air dam. Yes, the car is quick, but those probably are more trim than hard-working aero elements.

On the inside there are things like leather seats and a solid Bose audio system. The Premium Plus package also increases the size of the infotainment screen on board to 10.25 inches.

The car has a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine.

If you go to the gas station and fill the tank with regular, it produces 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque

If you opt to spend a few bucks more at the pump and go for 93 octane, then it is 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque.

There is a six-speed automatic. Suspension-wise, it is MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar in the front and a torsion beam in the back.

There is also a feature called “SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS:  G-Vectoring Control Plus.” It is as seamlessly tricky as its name is complicated. Essentially, it makes various adjustments—such as to the torque of the engine and the braking of specific wheels—when cornering or simply making lane changes.

This greatly contributes to the aforementioned reputation for ride and handling.

The Mazda3 has it.

Given the performance of the engine and the engineered ride and handling, the Mazda3 is the kind of vehicle that you can drive to work, plodding along with all of the others who are in the same jam you are, but then get a chance to make a quick maneuver that gets you another spot a bit further along.

It is the kind of vehicle that you can take to Costco and load up with Costco-sized products.

It is the kind of vehicle that you can drive on the weekends on a parkway and have fun while you’re going to the place in the park where you’re going to have some out-of-car fun.

It is one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve driven in some time.

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*As there is the increasing transition to crossovers from cars, here’s hoping that Mazda keeps the Mazda3 in its lineup. It has long offered hatchback and sedan body styles for the Mazda3, again something that I hope continues long into the future.