Mazda is often known to straddle the line between luxury and mainstream. With several other models in the portfolio already, the manufacturer continues to impress the market and consumers alike. However, the variant in question today is Mazda 3. Here’s more on the car that is sure to outdo the rest in the compact car category.
What’s to Like About the New Mazda 3?
This sporty sedan is unquestionably one of the most fun cars out there. With its responsive brakes and dynamic steering, it will surely leave a mark on whoever takes a ride in it. Here’s a quick glance at what’s inside. The car features an infotainment system and upscale material in the cabin. However, the only downside you may come across is its small back seat.
Pros
It has a powerful engine line-up
There’s a user-friendly infotainment system
There’s top-notch cabin material
Sharp handling
The Con
If you’re not a fan of tight back seat spaces, this may not be the one for you.
What Does the 2021 Model Offer?
There may be a lot to look forward to in the 2021 Mazda 3. However, here are the features that stand out the most.
Additional trim levels
Available turbocharged 2.5-liter engine
A standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
What’s the Difference Between the 2020 And 2021 Mazda 3?
While we already know what the 2021 model offers, here’s how it’s different from the 2020 model. Unlike the 2020 model, the 2021 model features 2.5 S, 2.5 Turbo, and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trims in both hatchback and sedan body styles.
Moreover, the base 2.0 trim is now accompanied by a 155-horsepower four-cylinder engine. There have been several key changes made to the Mazda 3 over the last few years. Here are some of them.
2017
In the year 2017, the suspension was returned, and the trims were renamed. The vehicle also gained traffic sign recognition.
2018
This year witnessed the addition of the low-speed forward collision warning to the vehicle’s features list.
2019
This year saw a major redesigning of the vehicle with a larger infotainment display and greater horsepower. Moreover, automatic emergency braking also became available the same year.
2020
There was an addition of some more safety features.
Mazda 3 vs. Toyota Corolla Hatchback
If we see it from a price point of view, the Toyota Corolla may seem like a more affordable option. On the other hand, the Mazda 3 can charge you an extra thousand dollars for an all-wheel-drive on top of the price you were already paying. Therefore, consumers often hesitate to buy the latter despite its great all-around performance.
In terms of safety, there’s a lot to mention about the Mazda 3. Its highly adaptive feature of cruise control is further enhanced with the “lane-keep” option to help a driver get through heavy traffic. The car, as opposed to many others, also manages to stay in its lane instead of ping-ponging and causing trouble.
The brakes are another noteworthy addition that brings the speed down to zero in the smoothest fashion. The only safety concern raised so far is about its backup camera that conveniently takes up over half of the 8.8-inch screen.
If we talk about Corolla, though, it also comes with a decent set of security equipment. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is a feature that allows the car to do the following:
Automatic emergency braking
Detecting pedestrians
Automatic high beam assist
Road sign recognition
Lane departure warning
Adaptive cruise control
We have to agree that the safety sense incorporated in Toyota vehicles is commendable. For example, the adaptive cruise control along with the lane-keep assist can help keep the car centered on a highway. Moreover, it also keeps the car at a safe distance from the one in front of it.
There’s hardly any input required from the driver to make tricky turns. However, despite incorporating a great set of security features in its vehicles, Toyota’s attempts cannot be matched with those of Mazda’s. Both cars may be equal in terms of the setup, but in terms of functionality, Corolla’s lack of control with full-stop-and-go is something to be concerned about.
If we compare some inner specs Toyota has added in the Corolla Hatchback with the ones in the Mazda 3, there may still be some improvements required in the former. The Corolla Hatchback has a standard 8.0-inch screen as compared to the 8.8-inch screen in the Mazda 3.
The touchscreen in the Corolla hatchback facilitates both Android Auto standard and Apple CarPlay. However, one area where Toyota significantly lacks is the native Entune infotainment system. You will find a cluttered home screen with outdated graphics and touch responsiveness that’s pretty average.
All in all, while the Corolla Hatchback is more affordable, efficient, and also comfortable, the Mazda 3 is undeniably the better one of the two. It not only has a more upscale cabin, but there are also more safety features and an out-of-the-box technology to offer. You might have to pay more, but in the end, you’ll get something worth it.
Is It Worth Buying?
With its extraordinary performance and top-notch safety scores, the Mazda 3 is a safe bet so far. However, checking out rivals like Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, or even Mazda’s CX-30 is recommended in case you need slightly better fuel economy or seating space.
The Bottom Line
In the end, there’s a lot to look forward to in the Mazda 3 upgrades in the coming years. However, for now, the vehicle comes with additional safety features, an infotainment system, great engine performance, and a price that does justice to the features being offered.
Again, the 2021 Mazda 3 may have it all with its energetic handling, responsive steering, and a much more refined interior. However, you must not only rely on the word and refer to the other compact car options before taking your pick.
Photos compliments of Mazda.
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