diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/light.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/light.rs
index ff505467a0e3ec..5033b273b1b32a 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/light.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/light.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 
 use bevy_ecs::prelude::*;
-use bevy_math::{Mat4, Quat, UVec2, UVec3, Vec2, Vec3, Vec3A, Vec3Swizzles, Vec4, Vec4Swizzles};
+use bevy_math::{Mat4, UVec2, UVec3, Vec2, Vec3, Vec3A, Vec3Swizzles, Vec4, Vec4Swizzles};
 use bevy_reflect::prelude::*;
 use bevy_render::{
     camera::{Camera, CameraProjection, OrthographicProjection},
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     renderer::RenderDevice,
     view::{ComputedVisibility, RenderLayers, VisibleEntities},
 };
-use bevy_transform::components::GlobalTransform;
+use bevy_transform::{components::GlobalTransform, prelude::Transform};
 use bevy_utils::tracing::warn;
 
 use crate::{
@@ -755,13 +755,21 @@ pub(crate) fn point_light_order(
 // data required for assigning lights to clusters
 pub(crate) struct PointLightAssignmentData {
     entity: Entity,
-    translation: Vec3,
-    rotation: Quat,
+    transform: GlobalTransform,
     range: f32,
     shadows_enabled: bool,
     spot_light_angle: Option<f32>,
 }
 
+impl PointLightAssignmentData {
+    pub fn sphere(&self) -> Sphere {
+        Sphere {
+            center: self.transform.translation_vec3a(),
+            radius: self.range,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct GlobalVisiblePointLights {
     entities: HashSet<Entity>,
@@ -815,8 +823,7 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
             .map(
                 |(entity, transform, point_light, _visibility)| PointLightAssignmentData {
                     entity,
-                    translation: transform.translation,
-                    rotation: Quat::default(),
+                    transform: GlobalTransform::from_translation(transform.translation()),
                     shadows_enabled: point_light.shadows_enabled,
                     range: point_light.range,
                     spot_light_angle: None,
@@ -830,8 +837,7 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
             .map(
                 |(entity, transform, spot_light, _visibility)| PointLightAssignmentData {
                     entity,
-                    translation: transform.translation,
-                    rotation: transform.rotation,
+                    transform: *transform,
                     shadows_enabled: spot_light.shadows_enabled,
                     range: spot_light.range,
                     spot_light_angle: Some(spot_light.outer_angle),
@@ -872,11 +878,7 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
             if lights_in_view_count == MAX_UNIFORM_BUFFER_POINT_LIGHTS + 1 {
                 false
             } else {
-                let light_sphere = Sphere {
-                    center: Vec3A::from(light.translation),
-                    radius: light.range,
-                };
-
+                let light_sphere = light.sphere();
                 let light_in_view = frusta
                     .iter()
                     .any(|frustum| frustum.intersects_sphere(&light_sphere, true));
@@ -932,7 +934,8 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
                 lights
                     .iter()
                     .map(|light| {
-                        -inverse_view_row_2.dot(light.translation.extend(1.0)) + light.range
+                        -inverse_view_row_2.dot(light.transform.translation().extend(1.0))
+                            + light.range
                     })
                     .reduce(f32::max)
                     .unwrap_or(0.0)
@@ -966,10 +969,7 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
         if config.dynamic_resizing() {
             let mut cluster_index_estimate = 0.0;
             for light in lights.iter() {
-                let light_sphere = Sphere {
-                    center: Vec3A::from(light.translation),
-                    radius: light.range,
-                };
+                let light_sphere = light.sphere();
 
                 // Check if the light is within the view frustum
                 if !frustum.intersects_sphere(&light_sphere, true) {
@@ -1124,10 +1124,7 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
 
         let mut update_from_light_intersections = |visible_lights: &mut Vec<Entity>| {
             for light in lights.iter() {
-                let light_sphere = Sphere {
-                    center: Vec3A::from(light.translation),
-                    radius: light.range,
-                };
+                let light_sphere = light.sphere();
 
