Mazda making some visual changes to Mazda 3 for the 2022 model year. Still offered as a sedan and a hatchback, the Japanese company’s import model adds a familiar new trim level known as the Carbon Edition and an additional colour on its palette.
Located near the middle of the range, the Carbon version is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine and is offered with front-wheel drive only. It stands out from the rest of the lineup with its Polymetal Gray exterior paint, gloss black door mirror caps, black-painted 18-inch wheels, red leather seats and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. It also gains all the gear included in the Priority gear.
If the name resonates, it could be because the 3 isn’t the first Mazda to receive the Carbon Edition treatment. It was made available on the 6th, on CX-5, and on CX-9 for the 2021 model year, and it gives all three cars a similar look to the three of them.
The Polymetal Gray paintwork is also available on several other trim levels, though Mazda charges $395 for it if it’s ordered as a standalone option because it’s under the “premium paint” label. Buyers can also choose soul Red Crystal ($595), Machine Gray ($595) and Snowflake White Pearl Mica ($395). Platinum Quartz Metallic matches the list of non-premium colors for the 2022 model year.
Mazda won’t be making significant mechanical changes to the 3 for 2022. The entry-level versions are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. pound-feet to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Note that only base sedans are available with this engine. Next in the tier is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Offered in sedans and hatchbacks, it can be combined with all-wheel drive for an extra charge. Buyers who opt for the 2.5-liter, front-wheel drive, S Premium trim and hatchback body style can order a six-speed manual transmission. Final, motor tops the range of 3 is a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine tuned to make 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque when burning 93-octane or 227 and 310, respectively, when making 87 – octane. It is bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission and it is offered exclusively with all-wheel drive.
Prices for the entry-level Mazda3 2.0 2022 start at $21,815 including a $1,015 destination fee. The base model is offered only as a sedan and front-wheel drive. For context, the 2021 model has a base price of $21,645 including a $995 destination fee. The most affordable hatchback is the 2.5 S, priced at $23,765 with front-wheel drive. If you’re after all-wheel drive, you’ll need to upgrade to the 2.5 S Preferred, whose base price is pegged at $27,165 for the sedan and $28,165 for the hatchback when ordering rear-wheel drive. The new Carbon sedan and hatchback are priced at $27,415 and $28,415 respectively, while the most expensive member of the lineup is the all-wheel-drive 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus hatchback. .
