Great Little Car, Part 2: The 2026 Mazda 3 2.5S Carbon Edition Sedan AWD
- Mike Hagerty
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Almost three years between sequels is standard in the movies, so why not car reviews?
The headline is a reference to my November, 2023 review of the Mazda 3 Hatchback, which, itself referred to the Mazda 3's roots way back in the day:
That was 48 years ago. The GLC became the Mazda 323:
And that morphed into the Mazda Protege:
And, for the last 20-plus years, we've known it as the Mazda 3:
In what was once a crowded field of compact sedans and hatchbacks, the Mazda 3 had two unique selling propositions---sportier performance and more of a premium feel.
The herd has thinned considerably over two decades, but the basic premise behind the Mazda 3 remains unchanged.
There are two ways to power a Mazda 3 Sedan. The standard engine, the one in our test vehicle, is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. There is a turbocharged version with 250 horsepower available, but only in the top trim level, which starts at $36,940 ($38,175 including destination). Like the turbo, the Carbon Edition has standard all-wheel drive.
The difference in fuel economy is not as great as the power gap might suggest---26 city/34 highway for our tester, 23/32 for the turbo. But if you can live with 0-60 times in the low sevens instead of the mid-5s, the turboless Mazda 3 Sedan in top Carbon Edition trim starts at $30,210 ($31,445 including destination). That's a difference of nearly seven grand.
Regardless of what's under the hood, all Mazda 3 sedans offer 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space and a generous-for-the-class 35.1 inches of rear seat legroom. All Mazda 3 interiors feel upscale, but the Carbon Edition's red leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-wrapped shift knob border on luxury.
That $30,210 ($31,445 including destination) buys a surprisingly long list of standard equipment for a compact sedan (see the window sticker at the end of this review).
Extra-cost options on our tester amounted to illuminated doorsill plates ($575) and a navigation SD card ($500), so the bottom line on the window sticker reads $32,520.
Crossing the $30,000 line for a compact sedan might feel a little strange, but we're in that world now. The Mazda 3's premium feel and handling characteristics make it very appealing even against segment champions like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. If you're shopping for a compact sedan, it should be on your shortlist.
2026 Mazda 3 2.5S Carbon Edition AWD at a glance:
Price: $30,210 base/$32,520 as tested
Engine: 2.5 liter four-cylinder
Horsepower: 186
Torque: 186 lb-ft.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3,111 lbs.
0-60 Acceleration (Motor Trend data): 7.3 seconds
EPA Fuel Economy Estimate: 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway
Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 gallons
EPA Range Estimate: 368 miles
Class competitors: Honda Civic, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta
