2026 Mazda 3 Premium 2.5L 6spd
Through the noise of traffic and jet engines, a man’s voice cut clearly through: “Man, that’s a gorgeous color.” A spotless, new Mazda 3 dressed in Soul Red calmly pulled up to the valet parking curb. This little 5-door would be my toy for the weekend and would be the catalyst to one of the most entertaining weekends of my year.
Somehow, Mazda USA let me back in another one of their cars - the Mazda 3! Or as I would slowly discover over the weekend what seemed to feel more like the MX-5’s more practical, hot hatch sibling. Dressed in the stunning Soul Red Crystal Metallic and laced in a fine black leather interior, this specific 2026 Mazda 3 Premium came equipped with a 2.5L Skyactiv-G motor paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. And let me tell you, the manual makes this car all the better.
When you think of October in southern California, you might imagine perfect weather, clear skies, and those long days you can just fill up with so many plans. And you’d be correct! My weekend with the 3 began by departing John Wayne (KSNA) and heading straight for downtown Long Beach, with a quick detour over to Upgarage Garden Grove.
It was the weekend of the Japanese Classic Car Show that would occupy a bulk of my Saturday, but a Friday in SoCal means one thing and one thing only to us Miata folk - KINOD! After stopping by UpGarage, making a quick photoshoot detour en route to the hotel, and then leaving the less important bags in the room, it was time to head north to City of Industry for what is a weekly trek for many of SoCal’s resident Miata owners. I have the privilege of calling many KINOD regulars my friends, so when this NorCal boy makes the journey south, it feels more like a mini reunion instead of just another meet. Strapped into the Mazda 3, music blasting through the premium Bose audio system, camera gear stowed away, the hour-long journey in traffic had then officially begun. The lackluster thought of dealing LA traffic was quickly soothed though, as the 3’s seats are a great combination of plush comfort yet subtle, sports car-like bolstering.
Pulling up to dinner and KINOD, it was entertaining to hear how many Miata owners had Mazda 3s as their daily drivers. It seems the venn diagram of “Miata owner” and “Mazda 3 owner” has quite a bit of overlap! After usual KINOD shenanigans, it was late and time to head back to the hotel. Now, the journey back would be only 30 minutes (thanks to no traffic!), it was time to stay safe and ticket free thanks to the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), a feature I had already come to enjoy back when I got to test drive the 2025 MX-5. Adaptive cruise control, windows down, music blasting, it was nearly as if the car was doing all the work for me while making the trip back. I’ll spare all the JCCS details and save that event for a different post, but yet again, the Mazda3 was the perfect gear rig for all my equipment. It wasn’t until Sunday though that me and the 3 would really click.
Per recommendation from my good friend Jake, Angeles Crest became Sunday’s destination. Identified as State Route 2 (SR-2), the famous highway cuts through Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel mountains and provides some of the most entertaining driving roads paired with some amazing views. As soon as the run up the mountain began, I was in heaven. Getting to play cat and mouse with a turbo NC on the uphill, I split off to the Mount Wilson observatory shortly after one of the popular turnouts.
I can’t describe this next part in any other way than “holy crap” (in all the right ways). A manual hot hatch, roads barely over a lane wide, GPS up as if it were a tarmac rally stage map - HEAVEN. Getting to get in the zone as if I were on track with essentially no traffic around was a dream. It felt like I had dropped straight into a Dirt game and I think the Mazda 3 was the perfect car to drive to experience this stretch of road for the first time. I’m no stranger to manual FWD cars and getting to carve backroads like these in a seemingly well setup stock car was surprisingly fun. Yes, any stock FWD will understeer, but I don’t feel it was ever wildly intrusive in the 3. If anything, it was more of a reminder to not be overly irresponsible and do things that could be too risky. I’d make my uphill and downhill observatory run fairly quick and then stop back at the big turnout to cool down and admire some cars making their way up and down the canyons.
And as I was there walking around the turnout, I looked back at this little hot hatch. A car so simple, yet so good. It doesn’t take much to put a smile on my face when I’m behind the wheel, but it does take some emotional impact for me to “look back at it,” and admire what I had just gotten to do. In those moments of silence in the turnout, myself and that little 3 seemingly became a bit closer to being one. Is it the fastest thing out there? No not by a long shot. Is it the best handling? Honestly, pretty decent for FWD with a half-decent driver behind the wheel. But something about the 3 just does a little bit of everything right. It’s comfy, it’s peppy and responsive both with right foot input and steering wheel inputs without being in a constant state of on a knife edge. It looks good in a parking lot, on the beach, and in the backroads. It’s that reliable, versatile little hatch that can do it all quite well without sacrificing much in any other aspect.
With the sun setting both on the day and weekend, the Mazda 3 had won my heart in those curves. I made may way down the mountain in silence, but still grinning from ear to ear. Even as I write this, I think back fondly to those couple of hours going up and down the mountain and what I’d give to do it all over again…
Once again, a special thanks to Mazda USA / Mazda North American Operations for supplying this 2026 Mazda 3 2.5 Premium to me for the weekend. It is always a pleasure and honor to get to be moved by the latest Mazdas.
