These Are All of the 2024 Mazda3 Performance Options
The 2024 Mazda3 is on a mission to be all things to all people. Luxurious, efficient, quick, and confidence-inspiring, there is a Mazda3 variant for everyone. But this also presents a confusing arrangement of turbo, non-turbo, all-wheel drive, manual, and automatic transmission options. We’re here to help break them all down and lay out all of the Mazda3 performance options available in 2024.
Standard Mazda3 performance, efficiency, and price
The base 2024 Mazda3 bolts a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine under the hood. It also comes with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. This combination is good for 181 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Starting at $25,335, the base Mazda3 also earns respectable fuel economy at 28 mpg city and 37 mpg on the highway. For those seeking an upscale compact car that does (almost) everything well, the bog-standard Mazda3 is an excellent choice.
What is the cheapest all-wheel drive Mazda3 option?
Of course, all-wheel drive is a popular choice for many new Mazda3 shoppers, though arguably unnecessary in a majority of the U.S. Still, if all-wheel drive in the 2024 Mazda3 is non-negotiable, the cheapest way to do so is with the 2.5-liter Carbon Edition. Pricing for this trim starts at $30,225 for the sedan or $31,425 for the 2024 Mazda3 Hatchback.
Critically though, the Carbon Edition (CE) locks both the interior and exterior color choices. The CE color for 2024 is a sandy gold metallic, while the interior offers just a warm brown leather upholstery. Both are stunning-but-specific styles that may not suit everyone’s unique tastes.
For the cheapest non-carbon all-wheel drive Mazda3 in 2024, the fully-loaded Turbo Premium Plus sedan is the only option at nearly $37,000.
Regardless of which trim, the all-wheel drive Mazda3 offers respectable fuel efficiency at 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
Is the Mazda3 turbo fast?
When equipped with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the 2024 Mazda3 makes an impressive 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. With front-wheel drive, that combination goes from zero to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. Equipping the Mazda3 Turbo with all-wheel drive provides much more launch stability. The extra grip does well, getting the compact hatchback to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.
Is there a manual Mazda3 in 2024?
Yes, the manual transmission Mazda3 makes a return for 2024 in the Mazda3 Premium. Starting at $31,515 with destination charges, it is the only option for a stick-shift Mazda3. Sharp readers may note that there is no way to combine the turbocharged engine with a manual. Considering even the Toyota Corolla now has a turbocharged, manual transmission variant to compete with the likes of the Golf R, Civic Type R, and Integra Type S, the lack of a Mazda3 Turbo manual is a befuddling blind spot for the premium Japanese automaker.
What is the MPG on a Mazda3 Turbo with all-wheel drive?
Combining the punchy turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive is the least efficient version of the Mazda3. At 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, it’s not exactly burning down the rainforests, but it isn’t going to be cheap to run every day either. That said, the power delivery is unmatched anywhere else in the compact Mazda lineup, which might be worth the extra fuel stops.
Is this the best compact car of 2024?
With so 2024 Mazda3 performance options to work with and a wealth of luxury touches on its higher-tier models, it is absolutely in the running for best compact car of 2024. The only things holding it back are rear visibility and limited cargo space, but one of those issues disappears with some new standard tech. The new Mazda3 may not be for everyone, but it comes pretty damn close.
