We were lucky enough to have the Mazda3 Turbo as our daily driver for a full week, which happened to line up perfectly with one of Craig’s busiest and most demanding events of the year — the Utah County Fair. Every August, Craig transitions from his day job into full Fair mode, setting up the Fair office, transporting boxes of promotional material, signage and supplies and then spending full days and nights ensuring everything runs smoothly. Having the Mazda3 Turbo during the beginning of this busy week turned out to be not just convenient but surprisingly exhilarating.

The week of the fair — Mazda style

Wednesday morning began like any other test drive week, but this time, as the Soul Red Mazda3 was delivered, we felt a sense of excitement. That deep, metallic red shimmered in the sun as we backed it out of the driveway, and even before we left our street, Craig was already commenting on how responsive and peppy the car felt. Under the hood is Mazda’s 2.5-liter turbocharged engine that delivers up to 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque (when filled with premium fuel), making this hatchback one of the quickest in its class.

The drive was smooth, with precise steering and an eager throttle that practically begged us to take the long way home — or to the fair office.

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By Friday, Craig had loaded up the hatchback with what seemed like an impossible stack of gear: signage tubes, banners, boxes of T-shirts, marketing handouts and even a laser printer. With the rear seats folded down, the Mazda3 turned into a little cargo champ. The wide hatch opening made it easy to slide items in, and we were shocked at just how much the compact car could hold. It wasn’t quite a cargo van, but for a sport-tuned hatchback, it did a great job.

Throughout the week, he made multiple trips back and forth between Springville and Spanish Fork, with Craig practically living at the Fairgrounds and Deanne popping in whenever she could. We averaged a respectable 27.5 mpg over the course of the week, which included a fair bit of freeway driving, a lot of stop-and-go traffic and more than a few quick runs for snacks and supplies.

Looks that turn heads

We’ve driven dozens of vehicles over the years, but few have drawn compliments quite like this Soul Red Crystal Mazda3. Whether parked outside the Fair office or pulling into a gas station, people stopped to ask what car it was and compliment the paint color. It’s no wonder; Mazda’s signature red paint is layered in such a way that it gives the surface a rich, liquid-metallic glow. It looks deep and glossy from every angle and sparkles in the sunlight like a custom job straight from a boutique performance paint shop.

And then there’s the car’s design itself. With sculpted lines, a wide stance and aggressive-yet-sleek front fascia, the 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback continues to look like something far more premium than its class. The 18-inch black alloy wheels that came standard on our Premium Plus trim gave it a sporty, confident feel, while the subtle rear spoiler added just enough flair to make it clear this was no ordinary commuter.

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Comfort and class inside

Once we were inside the cabin, the premium in “Premium Plus” became immediately apparent. Soft leather seats (ours came in a rich black) hugged us in just the right way. The interior design is clean and driver-focused, with a center display that did not scream for attention but delivered crisp graphics and a smooth interface. The rotary knob for infotainment might did take some getting used to for touchscreen fans, but once we were dialed in, it became easier to use.

Mazda has mastered the art of making even their smallest vehicles feel high-end. The attention to detail is impressive — from the soft-touch materials and real stitching to the dampened switches and knobs that click with satisfying precision. The heads-up display projected onto the windshield was bright and helpful, offering speed and navigation info without ever distracting from the road.

We also loved the 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, which came in handy during those late-night drives home from the Fairgrounds when we needed to unwind with some favorite tunes. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration made it easy to connect our phones and navigate between playlists and messages.

Performance that delivers

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Let’s get back to the part that really made this Mazda3 stand out: the drive.

With that turbocharged engine underfoot, this little hatchback was nothing short of thrilling. Acceleration was brisk — 0 to 60 in under six seconds — and the all-wheel-drive system provided confidence during quick merges and tight corners, especially when Craig was zipping home after a long fair day.

The steering was precise, the ride taut without being punishing and the chassis seemed to respond like a well-trained athlete to every flick of the wheel. On one particularly quiet morning, Craig took the scenic route along West Mountain to clear his head and just enjoy the drive, and the Mazda3 was right there with him — agile, alert and lively at every turn.

Deanne, who typically prefers a more relaxed ride, found the suspension to be firm but not harsh, and she appreciated how well the car soaked up uneven pavement. We both appreciated how Mazda has struck that rare balance between sportiness and comfort — a balance that even some luxury brands struggle to maintain.

Safety and smarts

Of course, no modern car review would be complete without a nod to safety, and the Mazda3 Turbo didn’t disappoint. The Premium Plus trim includes a full suite of i-Activsense safety features: adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and Mazda’s excellent 360-degree camera system, which proved invaluable while parking in some tight vendor-lot spaces.

One standout was the traffic sign recognition feature.

At the end of the week

After spending seven days with the 2025 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Hatchback, we were thoroughly impressed. It may not be the largest vehicle on the market, but it delivered performance, practicality and a level of refinement far beyond what you’d expect from a compact car.

It met Craig’s demanding fair-week needs without a hitch, handled all our gear with surprising ease, and never failed to offer a moment of fun behind the wheel — even in the middle of the chaos.

Base price: $36,950

Destination charge: $1,185

Price as driven: $38,865