2026 Mazda3 Hatchback
The refined 2026 Mazda3 hatchback has always offered sporty looks, performance, excellent build quality, and outstanding road manners all in a comfortable and technology-laden package.
The Mazda3 lineup continues to wow with its “For the fun of the drive” ownership experience, so read on as we take a closer look at what the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback has in store for prospective owners.
Is the Mazda3 new for 2026?
No, not new, but for 2026, the popular Mazda3 hatchback does get some updates and improved standard equipment to keep the model up to date and ready to meet the needs of shoppers looking for Japanese engineering, build quality, and technology.
The interior gets attention to make it more refined and driver-focused with premium materials.
The updated futuristic cabin features a digital dashboard with a floating infotainment screen, along with an enhanced driver assistance system and premium audio upgrades.
Buyers can pick from a lineup of six trim levels:2.5 S, 2.5 S Select Sport, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Carbon Edition, 2.5 S Premium, and the top dog 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus.
What's changed on the Mazda3’s Sporty Exterior?
The Mazda3 Hatchback carries over its familiar KODO “Soul of Motion” exterior design that seeks to create a sense of motion.
The exterior is both sporting and elegant at the same time, showing off a body with striking curves and angles.
The smooth front end features a large gaping grille finished in either matte or gloss black that flows into slim horizontal auto on/off LED headlights, plus standard LED daytime running lights for safety.
Plenty of modern touches abound, like rear LED combination tail lights and a standard black finished rear roof spoiler.
Buyers can expect standard equipment that includes the likes of:
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Rear window wiper
The sporty and sleek exterior is complemented by a lineup of various design alloy wheels of 16 inches to 18 inches, depending on trim level, all wrapped in all-season tires.
How has the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback interior been upgraded?
Seating five passengers in a thoroughly modern and stylish cabin with premium materials and impressive Japanese craftsmanship, there is a generous lineup of luxury, convenience, and comfort equipment in store for driver and passengers alike.
The Mazda3’s cabin features an uncluttered and minimalist layout in its low-slung cockpit, with the driver getting a 7-inch LCD Meter Display, trip odometers, a resettable trip computer offering current and average fuel economy information, along with convenient distance-to-empty readings.
Some of the generous standard interior features include:
- Power door locks with speed-sensitive auto door lock function
- Remote keyless entry system
- Push Button Start
- Electronic parking brake
- Front map lights and cargo area light
- Vinyl-covered sun visors with extensions
- Glove compartment
- Front center console armrest with covered storage compartment
- Front door storage pockets with bottle holders
- Cargo cover
- Overhead console with sunglasses holder
How much cargo can the Mazda3 Hatchback carry?
The Mazda3 Hatchback offers an EPA cargo volume of 20.1 cubic feet.
The standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback allows for easier loading of bulkier cargo, longer items, and when folded down, the hatchback will swallow up to 47.1 cubic feet of luggage.
How good is the infotainment system in the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback?
Even in base trim, the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback offers a superior audio experience.
Standard is an 8.8-inch infotainment display that is nestled between the dashboard’s soft-touch pads. Like all modern Mazdas, the infotainment system is easily operated via standard Mazda Connect and an easy-to-use infotainment system voice command, and the console-mounted Command Controller rotary knob.
The latest 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback features an eight-speaker Mazda Harmonic audio system.
Connectivity includes:
- Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio streaming capability
- Apple CarPlay® integration
- Android Auto™ integration
- Dual Type-C USB inputs
- Mobile 911 automatic emergency notification
- Multifunction Commander control
- Radio Broadcast Data System program information
- SMS text message audio delivery and reply
- Mazda Connected Services
Are there any changes to the Engine, Transmission, and Performance for the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback?
For 2026, Mazda has chosen to continue with the familiar naturally aspirated 2.5-liter SKYACTIV four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower @6,000 rpm and 189 pound-feet of torque @4,000 rpm.
A more powerful turbocharged version of this engine produces 250 horsepower @5,000 rpm and 320 pound-feet of torque @2500 rpm.
Both engines are coupled with a SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with manual and sport modes across most of the range, sending drive to the front wheels or optional Mazda iACTIV AWD, depending on trim level.
How fuel-efficient is the Mazda3 Hatchback?
