Mazda Mazda3 Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
A 2026 Mazda Mazda3 costs about $27,591 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Fuel is the biggest share at $11,124; depreciation $10,057 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
5-year total
$27,591
depreciation + fuel + insurance
Depreciation
$10,057
34.5% of new price
Fuel
$11,124
$2,225/yr
Insurance
$6,410
national average
5-year cost-to-own breakdown
Assumptions: 5 years, 15,000 miles a year (75,000 total), bought new. Every line shows its formula and source.
| Line | 5 years | Per year | How it’s calculated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $10,057 | $2,011 | $29,152 median new price (2026) × 34.5% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings | CarWhere depreciation study |
| Fuel | $11,124 | $2,225 | 75,000 mi ÷ 28 MPG × $4.153/gal regular (median of 7 EPA versions) | EPA × EIA November 2, 2026 |
| Insurance | $6,410 | $1,282 | U.S. average expenditure per insured car (2023) × 5 years. Not specific to the Mazda3. | NAIC, by state |
| Scheduled maintenance | Not priced | — | Intervals and items from the Mazda schedule below. No manufacturer-published service prices. | Mazda schedule |
| Registration and fees | Varies by state | — | State registration, title and taxes. | State title guides |
| Total | $27,591 | $5,518 | Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included. | |
Depreciation
New Mazda3s list for a median $29,152 (8,041 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 34.5% below that, so a Mazda3 loses about $10,057 in its first five years.
| Model year | Age | Median listing | Below new | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | $19,095 | 34.5% | 344 |
Fuel
The EPA rates the 2026 Mazda3 at 28 MPG combined; 26–30 MPG across 7 EPA-listed versions. At $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $11,124, or $2,225 a year.
EPA versions included: 3 4-Door 2WD, 3 4-Door 4WD, 3 5-Door 2WD, 3 5-Door 4WD.
Insurance
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year in 2023 (NAIC); see car insurance cost by state for your state’s average.
Is the Mazda3 expensive to maintain?
Mazda's published oil-change interval: when the vehicle status monitor/wrench light comes on; maximum 10,000 miles or 12 months (2026 CX-5, 2026 CX-30, 2025 Mazda3). For the Mazda3: 2025 Mazda3 Sedan: same structure as CX-30; max 10,000 mi/12 mo oil; spark plugs every 40,000 miles (2.5T) or 75,000 miles (others). We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Mazda doesn't publish service prices.
For repair patterns owners report, see Mazda3 known issues.
Oil changes
Normal: When the vehicle status monitor/wrench light comes on; maximum 10,000 miles or 12 months (2026 CX-5, 2026 CX-30, 2025 Mazda3)
Severe or special conditions: 5,000 miles or 6 months (long idling or low-speed use such as police/taxi, mostly unpaved roads, mostly mountain/uphill roads)
The 2025 CX-5 used a different scheme: Flexible oil maintenance with a 7,500 miles or 12 months maximum, and Schedule 2 fixed intervals for severe use.
Source: 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com)
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every service visit (max 10,000 miles or 12 months) |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| Every 10,000 miles |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| Every 2nd visit (~20,000 miles) |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| Every 30,000 miles or 24 months |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| 3rd and 6th visits (~30,000 / 60,000 miles) |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| Spark plugs |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| 120,000 miles or 120 months (first) |
| 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) |
| Brake fluid (2026 CX-5) |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 Scheduled Maintenance (owner's manual excerpt, mazdausa.com) |
Mazda3-specific notes
- 2025 Mazda3 Sedan: same structure as CX-30; max 10,000 mi/12 mo oil
- Spark plugs every 40,000 miles (2.5T) or 75,000 miles (others)
- Coolant first at 120,000 miles/120 months
Source: 2025 Mazda3 Sedan Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com)
More Mazda3 research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Mazda Mazda3?
A 2026 Mazda Mazda3 costs about $27,591 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Fuel is the biggest share at $11,124; depreciation $10,057 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
Is the Mazda3 expensive to maintain?
Mazda's published oil-change interval: when the vehicle status monitor/wrench light comes on; maximum 10,000 miles or 12 months (2026 CX-5, 2026 CX-30, 2025 Mazda3). For the Mazda3: 2025 Mazda3 Sedan: same structure as CX-30; max 10,000 mi/12 mo oil; spark plugs every 40,000 miles (2.5T) or 75,000 miles (others). We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Mazda doesn't publish service prices.
Is the Mazda3 expensive to insure?
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage, and CarWhere doesn't publish model-specific premiums. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year (NAIC, 2023), or $6,410 over 5 years; our state-by-state study shows the average where you live.
How much does a Mazda3 depreciate in 5 years?
In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old Mazda3s (model year 2021) list for 34.5% below the median new price of $29,152, about $10,057 of lost value.
How much does a Mazda3 cost to fuel per year?
About $2,225 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 28 MPG combined; 26–30 MPG across 7 EPA-listed versions and $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026).
Sources and method
Formula: 5-year total = depreciation (median new price × % below new at age 5) + fuel (75,000 mi ÷ EPA combined MPG × EIA national price, or kWh/100 mi × EIA residential rate for EVs) + insurance (NAIC national average expenditure × 5). Lines without a citable source are left blank.
- CarWhere car depreciation by model study — CarWhere Research (data as of 2026-10-25)
- Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Weekly U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (week of November 2, 2026)
- Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
- 2026 Mazda CX-5 Scheduled Maintenance (owner's manual excerpt, mazdausa.com) — Mazda (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2025 Mazda CX-5 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) — Mazda (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Mazda CX-30 Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) — Mazda (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2025 Mazda3 Sedan Scheduled Maintenance (mazdausa.com) — Mazda (opened 2026-11-06)