Used 2021 Mazda 3 for sale 

The 2021 Mazda 3 sedan's trim levels comprise 7 trim options with the addition of 3 new trims and 2 more engine options. The 3 sedan comes with the i-ActivSense safety features as standard in all trims, which includes Forward emergency braking, lane keeps assisting, automatic high beam headlights with adaptive cruise control. The Base trim is priced at $21,645, comes with plenty of features as standards, like an 8.8-inch infotainment unit and rain-sensing wipers.

The S trim comes next at $22,645 and only gets an FWD drivetrain. It gets the same 8.8-inch infotainment setup but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a blind-spot monitor and a more powerful 2.5L 186 hp engine. The Select trim further adds 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control along with the keyless entry. The Preferred trim lies above the Select and gets a power driver seat, heated front seats, and a sunroof.

The Premium trim adds more luxury at $27,995 for the FWD and $29,395 for the AWD. It gets more tech like satellite radio, navigation, Bose audio system, and adaptive headlights. The two Turbo & Turbo Premium Plus trims get the most powerful engine, a 2.5L 250 hp turbocharged Inline-4 which can also be opted with a 6-speed manual, although only with an AWD setup. While the Turbo adds a couple of interior features, Premium Plus gets plenty more to justify the high price tag.

We will recommend the Preferred trim from the 3 Sedan's lineup.

That's because it comes with best-in-class features, luxury, driving comfort, and agility. The sports heated front seat, power driver seat, a sunroof, leather steering wheel, and leatherette upholstery, all add to the premium experience. The fuel efficiency is compromised due to increased drivability and response but still is sufficient enough to be your daily driver. 

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"The 2021 Mazda 3 is one of the more entertaining small sedans around. That's particularly true for this year since Mazda has introduced a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine." - edmunds.com

2021 Mazda 3 comes with three different engine options under the hood. The base trim gets a new 2.0L inline-4 producing 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque which powers only the front wheels. The next 4 trim configurations, from S to Premium, there's the same 2.5L, 186hp inline-4 with AWD as optional. 

Lastly, the Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus trims get an even more powerful one, a 2.5L inline-4 but turbocharged motor producing 227 hp & 310 lb-ft mated either to a 6-speed automatic or an optional six-speed manual unit! All the other models make do only with the same 6-speed automatic transmission. 

Though the base engine might seem a little sluggish on paper, all three powertrains offer a quick response to the gas pedal inputs. The ride feels composed and refined and even the new base engine can do 0-60 MPH in around 8.8 seconds, while the previously available engine did it in 7.5 seconds. The mighty turbocharged engine does the 0-60 MPH run in just under 6 seconds with standard AWD, and can cover the quarter-mile in about 14 seconds. 

The Mazda 3 wins in terms of sheer performance for the best price. Its Base trim is also ahead in the race but the 2.5L turbocharged Inline-4 outperforms all the other cars in the comparison by a league. The 186 hp motor was already the most powerful, as it is. Both the Civic and Forte are about half a second behind while the Elantra is exactly a second slower. While both Hyundai & Kia is more affordable, the Civic charged a premium for its agile handling. 

Also Read:

• What are the updates in the 2021 Honda Civic?
• The Hyundai Elantra features a brand-new design and several other upgrades for 2021

While the inclusion of the new base engine brings improvements in the fuel economy ratings of the 2021 Mazda 3, it still lags behind its peers in this regard. The performance-oriented sedan returns 28 MPG in the city, 36 MPG on the highway, and 31 MPG combined with the base engine. 

Opting previously standard 2.5L 186 hp engine is rated for 26/35/30 MPG while the new 2.5L turbo-4 engine is rated for 23/32/27 MPG in city/highway/combined as per the EPA. Opting for the AWD drivetrain with the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine sees a further drop in these ratings by around 3 MPG in each aspect.

The Mazda 3, with its ongoing 186 hp motor, gets an estimated mileage of 30 MPG in mixed driving scenarios, which is not at all lower than the estimated mileage of all the cars in the segment. Looking at the rivals, the all-new for 2021, Hyundai Elantra, provides the best-in-class range due to its extremely efficient engine. Even the Kia Forte has an equally large 14.0-gallon fuel tank but is not as efficient overall.

"The Mazda3 reaches upmarket with handsome styling and a well-appointed, if cramped, interior." - Motor Trend

The 2021 Mazda 3 sedan’s interior feels nice and welcoming. Inside, the base model gets black-clothed seats, while the other trims get leather seating in 4 different color choices. The door panel is also covered in leather with nice stitching details with one-touch automatic window controls. The seats are 8-way power adjusting seats with 2-way lumbar, and also feature two-person memory seating. Sadly, the choice of Bose speakers has been taken away now.

Instead, you get a power sunroof as an option, so that's that. You also get a push-button start as standard in all trims. The dashboard is covered in nice soft-touch leather wrapped with contrast color stitching. The steering is leather-wrapped in a refreshed design with aluminum-finish buttons with wireless charging being optional. The interior space has some nice contrasting stitching, the dash design is refreshed from its previous gen, the armrest and the knee area are padded. 

