Comparison: Turning circle Mazda 3 vs. competitors 2025

Welcome to the automotive ballet of twirling metal, where the fleet-footed Mazda 3 waltzes with the nimblest of them. It's not about the boot space or the roar under the bonnet; it's about swivelling on a sixpence. For you see, in the city's quantum-sized parking spaces, the turning circle is king, and the Mazda 3 plays the game with a kind of measured grace that's both appreciable and, admittedly, at times perfectly average.

Mazda 3 - How has the turning circle changed over the generations?

Now, let's prance through time and scrutinize how the Mazda 3 has spun tighter (or not) with each iteration. Our archival dance begins with the Mazda 3 BK (2003-2006), performing an impressive 10.30m pirouette. But as it aged, it seemingly grew wider in its twirls—10.90m post its first facelift and stubbornly sticking to it through the BL generation. By the time we encountered the BM models (2013-2019), the Mazda 3's turning radius ballooned to a less-than-whimsical 11.40m, and it appears this figure has found its feet, remaining unchanged in the latest BP model. Does it foxtrot around its ancestors? Hardly—it prefers a more modern (or should we say bulkier) approach to choreography.

Mazda 3 generations

(Turning circle)
Mazda 3 generations
Generation yearTurning circle
3, Model year 2003 (BK)10 m
3, Model year 2006 (BK (1. Facelift))10 m
3, Model year 2009 (BL)10 m
3, Model year 2011 (BL (1. Facelift))10 m
3, Model year 2013 (BM)11 m
3, Model year 2017 (BM (1. Facelift))11 m
3, Model year 2019 (BP)10 m
The difference in Turning circle between first generation (BK) from 2003 and last generation (BP) from 2019 is 0 m.
The turning circle of the current generation of 3 is 10 m.

Variants

Mazda 3 variants: 3 vs. 3 Fastback

(Turning circle)
Turning circle: Mazda 3 variants
Variant nameTurning circle
310 m
3 Fastback10 m
1. 3 10 m

The turning circle compared to other Mazda models

Next to its Mazda kin, the 3 is, shall we say, middling. Take the petite Mazda 2 with its 10.20m carousel—it's just that bit more agile. Zoom up to the sporty MX-5, be it Roadster or RF, and you'll find a marginally less svelte figure of 10.40m adorning their specs. Stepping up to the larger CX-30, the Mazda 3 doesn't look quite as deft, as the crossover twirls a smaller 10.60m circle, leaving our fair Mazda 3 quite average in the family photo. And let's not speak of the Mazda 6 or the colossal CX-60, which limbo under the bar with a less-limber 11 and 11.70m respectively.

How does the turning circle of the Mazda 3 compare to it's nearest competitors?

How does our protagonist fair against the rogues' gallery of competitors, you ask? The peppy Skoda Scala nips at its heels with a mirrored Mazda 2-like 10.20m, the Citroen AX could practically spin on its own axis with a scant 9.60m, and the Suzuki Swift darts about with a sprightly 9.20m. Even the robust Hyundai Pony matches the Mazda 3's early-gen swivel with an even 10.00m. But ah, there's a glimmer of superiority when lined up against the Rover (Austin) Maestro, where both Mazda 3's present and past hold their ground with the 10.30m starting figure. So, while the Mazda 3 isn't the most graceful in its class, it's far from the clumsy oaf—rather, a dependable partner for your urban two-step.

Mazda 3 vs. similar cars

(Turning circle)
Turning circle: Mazda 3 vs. similar cars
Car modelTurning circle
Ligier JS 50 20198 m
Aixam Sensation 20178 m
Aixam Emotion 20208 m
Microcar M.Go 20198 m
Microcar Dué 20198 m
Aixam Minauto 20188 m
Fiat 500 20079 m
Casalini 550 20229 m
Casalini M20 20229 m
Opel KARL 20159 m
Skoda Scala 201910 m
Renault R20 197610 m
Audi A3 200010 m
Fiat Bravo 200710 m
Rover 25 200010 m
Alfa Romeo 145 199410 m
Fiat Brava 199810 m
VW Fox 200510 m
KIA Picanto 200410 m
Audi A2 200010 m
Opel Insignia 200810 m
Nissan Pulsar 201410 m
Lancia Delta 200810 m
Renault R30 197610 m
Mazda 3 201910 m
Infiniti Q30 201511 m
Rover 800 198711 m
Lancia Gamma 198011 m
Renault R21 198911 m
Renault R25 198812 m

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