The only 36 MPG hot hatch just got cheaper
Hot hatches are the Swiss Army knife of the car world. They fit four adults and some luggage, are great fun to drive, and can impress even hardcore enthusiasts. Some get better mileage than hybrid crossovers. The most fuel-efficient hot hatch is the stick-shift Mazda3—and Mazda just dropped its price for 2025. Here’s how it stacks up to the competition.
| Make/Model | MPG | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota GR Corolla | 21 city/28 highway (24 combined) | $37,635 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 23 city/34 highway (27 combined) | $31,965 |
| Honda Civic Type R (liftback) | 22 city/28 highway (24 combined) | $46,690 |
| Mazda 3 (stick shift) | 26 city/36 highway (30 combined) | $24,950 ($30,650) |
The hot hatch market has seen an odd shift. As these sporty cars gain street cred, automakers have flooded the segment with “premium” versions. Honda, for example, just bumped up the price of its Civic Type R by another $800. This 315-horsepower compact now starts only $300 below a 480-horsepower Ford Mustang GT.
Toyota’s GR Corolla aims for a lower price but gets the worst mileage on this list, despite having the smallest engine. The AWD system adds to its fuel consumption, and Toyota’s new automatic option for 2025 will likely drop its MPG even more.
Volkswagen’s Golf has long been the Mazda3’s closest rival. Each generation has offered a balanced mix of sportiness and cargo room. For 2025, however, Volkswagen dropped the stick-shift option. The automatic GTI now starts at $31,965. The high-performance Golf R costs nearly $48k, placing it in the same price range as the Audi S3—though the Golf doesn’t come with the S3’s 328-horsepower AWD powertrain.
Mazda3: the truest hot hatch
Mazda’s Mazda3 stays true to the hot hatch segment’s affordable roots. For 2025, the base 2.5 S trim with FWD and automatic transmission starts at $24,950. It’s tuned for sporty handling, though its 191-horsepower engine isn’t particularly high-performance. To get a stick shift, you’ll need to upgrade to the 2.5 S Premium trim, which starts at $30,650.
For drivers who prefer an automatic, the Mazda3’s 2.5-liter I4 offers solid fuel economy too. This setup gets slightly lower highway mileage than the stick shift but still delivers 26 city/36 highway (30 combined) MPG.
The only way to get AWD is with the 2.5 Turbo trim, equipped with a 250-horsepower engine. This model starts at $33,250 and gets 23 city/31 highway (26 combined) MPG. Note: Mazda doesn’t offer a manual transmission on the AWD version or the sedan.
Mazda recently cut the MSRP on some 2025 Mazda3 trims by $200. The lowest-priced Mazda3 remains the sedan, starting at $23,950, and offers more power than the base Honda Civic—for less money.
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