Used 2016 Mazda 3 for sale 

For the 2016 Mazda 3 sedan, it is available for sale in 3 major trim configurations and 2 other variants of the Touring and Grand Touring models. With the SV trim out for the count, the s trims get the larger engine and more features. Surprisingly, the price for the Sport trim has been significantly lowered to compensate for the lost base trim and keep the customers interested. Meanwhile, the Touring and Grand Touring trims make up for the rest of the lineup. 

The Grand Touring differs in powertrain as it gets a more puffed engine with a better exhaust note, while the former two trims satisfy their needs with a commonplace 2.0L engine. Also, primarily, all the formats equipped a manual transmission, while an automatic transmission remains explicitly available. Each successive trim offers an up-gradation of a varied range of features ranging from comfort, convenience, technology, safety, and also aesthetics.

As you can see, all the trims are briskly equipped, but Mazda still finds some room for more. It provides optional packages that can be purchased externally and can give your sedan a mesmerizing look inside-out or even enhance the overall safety and infotainment. For instance, if you opt for the Premium Equipment package, you get additional benefits like a navigation system, a heated steering wheel, and adaptive LED headlights. 

Looking at the price, we feel that the Grand Touring trim should come out worthwhile as it hones the intricacies of premium apparatuses as well as exhibits a premium appeal to its cabin. Plus, you get 18-inch wheels, power and heated exterior mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, a head-up display, dual-zone automatic weather control, and an updated nine-speaker Bose stereo system as standard commodities with the Grand Touring. 

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Even though the 2016 Mazda 3 Sport has an impressive throttle response, courtesy of the Skyactiv four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine, the low-end torque struggles, unlike the contemporary turbocharged engines. The 2016 Mazda 3 is offered with two engines, with the Touring and Grand Touring trims also getting the more powerful engine.  

The Mazda 3 is powered by a 2.0L inline-4 engine 155 hp and 150 lb-ft as standard, alongside the 2.5L inline-4 engine, producing 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet. Though both the engines can't be considered to be smooth, they do produce enough linear power and have a good amount of rev, which comes really handy when the torque rises above 3000 rpm. All trims get an option for either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. 

The 6-speed automatic transmission puts up a strong performance. Even though the sedan lags in the low-end torque, the engine, and transmission work together perfectly to display an impressive acceleration. While the standard engine does the 0-60 MPH run in 8.5 seconds with the manual, the 2.5L powertrain shaves off a second from the same. 

Emerging out as a clear winner among its rivals is the 3 Sedan with its powerful engine with the highest horsepower and torque. It is followed by the Kia Forte and the Hyundai Elantra sharing a similar horsepower of 147 and torque of 132 pound-feet. The Toyota Corolla falls behind in engine performance with the lowest power output and hence is the slowest of the lot.

Fuel efficiency always plays a vital role when choosing a compact class car, and the 2016 Mazda 3 does just fine in ensuring its prospective buyers with an admirable on-road EPA estimate. It is rated to return 29 MPG in the city, 41 MPG on highways, and 33 MPG combined for the manual, while the automatic sees a hike in these figures by 1 MPG. 

For maximum efficiency, you can go for the i-ELOOP package for the 2.5-liter engine, which adds a double-layer capacitor, grille shutters, and a variable-voltage alternator that enables regenerative braking and lightens the electrical load of the engine. The EPA rates this engine for 28/39/32 MPG in city/highway/combined. 

All four cars have impressive fuel economy rates with minimal differences apart from the 3 sedan. The Forte has a lower fuel efficiency rating as compared to the Corolla and Elantra, while the Mazda 3 is the most frugal of the lot. With a similarly sized gas tank capacity on offer, Mazda excels in terms of driving range as well. 

The 2016 Mazda 3 sedan is conceived to offer one of the best interiors in the segment. Being a driver-centric car, the Mazda 3 compromises the rear seat spaciousness for a broader front-seat environment. Mazda also offers 4 different upholstery color options to better suit your tastes. Meanwhile, though previously criticized for looking a bit tacked-on, the Mazda 3's center console screen gets a new housing this year that helps it look slightly better integrated into the dashboard. 

The Mazda 3 epitomizes luxury with some pretty impressive materials and interior appointments. In terms of refinement, Mazda has added sound-deadening material behind the dash, under the floor mats, and elsewhere. Engine noise has been nicely quelled, yet road noise is still there, perhaps more so than in most rivals. The small-ish 12.4 cu-ft trunk has a wide opening and with split-folding rear seats, one can get additional cargo space. 

