2020 Mazda3

Price as tested: $32,000

Engine: 2.5 Liter 4 cylinder / 186 hp and torque

MPG: 29 as observed

Text/Video/Photography: Yousef Alvi

As a motoring journalist, it seems like I’m obligated to sing the virtues of any and all Mazda vehicles.  The words like ‘sporty’, ‘chassis’, and ‘feel’ are obligatory in any and all Mazda reviews.  It’s an unspoken rule that all have to abide by.  Yeah about that…

Aside from the brilliant and lovable Miata, every Mazda I have driven is ‘okay’.  They are not bad by any means.  In some aspects they are class leading.  But in the drivetrain category they are underwhelming.  What about the ‘sport’ you say?  They are as sporty as their rivals. Not more, not less…just an even keel.  

What sets Mazda apart instead, is their interiors.  You want a luxury car without a luxury car price tag?  Get a Mazda.  Quality, refinement, fit, finish and luxury is what you find inside.  The interiors are lined with high end materials, beautiful feeling leather and real aluminum trim.  This Mazda3 takes the best parts of Lexus, BMW and Audi and melds them to a cohesive, easy to use and brilliant looking, feeling and smelling interior.  It’s not just class leading…it’s industry leading good.  

What doesn’t set Mazda apart is their engines and this Mazda3 is no exception.  The Skyactiv G motor powering this 3 makes 186 hp and 186 torque.  Which are fine numbers.  They are competitive numbers.  But…bloody effing hell the engine just moans, groans and honestly seems like it hates itself for being an engine.  There is no perceivable torque curve or horsepower increase as the revs builds.  It just groans and complains it’s way to redline and that’s it.  

Yes the engine is efficient and it was made to be efficient.  But if your company tagline is ‘Drive Alive’ then well…make your motors feel like they are alive!  This motor feels like it wants to be euthanized instead.  

Styling wise, the exterior reminds me of the bird from Angry Birds and I can’t unsee it.  Take the bird analogy away and then it looks like an egg.  Does it look bad?  No of course not.  From some angles its a delicate and italian-ish inspired design.  If you want to see bad…then I refer you to the Honda Civic: 

I know I’m sounding angry at this Mazda3 and in Mazda in general…and well I am.  I WANT to like this car.  I want to like it because sitting in it makes me feel like I’m in a car that cost 3x as much.  I want to like it because it’s a hatchback.  I want to like it because Mazda is the perennially the underdog of the Automotive Industry.  But I don’t.  I can’t.  Because of that damn engine.  Stepping on the gas is akin to watching a Trump press conference.  You just want it to stop.  If this Mazda3 had the Civic’s 1.5 liter Turbo 4…then it would be a match made in heaven.  Unfortunately it doesn’t and that is something I cannot get over. 

So what do I think of the 2020 Mazda3?  A combination of a lovely, stunning and frankly exquisite looking interior bolted to a decent chassis and a meh/ugh drivetrain with a $31,000 price tag.  $31k!  For $31,000 you can get a Grand Touring, AWD spec’d crossover that offers more room, the same fantastic interior and the ease of use that comes with a crossover.  That SUV I speak of?  The 3’s bigger brother…the CX-5.  So the question I ask is why?  Why would anyone get this over a CX-5?  Welcome to the most confusing vehicle I have ever driven.