Used 2018 Mazda 3 for sale 

The 4-door 2018 Mazda 3 sedan is available in three trims namely, Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring, where the Sports trim is the base variant and is quite decently equipped against the price at which it is offered. It comes with a 2.0L engine, whereas the Touring and Grand Touring trim get a 2.5L engine. 

All Mazda 3 sedans come coupled with a six-speed manual transmission while a six-speed automatic is optional. The feature list is pretty basic for the base Sport trim, while the higher Touring and Grand Touring trims add considerably more creature comforts and technology. 

With a base price of $18,990, the Mazda 3 has many standard features listed in the table below. The Touring variant with a price tag of $22,485 is an upgraded version of Sport. The range-topping Grand Touring starts at $25,645 and features LED exterior headlights, fog lights and taillights, a sunroof, a digital speedometer, and an upgraded display in the instrument panel.

The mid-range 2018 Mazda 3 Touring sedan makes the most sense for buyers. It adds plenty more features and technology to the already loaded base trim and yet keeps the price in check. For a more enthusiastic driving experience, the manual transmission is the way to go, else the automatic offers a more pleasant experience. 

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For 2018, the Mazda 3 is available in two engine options. The 2.0L inline four-cylinder engine for the base Sport trim produces 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.5 L inline four-cylinder engine for Touring and Grand Touring trims that pump out 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. All Mazda 3 models come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while a six-speed automatic comes as an option with the same FWD drivetrain.

The 2.5L engine with a six-speed manual transmission is the perfect machine to have fun with. In terms of handling, the sedan offers exceptional driving dynamics for its price and the segment. The steering on the Mazda is quite engaging, it is nimble around the corners and remains composed in the straight line at highway speeds. The brakes on the Mazda have a decent bite and has a progressive pedal feel.

The Mazda 3 accelerates rather swiftly with the 2.0L engine. But the more powerful 2.5 L engine under the hood offers better acceleration and makes driving more pleasurable. It takes 7.6 seconds from a standstill to click 60 mph and does a quarter-mile run in 16 seconds with the larger engine. It covers about 122 ft before stopping from a cruising speed of 60 MPH which is on par with the segment standards. 

The Honda Civic is the most powerful vehicle in this competition while the Jetta has the highest torque output. The Kia Forte is the slowest of the lot while the turbocharged engine under the hood of the VW is the quickest. While the Civic is the priciest one here, it only manages to offer performance on par with the Mazda 3 sedan.

The 4-door 2019 Mazda 3 sedan gets a rating of 28 MPG in the city, 37 MPG on the highway, and 31 MPG combined with the manual, while the automatic returns marginally better. Opting for larger engine gets you fuel figures of 27/36/30 MPG in city/highway/combined as per the EPA. 

While the Honda Civic has a slightly smaller 12.4-gallon fuel tank, Volkswagen employs a larger gas tank. So with a bigger tank and better efficiency, the Maza 3 can cover a maximum distance of over 500 miles on a full tank of gas. 

The 2018 Mazda 3 features one of the best interior designs and comfort in the segment. It is the simplicity of the interior that makes it so good. It can accommodate 5 people easily with rear seats having some height restrictions. It's also easy to get in and out with wide door openings and high head clearance. The driver's seat offers a 6-way adjustment feature to settle in, and the ergonomics of pedals are just in the right position, which makes driving enjoyable.

The cockpit offers good visibility except for the area around bulky C-pillars, and Mazda offers 2 color options for interior upholstery. The rear seats are a little cramped and it may get tight for taller people, whereas the front seats have an ample amount of legroom and thigh support. The 12.4 cu-ft of trunk space is below par as per segment standards but one can make use of the split-folding rear seats to open up more cargo space.

All the vehicles can accommodate 5 passengers inside the cabin. The Honda Civic and VW Jetta offer the best space for the rear passengers. Both Kia and Mazda offer similar cabin space while the Civic and Forte have a similar trunk space to offer. The Mazda 3 excels in terms of cabin feel but lags behind in terms of space. 