                 // Check if the light is within the view frustum
                 if !frustum.intersects_sphere(&light_sphere, true) {
@@ -1177,8 +1174,7 @@ pub(crate) fn assign_lights_to_clusters(
                 let spot_light_dir_sin_cos = light.spot_light_angle.map(|angle| {
                     let (angle_sin, angle_cos) = angle.sin_cos();
                     (
-                        (inverse_view_transform * (light.rotation * Vec3::Z).extend(0.0))
-                            .truncate(),
+                        (inverse_view_transform * light.transform.back().extend(0.0)).truncate(),
                         angle_sin,
                         angle_cos,
                     )
@@ -1432,7 +1428,7 @@ pub fn update_directional_light_frusta(
             * transform.compute_matrix().inverse();
         *frustum = Frustum::from_view_projection(
             &view_projection,
-            &transform.translation,
+            &transform.translation(),
             &transform.back(),
             directional_light.shadow_projection.far(),
         );
@@ -1451,7 +1447,7 @@ pub fn update_point_light_frusta(
         Mat4::perspective_infinite_reverse_rh(std::f32::consts::FRAC_PI_2, 1.0, POINT_LIGHT_NEAR_Z);
     let view_rotations = CUBE_MAP_FACES
         .iter()
-        .map(|CubeMapFace { target, up }| GlobalTransform::identity().looking_at(*target, *up))
+        .map(|CubeMapFace { target, up }| Transform::identity().looking_at(*target, *up))
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
     for (entity, transform, point_light, mut cubemap_frusta) in &mut views {
@@ -1467,7 +1463,7 @@ pub fn update_point_light_frusta(
         // ignore scale because we don't want to effectively scale light radius and range
         // by applying those as a view transform to shadow map rendering of objects
         // and ignore rotation because we want the shadow map projections to align with the axes
-        let view_translation = GlobalTransform::from_translation(transform.translation);
+        let view_translation = Transform::from_translation(transform.translation());
         let view_backward = transform.back();
 
         for (view_rotation, frustum) in view_rotations.iter().zip(cubemap_frusta.iter_mut()) {
@@ -1476,7 +1472,7 @@ pub fn update_point_light_frusta(
 
             *frustum = Frustum::from_view_projection(
                 &view_projection,
-                &transform.translation,
+                &transform.translation(),
                 &view_backward,
                 point_light.range,
             );
@@ -1503,7 +1499,6 @@ pub fn update_spot_light_frusta(
 
         // ignore scale because we don't want to effectively scale light radius and range
         // by applying those as a view transform to shadow map rendering of objects
-        let view_translation = GlobalTransform::from_translation(transform.translation);
         let view_backward = transform.back();
 
         let spot_view = spot_light_view_matrix(transform);
@@ -1512,7 +1507,7 @@ pub fn update_spot_light_frusta(
 
         *frustum = Frustum::from_view_projection(
             &view_projection,
-            &view_translation.translation,
+            &transform.translation(),
             &view_backward,
             spot_light.range,
         );
@@ -1623,7 +1618,7 @@ pub fn check_light_mesh_visibility(
 
                 let view_mask = maybe_view_mask.copied().unwrap_or_default();
                 let light_sphere = Sphere {
-                    center: Vec3A::from(transform.translation),
+                    center: Vec3A::from(transform.translation()),
                     radius: point_light.range,
                 };
 
@@ -1686,7 +1681,7 @@ pub fn check_light_mesh_visibility(
 
                 let view_mask = maybe_view_mask.copied().unwrap_or_default();
                 let light_sphere = Sphere {
-                    center: Vec3A::from(transform.translation),
+                    center: Vec3A::from(transform.translation()),
                     radius: point_light.range,
                 };
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/light.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/light.rs
index 8a9c037b1bdc63..29c3d0b5b439da 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/light.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/light.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     },
     Extract,
 };
-use bevy_transform::components::GlobalTransform;
+use bevy_transform::{components::GlobalTransform, prelude::Transform};
 use bevy_utils::FloatOrd;
 use bevy_utils::{
     tracing::{error, warn},
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ pub fn calculate_cluster_factors(
 // could move this onto transform but it's pretty niche
 pub(crate) fn spot_light_view_matrix(transform: &GlobalTransform) -> Mat4 {
     // the matrix z_local (opposite of transform.forward())
-    let fwd_dir = transform.local_z().extend(0.0);
+    let fwd_dir = transform.back().extend(0.0);
 
     let sign = 1f32.copysign(fwd_dir.z);
     let a = -1.0 / (fwd_dir.z + sign);
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ pub(crate) fn spot_light_view_matrix(transform: &GlobalTransform) -> Mat4 {
         right_dir,
         up_dir,
         fwd_dir,
-        transform.translation.extend(1.0),
+        transform.translation().extend(1.0),
     )
 }
 
