Road Trip Rides: 2026 Mazda 3

By Jay Kana | Published March 26th, 2026

Photos by Jay Kana

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The 2026 Mazda 3 comes in two body styles; sedan and hatchback, (Mazda calls it “Sport”) both of which are excellent choices in teh compact sedan market. It’s been part of Mazda’s lineup since 2024 and as a fun fact, I owned a 2005 and 2010 Mazda 3 hatchback!

Competing against the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra, the Mazda 3 is lives in its own lane. Upscale materials and a premium design throughout elevate it from its mainstream competitors. Plus, it boasts the best driving dynamics in class for those who want some excitement behind the wheel on both their road trips and daily driving.

My test model is six-speed manual GT trim, which adds another layer of fun to the drive.

Key Info

Body type: Compact hatchback, sedan available
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder, 186 horsepower & 186 lb-ft. of torque, six-speed manual or automatic
Drive type: Front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive available
Fuel economy: 7.9 litres per 100/km combined, 8.9 for the turbo engine
Fuel tank size: 50 litres (48 litres for the all-wheel drive version)
Total range: Up to 633 km (539 for the all-wheel drive version)
Cargo space: 569 litres
Towing capacity: N/A

What makes the 2026 Mazda 3 a good road trip vehicle? Plenty!
Starting with ample cargo space that can fit plenty of stuff and things, including four carry-on bags.
The seats are extremely comfortable and Mazda’s minimal design approach creates a calm cabin for longer drives. Plus, the rear seats offer a good amount of leg and head space for a more comfortable journey.

On the road, the Mazda 3 manual is simply superb. Yes, the automatic version is also excellent and the turbo model elevates that with plenty of power. For those who are a fan of manual transmissions and don’t mind changing their own gears in high-traffic scenarios, this silky-smooth six-speed transmission is remarkable.
The clutch is so easy to work with and forgiving, so in addition to being an great car to learn how to drive a manual, it’s also an “easy” manual car for experienced drivers.
The drive feel here is excellent and well-balanced. Its versatility lets you be calm and comfortable or athletic and excited. Road noise is minimal for this class and cornering and handling are unbeatable. If you’re doing a road trip that has lots of twists and turns, whether it’s the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia or the highways in southeastern British Columbia, the Mazda 3 manual would be my choice for compact hatchbacks.
The only drawback comes with an asterisk; the manual version is only available in the GT trim. Why? Manual sales are constantly declining so kudos to Mazda for offering one, even if it’s in a single trim. It’d be nice to have two trim options but I see why they offered only one.

The Mazda 3’s interior is fitted with upscale materials, smartly designed and leans toward the luxury side.
Standard features included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel (although only the sides are heated…) wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging, a 12-speaker premium Bose audio system, leather seats, and more.

The 10.25-inch infotainment screen is pushed back toward the windshield and primarily controlled by the rotary controller behind the gear selector. For AppleCarPlay and Android Auto, there is a touchscreen option, which is nice to have but it’s a far stretch to reach the screen, so stick with the rotary controller.

The climate control system is compact and uses physical controls, which is a plus. It’s the best-designed system in the modern market with its ease of use and minimal design.

Yes, the instrument cluster has two analog dials and one digital one but it’s a smart integration and evokes the excitement of driving a car with traditional elements, seeing as nearly every new car has a digital instrument cluster. The information is easy to read and there’s a head-up display here as well.

Safety scores high with a long standard list including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure waning, a 360 camera, automatic high beams and more.

3 Perks

Luxury-like cabin
Excellent and exciting drive feel
One of the few manuals remaining and it’s quite a good one

3 Irks

No all-wheel drive version available
Steering wheel not fully heated
Manual only offered in one trim