The Mazda3, which featured stunning redesigns for the hatchback and the sedan last year, returns in 2020 with new style and safety enhancements. Hoping to rival luxury models, Mazda engineers have focused on making adjustments to the suspension and providing more safety features in an effort to elevate the brand.
The Mazda3, which replaced the Familia/323/Protégé in the C-segment, was introduced by the Japanese automaker in 2003 as a 2004 model. In January 2019, it became Mazda's fastest-selling vehicle with sales of over six million units.
The 2020 Mazda3 sedan, a stylish front-wheel-drive compact car, includes Driver Attention Alert, which displays an alert and sound when it detects that the driver is fatigued or distracted, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go function, Smart Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist and High Beam Control as standard features.
The automatic on/off headlights and rain-sensing windshield wipers have been added to standard features such as the matte-finished front grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, upholstered seating surfaces and door trims, power-folding door mirrors and power windows with one-touch down/up feature.
The Mazda3 hatchback features i-Activ all-wheel drive and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment technologies, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, leatherette seating surfaces and door trims, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, automatic dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a black metallic front grille, rear roof spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and power windows with one-touch driver down/up feature.
Standard i-Activsense safety features in the hatchback include Driver Attention Alert, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go function, Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist and High Beam Control.
The new safety equipment in the 2020 Mazda3 sedan has increased the starting price by $500 over the 2019 model, to $22,420, including $920 for destination. Meanwhile, all-wheel-drive models will start at $25,020. Sedan models, on the other hand, are only available with the six-speed automatic transmission.
RELATED: The New 2020 Mazda 2 Will Arrive Later This Year
The entry-level Mazda3 hatchback starts at $24,620 with destination. All-wheel-drive models start at $26,020, while the six-speed manual transmission is only available on the front-wheel-drive Preferred trim, which starts at $28,420. The top-end Mazda3 Premium AWD hatchback has a sticker price of $29,820. The 2020 Mazda3 is now available nationwide.