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ pub fn prepare_lights(
         Mat4::perspective_infinite_reverse_rh(std::f32::consts::FRAC_PI_2, 1.0, POINT_LIGHT_NEAR_Z);
     let cube_face_rotations = CUBE_MAP_FACES
         .iter()
-        .map(|CubeMapFace { target, up }| GlobalTransform::identity().looking_at(*target, *up))
+        .map(|CubeMapFace { target, up }| Transform::identity().looking_at(*target, *up))
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
     global_light_meta.entity_to_index.clear();
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ pub fn prepare_lights(
                 * light.intensity)
                 .xyz()
                 .extend(1.0 / (light.range * light.range)),
-            position_radius: light.transform.translation.extend(light.radius),
+            position_radius: light.transform.translation().extend(light.radius),
             flags: flags.bits,
             shadow_depth_bias: light.shadow_depth_bias,
             shadow_normal_bias: light.shadow_normal_bias,
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ pub fn prepare_lights(
             // ignore scale because we don't want to effectively scale light radius and range
             // by applying those as a view transform to shadow map rendering of objects
             // and ignore rotation because we want the shadow map projections to align with the axes
-            let view_translation = GlobalTransform::from_translation(light.transform.translation);
+            let view_translation = GlobalTransform::from_translation(light.transform.translation());
 
             for (face_index, view_rotation) in cube_face_rotations.iter().enumerate() {
                 let depth_texture_view =
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ pub fn prepare_lights(
             .enumerate()
         {
             let spot_view_matrix = spot_light_view_matrix(&light.transform);
-            let spot_view_transform = GlobalTransform::from_matrix(spot_view_matrix);
+            let spot_view_transform = spot_view_matrix.into();
 
             let angle = light.spot_light_angles.expect("lights should be sorted so that \
                 [point_light_shadow_maps_count..point_light_shadow_maps_count + spot_light_shadow_maps_count] are spot lights").1;
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ pub fn prepare_lights(
                         ExtractedView {
                             width: directional_light_shadow_map.size as u32,
                             height: directional_light_shadow_map.size as u32,
-                            transform: GlobalTransform::from_matrix(view.inverse()),
+                            transform: GlobalTransform::from(view.inverse()),
                             projection,
                         },
                         RenderPhase::<Shadow>::default(),
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
index 0e33b5caaabd7f..0bb456bcaa5fa0 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ impl SkinnedMeshJoints {
         let start = buffer.len();
         for (inverse_bindpose, joint) in bindposes.zip(skin_joints).take(MAX_JOINTS) {
             if let Ok(joint) = joints.get(*joint) {
-                buffer.push(joint.compute_affine() * *inverse_bindpose);
+                buffer.push(joint.affine() * *inverse_bindpose);
             } else {
                 buffer.truncate(start);
                 return None;
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs
index ade4be0e10f4b8..71e3597e3127be 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ fn prepare_view_uniforms(
                 inverse_view,
                 projection,
                 inverse_projection,
-                world_position: camera.transform.translation,
+                world_position: camera.transform.translation(),
                 width: camera.width as f32,
                 height: camera.height as f32,
             }),
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/visibility/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/visibility/mod.rs
index 771151630fbae2..a45985e35440eb 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/visibility/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/visibility/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 mod render_layers;
 
