We love Costco in this house. It’s one of our go-to places for groceries, snacks, household needs…you name it. Unfortunately, it’s also a place for unexpectedly massive hauls because you end up getting so much stuff you don’t need. With that in mind, we took our 2025 Mazda3 hatchback for the ultimate test: Can it haul all our goodies and random buys without putting anything in the rear seats? Will it handle two people plus a diva cat with more stuff than his humans? Let’s find out.
Mazda claims 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Fold those down, and that number expands to 47.1 cubic feet. The numbers suggest that it’s in line with the Honda Civic Hatchback, more than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, and below both the Subaru Impreza and the upcoming Kia K4 hatchback. However, we’re concerned about usable capacity here. That’s where the 2025 Mazda3 shines despite its voluptuous shape. With the cargo cover on (shown below), it managed to fit the cat’s two overnight bags, a large laundry basket, several bags of groceries, a small duffel, and my large travel backpack. Not bad!
For two people, the Mazda3 proved quite useful, and it can carry larger items as needed. Standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats give you an expansive area to work with for those larger Costco hauls. However, for most tasks, the rear seats can stay up because of the space’s depth.
2025 Mazda3: Useful to a Point
The big downside with the Mazda3’s cargo area is the shape. Although it’s deep, you can’t stack items up or put larger bags like check-in luggage upright. Otherwise, the liftgate won’t close. That’s the price you pay for its svelte, low-slung shape and curvaceousness. Additionally, the hard cargo cover does not fit into any storage space. In fact, the Mazda3 lacks flexibility because it doesn’t have any underfloor cubbies or any other versatility-enhancing cargo solutions.
On the bright side, you still have a flat cargo with the rear seats folded. You’ll need that for bulkier items like my partner’s electric scooter, which doesn’t fit with the rear seats up. On top of that, the high lip helps keep your belongings from rolling out of the car. However, it also means you must lift your bags higher to get them in the back. Moreover, the odd shape of the opening limits the type of items you can fit because of its lack of height in the rear of the vehicle.
As with every vehicle, it’s give and take with the 2025 Mazda3, especially in the cargo department. That timeless yet controversial exterior looks good. Yes, it’s surprisingly useful considering its shape. However, it also has shortcomings, especially when looked at through the lens of a compact family car. Think of this compact hatchback more as a 2+2 with additional versatility. Once you see it from that perspective, the Mazda3 turns into an enticing blend of class-above appointments and entertaining driving dynamics that’s ready to handle impromptu Costco runs.
