The 2021 Mazda3 has gone turbo and now the
company has revealed pricing will start at US$ 29,900 – excluding a destination
charge of at least US$ 945. That’s US$ 1,305 more than the 228 hp VW Golf GTI
(US$ 28,595) in the States. It’s also nearly US$ 10,000 more than the standard
Mazda3, but the high-performance variant features a turbocharged 2.5-liter
four-cylinder engine that produces 250 hp and 433
Nm of torque on premium fuel. With regular gasoline, those numbers drop to 227
hp and 420 Nm.
The engine is connected to a six-speed
automatic transmission which sends power to a standard all-wheel drive system.
Unfortunately, Mazda was tight-lipped about additional specifications so
there’s no word on fuel economy ratings or a 0-96 km/h time. While
the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo is pretty expensive, it features a sportier exterior with
a gloss black grille, gloss black mirrors and 18-inch alloy wheels with a black
finish. The model also has LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers and
larger tailpipes than the standard model.
Moving into the cabin, drivers will find
heated leatherette front seats, a power moonroof and a heated leather steering
wheel with paddle shifters. The car also has a dual-zone climate control
system, exclusive chrome accents and an 8.8-inch infotainment system with
Android Auto / Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other niceties include a head-up
display, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror and a
12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
There are also a host of driver assistance
systems including Mazda radar cruise control with stop and go, smart brake
support, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane
departure warning with lane-keep assist. There’s also an adaptive
front-lighting system with high beam control and driver attention alert.
Buyers looking for more luxury can opt for
the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo with the Premium Plus package. It costs US$ 32,450 for the
sedan and US$ 33,750 for the hatchback. The range-topper has leather seats, GPS
navigation, a gloss black rear spoiler and HomeLink connectivity. There’s also
additional safety systems including rear smart city brake support with rear
cross-traffic braking, a 360° view monitor with front and rear parking sensors,
and a traffic jam assist system which works with the adaptive cruise control
system to drive the vehicle at speeds under 64 km/h.
Besides the standard equipment, the
turbocharged hatchback can be equipped with an optional Aero Kit that costs US$ 1,075 or US$ 1,900. It adds a rear diffuser, extended side skirts, a front air
dam and a rear spoiler. All Mazda3s can also be equipped with 18-inch BBS
forged alloy wheels that feature a gloss black finish. A set of four will cost
a little over US$ 3,675.
