I really like the Mazda 3, and the 2026 Mazda 3 is no exception (my husband Paul used to drive one).
It is a happy peppy zippy zeppy little car, and assuming you don’t go nuts on the corndogs and the funnel cakes every weekend, you should be just fine getting in and out of this Mighty Mouse.
Considered a top-tier almost-luxury compact sedan, you can get the ‘3’ as either a regular sedan with a trunk or with a hatchback. This is a very athletic little car that offers some punch on the road, kinda like that adorable little monkey Punch who is now an internet sensation.
Mileage is the standout here: 23 city / 27 highway. Car and Driver states that you should be able to get into this new gem for (maybe) around $26K US. Another big plus: The ‘3’ has a 5-Star safety rating, something that is excellent for a small car, which, when sandwiched between two semis on the highway, can be a little intimidating.
U.S. News and World Report (one of my go-to sources for car information) ranks this year’s ‘3’ as No.2 in Compact Cars, right behind the Honda Civic, which is not as compact as it used to be.
This car is excellent for us LGBTQIA2S+++ types who live in the city, where space is always at a premium. The Mazda 3 is easy to maneuver, easy to park and so easy breezy that you almost forget this will be one of your monthly obligations on the red side on the ledger.
Driving around town, especially on days when it seems like you are just speeding from one Excedrin headache to another, this car really does have a calming sense to it. I can put on some lite elevator-Esque music while driving and pretend my only care in the world is to make sure that I don’t burn the liver and onions for dinner or pick up the wrong children from daycare.
If you get the hatchback, you get up to 20 cubic feet of cargo room, which is decent for the class. Standard features on the base 2.5 S trim are okay, but the really snazzy stuff is on the higher-end trims, such a moonroof, All-Wheel Drive or a turbo.
These days, perhaps getting a Mazda 3 as a used car is in order. Whatever Gets You Through the Night or day, as John Lennon and Elton John used to sing. Truly, you will get no pushback from me, as I have probably done it too.
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, gasoline prices are spiking with no end in sight, despite what all those brilliant minds on television tell you. Prices on everything are not coming down soon – if ever. The cost of living is becoming unaffordable.
People who read gaywheels.com are some of the smartest people of the planet. Critical Thinking is second nature to you. Thusly, I don’t need to tell you why prices are spiking.
I wish I could tell you how all of this will fully impact the car market or the world spice markets. If you feel it at the pump, you will feel at the grocery store. If you feel it at work, you will definitely feel it where you volunteer. This time, the pain is global.
We here at gaywheels.com will do our best to keep you up-to-date. You will know when I know if not sooner.
(I am fully aware that as I type, this information will be outdated.)
We are all in this together. Truly, for better or worse.
