The 2021 Mazda3 Turbo is not a hot hatch, despite what its horsepower and torque figures may suggest. However, it is pretty fast, as this video from Throttle House reveals.
The Mazda3 Turbo is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s good for 250 hp and an impressive 320 lb-ft (434 Nm), more than most of its hot hatch rivals. Coupled to this engine is a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels.
Watch Also: 2021 Mazda3 Turbo Accelerates Like A Proper Hot Hatch, Hits 60 MPH In 5.7 Seconds
To see how it performs in a straight-line, Throttle House pitted it against a VW Golf R and a Subaru WRX with the available CVT transmission.
Off the line, the Mazda actually had the edge over the Golf R, but before long, the latter edged ahead – hardly a surprise given its horsepower advantage. In a rolling race, the results were the same, with the Golf R accelerating away from the Mazda3 Turbo and the Mazda easily outsprinting the WRX, which was let down by its CVT ‘box.
Buyers in the United States looking to pick up a 2021 Mazda3 Turbo can do so from $29,900. That makes it $1,305 more expensive than the 228 hp VW Golf GTI Mk 7.5, although it’s not a bad deal when you factor in the Mazda’s power advantage and more luxurious interior.
