2020 Mazda 3 Arrives with More Standard Equipment

For the latest generation of the Mazda 3, the Japanese automaker is giving the model more standard equipment and a slight price increase.

The 2020 model year will see some updates for the second year of the car’s fourth generation, particularly the addition of the brand’s i-Activsense driver-assist features. Previously made standard on all hatchback models of the Mazda 3, the package is now also available on all sedan variants.

Mazda’s i-Activsense suite includes lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The standardization of the new package across all trim levels makes Mazda 3 on par with market rivals such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, both of which have active-safety features standard on all variants.

The addition of more safety equipment, however, entails a price increase for the model. According to the pricing scheme recently confirmed by the automaker, an entry-level Mazda 3 sedan will have a $500 increase, while the hatchback will get a $100 bump.

A base Mazda 3 sedan in the latest generation is now priced at $22,420, while the sedan’s Select trim is available for $23,620. The hatchback version retails for $24,620, but all other trim levels will retain their 2019 pricing. The optional all-wheel drive setup can be purchased for an additional cost of $1,400 on all trim levels except for the base sedan variant.

The company continues to offer a single engine option for the Mazda 3, which is a 2.5-liter inline-four engine mated to either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. Both front- and all-wheel drive setups will be offered.

With regard to the Skyactiv-X compression-ignition capable engine, Mazda has yet to release information on its arrival in the U.S.