2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus: The ultimate premium hot hatch

The tale of the tape

The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus is the top-tier Mazda3 in both hatchback and sedan form. While most hatchbacks evoke images of low-cost rides built for commuting, Mazda steps it up several notches from base to summit. Base MSRP for the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus is $33,750, $34,370 as tested during the week it was with me.

At this level, the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus can be had in one of five colors, including Machine Gray Metallic, a $495 option. A set of 18-inch black alloys wrapped in Bridgestone Turanza all-seasons keep everything connected to the pavement. This example also came equipped with an optional stainless steel rear bumper guard ($195), one of a handful of options available to make this hot hatch yours.

Moving all the corners through a six-speed auto is the 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G turbo-four, whose output varies depending on what you put in the tank. On a tank of regular, you\’ll get 227 hrsprs and 310 trqs from the engine. However, should you shell out for 93 octane (and you really should), 250 turbohorses with 320 lb-ft of torque come charging out of the corral. You can also shift your own by flicking the shifter to manual mode, then using the flappy paddles as you see fit.

Inside, two fabric options are available: red leather, and (in this instance) black leather. Driver gets power adjust with lumbar, and the rear bench folds down for more room in the back for big goods. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard with Mazda Connect, which also comes with a three-month trial of SiriusXM. You also get a wide set of features, like a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, auto-sensing wipers, LED lighting, and auto on/off lights.