-use bevy_math::Vec3A;
 pub use render_layers::*;
 
 use bevy_app::{CoreStage, Plugin};
@@ -205,7 +204,7 @@ pub fn update_frusta<T: Component + CameraProjection + Send + Sync + 'static>(
             projection.get_projection_matrix() * transform.compute_matrix().inverse();
         *frustum = Frustum::from_view_projection(
             &view_projection,
-            &transform.translation,
+            &transform.translation(),
             &transform.back(),
             projection.far(),
         );
@@ -324,7 +323,7 @@ pub fn check_visibility(
                     let model = transform.compute_matrix();
                     let model_sphere = Sphere {
                         center: model.transform_point3a(model_aabb.center),
-                        radius: (Vec3A::from(transform.scale) * model_aabb.half_extents).length(),
+                        radius: transform.radius_vec3a(model_aabb.half_extents),
                     };
                     // Do quick sphere-based frustum culling
                     if !frustum.intersects_sphere(&model_sphere, false) {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/render/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/render/mod.rs
index bd95a06d8e6370..fb07f730694475 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -410,9 +410,9 @@ pub fn queue_sprites(
         extracted_sprites.sort_unstable_by(|a, b| {
             match a
                 .transform
-                .translation
+                .translation()
                 .z
-                .partial_cmp(&b.transform.translation.z)
+                .partial_cmp(&b.transform.translation().z)
             {
                 Some(Ordering::Equal) | None => a.image_handle_id.cmp(&b.image_handle_id),
                 Some(other) => other,
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ pub fn queue_sprites(
                 });
 
                 // These items will be sorted by depth with other phase items
-                let sort_key = FloatOrd(extracted_sprite.transform.translation.z);
+                let sort_key = FloatOrd(extracted_sprite.transform.translation().z);
 
                 // Store the vertex data and add the item to the render phase
                 if current_batch.colored {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/text2d.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/text2d.rs
index 9209fd8d32a3e9..20b17fcfb493b3 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_text/src/text2d.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/text2d.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ pub fn extract_text2d_sprite(
 ) {
     let scale_factor = windows.scale_factor(WindowId::primary()) as f32;
 
-    for (entity, computed_visibility, text, transform, calculated_size) in text2d_query.iter() {
+    for (entity, computed_visibility, text, text_transform, calculated_size) in text2d_query.iter()
+    {
         if !computed_visibility.is_visible() {
             continue;
         }
@@ -100,9 +101,6 @@ pub fn extract_text2d_sprite(
                 HorizontalAlign::Right => Vec3::new(-width, 0.0, 0.0),
             };
 
-            let mut text_transform = *transform;
-            text_transform.scale /= scale_factor;
-
             for text_glyph in text_glyphs {
                 let color = text.sections[text_glyph.section_index]
                     .style
@@ -118,8 +116,10 @@ pub fn extract_text2d_sprite(
                 let glyph_transform = Transform::from_translation(
                     alignment_offset * scale_factor + text_glyph.position.extend(0.),
                 );
-
-                let transform = text_transform.mul_transform(glyph_transform);
+                // NOTE: Should match `bevy_ui::render::extract_text_uinodes`
+                let transform = *text_transform
+                    * GlobalTransform::from_scale(Vec3::splat(scale_factor.recip()))
+                    * glyph_transform;
 
                 extracted_sprites.sprites.push(ExtractedSprite {
                     entity,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/global_transform.rs b/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/global_transform.rs
index 1e8aec21fd612b..96e7c24637e7ea 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/global_transform.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/global_transform.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
+use std::ops::Mul;
+
 use super::Transform;
 use bevy_ecs::{component::Component, reflect::ReflectComponent};
-use bevy_math::{Affine3A, Mat3, Mat4, Quat, Vec3};
-use bevy_reflect::prelude::*;
-use std::ops::Mul;
+use bevy_math::{Affine3A, Mat4, Quat, Vec3, Vec3A};
+use bevy_reflect::Reflect;
 
