2020 Mazda3 Hatchback & Sedan: A Quick But Detailed Overview

• The 2020 Mazda3 is available as either a hatchback or sedan.  
• Safety features and infotainment technologies are among the high points. 
• Pricing mostly stayed the same or increased just slightly versus the 2019 models.

Back in the 70s, Mazda’s racing slogan was “Mazda means more, more, more!” And it’s still that way, especially with cars like the 2020 Mazda3. As usual, there is a lot of bang for your buck here. There are more standard features in general for the 2020 Mazda3, which we will dive into below. When it hit the scene last November, the Mazda3 left an impression with its striking redesign. Be it hatchback or sedan, the exterior was all swooping lines and sharp creases done up just so. A bunch of outstanding paint colors didn’t hurt either when it came to the wow department.

For 2020, there are three new premium paint colors for the Mazda3: Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Machine Gray Metallic, and Snowflake White Pearl Mica.

What Features Does The 2020 Mazda3 Have?

That same esthetic – what Mazda refers to as its Kodo design language – continues on the inside with swanky materials and a clean feel overall. The cockpit is surrounded by impressive technology features like the 8.8-inch center display running the latest Mazda Connect system. The main “gauges” are in a seven-inch digital cluster and can be reconfigured by the driver with more information as they see fit. There are dual USB ports, a push-button start, electronic parking brake, and ample storage.

New standard features overall include automatic on/off headlights and rain-sensing wipers; a matte-finish front grille; 16-inch alloy wheels; cloth seating surfaces; power-folding door mirrors; and power windows with a one-touch down/up feature. The I-Activsense safety package is now standard for even the base trim.

There is a sedan-only trim level called Select. In addition to having all-wheel drive standard, it incorporates useful features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other niceties for the Select include dual-zone climate control; keyless entry; leatherette seating surfaces; leather-wrapped steering wheel; door mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators; and 18-inch wheels.

2020 Mazda3 Sedan. Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

What Engine Does The 2020 Mazda3 Come With?

All trim levels of the 2020 Mazda3 come with G-Vectoring Control Plus, and are motivated by a Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine that puts out a healthy 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft. of torque. The plant features cylinder-deactivation as standard on all Mazda3 hatchbacks; Mazda3 Premium sedans; and Mazda3 sedans with i-Activ all-wheel drive. The hatchback version of the Mazda3 is available with all-wheel drive as well.

Related: Sporty and affordable: on the road with the Mazda3 sedan.

Interior Treatments & Safety Tech

Moving to the inside, the Driver Attention Alert warns you of fatigue or decreased attentiveness. The feature is handy if you are traveling late at night. That system is supported by a number of other safety features including Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go; Smart Brake Support; Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist; and High Beam Control. All standard by the way as part of the i-Activsense safety package.

The hatchback has leatherette seating surfaces; a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; dual-zone climate control; rain-sensing wipers; a black metallic front grille; rear roof spoiler; and 18-inch alloy wheels. The i-Activsense package is also included along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2020 Mazda3 interior layout. Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Preferred Trim Level

The mid-level trim is called the Preferred. This version nets you a Bose 12-speaker audio system with aluminum speaker grilles; shark fin antenna; and SiriusXM with a three-month subscription. All-wheel drive is available along with heated front seats. Also available: an eight-way power driver’s seat with memory and power lumbar support, plus memory settings for the outside mirrors.

Premium Trim Level

At the top of the heap is the Mazda3 Premium with available all-wheel drive. This trim adds a windshield-projected Active Driving Display; leather seats; power moonroof; front and rear LED lighting; and an Adaptive Front-lighting System. If you opt for the Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic, you get paddle shifters. Those of you that like to roll your own gear don’t worry. Mazda’s Skyactiv-MT six-speed manual is available for Premium hatchbacks with front-wheel drive, but only on that model. Sigh.

The Mazda3 Premium sedan adds 18-inch, bright-finish alloy wheels or, if you’d like, there are optional 18-inch black-finish alloy wheels.

2020 Mazda 3 hatchback. Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Pricing & Availability

Expect the 2020 Madza3 to go on sale this fall. Below is a handy chart that shows the trim levels and pricing. Prices either stayed the same or only increased slightly versus the 2019 models.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 

2020 Mazda3	Hatchback	Sedan
MSRP by Model & Trim Add $920 for destination, $965 in Alaska
Key: FWD: front-wheel drive / AWD: all-wheel drive 6AT: 6-speed auto / 6MT: 6-speed manual
FWD 6AT	$23,700	$21,500
Select FWD 6AT	$22,700	–
Preferred FWD 6AT	$25,200	$24,200
Premium FWD 6MT	$27,500	–
Premium FWD 6AT	$27,500	$26,500
AWD 6AT	$25,100	–
Select AWD 6AT	–	$24,100
Preferred AWD 6AT	$26,600	$25,600
Premium AWD 6AT	$28,900	$27,900

2020 Mazda3 Sedan Gallery

2020 Mazda3 Hatchback Gallery

Photos & Source: Mazda North American Operations.

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The $929 moped that won a global custom build off

Long before ‘bike build off’ competitions became popular with manufacturers, Deus held one every year—in the car park next to their original store in Sydney, Australia.

The Deus contest is now a global event, and attracts a weird and wonderful selection of amateur builds. This year’s overall winner was a humble Honda S90 converted to electric power. It beat out over 200 other entries and was built for the princely sum of just $929.

