For years US buyers have stayed away from hatchbacks even though they are super practical and just as fun, if not more fun than their sedan counterparts. In the last year we’ve seen some significant new entries in the compact hatchback segment that may finally win over US buyers, like they have with our friends in Europe. This year the Honda Civic hatchback finally made a comeback and Chevy even introduced a Cruze hatchback. Although both new entries are welcome, they already have some heavy competition from the segment leader – the Mazda3 5-Door.
The Mazda3 is actually one of the oldest models now in the segment, but each year the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback continue to be the benchmarks for the segment. Here are five things that you should know about the 2017 Mazda3 5-Door:
5Is the Honda Civic its biggest rival?
Throughout my week with the Mazda3, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Civic hatchback. The Mazda3 hatchback has been the model to get for years if you wanted a fuel efficient, sporty and stylish hatchback. Now that Honda has brought back a Civic hatchback to the US, the tides may be changing. The Civic hatchback is positioned as the sportiest model in the Civic lineup with its standard turbocharged engine and aggressive body kit. But there was always one quick comeback when I polled friends about the styling of both models. The Civic hatchback’s aggressive styling is a bit polarizing, while the Mazda3 has a more classic, understated appeal.
