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Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback: Which is Better?

Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback – If you’re looking to buy a Mazda 3 but are still unsure whether you’ll want the sedan or hatchback, this comparison of these two models will help clear things up.

Both the Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback offer affordable performance and premium features at an accessible price point, making them great choices for your next new car purchase.

If you’re looking to buy a Mazda 3 but are still unsure whether you’ll want the sedan or hatchback, this comparison of these two models will help clear things up.

What is the Difference Between Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback?

Like most cars, choosing between Mazda 3 sedan vs hatchback can come down to a matter of preference.

Both models have their advantages over one another that should be taken into consideration when deciding which car to purchase.

Do you want something with lots of space? In that case, go with a Mazda 3 sedan because you’ll get more passenger room than you will in a Mazda 3 hatchback.

The Mazda 3 hatchback on the other hand has better acceleration and handles much better, but it doesn’t offer as much cargo capacity or room for passengers inside the vehicle.

On the flip side if you’re looking for greater acceleration along with handling and performance then go with a Mazda 3 hatchback instead because those elements aren’t offered in its larger counterpart.

Mazda 3 More Power Plus All-Wheel Drive

Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback
Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback

The 2021 Mazda3 now offers the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine to the 2021 Mazda3 Sedan powertrain offering means that drivers will enjoy an engine that produces 250 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. torque on premium fuel (or 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque on regular fuel).

In addition, this powerful engine is coupled with standard i-Activ all-wheel drive for a dynamic and confident driving experience that is ready to take on all types of terrain with proficient handling and responsive power that pushes.

Following the debut of the 2019 Mazda3 sedan facelift, it won the prestigious World Car Design of the Year award for 2020. It’s not hard to see why.

Her eye-catching bodywork simultaneously reflects drama, sophistication, and boldness. Naturally, the 4-door sedan is a more conservative variant of the car.

The five-door hatchback takes on a relatively aggressive stance, its closed lid look and short overhangs giving it an aggressive, angled look.

Unfortunately, the hatchback is not the new 2021 Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo version we tested. But the sedan offers a lot of emotion for the eyes and soul.

Sitting atop the newly expanded 2021 Mazda 3 Sedan lineup, the 2.5 Turbo comes in both body styles, including all-wheel drive (AWD), and comes in standard or Premium Plus trim.

The base price is $29,900 for the cheapest sedan and $33,750 for the hatchback with Premium Plus trim.

Our test car, the sedan, featured Premium Plus trim and optional Machine Gray Metallic paint, bringing the price to $33,890 including $950.

Read also: New Mazda RX7 2022: Reviews Interior, Price, and Specs

What is the Difference Between Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback?

Like most cars, choosing between Mazda 3 sedan vs hatchback can come down to a matter of preference.

Both models have their advantages over one another that should be taken into consideration when deciding which car to purchase.

Do you want something with lots of space? In that case, go with a Mazda 3 sedan because you’ll get more passenger room than you will in a Mazda 3 hatchback.

The Mazda 3 hatchback on the other hand has better acceleration and handles much better, but it doesn’t offer as much cargo capacity or room for passengers inside the vehicle.

On the flip side if you’re looking for greater acceleration along with handling and performance then go with a Mazda 3 hatchback instead because those elements aren’t offered in its larger counterpart.

Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback: Price Comparison

How much does the Mazda 3 sedan cost? The Mazda3 sedan starts at $29,900, while the Mazda3 hatchback starts at $30,900. Pricing varies depending on trim level. So which one should you buy?

The Mazda3 sedan offers more cargo space as there is no division between the rear seats and trunk.

However, if passenger volume size is your priority, the hatchback has a higher passenger volume of 92.7 cu. ft., while the sedan only has a passenger volume of 92.8 cu. ft.

The trunk space on both vehicles is comparable as each can hold 16 cubic feet of luggage with the seats folded down and includes a 60/40-split folding backseat to allow an extra 4 cubic feet in cargo capacity when needed.

Drivetrain

The 2021 Mazda3 Hatchback comes standard with a 2.5L engine and Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged engine as an available option.

The 2.5L engine offers an impressive 170 horsepower, while the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged engine delivers up to 227 horsepower with 310 lb-ft of torque.

Meanwhile, the Mazda3 Sedan only has one drivetrain option available: a SKYACTIV-G 2.0L turbocharged engine delivering up to 184 horsepower with 280 lb-ft of torque.

