Punching above its price point
Since 2019, Mazda’s bread-and-butter economy car, the Mazda3, has diverged from its modest origins more radically than ever before, offering confident yet understated styling and material quality that far surpasses its price point. Now that its current generation has been around for more than half a decade, and its similarly priced rivals have had ample opportunity to catch up to its superbly premium feel and its uniquely engaging performance dynamics, I wanted to see if the relatively unchanged 2025 Mazda3 still holds up to the celebrated reputation it earned in the generation’s first years.
Cole Attisha
Having spent a few years working on the sales floor at one of Canada’s top-volume Mazda dealerships, my familiarity with the Mazda3 knows almost no bounds. Although I’ve long been a massive fan of these models, even having sold them to my own family, when the time came to buy a turbocharged sport sedan for myself, I chose its most direct rival. Despite having access to Mazda’s employee leasing programs, I ultimately opted for a 2023 Subaru WRX, as I preferred its more balanced handling, quirky horizontally opposed Boxer engine, and its available manual transmission. Having now moved on from my WRX to a cheaper, yet much more exciting, 2025 Subaru BRZ tS, I decided to use my week behind the wheel of the 2025 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo AWD to reflect on my decision and see if I could comprehend why anyone would make a different choice.
Cole Attisha
The Mazda3’s styling is refined, restrained, and respectable
From a styling standpoint, I still believe that the Mazda3 is the best-looking car in its segment, even surpassing the boy-racer-esque Subaru WRX, despite being over six years old. While many of its rivals feature abrasive body lines and aggressive fascias, the Mazda3’s design is calm and collected, having aged like fine wine. In fact, the Mazda3’s styling resembles that of a modernized Alfa Romeo 159, at least to my eyes, employing smooth, flowing body lines and a poised, prominent demeanor. The Mazda3 doesn’t beg for your attention; it earns it.
Cole Attisha
I should point out that this Mazda3’s specific configuration is not available in the U.S. market – that is, the combination of its Ceramic Metallic exterior paint color and its Garnet Red leather upholstery equipped on the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo’s top trim level. In Canada, it’s known as the Mazda3 GT Turbo AWD, whereas in the United States, it’s sold as the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. For the most part, they benefit from all the same equipment; Mazda just won’t let you pair this color configuration with the turbocharged, all-wheel drive drivetrain unless you reside in the Great White North. That’s unfortunate, because I believe this unique specification complements the Mazda3’s suave lines excellently. Thankfully, many other interesting – but perhaps somewhat subdued – paint colors and upholstery options are still available, with my particular favorites being Platinum Quartz Metallic and Polymetal Gray Metallic. The top-trim Mazda3 Turbo’s black painted 18-inch alloy wheels also provide a sporty sense of contrast to the exterior, while its shiny chrome accents over the side windows offer a touch of class.
Cole Attisha
Its cabin is simple and effective, even if it’s a bit dated. Once again, its material quality is sublime
The idea that this generation of the Mazda3 is aging like fine wine extends well beyond its styling. In every aspect, the 2025 Mazda3 is refined yet uncomplicated, providing ease of use and intuitive dynamics without compromise. That’s perhaps most noticeable inside the cabin, where the Mazda3’s “dated” interior offers many selling points over more “modernized” interiors that heavily rely on screens and haptic touch buttons. Instead of integrating the majority of its controls into a central infotainment display, the Mazda3 still features buttons for the most commonly used controls, and they’re pleasant to use. Every surface feels supple to the touch, and resources aren’t squandered on unnecessary gimmicks; the Mazda3 has all the amenities you need to be comfortable and properly entertained, and nothing more.
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
Not only does the Mazda3’s cabin quality exceed its price point expectations, but it has also been carefully pieced together. Nothing squeaks, and there are no uneven seams. Its metallic bezels and accents further enhance the interior. Generally speaking, it’s an environment that feels far more luxurious and inviting than that of a pricier Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, with far fewer fingerprint-prone surfaces than an Audi A3. Performance aside, it’s difficult to conceive how anyone could overlook the price tags on German alternatives when Mazda has so much to offer with the current Mazda3 – even over six years after its introduction.
