2025 Mazda 3 Hatchback Consumer Reviews
Pricing
2.5 S - $26,385 MSRP
Edmunds suggests you pay
$26,004Prices based on sales in SC thru 8/18/25
Final assembly in Mexico or Japan
Luxury look and feel for half the price (or more!)
Newest Mazda Fan, 07/18/2025
2025 Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was in the market for a hatchback and was initially torn between the 3, the Civic, and the new Prius. What got me on the Mazda3 Premium initially was that it’s one of the only new non-sports car stick shifts on the market. I didn’t think much of it until I got in the car, and it was truly love at first sight. Compared to even its contemporaries and similar sporty hatchbacks, the 3 is slick, mean, smooth, and quiet. The 191hp non-turbocharged engine won’t win any awards, but you’re mainly buying this car for a fun hatchback with nice features and by gum does it hit the mark. It has features you’d normally expect in more premium-priced cars, such as a Bose sound system, full spectrum power seats (heated AND with lumbar adjustment), wireless charging, and, coolest of all for the price, a heads-up display with integrated navigation that displays speed, speed limits, cruise control settings, and blindspot warnings. The driving experience is butter-smooth, with low interior noise and a solid suspension. I’ve typically driven older cars, so the autohold function is also a welcome addition to stop from rolling back and/or stalling at lights and stops. Reviews note the lack of a touch screen and most controls being relegated to a center console. I personally prefer a tactile interface as I’m not distracting myself with a 40” TV slapped on the dashboard. Frankly, I find it more fun this way, since the control console and the HUD kind of feels like piloting a fighter jet. Only wart is that CarPlay can be a little painful to navigate since you’ll be running the wheel to scroll between options. Gas mileage is fairly standard: not as high as the Civic (and certainly not the Prius) but still a respectable 30-35mpg. With a 6-speed transmission, you can usually comfortably cruise with low throttle input in 6th gear. My only gripe with the driving experience is adjusting to the reverse gear, as you have to depress the shifter and very deliberately pull left to get into gear. You then have to knock it back into neutral or 1st, but that’s more a learning curve and frees up the gates for 6th gear. Another nice feature is the driver’s side mirror automatically canting downward to assist with down-left visibility in reverse. Storage tracks with Edmunds’ and other reviews; the 3 has a small trunk and cramped back seats. Since my car is for just a couple, we are unaffected but it won’t be the most comfortable family cruise. That said, the car is positively surrounded with airbags and has a litany of driver assist features; it has the distinctive honor of being one of the safest cars on the market right now. Personally, I’m a staunch mobility and transit advocate. I normally see cars as a means to get around and begrudgingly accept it as a necessity. For the first time ever, I genuinely look forward to driving! Highly, highly recommended as a mid-level hatchback and entry-level performance vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Really Good and really bad
BillW, 08/08/2025
2025 Mazda 3 2.5 S Select Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
First, let me say that the fit and finish on this car is absolutely fantastic. The interior materials and quality makes it feel like a much more expensive car and would rival luxury brands. The buttons and controls feel top notch. The controls and figuring out how to find and work things will take a while, especially if you are a bit older. The stereo has what I would consider average entry level sound. The engine is absolutley wonderful, except for the cylinder deactivation with very much ruins the driving experience if you are a purist. It at time stumbles and will engage / disengage with a jerk. It will annoy the hell out of you if you pay attention. This is not good for an engine and I can not believe Mazda puts this crap in such a wonderful car. The car will get the MPG it claims and can far exceed it if you drive in a flat area and keep it 55 or under. In the hour drive home from the dealer I averaged 44mpg on the computer. Power is ample for a 4 cylinder and I love that they made it a large 4 cylinder. In a world of terrible CVT's the 6 speed regular transmission is a big win in the longevity department. The cabin it tight, cargo space limited. Seats are comfortable if you are not too big. I am about 5'9'' 195 lbs. Back seats are tight, head rooms is limited. With me in the drivers seat, I could not sit behind me in this car. The cup holders are terribly located and under the dash. A far reach for the very limited selection of small cups you can use. No 40 or 30 oz Stanleys for sure. Only 2 USB C ports, no 12 v outlet, but there is an empty hole for one. Want to install a dashcam....not so fast. Every fuse under the hood and in the cabin is hot when the car is off. Your camera will never shut off if you hardwire it. Not much useful storage in the cabin. That being said, it is a really solid car. Cabin is very quiet. Make sure your test drive it with all of your daily essentials in their places. Make sure you drive it long enough to experience the cylinder deactivation and see if you can live with it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2025 Mazda 3 for sale near you
Showing 3 of 32 listings
- 2.5 S Select Sport SedanMSRP: $27,12012 mi away
- 2.5 S Select Sport SedanMSRP: $27,12012 mi away
- 2.5 S Preferred SedanMSRP: $28,77012 mi away
See all 32 listings
Excellent value
NancyE, 05/12/2025
2025 Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Super comfortable and beautifully designed interior. Excellent handling characteristics. Even on the test drive, I immediately felt confident in the handling capabilities of this car. Lots of nice touches on the Premium trim level, and it’s the only trim level with manual transmission. 9 months of ownership now, zero problems, no issues, just comfort and enjoyment (and great fuel economy!)
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
