Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Tested: Affordable All-Wheel Drive
Even so, at just over $30K, the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition sedan still is more than you'd drop on either of the other two all-wheel-drive choices in the segment—the Toyota Corolla Hybrid ($26,360 in LE form or $28,800 as an SE) or the Subaru Impreza ($24,780 to start, topping out at $29,670 for the RS). That's in part because this Carbon Edition is the highest trim among base-engine Mazda 3 sedans. As such, it comes with a full load of standard equipment, including wireless smartphone mirroring, an eight-speaker audio system, adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, a sunroof, heated seats, and a power driver's seat. Hope you like Polymetal Gray Metallic, though, because that's the only (!) exterior color. At least it's set off with black wheels and trim outside and zippy red leather inside.
The leather helps give the Carbon Edition interior a premium vibe. So do the nicely padded surfaces everywhere, including the armrests on the doors and center console, the upper dash, the door panels, and the sides of the console. The buttons and knobs that comprise the climate controls could be lifted from Mazda's top-end model, the CX-90. And while we're fine with the 3's mix of real and screen-based gauges, Mazda's 8.8-inch infotainment display is somewhat smallish and is operated via a remote clickwheel, which some drivers may find annoying. (The turbo models' larger screen gets touchscreen functionality.)
When we talk about the base engine in the Mazda 3, that's a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four making 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers are well shy of the turbo 2.5-liter's 250 horses and 320 pound-feet, and the acceleration times reflect that. Whereas the turbocharged Mazda 3 zips to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds, the Carbon Edition is nearly two seconds behind at 7.5. Even so, the Carbon Edition doesn't feel strained around town. In highway merging or passing maneuvers, though, you may wish for more beans. Accelerating from 50 to 70 mph takes 5.2 seconds—versus four seconds flat for the turbocharged 3.
The base-engine Mazda fares better against its peers. Its 191 horses shades the Impreza's offerings of 152 in base form or 182 in the RS; and the Corolla Hybrid is further afield with a total system output of 134 ponies. So, the Mazda's 7.5-second 60-mph time looks quite good compared to the Corolla's 9.0 seconds or even the Impreza RS's 7.8-second run. And both the Subie and the Toyota are more torpid in 50-to-70-mph passing, with the Subie taking 6.0 seconds and the Toyota 6.4.
The Mazda 3 Carbon Edition comes exclusively with a six-speed automatic. (You can still get a manual transmission in the 3, but only in the front-wheel-drive 2.5 S Premium hatchback.) The six-speed isn't the quickest-shifting autobox out there, but at least it avoids the elastic throttle response and droning that bedevil CVTs, which are far more common in this segment.
As you'd expect, the base-engine 3 wrings more miles out of a gallon than does the Turbo. EPA city/highway estimates of 26/35 mpg are 3 mpg better than the Turbo's in both measures, and the Carbon Edition slightly overachieved in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, returning 36 mpg. The Carbon Edition's fuel economy aligns closely with that of the Impreza RS: EPA estimates of 26/33 mpg EPA and 37 mpg in our highway testing. Unsurprisingly, the real mileage champ among all-wheel-drive compacts is the Corolla Hybrid—the SE managed 40 mpg in our 75-mph highway test, against EPA estimates of 47/41 mpg city/highway.
The Mazda 3 is more rewarding to drive than those cars, however. The Carbon Edition's 18-inch wheels and 215/45R-18 tires don't have a ton of sidewall to cushion sharp-edged bumps, but the ride is firm rather than harsh. Body motions are well controlled, and the 3 maintains its composure in corners. We measured 0.88 g of skidpad grip, as well as a tidy 165-foot stop from 70 mph. And the driver is well positioned, grips a nicely crafted steering wheel, and enjoys appropriate steering effort levels too.
The upscale cabin, nicely balanced chassis, and slick exterior design together make the 3 a polished piece. The base engine feels rather ordinary in this otherwise class-above package, whereas the powerful turbo engine fits right in. We're glad Mazda offers this more economical all-wheel-drive option, but we think the 3 really deserves the turbo engine.
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