Cole Attisha
It gives German premium alternatives a serious run for their money behind the wheel, too
When considering the Mazda3 Turbo’s performance, the gap between it and pricier German rivals narrows even further. Providing up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on tap from its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine, sent to all four wheels through a conventional torque-converter six-speed automatic transmission, the Mazda3 Turbo is sneaky fast. It doesn’t shout about its speed, but rest assured, it’s there, and it’s available quite quickly. It may not have a fancy dual-clutch gearbox like a Mercedes. Still, its six-speed automatic is exceptionally responsive. It does without the inherent jerkiness of more complex dual-clutch systems – a significant factor that has led many brands, in recent years, to replace their dual-clutch transmissions with conventional torque-converter automatics.
Equipped with Mazda’s iACTIV all-wheel drive system, the Mazda3 Turbo corners superbly at speed, but does tend towards torque steer under hard acceleration at low speeds. In fact, driving in a straight line can often require constant microadjustments, as the steering seems not to want to straighten itself quite all the way. Although it can corner well, its cornering grip feels digital and inorganic, unlike the Subaru WRX, which utilizes a mechanical all-wheel drive system and therefore benefits from mechanical grip and substantially greater feedback.
Cole Attisha
The Mazda3’s driving dynamics are both a strong suit for the model and also one of its most significant weaknesses, depending on what you’re comparing it to. For example, suppose you’re cross-shopping a Mazda3 Turbo against a Subaru WRX, a Hyundai Elantra N, a Volkswagen Jetta GLI, or a Honda Civic Si. In that case, the Mazda is by far the least exciting to drive in a spirited manner, and gets beaten out on the asphalt by its enthusiast-oriented rivals. However, comparing the Mazda3 Turbo’s driving dynamics to those of more luxurious, comfort-focused German alternatives, such as the Audi A3, the BMW 228 Gran Coupe, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, yields different results. Compared to these models, the Mazda3 Turbo offers comparable, if not superior, driving intuitiveness and excitement, paired with comparable luxury and comfort, for significantly less money.
The specifics
The 2025 Mazda3 I tested was a Canadian-market GT Turbo AWD trim package, akin to the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus package available in the United States. It’s powered by a turbocharged SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque when filled with premium fuel. Fill it with regular gasoline, and those figures drop to 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, but you’ll save a few bucks at the pump. It’s capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 5.2 seconds and is limited to a top speed of 134 miles per hour.
Fuel economy is rated by the EPA at 23 miles per gallon in the city, 31 miles per gallon on the highway, with a combined rating of 26 miles per gallon. As configured, the 2025 Mazda3 GT Turbo AWD’s MSRP is approximately CAD 41,726 (approximately USD 30,285), which includes freight & PDI charges, as well as a current manufacturer incentive of $300. Stateside, a 2025 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus AWD costs approximately USD 37,685, including freight & PDI fees.
Cole Attisha
Final thoughts
After spending a week driving the 2025 Mazda3 Turbo AWD, the question of whether I regret choosing the Subaru WRX, even despite having access to compelling employee programs for the Mazda3, has been answered. The truth is, there’s no way I would have enjoyed the Mazda3 Turbo more than I did my Subaru WRX. Even with its ample power and clever all-wheel drive system, it simply isn’t as engaging to drive as its more enthusiast-focused rivals. However, what I’ve come to learn over the past week is that the Mazda3 Turbo really isn’t meant to be compared to the boy-racer alternatives from Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, and others.
No, the Mazda3 Turbo AWD is truly an “alternative to premium” vehicle, possessing all the necessary traits and charisma to compete, and even outshine, much pricier German compact sedans. Essentially, the Mazda3 Turbo is, in every conceivable way except for price, a genuinely competitive compact luxury sedan. For those buyers chasing after comfort, presentability, and refinement, rather than all-out driving thrills, the Mazda3 Turbo AWD laughs in the face of the Audi A3, the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The Mazda3 Turbo is like a pair of Lululemon ABC Pants – you can confidently wear them to client meetings at the office, and they’re athletic enough to wear during a tennis match or a round of golf. It’s a corporate associate with a respectable athletic side, and even though its current generation is over six years old by now, it’s a vehicle that has already stood the test of time.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog