2026 Mazda 3 G20 Touring long-term review: Introduction

There is no shortage of new Chinese cars hitting our roads with unfamiliar badges and similar blob-like styling, but the Mazda 3 is not one of them.

Most Australians will have a Mazda 3 story, whether you’ve owned one, almost bought one, a friend or partner has one, or you’ve simply been in the back of one.

The current-shape Mazda 3 is also a familiar sight on local roads, introduced in 2019 with a choice of a sporty and curvaceous hatch clearly geared towards style, or a more conventional-looking sedan with chrome finishes.

So why then, after seven years and few major updates in that time, have we borrowed a Mazda 3 for a three-month long-term loan?

The arrival of electric cars from BYD, MG and more has added a new dimension to the small-car market, as have new generations of rivals from Kia, Volkswagen, Honda and others.

And, of course, the Mazda 3 is still a popular car in Australia. More than 10,000 were sold last year, ahead of all rivals except the Toyota Corolla.

Should you still consider a Mazda 3 in 2026? This long-term test, in which we hope to cover about 5000km, aims to find out.

Mazda has slashed the line-up from as many as 32 Mazda 3 variants in 2022 – across four engines, two transmissions, two body styles, and eight grade names – to 12, split evenly between sedan and hatchback.

On test here is the G20 Touring hatchback, the most expensive trim grade available with the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol engine.

It is priced from $37,410 plus on-road costs, or with the attractive Soul Red Crystal paint on this example, an indicated $42,135 drive-away in NSW.

The latest RRP is more than $7000 dearer than the same model grade in 2019, but Mazda has packed out the feature list in that time.

Among them, the Vision Technology pack is now standard, with a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, a driver monitoring camera, lane-centring assist and front cross-traffic alert.

It has also picked up a larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen (with touch support), auto-dipping side mirrors with memory, USB-C charging ports, wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and connected services via a phone app, with vehicle tracking, remote control of locks and lights, and automatic SOS calls after a crash.

That’s in addition to equipment such as 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, satellite navigation, a 7.0-inch instrument display, head-up display, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and keyless entry.

The price is still in the realm of its peers: a Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid is $39,010 plus on-roads, a Kia K4 Sport is $36,690 plus on-roads, and a Hyundai i30 hatch… well, you can no longer buy a regular one of those new, short of the flagship N hot hatch (or the i30 Sedan range).

Styling is subjective, but it’s hard to see many finding the Mazda 3 ugly.

To my eyes, it’s a sporty design that has been designed with consideration for how light will reflect off the curves in its bodywork. Soul Red Crystal paint adds to that sense of depth, and there is a hint of the Alfa Romeo Brera of two decades ago to its appearance.

The focus on style means interior space is compromised. It’s tight in the back; six-foot (183cm) adults can fit behind similarly sized front occupants, but knee room and especially head room are not particularly generous, with black headlining not helping the hemmed-in feel.

The boot is also on the small side, but not pitifully tiny – like most Toyota Corollas – that it is a liability in daily use.

Up front, the cabin is beautifully designed. Stitched leather-like surfaces in places you touch or see give it an expensive feel, build quality is superb in this test vehicle, and there is a pleasing mix of screens and physical controls.

The seats are supportive yet very comfortable on long drives, the genuine leather upholstery feels like the real article it is, and the thin-rimmed steering wheel is great in the hand.

As it did when it arrived in showrooms in 2019, the interior presentation and quality of this generation of the Mazda 3 put similarly sized hatchbacks from European 'luxury' brands to shame.

The 10.25-inch infotainment screen doesn’t set benchmarks – it is only touch-operated in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto modes – but it’s fine, and the standard-fit head-up display means you barely look at the instrument cluster.

Mazda sees itself as a maker of sporty, fun-to-drive cars, and there’s truth to that in the Mazda 3.

The suspension is on the firmer side of the spectrum in the daily grind – particularly at the front of the car, where the wheels can clunk into potholes – but I’ve found myself getting used to it, and it is never brittle or too harsh to live with in my view.

The trade-off is responsive handling. The nose of the car is keen to tuck into bends, the suspension is impressively composed at higher speeds, the steering that’s heavier than average around town inspires confidence in the country, and there’s good dry-weather grip from the Toyo tyres.

Where the package is let down is under the bonnet. The 2.0-litre engine can keep up with traffic acceptably, but it needs to be revved hard to extract any sort of performance, whether that’s building speed up a hill or merging onto a freeway.

The six-speed auto is smooth when cruising, but it can clunk and shunt at low speeds more than we’d expect, and after kicking down a few gears to access the engine’s power, I’ve found it holds onto the low gear for too long, with the noise that accompanies it.

Working the engine hard – and plenty of time in stop-start traffic – has seen the trip computer read close to 12 litres per 100 kilometres. Ouch.

Of course, the more powerful G25 engine is also an option for buyers – and might be worth the upgrade.

Does that engine and transmission combination sour our experience with the Mazda 3? We will find out over the next few thousand kilometres.

In that time, we’re planning an interstate drive to sample the car’s long-distance manners – and hopefully get the trip computer reading down – as well as a comparison with its rivals.

Along the way, we’ll spend more time in the daily grind and on rural roads to get a better idea of its talents in all environments.

What do you want to know about the Mazda 3? Drop your questions in the comments below and we’ll endeavour to answer them.

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner

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