Why Small Fun Cars Are Disappearing

It is getting tougher to find cars with this formula: a small compact sedan or hatchback, affordable enough to own and maintain, with genuinely good handling and a fun-to-drive nature. The 2025 Mazda 3 Turbo is not the cheapest example of that idea, but the broader point applies to sedans and hatchbacks in general. The Mazda 3 still comes in less expensive trims, and this Turbo is the fully loaded version.

That matters because the basic Mazda 3 remains one of the rare small cars with real enthusiast appeal. It is still available with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine making almost 200 horsepower, and it can still be ordered with a manual transmission. A naturally aspirated engine in a new car has become uncommon, and for a car enthusiast or anyone who enjoys driving, that is disappointing.

Even Mazda, a brand that still sells the MX-5 Miata and the Mazda 3, has been reducing its sedan presence. The larger Mazda 6 was removed from the lineup a few years ago. Ford went even further, cutting its sedans and hatchbacks from the North American lineup except for the Mustang. These decisions reflect the SUV dominance that has been building in the United States and Canada since around 2015, the first year SUVs outsold sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Losing cars like this is not just nostalgia. There are practical reasons North America should still have more hatchbacks, wagons, and sedans.

The First Reason Is Driving Enjoyment

For a driving enthusiast, the first reason to preserve small sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons is the fun-to-drive factor. By design, these cars sit closer to the ground. That gives engineers a better starting point when they are trying to build something that handles well.

A lower car will inevitably have less body roll in the middle of a corner than a taller vehicle built around the same general mission. It also feels more engaging and sporty to sit lower to the road. In an SUV, the high seating position is not ideal for spirited driving, and it usually makes the experience less enjoyable.

That does not mean every SUV is dull. Porsche has shown with the Macan and Cayenne that SUVs can be engineered to feel genuinely fun. Mazda has also made the CX-5 and CX-50 somewhat fun to drive. Still, even though those Mazdas can use the same engine as the Mazda 3 Turbo, the smaller car is miles more enjoyable from behind the wheel.

Weight Is Part of the Personality

The fun-to-drive feeling also comes from lower weight. Sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons are usually significantly lighter than SUVs. Even this loaded Mazda 3, with all-wheel drive and the bigger turbocharged engine, still weighs under 3,500 pounds. Compared with Mazda’s own SUV options, such as the CX-5 and CX-50, it is still much lighter.

That smaller overall footprint plays a big role in how the car feels. The Mazda 3 Turbo is proof that a compact car does not need exotic hardware to be exciting. A couple of downshifts and a quick acceleration are enough to show that it is properly quick, with a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. Through a corner, the steering feels excellent, and there is a lot of mechanical grip. Much of that comes down to physics. It is simply easier to make a sedan or hatchback handle this way than it is to make a taller, heavier vehicle do the same thing.

Practicality Is Better Than People Assume

The second reason to keep sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons around is practicality. When people say they need an SUV to carry more people or more cargo, my own experience does not line up with that assumption. I have lived with sedans for years, and I rarely find myself in a situation where I need more room for cargo or passengers.

In my 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, I fit a couple of tents and everything needed for a two-day camping trip. The car handled it fine. I have also had four people in the car along with all of our cargo. That is a normal compact sedan doing the kind of work many people assume requires something much larger.

The Mazda 3 can also be bought as a hatchback, which gives it even more useful space. A hatch opening changes how easy it is to load the car, and folding rear seats make the small footprint more flexible than the exterior dimensions suggest.

Europe Shows Another Way

A recent trip to Europe made it obvious how many SUVs there are on North American roads. European families also need to carry people and luggage. They also need practical daily transportation. Yet many of them manage perfectly well with hatchbacks and station wagons.

That observation leads directly into the next reason North America needs more sedans, hatchbacks, and station wagons: affordability. Europe still offers far more choices in these body styles. An Octavia, for example, can be bought as a midsize sedan or as a station wagon, and the wagon version can carry a huge amount of stuff. Many people also see the Volkswagen Golf as a car that can do everything: a nearly perfect daily driver with enough room for passengers and cargo.

