Should You Buy? 5 Pros & Cons of Mazda Mazda3 2022

The Mazda3 is a compact car manufactured by the Japanese automotive company Mazda. It was unveiled in 2003 and is currently on its fourth generation.

The 2022 Mazda3 is still based on its roots by maintaining its status as a compact car available in sedan and hatchback body styles. The Mazda3 still carries an upscale interior and a stylish exterior, while offering exceptional steering dynamics and sporty handling. 

Under the hood, the 2022 Mazda3 still comes fitted with the two engines introduced in 2021. These are the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter petrol engine as the base engine and the turbocharged 2.5-liter petrol engine. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine is available as an option.  

Here we will briefly review the 2022 Mazda3 to learn about the new features it offers. As part of the review, we will also provide you with five factors to consider purchasing a 2022 Mazda3 and five factors to consider before buying a Mazda3. Please read on.

What’s New on the 2022 Mazda3?

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Not much has changed on the 2022 Mazda3, but notably, it’s the introduction of the Special Edition (SE) known as the Carbon Edition.

5 Pros

Upscale Interior Styling

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The interior styling of the Mazda3 is done with an eye for quality setting it apart from its competitors. Even the base model finishing is done with materials that feel and look nice for a car in its price range. The upper trims get even better by making use of soft leather throughout the door panels and center of the dash as well as sections of the center console. The 8-way power-adjustable seats are remarkably comfortable, with heating an option at the front. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also offers some heating.

Other meticulous details include a 7.0-inch digital screen in the middle of the instrument cluster. This screen replicates the analog dials, blending perfectly with the surrounding dials.

Incisive Handling

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The Mazda3 is available in sedan and hatchback body styles, with both cars offering a pleasing driving experience. The base 2.0-liter engine punches above weight by offering decent power at lower revs and happily and smoothly climbs up to the redline, with linear power delivery. The engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission that does its job very well by being direct.

Steering is well-calibrated, creating a good balance between comfort and sportiness. The floor-mounted accelerator pedal is well placed creating a comfortable phenomenon for the driver, especially on long trips, while the brake pedal adds a sense of control by sending proper feedback in the course of a typical driving experience and during sudden stops.

The Mazda 3 takes corners with ease, body roll is well managed while the magic of the Mazda G-Vectoring Control (GVC+) is at work. Re-entering a straight path from a corner is smooth and quick without the back and forth lateral movements usually experienced in other cars.

Optional/Standard I-Activ All-Wheel Drive

The Mazda3 comes fitted with Mazda’s I-Active all-wheel drive as an option on the mid-trim 2.5 S and standard on the top trim 2.5 Turbo. This high-tech system is one of the reasons that the Mazda3 is great at handling, but apart from that it also makes it safe to maneuver in rainy or snowy conditions. The I-Activ system works by constantly monitoring the road conditions while controlling the distribution of power and traction to all the wheels accordingly. 

The Mazda3 is also available in 3 trim levels which are: 

  • The base model denoted 2.0 (no all-wheel drive). 
  • The mid-trim denoted 2.5 S (all-wheel drive as an option). 
  • The top trim denoted 2.5 Turbo ( all-wheel drive as standard).

Swift Engines

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The 2022 Mazda3 comes fitted with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 165 lb-ft that has enough energy for daily use. However, most Mazda3s come fitted with the stronger naturally aspirated 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine with a respectable 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. For more excitement, you can opt for the energetic 2.5-liter turbocharged version that produces between 227 hp and 250 hp and 320 lb-ft depending on the type (regular/premium) of fuel. These engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard and six-speed manual transmission is an option. 

State Of The Art Infotainment System

The 2022 Mazda3 comes with an 8.8-inch non-touchscreen display that is controlled by a rotary knob mounted on the console, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, HD Radio, voice command functionality, and an eight-speaker stereo as standard features on the base 2.0 trim. The 2.5 S trim adds Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the top 2.5 Turbo trim adds navigation, satellite radio, and a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system.

This state-of-the-art system simplifies streaming music from phones and other devices. The integrated Mazda Navigation System helps the driver find their way around.

5 Cons

Limited Back Seat Legroom

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The 2022 Mazda3 is a five-passenger car. The first row is spacious enough to accommodate two adults comfortably by offering enough head- and legroom. On the second row, space is limited, and this results in a lack of head- and legroom especially on the hatchback due to its sloping roof, making it desirable for kids, not adults.

Limited Cargo Capacity

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The Mazda3 comes with several storage compartments that include a wide center tray, a center bin, and door pockets at the front, while at the rear you only get average size door pockets.

The Mazda3 has a cargo area that is a touch smaller than average. The sedan has a 373-liter cargo room, while the hatchback has a 569-liter boot which is better compared to the sedans. The rear seats of both models can be folded down to extend the cargo area, but these seats can’t be lowered back from the cargo area.

Higher Priced

In many markets, the Mazda3 is priced higher than its rivals. However, taking a short ride in the 3, you get to experience the quality of its engineering, its practicality, and interior and exterior beauty and comparing it to its peers, you’ll agree that its pricing is justified.

Smartphone Connectivity Is Not Standard

We live in an age whereby gadget connectivity is not a luxury but a necessity. The same applies to cars, whereby most cars have made connections between smartphones and car infotainment systems a standard feature, Mazda reserved this for the mid-and top-range trims. So if smartphone integration is a necessity for you, you’ll have to pay more to get this feature.

Limited Rear Visibility

The 2022 Mazda3 hatchback has limited rear visibility which is a result of its wide rear pillars. This is not much of a problem when the car is backing up as the rear-view camera sorts this out, but the problem comes when the car is on the move and the driver needs to see what’s behind them.

Final Verdict

The 2022 Mazda3 is a nice compact car. Both the sedan and hatchback offer a pleasant, sporty, joyful ride thanks to their speedy acceleration, imposing steering feel, and engaging handling. These and other attributes that we have covered in this article make the 3 a comfortable car for daily use.

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Written by: Samuel H. Mponezya

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