Those trims powered by the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine with FWD and automatic transmission offer EPA-estimated fuel economy values of 26/36/30 mpg city/highway/combined driving.
Those owners opting for AWD can expect 26/33/29 mpg for city/highway/combined driving, and the priciest Mazda3 Hatchback fitted with the turbocharged engine and standard AWD offers EPA ratings of 23/31/26 mpg for city/highway/combined driving.
How Safe is the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback?
The always fun-to-drive 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback is equipped with i-Activsense® safety features that help alert drivers to hazards, helping you avoid collisions or lessen their impact, ensuring you have a more secure and safe travel experience.
The 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback has been given a 2025 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, plus the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it a five-star overall safety rating for 2025.
Just some of the comprehensive list of safety and driver assistance features include:
- Dual front airbags
- Front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags
- Side-impact air curtains
- Driver's and front passenger's knee airbags
Driver assistance features include:
- 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
What are the trim levels and pricing for the 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback?
2.5 S
The most affordable trim starts at $25,550 MSRP, featuring the base 2.5-liter engine, and buyers get the above-mentioned standard equipment and interior trim, as well as trim-specific features that include:
- Manual air conditioning
- Black cloth seats
- Power windows with a one-touch up/down feature
- Urethane-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector
- Steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control switches
- Manual day/night rearview mirror
The 2.5 S’s exterior offers standard features such as:
- Body-colored dual folding power side mirrors
- Rear window wiper
- Matte Black front grille
- Black rear roof spoiler
- 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels finished in silver metallic
Buyers of the 2.5 S can choose from three exterior color options.
2.5 S Select Sport
The 2.5 S Select Sport, at a starting $26,740 MSRP, adds to the base trim’s features the following interior equipment:
- Dual-zone automatic climate control system
- Mazda's advanced keyless entry system
- Rear center armrest with cup holders
- Black leatherette-trimmed sports seats
- leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector
- Illuminated Driver and passenger covered visor vanity mirrors
Upgrades to the exterior include:
- Rain-sensing variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Black dual folding heated power side mirrors with integrated turn signal
- Heated side mirrors
- 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels finished in black metallic
Shoppers have a selection of six exterior colors available to choose from.
2.5 S Preferred
Starting at $28,440 MSRP, the 2.5 S Preferred trim offers all that the lower trims have but adds an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat along with power-adjustable lumbar support, 2-position memory, and heated front seats.
The Preferred is trimmed in Black leatherette, and the infotainment system gets built-in Alexa functionality.
Exterior upgrades include:
- Dual folding heated power side mirrors with turn signals and memory positioning in body color
- Power sliding-glass moonroof with a one-touch-open feature and interior sunshade
- 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gray metallic
- Six exterior color choices
2.5 S Carbon Edition
The Carbon Edition, with a starting MSRP of $31,360, features similar specs to the Preferred trim and allows owners some exclusivity with its trim-specific Polymetal Gray Metallic exterior.
The interior offers exclusive red leather-trimmed sport seats, HD Radio, and a wireless charger.
18-inch aluminum alloy wheels in a Black Metallic finish are fitted.
2.5 S Premium
The top non-turbo 2.5 S Premium trim is available at a starting $31,450 MSRP and is unique with its FWD drivetrain and Skyactiv-MT six-speed manual transmission.
Features now include:
- Bose 12-speaker premium audio
- Aluminum speaker grilles
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- Full-color windshield-projected Active Driving Display
- Adaptive Front-lighting System
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Mazda Online Navigation with over-the-air update capabilities
The leather seats can be ordered in black or red, and the exterior is available in six color choices.
18-inch black-finish aluminum alloy wheels and signature LED headlights and taillights are fitted.
2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
The top-of-the-range 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus at $37,890 is powered by the more powerful turbocharged engine with AWD, adding to the 2.5 S Premium, the following:
- Perforated leather-trimmed sport seats in black or red,
- Windshield wiper de-icer
- Black aero rear roof spoiler
- Black front air dam and black front air guides
Purchase Your 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback at Seacoast Mazda
The fun-to-drive 2026 Mazda3 Hatchback range is available to test drive at Seacoast Mazda in Portsmouth.
Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with your next Mazda purchase, whether it's a new vehicle or any of our quality pre-owned vehicles you have in mind.
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