10 Things: 2023 Mazda3 Hatchback Turbo Premium Plus
I spent a week in the Mazda3 Hatchback Turbo Premium Plus, here are 10 things I think you should know...
Thanks to Mazda, I was able to spend a week in the beautiful 2023 Mazda3 Hatchback Turbo Premium Plus. Here are the 10 things I think you should know.
The Turbo Premium Plus is the top of the line for the Mazda3
And it feels like it! Starting at $35K, this car has essentially everything you would expect from a luxury competitor, including real leather, a premium sound system, radar cruise control with traffic jam assist, LED headlights and taillights, 18” gloss black wheels, heated seats, heated steering wheel, a color heads up display, 360-degree parking cameras and sensors, and more. This does not feel like a budget car at all.
The Turbo is what makes the car feel legitimately luxurious
Sure, all of the luxury features I just mentioned are nice, but it’s the turbo engine that makes this car feel like it’s a legitimate competitor to entry-level luxury options. The base engine with all of those fancy features would just feel weird - but the turbo’s 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque give this car some spirit and heft, making it feel more expensive.
The 8.8” center media screen has super nice graphics
I’ve said it before in my Mazda reviews - the graphics on the media screens they use are very high quality and in line with what you would get on a luxury car. One of my followers commented that the screen seemed small. Perhaps it’s all of the black border surrounding it. It feels like a good size to me, but I’m sure it will grow in the next generation a bit.
The dashboard display can probably be more modern
Despite having a built-in 7” digital display (which comes standard on all Mazda 3 trims), I think the dashboard can be a bit more exciting now that many companies are offering fully digital dashes. That said, I also worry about those digital systems having glitches in the future so I can appreciate some old-school gauges…I just wish it looked a bit more exciting or had more animation to up the cool factor.
All of the interior materials feel high end
One thing Mazda does really well is its interior finishes. Everything felt really premium from the leather to the metals and worked together nicely. The only complaint I had (which I would have for any car using this material) is the gloss black finish around the gear selector. It will scratch very easily and that’s going to take away from the high-end feeling of the car.
The MPG isn't great - if that matters
For those opting for the sportier turbo model, I’m not sure how much attention they’re paying to MPG. This car gets 23 city and 31 highway, which is decent for a gas-powered car that’s meant to be sporty and fun. But these days with electric cars offering plenty of power and torque, the argument can be made that you can have a much more efficient car with just as much fun. But I’m not going to lie, there’s something about a gas-powered turbo engine that feels different than an EV in a good way…and it’s a feeling that won’t be around forever as the world goes electric.
This car still feels fresh and unique
Unlike the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla which you see absolutely everywhere, you don’t see too many Mazda3’s on the road (especially the hatchback). This is one of the most stunning designs Mazda has made, and even though this generation has been on the road for a while, it still feels fresh when I see one. Especially this turbo model with all of the visual upgrades. It’s a nice way to get a car with all of the luxuries and some fun, while still feeling unique on the road at this price point.
The Bose Centerpoint surround sound system was next level
I’m pretty particular when it comes to upgraded sound systems in cars (and Mazda’s base sound system is already one of the best in the business). But this car's upgraded Bose Centerpoint system really took things to the next level. It was super impressive and felt higher-end than what people might expect from a Mazda.
Traffic jam assist was cool
The traffic jam assist on this car fills a hole in Mazda’s self-driving tech (which has largely lacked a lane-centering assist, although it has always had a system that will pull you back into your lane after you’ve unintentionally left it). At low speeds, the traffic jam assist will help the car drive itself. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a nice touch at this price point. I’m hoping that in the next generation of Mazda3 we will see an upgraded system that adds in lane centering like so many competitors do (at every trim). That said, the radar cruise control and blind spot monitoring on this car are great.
If storage and legroom are important, test this car out before you buy it
I find the rear seat leg room on this car pretty tight, despite hatchbacks having a reputation for roominess. There’s a good amount of cargo space that should satisfy most buyers. But if you plan on having frequent passengers, check out the back row and make sure it works for you.