History/Overview
This year marks the arrival of a redesigned fourth generation Mazda3 Sport, the compact hatchback that has helped underpin Mazda's lineup since its introduction in 2004. While the car's new design is notable on its own, perhaps even more significant is the addition of an AWD option.
Available Trims
Mazda offers the 3 Sport in GX, GS and GT trims. GX uses a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and a choice of 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. GS and GT trade up to a 2.5L engine offered with the same transmissions; AWD is optional with the automatic.
Standard Features
The Mazda3 Sport GX comes dressed with 16-inch alloy wheels and tires, auto-off LED headlights, daytime running lights and taillights, a chrome tailpipe finisher, body-coloured door handles and side mirrors, and a gloss black grille.
Convenience, interior comfort, and connectivity features include an 8.8-inch infotainment display, an 8-speaker stereo with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth, air conditioning, push-button engine start, keyless entry, tilt-and-telescopic steering, power windows, cloth upholstery, heated front seats with manual adjustments (8-way driver/4-way passenger), and a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster display.
Mazda3 Sport GX also comes with blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and tire pressure monitoring.
GS trim's additions are radar cruise control with stop-and-go, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and city-speed automatic braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, driver attention alert, heated side mirrors, auto on/off headlights, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, a rear-seat centre armrest with cupholders, and an overhead console with storage.
Finally, GT trim adds 18-inch wheels, adaptive/auto-levelling headlights, front and rear signature lighting, and a 12-speaker stereo.
Key Options
GS and GT trims can be ordered with AWD.
There's also a GS luxury package of leatherette upholstery, a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, a sunroof, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
A GT premium package bundles black metallic wheels, leather upholstery, power driver's seat, rear automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, passive keyless entry, navigation, a head-up display, satellite radio, a front wiper de-icer, traffic sign recognition, an integrated garage door opener, and auto-dimming side mirrors.
Fuel Economy
Mazda's fuel consumption estimates for the 3 Sport are 8.6/6.7 L/100 km (city/highway) for the 2.0L engine and automatic transmission, and 8.7/6.6 for the 2.0L/stickshift combo.
With the 2.5L engine, estimates are 9.0/6.8 L/100 km (city/highway) with FWD and the automatic, and 9.8/7.4 with the automatic and AWD. A 2.5L/stickshift model is rated 9.2/6.6 L/100 km.S
Competition
The Mazda3 Sport's competitors are fewer every year in today's marketplace. They include the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, Hyundai's Elantra GT, the Kia Forte 5-door, Volkswagen's Golf, the Chevrolet Cruze, and the Subaru Impreza.