The man behind the moped is Aaron Laniosz, a designer who moved to California after finishing a Master of Architecture degree in Illinois.

“I’m still passionate about architecture,” he tells us, “but I’ve expanded into the realms of furniture design, products, robotics … and now motorcycles.”

The little Honda is Aaron’s first build, but he’s loved motorcycle design and culture since an early age. And when he arrived in California, he wanted two things: his first surfboard and his first motorcycle.

“I picked up both on Craigslist. I paid $40 for each. The surfboard was riddled with holes, and the motorcycle was rusted and seized.” The seller had used the S90 as a parts bike—there was only a slim chance it would ever run again.

The first difficulty was squeezing the moped into the back of Aaron’s car. The seller promptly grabbed a wrench, removed the front wheel and together they wedged it in.

Back in his apartment, Aaron began meticulously dismantling, removing the rust piece by piece until he had a naked frame. “I sprayed everything with two cans of satin black spray paint. Then I began to reassemble.”

This was no ordinary refresh-and-replace job though: Aaron has converted the S90 into an EV, and possibly scored a world first in doing so. (Enterprising builders have converted the loosely-related Cub to electric power in the past, but we’ve never heard of an S90 getting the shock treatment.)

Aaron bought an electric mountain bike battery rated at 48V and 17Ah. “This isn’t hugely powerful or high capacity,” he explains, “but I calculated that it could carry me to and from work and the gym on a single charge.”

The battery came with a charger that plugs directly into the wall. “My electricity usage is included in my rent, so the running cost of the motorcycle has been completely free since I finished the build!”

The biggest challenge was shop space, rather than the bike itself. “I built the Honda in my studio apartment, and a handheld Dremel was the only real power tool I had access too,” says Aaron. That ruled out the metalwork often seen on a custom build: no welding, no cutting, and no grinding.

“The bike and all of its pieces sat on the floor between my bed and my kitchenette. I stepped over it each day getting out of the shower.” It proved to be both a blessing and a curse. It forced Aaron to focus on building a functioning motorcycle as quickly and as simply as possibly.

“My secret weapon in this task was access to a 3D printer and my CAD modeling skills,” he says. “I fabricated ten critical parts out of 3D printed NylonX Carbon Fiber Filament, which now hold the bike together—mounting the motor, battery, seat, and headlight.”

The whole build was a learning experience with endless Google and YouTube searching. “The moment I mounted the new tires and got it rolling, I was so stoked!”

“I stopped building and rode the bike for over a month without proper brakes. Now I ride the bike to the gym and back every single day. It has its quirks, but nothing beats rolling around on something you built with your own hands.”

The legality of this sort of build, transplating tech from one era to another, is still a slightly grey area. “I have a pretty convincing argument for the bike being classified as a Type II e-bike,” says Aaron.

“California has published a very clear set of categories for electric powered vehicles. My build is in the category of Type II, which its legal on public roads without license or registration. This seems to be the classification many e-bike and electric moped start-up companies are working in. The one contingency is that I limit my speed to 20mph…any faster could get me in trouble.”

For us, the best part of the story is that it’s a home build in the truest sense, and cost less than a grand for a functioning electric moped. (“It cost $929.97. I kept a detailed spreadsheet.”)

Aaron is now inspired to continue his adventures in motorcycle building. “I just picked up a 1974 Kawasaki G3, in a comparable state of disrepair to my first Craigslist purchase!”

“I doubt a conventional build will garner as much attention, but I would really love to have a stinky, noisy machine after all of this work with batteries and wires. I’m trying to orient my career trajectory toward working with my hands and creating beautiful, functional projects—in whatever form they may take.”

Kudos to that—and we’ll be keeping an eye on your progress, Aaron.

Aaron Laniosz | Images by Monti Smith

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Driving with children – Make sure your car is as safe as it can be

When you have children in the car, you will need to make sure that you have all the necessary safety features to make the drive as safe as possible. When it comes to safety people often think of the normal safety products such as seat belts, airbags and anti-lock braking systems. What is often neglected is the tires and the importance of them for providing the safety and performance of your car.

When driving with children you will need to make sure that you have a child seat and in some cases you will need to have a seat belt adjuster for kids. It is always safer to place children in backward position in a children seat and preferably in the back seat for extra protection. Make sure that you don’t leave the kids unattended for a longer period of time in the car. This is very important during the summer, where the inside of the car can become extremely hot and cause serious dehydration and even fatality.

If you have already selected your safe vehicle, the only dynamic part is then the tires, which can be changed. Tires should always be replaced as soon as the wear out, as they will start losing a lot of their key properties. Braking distance is increased; bad grip when taking sharp turns leading to skidding and increased risk for aquaplaning. All these decrease the safety of your car.

It is also important to match the tires according to the seasons of the year. Tires are mostly developed for a specific season, so that they can optimize the performance. This however, can make them very bad for other conditions. This is what happens with the summer or all-season tires during the winter season. The whole tread design and rubber compound is optimized for dry and wet roads in warm temperatures. For cold temperatures and snow, ice or slush require a different rubber compound that will let the tire remain soft and flexible and a tread design that can provide you with grip.

The main winter approved tires are the dedicated winter tires, which are available as studded or non-studded. The studded tires use metal studs to create good grip and the non-studded will use unique tread design and gripping particles to achieve good grip. There is also some winter-approved all year round tires called all-weather tires.

For more information regarding safe tires, visit: www.nokiantires.com

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