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The 2022 Mazda3 specs and pricing were just released, and people are exciting, and rightfully so. The Mazda3 is an interesting little sedan offering a very attractive price point, an exciting driving profile, and good fuel economy. Together, these three things make the new Mazda3 hard to write off. It may not be the car for everyone, but it is worth considering. 

Silver 2022 Mazda3 Sedan parked near a large house
2022 Mazda3 Sedan | Mazda

Is the 2022 Mazda3 available? 

The guesses were pretty accurate when Mazda announced the new Mazda3 pricing and specs. Fall of 2021 was the guess and the answer. Mazda released prices and specs today. The Mazda3 line starts at $20,650 with the base model 2.0-liter Mazda3 sedan and peaks at $33,900 with the 2.5-liter turbo making 250 hp. There are various powertrain options, interior trims, and even multiple body styles, the sedan, and the hatchback. 

What are all of the 2022 Mazda3 trims? 

Gray 2022 Mazda3 Sedan driving on a dirt road
2022 Mazda3 Sedan | Mazda

The Mazda3 base 2.0-liter is offered exclusively as a sedan. The Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter engine will deliver 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive, and G-Vectoring Control Plus, according to the Mazda press release. 

The Mazda3 2.5S is the next trim and comes as a hot hatch or sedan sporting the 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 186 mph. This model has all the same standard equipment as the 2.0-liter sedan. 

The other two major factors further up the trim list are the turbocharged 2.5-liter S cars. The third highest trim level makes 227 hp. In between each of these major models are a slew of “Premium,” “Carbon Edition,” “Select,” and so on, trim levels that offer new colors, better interior packages, sportier options, a manual transmission, and even AWD. 

Is the Mazda3 a good car? 

Gray 2022 Mazda3 Hatchback parked on the side of the road with the sunset in the background
2022 Mazda3 Hatchback | Mazda

The three reasons to buy a 2022 Mazda3 are the same three reasons that you should buy any car. This isn’t a trick or a flip of the script; it’s merely the truth. The Mazda3 walks a tight line of being sporty and fun to drive while remaining cheap and simple to purchase and maintain. 

With a price tag starting at $20k, the competition at that price range won’t stand a chance. The price paired with driveability is a tough one to compete with. 

You’ll find some properly good driving cars if you cruise a little further up the trim line. Starting with the Mazda3 2.5 S Premium Package, an AWD package is an option, as is a six-speed manual transmission and a 227-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. This trim level starts at only $28,750. This is a properly sporty car for what most base-level pickup trucks cost. 

Lastly, not only is the 2022 Mazda3 cheap and sporty, but it also is really efficient. Consumer Reports says the Mazda3 is capable of 30 mpg combined. While fuel efficiency of this caliber is getting more common, it doesn’t make it any less of a good reason to buy a car. 

Is the Mazda3 reliable? 

Reliability isn’t what Mazda has built its\ reputation on like some others like Toyota. However, that isn’t to say that the 2022 Mazda3 won’t be a reliable car. Consumer Reports gave it a three out of five on predicted reliability, which essentially means “it’s pretty ok.” 

The Mazda3 has struggled with reliability issues over the years, but the 2021 is proving to be a much more reliable car this far than previous models. It is this spotty history that made CR rank it a three. Overall the 2022 Mazda3 is shaping up to be another in a long line of affordable, fuel-efficient, fun cars from the company that (used) to make us say “Zoom-Zoom.” 

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