See the New 2019 Mazda 3 Hatchback in Photos

This fully loaded AWD hatchback, stickering at $31,335, weighed a mere 117 pounds more than a similarly equipped front-drive 3 sedan. The extra heft slowed its acceleration slightly, by 0.2 second, to 7.2 seconds from zero to 60 mph and 15.6 seconds at 96 mph in the quarter-mile.

A paddle-shiftable six-speed automatic is the sole transmission choice, and it's so crisp and intuitive that we're almost not peeved the manual is offered only with front-wheel drive.

If anything falls below the level of the 3's otherwise cohesive package, it's Mazda's naturally aspirated 186-hp 2.5-liter inline-four. Though perfectly pleasant, this engine lacks the shove of Honda or Volkswagen's turbo fours—and its fuel economy is unremarkable, at 25 mpg in our hands.

Despite its new torsion-beam rear axle, the 3 is unflappable on our 10Best loop. Likely due to its all-season tires, the 3's turn in is slightly duller than the sharp-witted Civic Si, although the Mazda's steering informs its driver of the tire/road relationship more usefully.

You can't feel the all-wheel-drive system working in daily use, but at the limit it brings the chassis to life, having meaningful impact on midcorner adjustments. On the skidpad, the all-wheel-drive hatch pulled 0.88 g on its Toyo tires, just 0.01 g more than the identically tired front-drive sedan.

Mazda is using a new all-wheel-drive control strategy in the 3 that differs from that used in its SUVs. The old system considered outside temperature, steering input, and wiper activation to select an all-wheel-drive map appropriate for preventing wheelspin.

The new system continuously calculates vertical load (a good measure of grip) at each wheel based on vehicle speed, steering input, and accelerometer and yaw-sensor data with the goal of expanding performance. The result is more torque to the rear axle at times when it can be helpful, even on dry pavement.

We've gotten this far without mentioning the hatchback's controversially chunky C-pillar. Mazda seems to have no problem sacrificing convenience on the altar of design purity: The blind spots are significant, the back seat is tight and feels claustrophobic due to the high window line, and the revised infotainment system, though prettier than before, isn't that intuitive to operate.

But who says a small car has to cater to such rational demands? Mazda has no desire to be like Honda or Toyota, and the new 3 goes a long way toward establishing its maker as a different breed.