Mazda 3 Specifications

On the Mazda 3 Turbo, apart from the powertrain, Mazda only made a few adjustments to the standard suspension compared to the naturally aspirated Mazda 3.

You’re probably familiar with Mazda’s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine available in the Mazda6, CX-5, CX-9, and soon the CX-30. In this case, the Mazda 3 Turbo produces 250 horsepower at 5,000RPM.

Review All-New Mazda3 Sedan vs Hatchback

Mazda pairs the engine with a six-speed automatic transmission with Sport and Manual modes. This transfers power to the next-generation version of the i-Activ all-wheel-drive system.

Which Mazda says can send three times more power to the car’s rear wheels than the previous i-Activ version, increasing the Mazda3’s cornering ability-corner.

Given that the turbocharged powertrain adds an extra 64 horsepower to the Mazda 3 Sedan, you can guess how this will affect performance.

Mazda revamped this powertrain application specifically for the Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo to achieve the smoothest, most predictable, and most consistent engine and transmission response.

Based on our experience, the company achieves this goal, delivering incredible speed without the madness of typical high-performance compact cars.

Select Sport mode and it will tune the transmission for more precise gear changes. At the same time, it tweaked the G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC+) software to provide improved cornering by downshifting as the driver brakes as he approaches corners.

This action eliminates unnecessary center-angle shifts that can make the car feel hesitant or slow to react when accelerating from above, resulting in a more natural driving experience on winding roads.

Mazda3 models All-2021  get improved steering feel and response, while the 2.5 Turbo uses stiffer front suspension springs and dampers to cope with the extra weight that goes over the car’s nose.

The brakes are identical to the naturally aspirated Mazda 3 model, and the Turbo is equipped with 18-inch wheels fitted with Bridgestone Turanza 215/45 all-season tires. Summer tire options are not available.

Review All-New Mazda3 Sedan vs Hatchback

The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo has been carefully calibrated for maximum driving pleasure.

During our test cycle, the Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo asked us to drive it at high speed. Car speakers amplify engine sound, engine sound is pleasing, and the powertrain and dynamic tuning meet all engineers’ goals for smoothness, consistency, and predictability.

Drive as if the car anticipates what you want and exactly when you want it. The result is a vehicle that drivers recognize and trust.

Understanding how the Mazda 3 Sedan Turbo will behave and trusting that it will react to situations in the way you expect makes it easier to enjoy.

Moving on to a more practical question, we should report that the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo ate an average of 11.5 liters per 100 km during our test drive.

However, these results reflect the way we drive the car than a severe transmission failure. Chances are, based on our experience with other turbocharged Mazda, you’ll get around 10 liters.

Technical level

Mazda Connect is the name of the company’s infotainment system that combines an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. MyMazda smartphone app provides remote control of car door locks, engines, etc.

Review All-New Mazda3 Sedan vs Hatchback

But because Mazda wants to limit driver distraction, the infotainment screen is non-touchscreen. Unfortunately, this choice only underscores how poor Mazda Connect’s speech recognition technology is.

When asked if the system couldn’t accurately answer my standard test questions (except for “Find the nearest Starbucks”), a Mazda spokesperson explained that most people would voice commands through their smartphone’s digital assistant when they start Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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If Mazda isn’t going to offer a touchscreen, then its built-in voice recognition should be on par with Siri, Google Ok, or the in-car system the company is targeting as a competitor.

Also, we couldn’t figure out how to change radio stations or skip my favorite presets without using the control buttons on the center console and exploring the Entertainment menu.

The controls on the steering wheel and center console, which look like they should perform this function, activate the music playback function.

Final Verdict

With a sedan and hatchback in the 2021 Mazda3 line, we can help you decide which one best suits your needs.

The Mazda 3 sedan has more passenger volume, but the Mazda 3 hatchback offers more cargo space.

When comparing dimensions, the hatchback has shorter front and rear overhangs than the sedan but is wider at its widest point.

The trunk space of a Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback is comparable to most midsize sedans. The Mazda 3 hatchback also comes with a sunroof as standard equipment, while it’s an option on the coupe or sedan.

Pricing-wise, there isn’t much difference between a Mazda 3 Sedan vs Hatchback, so it really comes down to preference.