USA - Mazda3 now with added tech, better Kit and lower pricing - what's not to like !

- Mazda3 goes on sale this month with two new options packages -

Mazda North American Operations today announced pricing for the repackaged 2016 Mazda3 four- and five-door models, starting at an MSRP[1] of $17,845.

Mazda3 is available with a 155-horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine in Mazda3 i configuration or a 184-horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine in Mazda3 s vehicles. 

Either engine can be paired with a six-speed manual or available six-speed automatic transmission and in four- or five-door body styles. Mazda3 comes standard with premium features that are rare among compact cars and available class-above options like adaptive high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights and Mazda Radar Cruise Control. 

With KODO—Soul of Motion design, Mazda3 stands out in a segment awash with conformity.

For 2016, the Mazda3 is equipped with a standard backup camera on all models. The popular Mazda3 i Sport kicks off the lineup with more standard features while lowering MSRP[2] by $600 to $17,845 for the i Sport sedan with six-speed manual transmission and $18,895 for the six-speed automatic. Additional standard equipment includes power windows with a driver-side one-touch up/down feature, power door locks, 16-inch steel wheels with covers, dual-power folding exterior mirrors, a tilt and telescoping adjustable steering wheel, air conditioning with pollen air filter and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

Additionally, Mazda3 i Sport models come with MAZDA CONNECT^TM, a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth phone pairing and audio streaming, cruise control, trip computer, push button start, remote keyless entry and map lights.

New for Mazda3 i Sport is the available Preferred Equipment Package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, bright beltline trim, heated body-color dual power door mirrors with integrated turn signal lamps, premium cloth-trimmed sport seats, a rear-seat armrest with cupholders, auto on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and  Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

The mid-level Mazda3 Touring features 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, halogen fog lights, heated body-color exterior door mirrors with integrated turn signals, bright beltline trim, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, moonroof, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped hand brake handle, shift knob and three-spoke steering wheel with contrast stitching, a rear folding center armrest with cupholders, premium cloth-trimmed sport seats, and a rear spoiler on sedan models.

For 2016, the new Mazda3 Touring Popular Equipment Package is available, adding an auto-dimming interior mirror, dual-zone (driver and front passenger) automatic climate control system, Bose^® nine-speaker surround sound system with Centerpoint^® 2 and AutoPilot^® 2, SiriusXM satellite radio with four-month subscription, a CD player and shark fin antenna.

Anchoring Mazda3’s lineup is the Grand Touring model, which is available with either engine in sedan or five-door body styles. Mazda3 i Grand Touring comes with leatherette seating surfaces, while Mazda3 s Grand Touring has leather seats. Additionally, both Mazda3 Grand Touring models come with navigation and heated seats; Mazda3 s Grand Touring adds adaptive xenon HID headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Top-trim Mazda3 s Grand Touring models with the Technology Package include i-ELOOP, Mazda’s brake-energy regeneration system that captures kinetic energy to power accessories and help increase fuel-efficiency compared with other SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter models, as well as the full suite of i-ACTIVSENSE features including Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart City Brake Support, High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning System, and Forward Obstruction Warning.

MSRP[3] for the 2016 Mazda3 is as follows:

Four-Door

• Mazda3 i (2.0L)
  • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed manual: $17,845
  • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed automatic: $18,895
    • Preferred Equipment Package: $1,000
  • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed manual: $20,045
  • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed automatic: $21,095
    • Popular Equipment Package: $1,100
  • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed manual: $22,545
  • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $23,595
• Mazda3 s (2.5L)
  • Mazda3 s Touring six-speed automatic: $24,795
  • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed manual: $24,745
  • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $25,795
    • Technology Package: $2,600

Five-Door

• Mazda3 i (2.0L)
  • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed manual: $18,545
  • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed automatic: $19,595
    • Preferred Equipment Package: $1,000
  • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed manual: $20,745
  • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed automatic: $21,795
    • Popular Equipment Package: $1,100
  • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed manual: $23,245
  • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $24,295
• Mazda3 s (2.5L)
  • Mazda3 s Touring six-speed automatic: $25,495
  • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed manual: $25,445
  • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $26,495
    • Technology Package: $2,600

The 2016 Mazda3 arrives at Mazda dealerships nationwide in late July.