Mazda · Midsize cars · Gasoline
Mazda 3: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
In model year 2026 the Mazda 3 is rated at 30 MPG combined, tied for 15th of 31 midsize cars, in the upper half.
- 30MPG combinedtied 15th of 31 in class
- $2,250a year in fueltied 14th of 31 in class
- 294g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is tied for 5th of 14 gasoline midsize cars, in the upper half. The median of that narrower group is 27 MPG, against 30 MPG for all midsize cars together.
Among all gasoline models of the year, regardless of size, it is tied for 20th of 180 gasoline models, in the top quarter.
Within the 10 Mazda models rated for 2026 it is 2nd on combined rating; the median of the make's line-up is 26 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the BMW 5 Series Hybrid at 31 MPG and just behind it is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid at 28 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
At 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city, with regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon, the annual fuel bill of the most efficient version is about $2,250. That is $250 less than the midsize cars median of $2,500, which makes it tied for 14th of 31 midsize cars, in the upper half.
It emits 294 g of CO2 per mile from the tailpipe; the midsize cars median is 269, a difference of 25 g/mile.
Rated versions
Its city rating is 27 and its highway rating 36: the highway figure is 9 higher. 7 versions are rated for 2026. The most efficient, 3 4-Door 2WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), FWD, gets 30 MPG; the least efficient listed, 3 5-Door 4WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), 4WD (version 2), gets 26 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. With the file's assumptions that gap is worth about $350 a year in fuel.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 4-Door 2WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), FWD | 30 | 27 | 36 | $2,250 | 294 |
| 3 4-Door 4WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), 4WD | 29 | 26 | 34 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 3 5-Door 2WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), FWD | 29 | 26 | 34 | $2,300 | 302 |
| 3 5-Door 2WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 6-spd, FWD | 28 | 25 | 34 | $2,400 | 314 |
| 3 5-Door 4WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), 4WD | 28 | 25 | 34 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 3 4-Door 4WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), 4WD (version 2) | 27 | 23 | 32 | $2,500 | 334 |
| 3 5-Door 4WD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S6), 4WD (version 2) | 26 | 23 | 31 | $2,600 | 337 |
Year by year
The Mazda 3 is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. The headline rating did not move between 2019 and 2026: 30 MPG both times. The highest figure came in 2021, at 31. The number of rated versions grew from 6 to 7.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 30 | 26 | $2,250 | 294 | 30 |
| 2025 | 7 | 31 | 26 | $2,150 | 287 | 29 |
| 2024 | 7 | 31 | 26 | $2,150 | 287 | 30 |
| 2023 | 8 | 31 | 26 | $2,150 | 287 | 28 |
| 2022 | 8 | 31 | 26 | $2,150 | 287 | 28 |
| 2021 | 10 | 31 | 26 | $2,150 | 287 | 28.5 |
| 2020 | 6 | 30 | 27 | $2,250 | 299 | 28 |
| 2019 | 6 | 30 | 27 | $2,250 | 299 | 29 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Altima | Gasoline | 30 | $2,250 | 2026 |
| BMW 5 Series Hybrid | Hybrid | 31 | $2,650 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 28 | $2,950 | 2026 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Gasoline | 27 | $3,050 | 2026 |
| Nissan Sentra | Gasoline | 33 | $2,050 | 2026 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Midsize cars, Gasoline, Mazda, Gasoline midsize cars.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.