 /// Describe the position of an entity relative to the reference frame.
 ///
@@ -25,223 +26,129 @@ use std::ops::Mul;
 /// update the[`Transform`] of an entity in this stage or after, you will notice a 1 frame lag
 /// before the [`GlobalTransform`] is updated.
 #[derive(Component, Debug, PartialEq, Clone, Copy, Reflect)]
-#[reflect(Component, Default, PartialEq)]
-pub struct GlobalTransform {
-    /// The position of the global transform
-    pub translation: Vec3,
-    /// The rotation of the global transform
-    pub rotation: Quat,
-    /// The scale of the global transform
-    pub scale: Vec3,
-}
-
-impl GlobalTransform {
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub const fn from_xyz(x: f32, y: f32, z: f32) -> Self {
-        Self::from_translation(Vec3::new(x, y, z))
-    }
-
-    /// Creates a new identity [`GlobalTransform`], with no translation, rotation, and a scale of 1
-    /// on all axes.
-    #[inline]
-    pub const fn identity() -> Self {
-        GlobalTransform {
-            translation: Vec3::ZERO,
-            rotation: Quat::IDENTITY,
-            scale: Vec3::ONE,
+#[reflect(Component, PartialEq)]
+pub struct GlobalTransform(Affine3A);
+
+macro_rules! impl_local_axis {
+    ($pos_name: ident, $neg_name: ident, $axis: ident) => {
+        #[doc=std::concat!("Return the local ", std::stringify!($pos_name), " vector (", std::stringify!($axis) ,").")]
+        #[inline]
+        pub fn $pos_name(&self) -> Vec3 {
+            (self.0.matrix3 * Vec3::$axis).normalize()
         }
-    }
-
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn from_matrix(matrix: Mat4) -> Self {
-        let (scale, rotation, translation) = matrix.to_scale_rotation_translation();
 
-        GlobalTransform {
-            translation,
-            rotation,
-            scale,
+        #[doc=std::concat!("Return the local ", std::stringify!($neg_name), " vector (-", std::stringify!($axis) ,").")]
+        #[inline]
+        pub fn $neg_name(&self) -> Vec3 {
+            -self.$pos_name()
         }
-    }
-
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub const fn from_translation(translation: Vec3) -> Self {
-        GlobalTransform {
-            translation,
-            ..Self::identity()
-        }
-    }
-
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub const fn from_rotation(rotation: Quat) -> Self {
-        GlobalTransform {
-            rotation,
-            ..Self::identity()
-        }
-    }
-
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub const fn from_scale(scale: Vec3) -> Self {
-        GlobalTransform {
-            scale,
-            ..Self::identity()
-        }
-    }
+    };
+}
 
+impl GlobalTransform {
     #[doc(hidden)]
     #[inline]
-    #[must_use]
-    pub fn looking_at(mut self, target: Vec3, up: Vec3) -> Self {
-        self.look_at(target, up);
-        self
+    pub fn from_xyz(x: f32, y: f32, z: f32) -> Self {
+        Self::from_translation(Vec3::new(x, y, z))
     }
 
     #[doc(hidden)]
     #[inline]
-    #[must_use]
-    pub const fn with_translation(mut self, translation: Vec3) -> Self {
-        self.translation = translation;
-        self
+    pub fn from_translation(translation: Vec3) -> Self {
+        GlobalTransform(Affine3A::from_translation(translation))
     }
 
     #[doc(hidden)]
     #[inline]
-    #[must_use]
-    pub const fn with_rotation(mut self, rotation: Quat) -> Self {
-        self.rotation = rotation;
-        self
+    pub fn from_rotation(rotation: Quat) -> Self {
+        GlobalTransform(Affine3A::from_rotation_translation(rotation, Vec3::ZERO))
     }
 
     #[doc(hidden)]
     #[inline]
-    #[must_use]
-    pub const fn with_scale(mut self, scale: Vec3) -> Self {
-        self.scale = scale;
-        self
+    pub fn from_scale(scale: Vec3) -> Self {
+        GlobalTransform(Affine3A::from_scale(scale))
     }
 
-    /// Returns the 3d affine transformation matrix from this transforms translation,
-    /// rotation, and scale.
+    /// Returns the 3d affine transformation matrix as a [`Mat4`].
     #[inline]
     pub fn compute_matrix(&self) -> Mat4 {
-        Mat4::from_scale_rotation_translation(self.scale, self.rotation, self.translation)
-    }
-
-    /// Returns the 3d affine transformation from this transforms translation,
-    /// rotation, and scale.
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn compute_affine(&self) -> Affine3A {
-        Affine3A::from_scale_rotation_translation(self.scale, self.rotation, self.translation)
+        Mat4::from(self.0)
     }
 
