The Mazda3 Hatchback has been around for a few generations now and in every generation, it has been improved to compete with the rest of the competition.

For a while, the Mazda3 hatchback has been mainly a pure naturally aspirated and only as a front-wheel-drive configuration option. This has all changed, and with it, we have learned a lot about the new Mazda3 Hatchback. Want to know what we found out about this Mazda? Continue on down this list.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Mazda3 Deserves More Respect

10 Ride Comfort

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The ride comfort in this Mazda3 hatchback is astounding. The seats are comfortable and give great support not just for the driver, but the passengers as well. Not only that, but the suspension keeps everything tidy, especially on the roads of New Jersey. Put it in "Sport" and the suspension works like a charm in the corners thanks to the torque vectoring that comes with the Mazda3.

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Steering is light and direct while cruising around, but in "Sport" mode, the steering becomes sharp like a knife and the suspension stiffens up. What makes the ride comfort so great on the Mazda3 hatchback is that it is perfect for long-distance drives from places such as Philadelphia to Atlantic City without giving you any back problems. This is a big plus for those who want to drive their Mazda3 on long journeys.

9 Powertrain

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Not too long ago, the Mazda3, earlier in this generation, was given an AWD option without having a turbocharger to boost its power. That model only produced 186-horsepower and exactly the same amount of torque. This new model we drove has been bumped up to 227-horsepower and 310 foot-pounds of torque. The turbocharger added 41 more horses and 124 more torque. That horsepower is more than what an '87 IROC Camaro, with the 5.0-liter 305 ci V8 engine backed by the manual transmission, made stock. And the Mazda3 still is using the same 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Mazda has been using as well, and its power is going to all four wheels through an automatic transmission.

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Being in the Mazda3, it does feel fast when putting the pedal to the metal. The one problem is that the Mazda3 we had was given the automatic transmission. It was a bit slow to change through the gears when using the paddle-shifters. With our driving habits, we were able to achieve roughly 23 miles per gallon.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Mazda3

8 Exterior Styling

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The exterior styling of the Mazda3 is timeless. Designed to make the owner want to look back at it while walking away, the Mazda3 does exactly that. In the front fascia, it looks like it has an angry face. It is aggressive-looking, like it wants to kick the competition where it hurts. What helps give that expression aren't just the headlights and grille, but the front chin splitter is the cherry on top (actually bottom) of the ensemble.

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From the front doors back, the Mazda3 Hatchback gives off that Mario "Bullet" vibe. But we all know that the Mazda3 is a little less aerodynamic, but way more beautiful. The other feature that adds that little bit of flair to the Mazda3 is the wheels. They give the finishing touches to the already beautiful-looking Mazda3 hatchback.

7 Interior Design

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The interior design of the Mazda3 could only be described as "affordable luxury" in the sense of what is optioned and provided to the potential owner. The interior is designed enough in the Mazda3 to give it character with its leather, plastic, and metal trim. With easy access to the controls and toggling through the interface of the console, the Mazda3 has what it takes to be an "affordable luxury" vehicle as well.

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One thing most people enjoy about the cars they buy is if it has interior space. The Mazda3 has that. There is plenty of space, not only in the trunk, but in the backseats as well. There is enough space to fit 4 full-sized adults in the Mazda3. In the trunk, there is enough room to fit a few luggage bags for a week's trip.

6 Price And Safety Options (Taken From Build Sheet)

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So, how much does this Mazda Mazda3 cost? After adding everything up, the total cost comes to $36,010. What does that get a potential owner? Well for safety, the Mazda3 comes with driver attention alert, lane departure warning system, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control system, multiple airbags throughout the vehicle, smart brake support, radar cruise control, and tire pressure monitoring system.

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Not only that but the optional equipment for safety is front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree monitoring, traffic sign recognition, smart brake support in the rear, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and road sign recognition.

Related: These Are The Most Iconic Mazda Models Ever Made

5 Comfort And Convenience Options (Taken From Build Sheet)

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For comfort and convenience, the Mazda3 comes with a powered driver's seat and powered lumbar support, driver seat memory, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, paddle-shifters, dual-zone auto climate control, heads-up display, Bose premium audio with 12 speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, sat-nav, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio.

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Also, a frameless auto-dimming interior mirror, advanced keyless entry, push to start, rear armrest with cupholders, aluminum speaker grille, HD radio with 2 USB inputs, Sirius XM radio with a 3-month trial, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob.

4 Safety Ratings

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The Mazda3 Hatchback, on the build sheet, was given an Overall "5-Star" safety rating from the NHTSA. That is not the only "5-Star" mark the Mazda3 received in the government safety rating. In all actuality, the Mazda3 was given a "5-Star" rating in every category of safety.

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These categories are as follows; Frontal crash (both driver and passenger), Side Crash (both front and rear seats), and Rollover. That is perfect for someone who wants to buy a car that is deemed safe to drive by the government, if they were only looking for a vehicle to buy based on safety.

3 What It Is Missing

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For a vehicle that is priced at just over $36,000, the Mazda3 is missing a few things most people would think should be in a car worth this price. For one, the Mazda3 is missing a powered passenger seat. Most cars priced at this mark have both front seats powered. But no. The Mazda3 still uses a handle to push/pull the seat forward and a pump handle to adjust the height and lumbar support.

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Another missing option/feature is ventilated seats. We know it seems odd, but there are cars out there that have ventilated seats for a lower cost. Last, but not least, it is not the Mazda3's fault, there needs to be a third pedal. We know hot-hatchbacks do have both options, but the automatic just doesn't feel sporty enough, even though it gets the job done. We can only imagine how much better the Mazda3 would be if it had the manual gearbox. After all, Mazda infuses some of its 'Jinba Ittai' ethos in all its cars, and the Mazda3 would probably be a hoot if we could row our own gears.

2 The Faults/Problems

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Some of the problems of the Mazda3 may have been mentioned throughout the list, but there are reasons why they were mentioned in the first place. First, the automatic transmission does its job perfectly when in any drive mode and not in the place of moving the gear knob to upshift/downshift or using the paddle shifters. It falls flat on its face when trying to go through the gears using the closest form of manual shifting for sporty, spirited driving. There is a noticeable delay between the pressing of the gear change to the physical act. That's why some people will prefer the manual gearbox.

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Second, the Mazda3 has a horrible blindside spot for the driver on angled roads. If you're trying to see if someone is coming from the passenger's side, and it is on an angle, forget trying to look remotely straight out of the window and even somewhat move your head around the back of the passenger side door pillar to see if someone is coming from that way. It takes a bit of maneuvering to make sure the coast is clear before going out on the road, but it is quite an inconvenience and a bit of a safety hazard for some. Lastly, although we've covered fuel economy, the fuel tank seems a bit small. After driving around for not very far (50 or so miles), the fuel tank seemed to have dropped down about a quarter of a tank from full. But still, we maintained that fuel economy though. Makes you wonder about a few things.

1 Is It Worth The Money?

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So, is the Mazda3, with everything mentioned, worth buying? We found out that it is worth buying, but for those who most likely will use it for daily driving, not for anything exciting. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is just Mazda still needs to get where the enthusiasts are when it comes to proper hot-hatches and what they want. The gold standard hot-hatch is the Volkswagen Golf, and it is the benchmark for a reason.

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The Mazda3 doesn't have that yet, but it sure is almost there if they decide they want to stomp all over the competition in the future. Plus, with the price of $36,000 and some change, an enthusiast would be better off spending it elsewhere at the moment. But for a somewhat fun daily driver, for sure. We highly recommend it.