The 2021 Mazda3 Premium Plus 2.5L Turbo AWD Hatchback
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker based in Hiroshima, Japan. Mazda launched its first passenger car, the R360 Coupe in 1960, followed by its first rotary engine car in 1967.
That was when things started changing. Mazda was suddenly a player in the passenger car game. The launch coincided with a period of improved income levels and changing lifestyles, and the beginning of the boom in demand for car ownership in Japan.
While the worldwide market continues to be an important sales target, vehicle sales in North America, and most notably in the United States, remain Mazda’s largest source of revenue. In the fiscal year of 2020, Mazda sold about 421,000 vehicles in North America.
Today Mazda sells crossovers, SUVS, sedans, hatchbacks and sports cars.
Mazda sells a car called the Mazda3, it’s in the compact class, and it comes in sedan and hatchback models. The Mazda3 sedan starts at only $20,650. With the Hatchback model you get to pick from 6 different trim levels, starting with the S model at $22,650, then Select, Preferred, Premium, 2.5 Turbo, and at the top of the line, the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus AWD Edition with a base price of $33,750.
This week Mazda sent me a 2021 Mazda3 Premium Plus 2.5L Turbo AWD Hatchback to test drive and review. The base price of this Premium Plus model is $33,750. The options on the test car are: the Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint for $595, and the Stainless Steel Rear Bumper Guard for $125. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $945 destination charge, came to: $35,415.
To stand out from the compact sedan crowd Mazda added a Mazda3 Hatchback model, then put in a 2.5 L liter turbocharged engine, offered
a Premium Level Edition, and finally made it a Plus model with AWD all wheel drive. Now the Mazda3 hatchback is a one of one model, with no direct competition, and that makes Mazda smart, very smart.
The new 2021 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Mazda3 AWD Hatchback is refined, but not restrained. Playing up to your spontaneous nature the 2.5 turbo engine delivers 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, then coupled to a 6 speed automatic transmission with sport mode and paddle shifters, that feeds into Mazda’s i-activ AWD all wheel drive traction system. All of which work in perfect harmony, to respond effortlessly and make you feel in complete control, like no other compact car can.
The Premium Plus Package then adds more goodies, like: Leather seats, front and rear parking sensors, a 360 degree view monitoring camera, traffic jam alert, auto dimming exterior mirrors, traffic sign recognition, Mazda’s navigation system with traffic and travel links, rear smart city brake support, rear cross traffic braking assist, Homelink, and a gloss black
front air dam and a rear hatch spoiler. These Premium Plus options put this car in the luxury compact car class all by itself. Again, smart, very smart.
The standard and optional equipment list on the window sticker is over 70 lines long, and includes all the good stuff, like: HUD heads up display, 18” black alloy wheels, LED headlights, memory seats, a leather wrapped and heated steering wheel, heated front seats, keyless entry, dual zone automatic climate control, a Bose Premium 12 speaker audio system with Siriusxm satellite HD radio with Bluetooth hands free phone and audio controls, dual power black side mirrors with turn indicators, and a power sliding glass moonroof, just to name a few.
The fuel economy rating is 23 MPG in city driving, 31 MPG highway, and a very respectful 26 MPG in combined driving. And this is from a 2.5 L Turbocharged car with AWD all wheel drive in the compact sport sedan class. Then it’s all wrapped up in a best of the best NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 5 Star Safety Rating.
It really does not get any better than this for only $35,415. Then add in the state sales tax, the DMV and dealer fees, and the out the door total sale price is just shy of $40 Grand. All paid for and delivered right to your driveway.
When you’re in the market for a compact sedan, you should put Mazda on your list, as the 2021 Mazda3 starts with a base price of only $20,000. So call, click or visit your local Mazda dealer for a test drive and a Bottom Line price review, for one the best looking and high performance cars for sale in the compact class today.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.