-    /// Get the unit vector in the local `X` direction
+    /// Returns the 3d affine transformation matrix as an [`Affine3A`].
     #[inline]
-    pub fn local_x(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.rotation * Vec3::X
+    pub fn affine(&self) -> Affine3A {
+        self.0
     }
 
-    /// Equivalent to [`-local_x()`][GlobalTransform::local_x]
+    /// Returns the transformation as a [`Transform`].
+    ///
+    /// The transform is expected to be non-degenerate and without shearing, or the output
+    /// will be invalid.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn left(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        -self.local_x()
-    }
-
-    /// Equivalent to [`local_x()`][GlobalTransform::local_x]
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn right(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.local_x()
+    pub fn compute_transform(&self) -> Transform {
+        let (scale, rotation, translation) = self.0.to_scale_rotation_translation();
+        Transform {
+            translation,
+            rotation,
+            scale,
+        }
     }
 
-    /// Get the unit vector in the local `Y` direction
+    /// Extracts `scale`, `rotation` and `translation` from `self`.
+    ///
+    /// The transform is expected to be non-degenerate and without shearing, or the output
+    /// will be invalid.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn local_y(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.rotation * Vec3::Y
+    pub fn to_scale_rotation_translation(&self) -> (Vec3, Quat, Vec3) {
+        self.0.to_scale_rotation_translation()
     }
 
-    /// Equivalent to [`local_y()`][GlobalTransform::local_y]
+    /// Creates a new identity [`GlobalTransform`], that maps all points in space to themselves.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn up(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.local_y()
+    pub const fn identity() -> Self {
+        Self(Affine3A::IDENTITY)
     }
 
-    /// Equivalent to [`-local_y()`][GlobalTransform::local_y]
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn down(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        -self.local_y()
-    }
+    impl_local_axis!(right, left, X);
+    impl_local_axis!(up, down, Y);
+    impl_local_axis!(back, forward, Z);
 
-    /// Get the unit vector in the local `Z` direction
+    /// Get the translation as a [`Vec3`].
     #[inline]
-    pub fn local_z(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.rotation * Vec3::Z
+    pub fn translation(&self) -> Vec3 {
+        self.0.translation.into()
     }
 
-    /// Equivalent to [`-local_z()`][GlobalTransform::local_z]
+    /// Mutably access the internal translation.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn forward(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        -self.local_z()
+    pub fn translation_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Vec3A {
+        &mut self.0.translation
     }
 
-    /// Equivalent to [`local_z()`][GlobalTransform::local_z]
+    /// Get the translation as a [`Vec3A`].
     #[inline]
-    pub fn back(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.local_z()
+    pub fn translation_vec3a(&self) -> Vec3A {
+        self.0.translation
     }
 
-    #[doc(hidden)]
+    /// Get an upper bound of the radius from the given `extents`.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn rotate(&mut self, rotation: Quat) {
-        self.rotation = rotation * self.rotation;
+    pub fn radius_vec3a(&self, extents: Vec3A) -> f32 {
+        (self.0.matrix3 * extents).length()
     }
 
-    #[doc(hidden)]
+    /// Returns a [`Vec3`] of this [`Transform`] applied to `value`.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn rotate_around(&mut self, point: Vec3, rotation: Quat) {
-        self.translation = point + rotation * (self.translation - point);
-        self.rotate(rotation);
+    pub fn mul_vec3(&self, v: Vec3) -> Vec3 {
+        self.0.transform_point3(v)
     }
 