Attention to detail is the most prominent thing which makes Mazda 3 apart from its competitors. That said, the Honda Civic offers a perfect balance between a spacious cabin and trunk space. The 2021 Elantra comes in close while even the Kia Forte feels more spacious inside. The 3 offers the most compact rear seat and trunk in this comparison. 

As standard, you get an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. 

You can operate it with voice commands or with the slick wheel controller near the armrest, which also comes with shortcut buttons. The gauges in the instrument clusters are digital in all trims, while you get a projection-style head-up display in the top trims. Only the middle dial is digital, while the rev-counter, the temperature gauge, and the fuel gauges are analog. The knob, buttons, and switches are some of the best in the segment. Various creature comfort features in the 2021 Mazda 3 sedan are:

• Start/Stop Push Button
• 8-way driver adjustment seats
• 60/40 foldable second-row seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats
• Power sliding glass moonroof
• Dual-zone automatic climate control system
• 12-volt power outlet

"The 2021 Mazda3 continues to be available as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. Both are sleek and a testament to Mazda’s design language." - Kelley Blue Book

The 2021 Mazda 3 is a wide and low car and complementing its looks are the new led headlights and titanium mesh grill, which come standard in all trims. The sedan version of the Mazda 3 is about 8.0-inches longer than the hatchback, which makes it more sophisticated looking than its hatchback sibling. At the back, you get dual-tip exhaust outlets and LED taillights in every trim. On the turbo models, you get even bigger exhaust pipes.

While only the base trim gets 16-inch wheels, in other models we get 18-inch alloy chrome wheels with 11-inch and 10.4-inch disc brakes at the front and back respectively. Its mirrors are body-colored and come with power adjusting and blind-spot monitoring along with rear cross-traffic alert as standard. The turbocharged 3 sedan gest black side mirrors to set it apart, while Mazda offers the 3 in only 2 color options for the base trim, 4 for the Turbo models and 5 for the non-turbo variants. 

Outward visibility is not on the brighter side, with the Civic and Kia offering a better view to the driver. The Mazda 3 has the biggest disadvantage with its heavy curb weight. Despite of a large wheelbase, it struggles to open up interior space. Honda Civic has the lowest curb weight adding to its faster accelerations and better handling. That said, it is the Mazda 3 that will get the most attention on the streets. Notable exterior features of the 2021 Mazda 3 Sedan are:

• LED headlamps and taillamps
• LED DRLs with Auto On/Off headlamps
• 16/18 inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• Matte-finish front grille
• Power sunroof
• Black wheels
• Black side mirrors
• Black rear spoiler

Also Read: 

• Can the Mazda 3 win against the Honda Civic?
• How reliable is the Mazda 3 sedan?

The 2021 Mazda 3 excels in the safety department with a perfect 5-star overall NHTSA rating and has also been chosen as the 'Top Safety Pick' by the IIHS in their safety crash tests. All the safety features now come standard in all trims which are equipped with the Mazda’s i-ActivSense Driver Assist. 

Not many of its rivals are as well equipped as the 3 sedan when it comes to the safety of occupants. As we go up the trim table, Mazda also provides various active safety and driver assistance features including Active Driver Display and Adaptive Front-lighting System. Notable safety features in the 2021 Mazda 3 Sedan include:

• Blind-spot Monitoring
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Mazda Connect Emergency SOS
• Forward Collision Warning
• Electronic Stability Control
• Automatic Emergency Braking

2021 Mazda 3 vs 2021 Kia Forte

The Kia Forte wins against the Mazda 3 on some fronts. While the Kia offers better mileage and better warranty terms, Mazda offers a better driving response, more features, and much better safety. Now, with two new engine choices, the 3 sedan can further dominate the Forte, be it in case of offering better mileage or more exhilarating performance. As it is, the Mazda is a lot more engaging and feels worth the additional investment. 

2021 Mazda 3 vs 2021 Honda Civic

When we compare the base trims of the Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic, the former performs better in terms of performance. But as we move up, the turbocharged engine powering the Civic EX trim performs better than Mazda's base engine. The Civic borrows some of its styling from its sportier sibling, the Type-R, which makes it look sleeker and more aggressive. That said, the high prices of Honda make the 3 more attractive to buyers.

2021 Mazda 3 vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

While the Elantra would save you a lot of money in buying and driving it over the 3 sedan, the performance is lackluster to say the least. Again, while Hyundai offers a more spacious cabin with plenty of standard features, Mazda offers a premium appeal with it. Both are quite attractive to look at and the choice between the two here depends on personal preferences. While our heart says Mazda, the brain definitely goes with the Elantra. 

Also Read: 

• All Specs and Features compared: Mazda 3 vs Kia Forte
• All Specs and Features compared: Mazda 3 vs Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Mazda 3 sedan takes the legacy of the brand further with its fun-to-drive nature, sporty handling, well laid-out features, and nicely designed cabin. It does lack in some cases in competition with other cars, mainly as they offer better gas mileage for lesser money. However, the engine is the most refined and vigorous it's ever been, and the driver-assist and safety features earn the Mazda 3 a spot in your list of cars to consider in the compact sedan segment.