All the trims of the Mazda 3 come with a 7-inch touch infotainment display using Mazda connect. 

The graphics are crisp, and the interface is easy to use. It also features a heads-up display showing relevant information. The range-topping GT variant gets an updated display in the instrument panel and a digital speedometer. It also gets a 9 speaker surround system for the best music quality, with connectivity feature options like Bluetooth and 2 USB ports. Sadly, the car is not equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Here is the list of interior features provided in the 2018 Mazda 3:

• Auto-dimming rearview mirror & Digital speedometer
• Six-way power seats and heated front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 7-inch Infotainment touch screen
• 9-speaker surround system & Bose Audio system on top trim
• Bluetooth connectivity & USB 

Over the generations, the 2018 Mazda 3 has been slightly upgraded in exterior dimensions and design. Designed using Mazda's "Kodo - Soul of Motion" design language, the sedan looks striking to say the least. The sleek headlights and large front grille look aggressive, while the haunches and body lines give it a muscular profile to the sedan. 

 The rear has a distinctive look to it as well while Mazda offers the 3 sedan in 8 different paint color options. Base Sport trim though gets steel wheels, higher trims get 16-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels which adds to its aesthetic appeal, while Mazda offers a sunroof on the top trim. 

The Mazda 3 leads this segment with the highest ground clearance of 6.1 inches. Hence, overall figures suggest it to be a comfortable car that can tackle most of the terrains. The Civic looks the quirkiest while both Forte and Jetta have a conventional sedan look to them. Here is the list of exterior features of the 2018 Mazda 3:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Self-leveling LED headlamps
• Rear spoiler
• Keyless entry
• Power sunroof

Being an affordable car brand, Mazda has always been great on the safety factor and the 2018 Mazda 3 sedan is no different. It has high structural strength, which helps it handle high-impact stresses. The NHTSA has rated the sedan with a perfect 5-star overall rating, while the IIHS awarded it as thier 'Top Safety Pick' in the midsize sedan for the year 2018. Along with that, the Mazda is also equipped with additional safety features listed below:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Mazda Connect Emergency Sos
• Smart City Brake Support Forward Collision
• Low Tire Pressure Warning

2018 Mazda 3 vs 2018 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are very similar in terms of their safety standards and interior quality. Also, both come in two body styles, namely sedan, and hatchback. Honda Civic comes with a 174 hp motor, which makes it a more comfortable cruiser, and is also efficient than the Mazda. On the contrary, Mazda is offered at a cheaper price with a host of advanced safety features than the Civic. Hence, if you are looking for an agile and sporty car with a decent price tag, Mazda 3 beats most in the segment. 

2018 Mazda 3 vs 2018 Kia Forte

Kia Forte5 starts at a much lower rate, and it has got much more power than the Mazda 3. Also, the Kia comes with a standard 6-speed automatic transmission, whereas in the Mazda it will cost you extra for the automatic transmission. Kia Forte5 overshadows the Mazda 3 in performance figures too. It is faster and brakes do a decent job on the road when compared to it. Hence, the Kia Forte5 has a better utility score. 

2018 Mazda 3 vs 2018 Volkswagen Jetta

While the Jetta costs about $500 more, but it is quicker off the mark. The Jetta is also more efficient than the Mazda 3 and offers a substantially longer range. While the Mazda 3 is more reliable and has a higher resale value, Jetta offers more value. The premium and spacious cabin with a larger trunk makes the VW Jetta the obvious choice here between the two. 

The 2018 Mazda 3 is a great bargain in the compact car segment. Starting at $18,990, Mazda gives a whole lot of variations to choose from. Though it lags behind in some areas such as cargo volume and engine performance, it can be compromised considering its merits. With a well-placed interior, advanced safety features, striking design, and great handling performance offered at an economical price, the Mazda 3 forms a perfect package of comfort, safety, and performance.