With attractive styling, sharp handling, and a full suite of advanced driver safety features, the 2020 Mazda 3—coming up one year after the fourth-generation redesign—definitely shines when you consider its accessible price point.

Most compact sedans have excellent value and efficiency, and the 2020 Mazda 3 is no different. It’s pretty difficult to be disappointed with this car, all things considered. Read on to find out more about the 2020 Mazda 3 sedan and see whether it might be a good addition to your garage.

MORE:

How to save on Mazda 3 insurance costs

Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Check your rate

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

How much is a 2020 Mazda 3 sedan?

Originally, the 2020 Mazda 3 had a starting MSRP of $21,500 that went as high as $26,500, depending on the trim level you chose. Since it’s been a couple of years, you can expect prices to be slightly lower today, with used prices ranging from roughly $18,000 to $23,000 in early 2023.

Trade-ins are usually a cheaper option, and purchases from private parties and dealers are usually more expensive. For base Mazda 3s with no options in average condition, prices can range from $17,000 to $21,000.

Is a 2020 Mazda 3 a good buy?

You’ve probably noticed that the Mazda 3 is more expensive than peers like the

Nissan Sentra

Hyundai Elantra

, or

Kia Forte

. The Mazda 3 offers a more premium feel and performance than competitors in its class—but you don’t have to sacrifice much in terms of money to get there.

Reliability

RepairPal gives the Mazda3 line a 4.0 out of 5.0, which is an above-average rating. This does rank it 9th out of 36 for reliability in compact cars, which puts it in the top 25%.

In line with overall Mazda maintenance costs, the cost to repair this vehicle on a yearly basis is also lower than the average cost for other cars in the segment—$433 a year compared to a $526 average for compact cars.

The frequency of unscheduled repairs is also lower than average with the 2020 Mazda3—roughly 0.3 times a year compared to 0.4 times a year on average. The probability of severe or major

car repair

issues coming up for your 2020 Mazda3 is also lower than the average for its class.

Speed and performance

All Mazda 3 sedans come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing up to 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Accelerating from 0-60 mph takes about 8.3 seconds.

This means that opting for a higher trim level won’t noticeably improve your performance. A six-speed automatic option is the only available transmission, though you can get manual transmission with the hatchback model. It may still be worth it to go above the base trim to add all-wheel drive.

Of course, Mazda always shines when it comes to handling. Whatever you think of the engine stats just mentioned, you can expect to enjoy some really comfortable and confident driving with the 2020 Mazda 3. The steering is responsive and precise, and Sport mode can help turbocharge your commute.

Fuel economy

There’s nothing special about the Mazda 3’s fuel economy. The EPA estimates it’s capable of 30 miles per gallon (mpg) combined, which drops to 28 mpg combined for all-wheel drive.

These numbers don’t keep up with some of the Mazda 3’s rivals, but real-world tests even with all-wheel drive have breached 31.5 mpg combined.

Depending on where you live, though, your fuel costs may be lower than average—$140 to $158 a month compared to the compact car average of $193 a month. You can always

modify your driving habits to save on gas

, too.

Interior and comfort

Style is one of the more attractive elements of the 2020 Mazda 3. Both on the exterior and interior, there is a premium feel to the sedan, which complements the sophisticated handling to produce a satisfying driving experience.

The front seats are quite supportive and the cabin remains quiet at high speeds. Front passengers have a lot of space, but some reviewers have criticized tight rear legroom and headroom. (Sleek styling will usually require you to squeeze in tighter in the back.

In terms of technology, the 2020 Mazda 3 does lack touchscreen functionality, which is normally an industry standard. That being said, the interface is very easy to understand. Higher trims can get you extra perks like keyless entry, AppleCarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and even a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Safety

The NHTSA has given the 2020 Mazda 3 five stars in overall safety. It performed well on all the frontal barrier, side, and side barrier crash ratings. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has also given the sedan similar ratings.

Some notable safety features include:

i-ActivSense, which provides automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, along with lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. This is standard on all 2020 Mazda 3 trims.

A driver-attention monitor is available as part of the i-ActivSense suite, which detects changes in your driving that may indicate tiredness and alerts you to keep you awake.

Rear cross-traffic alert (available on trims higher than the base) uses radar to detect crossing traffic when the vehicle is backing up.

“I would 11/10 recommend
Jerry
. I was originally quoted $700+ for insurance for my new car, but by using Jerry I got my payments down to $320 a month. They also have a great support team ready to answer any questions!” —Tobias F.

RECOMMENDED