2024 Mazda3 2.5T Premium Plus AWD Hatchback - Review by David Colman

Just about everything you could hope for

David Colman

Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

Mazda offers its nimble Mazda3 sports sedan in seven different versions, ranging in price from the Base model ($25,335) to the top line Turbo Premium Plus AWD offering ($36,650) that we tested. If you're willing to spend the bucks to surmount the highest rung on the ladder, you'll park a top-notch sports sedan in your garage. This diminutive but fiery Mazda weighs just 3,392 pounds, a notably buff curb weight that justifies calling it a sports car with seating for four.

Packing a 250hp turbo four banger under the hood leaves you with a very favorable power-to-weight ratio of 13.58 pounds per horsepower. Straight line acceleration confirms the expected agility with a 0-60mph time of 5.6 seconds, a standing start quarter mile time of 14.1 seconds @ 99mph, and a generous top speed of 134mph (governor limited). Not only does this all-wheel-drive Mazda blast off the line with a convincing punch, but it also sticks to the road like a leech, a product of the handling prowess Mazda long ago perfected with their groundbreaking Miata MX-5.

So feel free to scream your way though all six forward gears, reveling in the acoustics provided by a delightfully assertive muffler. This affordable sports sedan compares quite favorably in overall performance with that other "3" on the market, the BMW 3 Series four-door. Of course, you'll pay $42,800 to $82,600 for that BMW. If you opt for the entry-level end of the Bimmer lineup, you'll buy a rear wheel drive 3 Series that weighing 248 pounds more than the Mazda3, and costing $7,150 more.

The interior of the Mazda3 presents a worthy playground for the enthusiast driver. One of the first items we look for in a purported performance car is the presence of a dead pedal. That's the ramped support located in the lower left corner of the driver's footwell that allows you to stabilize your lower torso against g- loadings. Mazda wouldn't miss providing one, and they up the ante with a pair of nicely side-bolstered, leather wrapped front bucket seats, a grippy, thick rimmed steering wheel, and a stubby, simple shift lever complete with paddles for manual mode activation.

The Premium Plus trim level provides you with every trick in the convenience handbook. The front seats heat themselves in three stages, and the steering wheel likewise can be warmed. The right spoke of the steering wheel contains clearly labeled cruise control paddles, the left side of the dash offers a pair of memory positions for storing seating preferences, and the dual-zone automatic climate control is thankfully equipped with manual controls for temperature and fan operation. In other words, the Mazda3 offers a fully human compatible driving environment - with one notable exception. Our early production 2024 vehicle included the infotainment control wheel that has long plagued Mazda owners with its sphinx-like reticence to operate in a predictable fashion. However, preliminary reports indicate that this device will be replaced with a touchscreen in all Mazda3 models save the Base offering. It can't be gone soon enough.

Our test sedan offered slim pickings for backseat occupants. Knee room is limited to 27 inches, and headroom maxes out at just 2 inches in the hatchback version we tested. It's not a place I'd like to sit for long, but it works just fine for providing kiddy hops around town, or short stints for grownups. Mazda does offer a trunked version of the 3 which provides increased headroom, but we liked the looks and convenience of our test car. We especially enjoyed the outrageous looking air deflector/spoiler fitted above the hatchback's window. And thanks to Mazda for providing a standard rear wiper - a crucial safety feature absent on most hatchbacks today.

We could see ourselves contentedly owning this gem of engineering. Our test version sported a set of Bridgestone Turanza EL 440 radials (215/45R18) mounted on inconspicuous looking gloss black alloy rims. With a wear factor of TW 480, the Bridgestones are a compromise given the superb handling capability of the Mazda3. First thing we'd do if this were our ride would be to trade out the wheels for some aftermarket rims with more bling. Then, we'd slap on a set of stickier TW 200 radials, and do some bargain Bimmer hunting. That would be an appropriate pursuit for this c ompletely made-in-Japan hot rod.

2024 MAZDA3 2.5T PREMIUM PLUS AWD HB

ENGINE: 2.5 liter inline-4, turbocharged and intercooled DOHC, 16-valve aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
HORSEPOWER: 250hp (91 Octane)
TORQUE: 320lb.-ft. (91 Octane)
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 23MPG City/31MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $38,410

HYPES: Nimble, Quick, Handsome

GRIPES: Tire Hum, Control Dial Woes

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

©2023 David E Colman