Mazda‘s compact sedan costs $200 more than it did a year ago, and in exchange the 2027 Mazda3 lineup delivers broader wireless connectivity, an expanded AWD footprint, and a genuinely new top-spec hatchback configuration built around the manual transmission. Base sedan pricing opens at $24,750, up from the 2026 model’s $24,550 starting point. The full lineup spans eight configurations between $24,750 and $38,190, with a $1,315 destination charge on top of every figure.
The powertrain story is unchanged from 2026. The naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces 186 hp and 186 lb-ft on 87-octane fuel and pairs with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive as the standard configuration. The turbocharged 2.5-liter, reserved for the top-trim Turbo Premium Plus, develops up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93-octane or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel, and routes power through i-Activ AWD exclusively. G-Vectoring Control Plus is standard across the board, which remains one of the Mazda3’s underrated advantages in a segment where the Mazda3 earned a Newsweek Best New Car award in part on the strength of its dynamics story.
Trim by Trim
The 2.5 S sedan is the entry point at $24,750. It comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, cloth seats, push-button start, an eight-speaker Mazda Harmonic Acoustics audio system, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The full i-Activsense safety suite is standard, covering Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keep Assist, Smart Brake Support, and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go. No hatchback equivalent exists at this tier.
The 2.5 S Select Sport adds 18-inch black metallic wheels, a gloss black grille, leatherette seats, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and the key upgrade for connectivity-minded buyers: wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with Alexa Built-In. The hatchback Select Sport starts at $27,040; the sedan at $25,740.
The 2.5 S Preferred is where the lineup splits most interestingly. It adds a power moonroof, eight-way power driver’s seat with memory, heated front seats, auto-tilting side mirrors, and a Qi wireless phone charger. The FWD sedan comes in at $27,490; the FWD hatchback at $28,040. The hatchback also offers Mazda’s predictive i-Activ AWD for $29,990, making it the only AWD compact hatchback in this class priced below $30,000 before destination. Subaru’s Impreza Sport hatchback with standard AWD starts above that mark, which gives Mazda a genuine pricing hook here.
Above the Preferred, the lineup splits by body style. The 2.5 S Premium is sedan-only at $30,415, adding leather in black or red, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and standard AWD. It also picks up Traffic Sign Recognition, the one safety-tech addition across the 2027 refresh.
The 2.5 S Premium Plus is hatchback-only and new to this position in the lineup. At $31,950 with the six-speed manual and FWD, it’s the answer for buyers who want the manual gearbox without sacrificing equipment. Standard kit includes front and rear LED Signature lighting, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, heated steering wheel, an active driving display projected onto the windshield, and an adaptive front lighting system that steers with the wheel in curves. An AWD version of the Premium Plus hatchback is available at $33,350, though that one pairs with the automatic.
The Turbo Premium Plus sits at the top in both body styles: $37,040 for the sedan, $38,190 for the hatchback. Both get more aggressive exterior bodywork specific to the turbo, including body-color-matched front treatments, turbo-specific rear spoilers, and “AWD” and “Turbo” badging at the rear. Inside, Homelink, SiriusXM with a three-month trial, a frameless auto-dimming mirror, and a 360-degree view monitor with front and rear parking sensors are all standard. Cruising and Traffic Support, Smart Brake Support Rear, and Rear Cross Traffic Braking round out the ADAS package. Sedan buyers choose black or white leather; hatchback buyers get black or red.
Full Pricing
| Model | Drivetrain | Hatchback | Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 S | FWD | N/A | $24,750 |
| 2.5 S Select Sport | FWD | $27,040 | $25,740 |
| 2.5 S Preferred | FWD | $28,040 | $27,490 |
| 2.5 S Preferred | AWD | $29,990 | N/A |
| 2.5 S Premium | AWD | N/A | $30,415 |
| 2.5 S Premium Plus 6MT | FWD | $31,950 | N/A |
| 2.5 S Premium Plus | AWD | $33,350 | N/A |
| 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus | AWD | $38,190 | $37,040 |
Five premium paint options, including Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Ceramic Metallic, each add $595 to any configuration.
The Mazda3 sold 29,266 units in 2025, down from 38,877 in 2024, a decline that puts some pressure on the 2027 lineup to hold ground against the Honda Civic and Kia Forte. The 2027 CX-5 launched last week with standard AWD across all five trims starting at $29,990, and the CX-90 absorbed the CX-70 with two-row configs from $39,700, rounding out what is a busy pricing season for Mazda. The Mazda3 sits at the accessible end of that portfolio, and the sub-$30,000 AWD hatchback slot is the clearest value argument in a refresh that otherwise advances the lineup in increments. Whether the 2025 volume dip reflects broader compact-segment softness or specific Mazda3 pressure, a few hundred dollars more in base price and meaningfully more standard equipment is a reasonable trade.
Source: Mazda. Images courtesy of Mazda.
