Quick Facts
- Original starting price: $20,650 (including a $945 destination fee)
- Class: Subcompact Sedan, Subcompact Hatchback
- Competitors: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra
- KBB.com Fair Purchase Price
Introduction
Since its premiere in 2004, the Mazda3 has become the best-selling Mazda vehicle on the planet. With more than 5 million units sold, the Mazda3 has solidified its legacy for the Japanese automaker. Known for its eye-catching design and engaging driving experience, the 2021 Mazda3 is descended from the GLC (Great Little Car), 323, and the Protegé.
Over the years, the vehicle has undergone many changes. Still, much of the Mazda3’s success is due to its responsive drive, advanced safety features, and availability as a polished hatchback or a sleek sedan. With over 50 years of heritage embedded in its DNA, the 2021 Mazda3 dances the line between mass market and prestige in style, aesthetics, technology, and legacy.
OEM CPO Warranty Program Highlights
- Limited Warranty: One year/12,000 miles after the expiration of the original new-car warranty or at the time of used car purchase
- Powertrain Warranty: Seven years/100,000 miles after the expiration of the original powertrain warranty
- Roadside Assistance: For the duration of the powertrain warranty
- Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Mazda
Key Competitors
KBB Review Highlights
New for 2021, Mazda has upped the fun quotient in the Mazda3 by adding a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder in the upper trims and a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the base model. The brand has also chosen to lean into the premium feel and luxury-leaning details that have made the Mazda3 a favorite globally.
Bowing to the complications of 2020, the 2020 model arrives as a 2021 model. The new lineup has standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in the Turbo model and a 6-speed automatic transmission, competing with the Hyundai Veloster N, Volkswagen GTI, and other performance champions in its class. The base model is a front-wheel drive-only (FWD) sedan with a naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It’s new for 2021, delivering a solid 155-horsepower, and easily matches the brand spirit. A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder produces 186 hp in the S models, and a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder puts out 227 hp with regular gas or 250 hp with premium fuel. All automatic transmission models use a traditionally geared 6-speed unit. Mazda has nixed the manual transmission in every trim except the Premium hatchback.
Exterior styling is a strong point for the Mazda3. Deft shaping and attention to detail elevate the five-seater from ordinary to extraordinary. It feels luxe and fun but unpretentious and dynamic. It’s one of the reasons the Mazda3 has been a favorite among buyers for so many years.
Add that to an extended list of standard safety and convenience features, including the i-ActivSense suite with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, a driver attention monitor, and wireless device charging, and it’s clear how the Mazda3 has repeat buyers year after year.
Rounding out the package is a compact, well-organized, and comfortable cabin. Stylishly appointed, it calls to mind the soft-touch interior of the Audi lineup. Genuine leather covers the surfaces of higher trims, while cloth and leatherette occupy the basic trims. Soft white ambient lighting illuminates the cabin and highlights the switches and gears. The 8.8-inch digital display is clear, but surprisingly not a touchscreen, but rather controlled by a rotary knob situated on the console.
Rear passengers enjoy a positive experience with moderate space and easy access to USB-A charging outlets. 60/40 split-fold seats dominate the rear portion of the cabin. They fold flat for increased space, but like most compact sedans, the useable cubic feet in the trunk and cargo are modest.
With 14 available models ranging from the entry-level sedan with the 2.0-liter engine to the Premium Plus Hatchback sedan, the 2021 Mazda3 is comfortably priced and luxuriously outfitted. More efficiently powered than previous generations, the 2021 Mazda3 is a daily driver with enough fun to make you smile.
See Kelley Blue Book’s Expert Review of the 2021 Mazda3
If you’re ready to shop, see certified pre-owned 2021 Mazda3 models
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