Driving the 2025 Mazda3 Hatch Turbo to Toys ‘R’ Us Was a Throwback Adventure

My first-ever experience with a Mazda came in the form of the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback Turbo Premium Plus—an eye-catching, compact car that delivers sharp handling, upscale touches, and a fun driving personality. I took it on a mini road trip to the nostalgic toy haven, Toys “R” Us in San Marcos. While it left a solid impression, it didn’t exactly steal my heart.

Let’s start with the fun stuff. The Mazda3 Hatch Turbo is genuinely enjoyable to drive, especially on back roads. Its responsive steering and tight handling made for an engaging experience that reminded me why Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” motto exists. Add in standard all-wheel drive, and you get a little Hot Wheels-like rocket that hugs corners and holds its own in various weather conditions.

It’s sharp, peppy, and purposeful—especially when paired with Premium fuel, where the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine cranks out 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Use regular fuel, and output dips to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft.

Visually, this hatch is a stunner.

The Snowflake White Pearl paint with blacked-out accents, including gloss-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black front air dam, and a black roof spoiler, really give it a sporty, almost concept car vibe. It’s the kind of car that looks like it was designed for a Hot Wheels collector. Mazda clearly knows how to craft a stylish hatchback with some serious curb appeal.

The sporty theme continues with a dark red and black leather-trimmed interior. It looks great—definitely premium—but it’s also where things started to diverge for me. I’m pretty particular about interior materials, and the feel of Mazda’s leather didn’t quite vibe with my preferences. It’s more a personal taste thing than a knock on quality. Everything inside is well laid out, and there’s a nice set of features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a Bose 12-speaker audio system, Alexa Built-In, wireless phone charging, and a 360-degree view monitor.

Cargo-wise, the hatchback layout offers solid versatility.

The built-in cargo cover came in clutch when we stopped at the San Marcos outlet mall—keeping our haul out of sight. The hatch also makes daily life easier, offering more practicality than the sedan version.

That said, the Mazda3 Hatch Turbo isn’t perfect. The rear visibility is limited due to large blind spots, and the zippy ride, while fun at first, started to feel a bit nauseating on longer drives. The turbo engine, while powerful, lacks some of the playful feel you might expect. And while 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway aren’t terrible, they’re not amazing, especially with a smaller gas tank. It’s also worth noting that there’s no obvious reminder about which fuel grade is needed, and I didn’t see anything about it on the gas cap. That could lead to confusion for first-time owners.

At $38,720 as tested, the Mazda3 Hatch Turbo Premium Plus is a good deal for what you get. It has safety tech like blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. You even get goodies like heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and rain-sensing wipers.

Verdict

It’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a sporty hatchback that’s fun to drive. It is nicely equipped and easy on the eyes. But for me, the size, interior feel, and occasional ride discomfort kept it from being a perfect match. Still, if you’re looking for a commuter car with flair and don’t mind a few quirks, the Mazda3 Hatch Turbo Premium Plus is definitely worth a test drive.

Rating: 7/10

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