Lower Cars Usually Cost Less to Run

Sedans, hatchbacks, and station wagons are lower to the ground, so they usually have a lower drag coefficient than taller SUVs. Scientifically, that helps them achieve better fuel economy.

The Mazda CX-30 makes the comparison easy because it is basically related to the Mazda 3, but lifted for a higher seating position and better ground clearance. That extra height may be useful for some drivers, but it comes at a cost in fuel consumption. A taller shape has to push more air, and over time that matters.

This is especially important because people in North America are constantly complaining that cars have become expensive. The average new car price is around $47,000. At the same time, we do not always appreciate that smaller cars such as the Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Kia K4 are part of what keeps new-car ownership more affordable.

Smaller cars are cheaper to produce because of their size and because they require fewer components to build. They are also simpler by design, which usually makes them less expensive to maintain in the long run. They need less parking space, they are easier to fit into tight places, and they create less stress in normal daily ownership.

The Safety Argument Has Become an Arms Race

Some people will argue that smaller cars are more dangerous because they weigh less. There is some truth to the idea that weight can matter in a crash. But newer small cars can still be very safe vehicles, and the Mazda 3 is an example of that.

The bigger issue with SUV dominance is that it turns the road into an arms race. People start thinking they need to buy a bigger, heavier vehicle to feel safe. Then everyone else responds by buying bigger, heavier vehicles as well. The result is a road environment where vehicles keep getting larger, crashes involve more mass, and the consequences can become more dangerous.

That is not a healthy direction for the car market. If affordable, easy-to-maintain cars become less common, ownership becomes more stressful and more expensive. As a car enthusiast, I want more people to enjoy their vehicles and enjoy driving. One of the easiest ways to do that is to own something small, simple, responsive, and affordable.

You Do Not Need the Most Expensive Version

The Mazda 3 Turbo is a relatively expensive version of the car, so it is important to separate this specific trim from the larger argument. A lower Mazda 3 trim can still deliver 80 or 90 percent of the experience with a more economical engine. If you want more involvement, the simpler manual-transmission version adds another layer of fun without needing the fully loaded turbo model.

That is part of why cars like this matter. They give people access to an enjoyable driving experience without forcing them into expensive performance cars. For someone trying to be part of car culture in Canada or the United States, that accessibility matters.

Affordable Enthusiast Cars Bring People Into Car Culture

If we get fewer cars like this, it becomes harder for younger people to get into the hobby and learn to love cars. With SUV dominance, everything inevitably gets more expensive. For many years, cars such as the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic helped make enthusiast ownership approachable.

The Honda Civic Si is a good example. It has been a relatively affordable way for younger drivers to enjoy car ownership with less financial risk and less worry about the car breaking down. Cars like that let people experience something engaging while still owning a practical, reliable daily driver.

Some brands are still trying. Toyota, for example, has the GR86, GR Corolla, and GR Supra, giving enthusiasts several real options. The GR86 remains relatively affordable. The Civic Si is still a strong affordable choice. The Mazda 3 is still compelling, especially with a manual transmission, because it can still be genuinely fun.

The concern is what happens next. As the market keeps moving toward SUVs, there is a real fear that these choices will keep disappearing. The cars that remain may become more expensive, more niche, or harder to justify as everyday transportation.

What Should Not Disappear

North America needs more sedans, hatchbacks, and station wagons, not fewer. These are cars that are easy to own, easy to park, fun to drive, and actually affordable to buy. They do not need to replace every SUV, because some people really do need more ground clearance or more space. But they should remain real options.

Small fun cars keep driving accessible. They prove that good handling does not require huge power, that practicality does not always require a tall body, and that affordability still matters. The market is better when buyers can choose between SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons based on what they truly need instead of being pushed toward one dominant shape.

Cars like the Mazda 3 show why the category is worth protecting. They are simple enough to own, responsive enough to enjoy, and practical enough for real life. That combination should not be treated as outdated. It is one of the clearest ways to keep enjoying the drive.