Is the 2026 Mazda MAZDA3 a good car?
Yes.
4 of 7checks
- First car: 3 of 5. Length 183.5 in. Class median 179.0 in.
- Commuter: $92 a month. Class median $84.
- Off-road: 5.5 in clearance. Top 99% of 173.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | Yes | 3 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 3 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $92 vs $84 a month |
| Seniors | Yes | 2 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | No | 5.5 in, top 99% |
| Worth the money | Yes | 21% below predicted |
| Good buy | Yes | No rival beats it |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the MAZDA3 a good family car?
Yes. Passes 3 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 35.1 in | Median 35.0 in | 11 | Yes |
| Rear headroom | 37.3 in | Median 37.1 in | 11 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 13.2 cu ft | Median 19.3 cu ft | 10 | No |
Is the MAZDA3 a good first car?
No. Passes 3 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $24,650 | Median $35,145 | 12 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 186 hp | 151 hp to 307 hp | 12 | Yes |
| Length | 183.5 in | Median 179.0 in | 11 | No |
| Turning circle | 34.8 ft | Median 38.1 ft | 12 | Yes |
| Fuel cost per mile | 10.7 cents | Median 9.7 cents | 12 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the MAZDA3 a good commuter car?
No. $92 a month to commute. Class median $84.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $92
- Median of 12 hatchbacks
- $84
- Highway mpg
- 36 mpg, top 63% of 8
Is the MAZDA3 a good car for seniors?
Yes. Passes 2 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 5.5 in clearance, 56.9 in tall | 4.7 to 5.5 in clearance, 56.2 to 57.9 in tall | 10 | Yes |
| Front headroom | 38.0 in | Median 38.4 in | 11 | No |
| Turning circle | 34.8 ft | Median 38.1 ft | 12 | Yes |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the MAZDA3 a good off-road vehicle?
No. 5.5 in clearance. Top 99% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- 2.5 S Carbon Edition AWD, 5.5 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the MAZDA3 worth the money?
Yes. Priced 21% below cars like it.
- Price, 2.5 S FWD
- $24,650
- Predicted price
- $31,056
- Gap
- -$6,406 (-21%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the MAZDA3 a good buy?
Yes. No rival beats it on all four.
Compared with 44 trims of other makes, hatchbacks, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree