The old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” gets thrown around all the time, but the biggest trouble with that straight-up way of doing things is actually sticking to it, because our entire industry runs counter to just letting a good thing be good. What’s new this year? Any updates to the tech? Any more power? New colours? It’s hard for a company (or more specifically, a company’s PR reps) to confidently say ‘nothing, it’s fine’ to all of those questions before the fickle fools like me start breaking out the dreaded D-word: dated. This 2026 Mazda3 Sedan is not broken, not fixed, and most importantly, still not dated.
What’s new for 2026?
Nothing, it’s fine.
Design
It was a good looking car in 2019, and due to Mazda (mostly) not giving in to trends and focussing on good, timeless design, it remains a good looking car. Our tester’s (not new) Polymetal grey paint has more complexity than most greys, looking mostly like a subdued blue, with a warm metallic glow under the sun.
I wasn’t crazy about our GS AWD tester’s 16-inch wheels - they look a tad plebian on an otherwise upscale-looking car - but that’s an easy enough fix.
Interior & Infotainment
Not to sound like a broken record, but it was lovely in 2019, and due to Mazda not giving in to industry trends, and focussing on good, timeless design, it remains lovely. Our tester’s AWD powertrain comes bundled with the luxury package, which spruces up the 3’s cabin with some basic niceties (powered seats with memory, sunroof, leather trim, proximity key fob) that elevate the cabin to the upscale-feel Mazda was going for with this design.
All of Mazda’s touch points feel of quality, and are a noticeable step up over some competitors - it feels nicer because it usually just is nicer. The switchgear all has satisfying haptic feedback, and we’re still big fans of Mazda’s HMI system, which relies on a rotary knob and buttons to navigate the simple, elegant infotainment system. Mazda did include wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and touch support as a welcome update a few years ago.
The voice support is still pretty hopeless, especially compared to other, newer systems with baked-in Google tech, but otherwise it all works well and is easy to live with. Speaking of, the trunk of the Mazda3 sedan is surprisingly spacious, and has a large opening with a low liftover. The same cannot be said of the back seat, which is quite snug. It’s probably the only notable pain point on an otherwise brilliant little car.
Powertrain
The Mazda3 is powered by Mazda’s ubiquitous, well-established SkyActiv-G 2.5-Litre 4-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower and 186 foot-pounds of torque, mated to Mazda’s even more well-established 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s smooth, quiet, sounds decent, is quick enough to merge on the highway confidently, is reasonably efficient, and does a fine job contributing to the car’s refined overall feel.
Our test car adds all wheel drive to the mix, a rare option in a field made up almost exclusively of front-drivers; only the Toyota Corolla and Subaru Impreza (obviously) can match that among compact cars. It’s a nice value add for the people that don’t want a crossover-SUV-thing like everybody else, but do still want to feel secure in severe weather.
Driving impressions
Every piece of the equation that is the Mazda3 adds up to a car that feels more elegant and refined than its modest price point might convey, and the driving experience is no different. Responses from the throttle, brakes and steering all feel natural and well connected to the machinery underneath you.
It inspires confidence, feels satisfying, and is more than capable of being playful - on that note, this may be a placebo, but the transmission feels snappier and a little quicker to respond than I remember from previous testers with this gearbox.
It’s also fairly quiet - notably more so than the heavy hitters from Honda and Toyota - and while Mazdas tend to be a little on the firm side of ride quality, the aforementioned 16-inch wheels that I didn’t love looking at do help this little car have an exceptionally plush ride.
Money
Our middle-of-the-rung Mazda3 GS AWD test car rings up at $32,465 as tested, before dealer, delivery and destination fees. Our tester’s added driven wheels adds a very expensive sounding $4,200 to the tally, but bear in mind that AWD is bundled with the luxury package, which is $2,200 on its own.
At this price point, it’s right about the same league as its array of competitors, offering more power, more elegance, and satisfying driving dynamics, in a package that’s lovely to live with if you don’t have tall passengers on a routine basis. Only the Honda Civic has the same all-around polished execution and sense of cohesion, but is admittedly much more spacious in exchange for maybe being a tad less interesting (and notably less all wheel drive).
Wrap it up
Mazda’s willingness to stay true to what they know works is admirable, and has produced some brilliant results. The 2026 Mazda3 Sedan benefits just as much from this steadfast resistance to busying themselves just for the sake of looking busy, and despite being the elder statesman among compact cars, it’s about the farthest thing from feeling dated. Good design and sound engineering is always in vogue.