All the four rivals have an equal passenger capacity of 5. In terms of passenger volume including the sunroof, the Toyota is the most spacious. For the front seat driver and passenger, the Hyundai has the most headroom and shares equal legroom with Mazda. Both Hyundai and Forte offer a larger boot while Corolla impresses the most with its abundantly spaced rear seat. 

While the Mazda 3 is certainly a cost-cut car, there is no curtailment of features on the infotainment front. 

It features the Mazda Connect infotainment system which is easy to manage because of its high intuitiveness. It gets a standard 7-inch touchscreen display and is controlled by a central rotary console. There are additional selector buttons on the steering wheel as well. While the infotainment system is not loaded with technology, the overall infotainment is minimal and user-friendly, which definitely adds points in the Mazda 3's favor. Major interior features offered with the 2016 Mazda 3 include:

• Tilt-telescopic electric power steering with audio and cruise controls
• 4 way manually adjustable passenger seats & Split-folding rear seatback
• External temperature display
• 6-speaker sound system. 
• USB connection, Auxiliary audio input, and AM/FM radio
• Bluetooth audio and phone
• Voice command

The 2016 Mazda 3 is one smart-looking vehicle. From every angle, you see the efforts that have been put in by this Japanese manufacturer to impart some extraordinary styling to this exquisite sedan. The entire lineup of the Mazda 3 shares its handsome DNA with the added sharpness to its athletic lines with beautifully balanced aesthetics for a greater presence on streets than other cars.

While the lower Sport trim gets steel wheels as standard, higher trims get 16-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels. The compact dimensions make it easier to maneuver in tight city bylanes while the ample ground clearance takes care of the bumps and curbs effectively. Mazda offers the 3 in 8 different paint color options with the 3 sedan for the 2016 model year. 

As mentioned earlier, the Mazda 3 is the heaviest of them all and as tall as the Toyota Corolla, which is the longest, widest, and has the highest ground clearance. All of them have identical wheelbases, and the rivals offer similar ride heights as well. That said, it is the Mazda 3 that looks the most stylish in this comparison. Salient exterior features offered with the 2016 Mazda 3 include:

• Rear defogger
• Variable intermittent rain sensing wipers
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• Daytime running lights
• Stability and traction control
• Rear lip spoiler and bumper guard
• Wheel locks 

The 2016 Mazda 3 impresses with excellent crash test scores from IIHS and ensures ample safety. Although it has standard active-safety features like an updated front-facing camera to detect obstacles and pedestrians up ahead, lane departure warning system, lane-keeping assist function, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking mechanism. Some key safety features offered with the 2016 Mazda 3 include:

• Advanced dual front airbags with passenger weight sensors
• Front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side-impact air curtains
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Hill Launch Assist
• Anti-lock Brake System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution & Brake Assist

2016 Mazda 3 vs 2016 Kia Forte

Kia offers impressive value at an affordable price tag against the Mazda. It is only about half a second slower than the Mazda 3, but struggles in terms of efficiency. While both sedans offer similar cabin space, the Forte provides a larger trunk. With a lower cost of ownership and an impressive warranty on offer, Kia Forte is the obvious choice here. 

2016 Mazda 3 vs 2016 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla is priced very close to the 3 sedan but has a very lackluster performance to offer. While it is also not as frugal as Mazda, it offers a much more spacious rear seat and a decent-sized boot. Toyota is also known for its reliability and high resale value, therefore unless you have to have the performance kick, it's best to go with the Corolla. 

2016 Mazda 3 vs 2016 Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra not only comes at a considerably lower MSRP, but it also is almost as quick as Mazda. With a decent fuel economy rating, spacious trunk, and low ownership costs, Elantra makes for an excellent choice. While the Mazda 3 sedan gets a more spacious rear seat, the Hyundai Elantra makes more sense between the two. 

Overall, the 2016 Mazda 3 is an excellent example of optimum engineering. The sedan may fall short in some areas, but the virtues definitely outnumber its shortcomings. The 2016 Mazda 3 Sedan can be considered to be the best deal for a compact car coupled with performance and great styling. Having so much to offer at a competitive price tag, the Mazda 3 certainly aims to offer a sporty yet stylish alternative to several other sedans in the market.