2026 Mazda 3 2.5 S Carbon Edition Sedan AWD - What's New Review
2026 Mazda 3 2.5 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD model year update:
The affordable premium compact sedan, with available all-wheel drive, is becoming the rarer bird on the current crossover sport utility dominated American road-scape. When that car comes from smaller volume Japanese automaker Mazda, it will frequently be gobbling up the curvy, long back roads. So it was, and has since been, when the fourth generation Mazda 3 first hit the pavement in 2020.
At a time of year for appreciating the many blessings, thanks ought be given for the Mazda compact family sedan, which continues the tradition of upscale finished sleek daily driver which rewards the driver who isn't merely along for the ride. Just as the Thanksgiving table is grateful for multiple helpings of tasty Whipped Potatoes, Roadblazing.com editors are thankful for another chance to whip around the wheel of the 2026 Mazda 3 2.5 Carbon Edition AWD Sedan.
2026 Mazda 3 2.5 S Carbon Edition Sedan AWD: sleek silhouette in Polymetal Gray Metallic and darkened accents
NEW TO 2026 MAZDA 3 2.5 S CARBON EDITION SEDAN AWD IN '26 :
- A re-shuffling of the MY 2026 line-up leaves the Carbon Edition as the exclusive all-wheel drive + non-turbocharged Skyactiv 2.5 G engine combination
- 8 speaker Mazda Harmonic Acoustics streaming audio + HD radio (replaces 12 speaker Bose Centerpoint Audio)
PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED ON MAZDA 3 S 2.5 CARBON EDITION AWD SEDAN:
- "S Carbon Edition" trim
- Polymetal Gray exterior
- Red leather seating & leatherette panels
- Gloss black grille, body accents, heated wing mirrors, 18" inch alloy wheels
- 8.8" inch center dash top landscape LED + Mazda remote rotary Commander controller media display
- Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay phone app projection
- Over the Air updates for native Navigation (with SD card)
- Qi inductive charging tray
- illuminated USB-C x 2 (replaces USB-A)
George Straton
CARRIED ON, UNCHANGED ON 2026 MAZDA 3 2.5 S CARBON EDITION SEDAN AWD:
- two row, 5 occupant, four-door, compact touring sedan
- Skyactiv G atmospheric 2.5L DI DOHC petrol I-4 engine + 6-speed torque converter automatic transaxle + PTU to viscous clutch all-wheel drive
- 191 horsepower, 186 pound-feet torque (87 RON unleaded fuel)
- 28 miles per gallon observed combined driving fuel economy (3.6 gal. / 100 mi.). Highway range is 400 miles
- Front strut, rear torsion beam suspension + four wheel disc brakes, front vented
- "Top Safety Pick Plus" rated by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2025 MY)
2026 Mazda 3 2.5 S Carbon Edition Sedan AWD: the atmospheric I-4 powerplant, 6-speed automatic & AWD imbue abundant pep in the step, imparted by taut suspension, communicative steering and linear disc brakes
BOTTOM LINE:
- $32,710 price, as tested 2026 Mazda 3 2.5S Carbon AWD Automatic Sedan, in Polymetal Gray + red leather (Mazda 3 2.5S FWD Sedan from $25,785)
- 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty; 5 years, 60,000 miles powertrain warranty
2026 Mazda3 2.5S Carbon Edition AWD Sedan specifications:
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $32,710 = as tested 2026 Mazda3 2.5S Carbon AWD Sedan ($25,785 Mazda3 2.5S front-drive 6-AT)
Curb Weight: 3283 pounds, 17.2:1 weight-to-power ratio
Powertrain - petrol: 2.5L DI 16V DOHC Skyactiv G I-4
Horsepower petrol / Torque (pound - feet): 191 horsepower (140 kW) @ 6500 r.p.m./ 186 lb-ft @ 4000 r.p.m.
Drivetrain / Final drive ratio: 6-speed automatic torque converter planetary transaxle, viscous clutch center differential all-wheel drive, 3.63:1
Chassis:
- Front strut + sway bar, Rear torsion beam suspension, F&R: coil springs, twin-tube dampers
- Front: 11.6" vented rotors, Rear: 10.4" solid rotors, F+R: 1-piston sliding calipers, electronic parking brake
- Bridgestone Turanza EL 440 A/S M+S, 18 x 7.0"alloy wheels, front & rear 215/45-V, compact donut spare tire
- Electric power steering, 15.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns-to-lock
Dimensions:
- LxWxH: 183.5" x 70.7" (w/o mirrors) x 56.9"
- Wheelbase: 107.3" inches
- Ground clearance: 5.5" inches
Capacities:
- Headroom (Rows 1, 2 inches): 37.6", 36.7"
- Legroom (Rows 1, 2 inches): 42.3", 35.1"
- Cargo (nominal): 13.2 cubic feet (expandable via 60:40 split folding 2nd Row seatbacks)
Fuel Economy - observed (miles per gallon): 32 m.p.g.
Range (maximum): 431 miles (12.7 gallons)
Performance: 0-60 miles/ hour: 7.5 seconds; Top speed: 127 m.p.h.
Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2025 Roadblazing.com
2026 Mazda 3 2.5 S Carbon Edition Sedan AWD: elegant cabin fittings, split folding 2nd Row seatbacks expand trunk space
LIKES ABOUT THE 2026 MAZDA 3 2.5 S CARBON EDITION SEDAN AWD:
- Blurs the line between premium volume and entry prestige cars
- Properly handsome compact family sedan
- Versatile five-door packaging
- Lustrous exterior colors, impressive panel fit, inside and out
- Surprisingly responsive throttle and crisp transmission blips
- Sharp steering response, with sporting heft,
- Mellowed taut damping, lean resistant
- Impressive cabin isolation from wind, road & powertrain
- Decent fuel economy
- good advanced driver assist, sharp surround camera display (only in Premium Plus)
- Excellent headlight beam + available steering swivel
- Elegant interior trimmings, clear concise instruments, minimalized precision feel & action controls, remarkably isolated cabin
- Standard heated steering & front seats, w/ driver 2-memory setting power adjustment
- Power reverse tilt wing mirrors
- Reasonably good fidelity from standard audio system
- Quick learning curve for infotainment
2026 Mazda 3 2.5 S Carbon Edition Sedan AWD: artful blend of traditional instrumentation and controls with modern useful connectivity
NOT PREFERRED ABOUT THE 2026 MAZDA 3 2.5 S CARBON EDITION SEDAN AWD:
- Back seat occupant knee & head room trails the class
- Exterior mostly dittos 2019 debut
- Torsion beam rear suspension jostles on alternating bumps
- Steering wind slightly static
- Brake slowing not consistently emphatic
- No hybrid electric power option
- Small -ish fuel tank (12.7 gallons)
- Small -ish 8.8" media screen lacks touch control & Amazon Alexa app (available with upper trim 10.25" screen), presents small back-up camera view
- Advanced Driver assist more passive than in competition
- ordinary white on black, analog dial instrument cluster
- Inductive charging pad overheats certain phones
- No glovebox lock
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