Mazda 3 Sedan

• As a sedan, its city use is quite lively, largely due to the engine's response and a rather smooth gearbox. No matter if you are driving through Al Olaya in Riyadh or Prince Sultan Road in Jeddah, it feels engaged rather than just a chore.
• As far as mileage goes, you can expect from this sedan around 13 to 15 km per liter in mixed driving. For a daily commuter doing 60 to 80 km per day, the monthly fuel bill is likely to stay lower through Aqsat.
• On the Riyadh to Dammam highway at three-digit speeds, the sedan is mostly quiet and very well connected to the road.
• Again, the innovative SKYACTIV body shell feels strong and very well planted; it is effortless and simply drives beautifully.

Some Realities

• Don't forget its limitations; the top speed you can reach is around 120 km/h on the highway. And that's about it, as its 155 hp is what it offers.​
• Front-wheel drive across all Saudi trims is standard for the segment and not a daily concern for most buyers.
• The Mazda 3 sedan is a pleasure to drive, but don’t expect performance thrills. Be realistic.​

• The quality of the ride comes from both cabin comfort and suspension. Here, you will get a good experience because Mazda has done a great job absorbing impacts from Saudi city roads without harshness. You can navigate speed bumps in residential Dammam and the older broken tarmac near Al Dirah in Riyadh with impacts passing through the cabin without jarring vibrations.​
• The steering is precise and weighted in a way that no other compact sedan in Saudi Arabia at this price matches consistently. For example, on roundabouts along King Fahd Road in Riyadh and the tighter intersections near Al Hamra in Jeddah, the Mazda 3 responds confidently. You will feel smaller than it is, in the best way.​
• The cabin is quiet because road noise management at city speeds is excellent; yes, that is correct for such a small sedan. You get the feel that the cabin stays quiet enough that conversations do not require raising your voice, and overall refinement exceeds what the entry price suggests.

Things That Matter More

• At highway speeds above 120 km/h, wind and tire noise become more present. The Mazda 3 is well-insulated for its class, but it is not a midsize sedan at sustained high speeds. So, if you regularly travel intercity, you should be realistic with your expectations for long stretches.​
• The ride is firmer, but if you are coming from a Toyota Corolla or Hyundai Elantra, you will feel the difference in cushioning on the first drive.​
• Being a sedan, its 140 mm of ground clearance is low for obvious reasons. So it all depends on how you drive and where. You won’t get an SUV benefit, but you can avoid speed bumps by being a little judicious.​

• Starting from the cockpit, the dashboard design and material quality are among the best in the compact sedan segment in Saudi Arabia at any price. This is a big statement, but it actually is, and that is a plus. The soft-touch surfaces, consistent stitching, and a layout that keeps everything within reach. Sit inside a Mazda 3, then immediately sit inside a Hyundai Elantra or Kia Cerato, and the material gap is obvious within a minute.
• The higher trims get leather seats, a 10-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, an 8-speaker Bose system, an Active Driving Display on the windshield, and a 360-degree camera. The windshield display projecting speed and navigation at eye level is something most buyers decide they cannot do without after the first week.
• At the top end, further upgrades include red leather and an 11-speaker Bose system, not for everybody's taste though.
• The boot is at 444 liters, which is again subjective, but if compared to the competition, it is reasonable. 

What is missing?

• The entry trim shows its budget honestly because you don’t get leather, wireless charging, a windscreen display, Bose, or rear AC vents. The gap between entry and mid-to-high trims is rather big.​
• Rear legroom is fine but not generous. Taller passengers on journeys beyond an hour will notice the limited knee room.​
• The infotainment interface on high-trim models does not match the speed or visual quality of current Korean rivals. This is subject to personal preference. The rotary controller is logical, but the system feels one generation behind in a direct comparison.​

• First things first, you get seven airbags that are standard across all Saudi trims: dual front, front side, curtain airbags on both sides, and a driver knee airbag. Seven airbags in a car priced under SAR 75,000 is very rare.
• Then comes Smart Brake Support with pedestrian detection, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, and Adaptive LED Headlights, all of which are standard across the range. The i-ACTIVSENSE suite being present at the entry trim is one of the most compelling buying arguments for the Mazda 3 in Saudi Arabia.
• The 360-degree surround view camera makes parking easy in Riyadh and Jeddah. Easy to manage. 

Things to Consider

• No Gulf-specification crash test result exists for the Saudi market Mazda 3.
• The three-year or 100,000 km warranty is standard but may feel shorter compared to what some Korean rivals now offer. Buyers on longer Aqsat cycles should factor this in before signing.
• Resale value is reasonable; if you are financing through Murabaha with a planned three- to four-year exit, you should account for this gap while noting that very low running costs work partially in their favor across that period.