2024 Mazda3 Sedan vs.2024 Mazda3 Hatchback
The compact Mazda3 has become one of the Japanese Mazda brand's top sellers, and whether buyers choose from the sedan or the hatchback version, they get a great purchase either way.
Well-loved for its spirited and sporty drive allied with impressive build quality for this class of car, the Mazda3 continues for 2024 as Mazda's only gasoline-powered model.
Maybe as a prospective buyer, you are faced with the dilemma of which shape to choose, the sedan or hatchback? With specifications pretty much mirroring each other, buyers may have a difficult time making this choice.
To help you out here, carry on reading as our article takes a closer look at what differentiates these automotive twins.
What's New for 2024?
First off, we look at what's on offer for this new year. The Mazda3 continues with little changes for 2024, with minor upgrades seen in the interior, along with pricing changes in the lineup.
Trim levels available in the sedan range are 2.5 S, 2.5 S Select Sport, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Carbon Edition, 2.5 Carbon Turbo, and the range-topper 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus.
The hatchback range also offers six trim levels: 2.5 S Select Sport, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Carbon Edition, 2.5 S Premium, 2.5 Carbon Turbo, and the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus.
Pricing-wise, the sedan lineup offers a slightly more affordable entry into the range with the base 2.5 S trim. Across the range, the sedan version is the cheaper buy vs. the equivalent hatchback.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Both body styles are available with similar drivetrains. Lower trims use the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter SKYACTIV four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower @ 6000 revs per minute rpm and 189 pound-feet of torque @4000 rpm when running on 87 octane regular unleaded fuel. This same engine, once turbocharged, produces 250 horsepower @ 500 rpm and 320 pound-feet of torque @ 2500 rpm using 93 octane premium fuel.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard fare, with Mazda's iACTIV AWD (all-wheel drive) drivetrain fitted from the Carbon Edition and up and is standard on all the turbo trims.
Mazda's SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with manual and sport mode functions is standard across the bulk of the lineup, and buyers are able to choose the SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed overdrive transmission only when ordering an FWD.
2024 Mazda3 Exterior Styling
To casual observers, the key difference between the 2024 Mazda3 sedan and its hatchback twin is obviously seen in the body styles, with the sedan showing off a traditional three-box design with its short trunk while the hatchback sports a two-box design with the rounded-off rear.
The exterior designs of the sedan and hatchback models are, however, significantly different, with both body styles sharing just the hood and headlights. The front wing fenders and front doors are designed uniquely for each body style.
Both body styles show off the flowing bodywork of Mazda's Kodo design language, giving the Mazda3 a smooth, uncluttered, and polished look.
In the front, both designs feature LED headlights with auto on/off, LED daytime running lights, a matte black front grille for the sedan, and a gloss black finish on the hatchback. At the rear, both feature LED combination tail lights, while the hatchback gets a rear window wiper as well as a rear roof spoiler in a black finish.
Sharing the same wheelbase of 107.3 inches, the sedan, however, measures 183.5 inches in length while the hatchback is shorter at 175.6 inches, with the sedan sitting 0.2 inches higher than the hatchback.
Both styles of the Mazda3 range are fitted with standard alloy wheels ranging from 16 inches up to 18 inches wrapped in all-season tires across the lineup.
Buyers of both sedan and hatchback can choose from six standard exterior colors plus two exclusive colors, Polymetal Gray Metallic and Zircon Sand Metallic on Carbon trims.
Interior Design and Cargo
The 2024 Mazda3 features a modern cabin finished in quality materials, with Mazda's stylish design removing visual clutter by reducing switchgear and effectively hiding the air vents and door handles. Buyers across different trim levels get to choose from a wide variety of luxury and comfort features.
Seating five passengers in both body styles and standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback with adjustable front & rear headrests in all seating positions. The sedan offers 0.1 inches more rear headroom and shoulder room than the hatchback.
Standard seats for both models are black cloth with leather upholstery choices exclusive for the top-of-range trims.
The sedan offers 92.8 cubic feet of passenger volume vs. the 92.7 cubic feet in the hatchback, while the sedan has EPA 13.2 cubic feet of cargo volume with second-row seats up vs. the 20.1 cubic feet of volume afforded by the versatile hatchback configuration. The hatchback gets a convenient cargo cover for enhanced security.
Infotainment
Both models are equipped as standard with an 8.8-inch infotainment display located between the soft-touch dash pads. A larger, 10.25-inch display is an exclusive fitment on Turbo models.
These infotainment screens are accessed via a console-mounted rotary knob. On both models, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, as well as the standard eight-speaker Mazda Harmonics audio system.
Plentiful features abound, such as a dual-zone automatic climate control system on all trims except the 2.5 S sedan, power windows with a one-touch up/down feature, power door locks with speed-sensitive auto door locks plus steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control switches, front map lights and cargo lights.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Mazda3 sedan and hatchback have both been awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2023 with an impressive five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Standard front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side-impact air curtains, and driver's and front passenger's knee airbags, the Mazda3 ensures occupants' safety.
The 2024 Mazda3 range is fitted with driver assistance features including:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep assist,
- Adaptive cruise control with Mazda's stop-and-go system
- Driver attention monitoring
- Automatic high beams
Upper trim levels get adaptive front-lighting, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert added to this already impressive list.
Find Your Mazda3 at SeaCoast Mazda
Contact our dealership, SeaCoast Mazda, located in Portsmouth, NH, and meet our friendly and knowledgeable sales team.
Whether you wish to discover more about the 2024 Mazda3 lineup or find a quality pre-owned vehicle, we are always ready to serve your motoring needs.