     /// Multiplies `self` with `transform` component by component, returning the
     /// resulting [`GlobalTransform`]
-    #[inline]
-    #[must_use]
     pub fn mul_transform(&self, transform: Transform) -> Self {
-        let translation = self.mul_vec3(transform.translation);
-        let rotation = self.rotation * transform.rotation;
-        let scale = self.scale * transform.scale;
-        Self {
-            translation,
-            rotation,
-            scale,
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Returns a [`Vec3`] of this [`Transform`] applied to `value`.
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn mul_vec3(&self, mut value: Vec3) -> Vec3 {
-        value = self.scale * value;
-        value = self.rotation * value;
-        value += self.translation;
-        value
-    }
-
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn apply_non_uniform_scale(&mut self, scale: Vec3) {
-        self.scale *= scale;
-    }
-
-    #[doc(hidden)]
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn look_at(&mut self, target: Vec3, up: Vec3) {
-        let forward = Vec3::normalize(self.translation - target);
-        let right = up.cross(forward).normalize();
-        let up = forward.cross(right);
-        self.rotation = Quat::from_mat3(&Mat3::from_cols(right, up, forward));
+        Self(self.0 * transform.compute_affine())
     }
 }
 
@@ -253,11 +160,19 @@ impl Default for GlobalTransform {
 
 impl From<Transform> for GlobalTransform {
     fn from(transform: Transform) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            translation: transform.translation,
-            rotation: transform.rotation,
-            scale: transform.scale,
-        }
+        Self(transform.compute_affine())
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Affine3A> for GlobalTransform {
+    fn from(affine: Affine3A) -> Self {
+        Self(affine)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Mat4> for GlobalTransform {
+    fn from(matrix: Mat4) -> Self {
+        Self(Affine3A::from_mat4(matrix))
     }
 }
 
@@ -266,7 +181,7 @@ impl Mul<GlobalTransform> for GlobalTransform {
 
     #[inline]
     fn mul(self, global_transform: GlobalTransform) -> Self::Output {
-        self.mul_transform(global_transform.into())
+        GlobalTransform(self.0 * global_transform.0)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs b/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs
index 6fb0ac7bd4efef..667850a1eb9d0f 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use super::GlobalTransform;
 use bevy_ecs::{component::Component, reflect::ReflectComponent};
-use bevy_math::{Mat3, Mat4, Quat, Vec3};
+use bevy_math::{Affine3A, Mat3, Mat4, Quat, Vec3};
 use bevy_reflect::prelude::*;
 use bevy_reflect::Reflect;
 use std::ops::Mul;
@@ -141,6 +141,13 @@ impl Transform {
         Mat4::from_scale_rotation_translation(self.scale, self.rotation, self.translation)
     }
 
+    /// Returns the 3d affine transformation matrix from this transforms translation,
+    /// rotation, and scale.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn compute_affine(&self) -> Affine3A {
+        Affine3A::from_scale_rotation_translation(self.scale, self.rotation, self.translation)
+    }
+
     /// Get the unit vector in the local `X` direction.
     #[inline]
     pub fn local_x(&self) -> Vec3 {
@@ -332,13 +339,11 @@ impl Default for Transform {
     }
 }
 
+/// The transform is expected to be non-degenerate and without shearing, or the output
+/// will be invalid.
 impl From<GlobalTransform> for Transform {
     fn from(transform: GlobalTransform) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            translation: transform.translation,
-            rotation: transform.rotation,
-            scale: transform.scale,
-        }
+        transform.compute_transform()
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_transform/src/systems.rs b/crates/bevy_transform/src/systems.rs
index 5ca16e7db1ad64..9406149fb08472 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_transform/src/systems.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_transform/src/systems.rs
@@ -320,13 +320,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let mut state = app.world.query::<&GlobalTransform>();
         for global in state.iter(&app.world) {
-            assert_eq!(
-                global,
-                &GlobalTransform {
-                    translation,
-                    ..Default::default()
-                },
-            );
+            assert_eq!(global, &GlobalTransform::from_translation(translation));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/focus.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/focus.rs
index 11a7290bf0e0d1..57a1f7f14a29fa 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/focus.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/focus.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ pub fn ui_focus_system(
         .iter_mut()
         .filter_map(
             |(entity, node, global_transform, interaction, focus_policy, clip)| {
-                let position = global_transform.translation;
+                let position = global_transform.translation();
                 let ui_position = position.truncate();
                 let extents = node.size / 2.0;
                 let mut min = ui_position - extents;
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
index 08b25a42f08bae..e26d91ae23ac4e 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ pub fn extract_text_uinodes(
     >,
 ) {
     let scale_factor = windows.scale_factor(WindowId::primary()) as f32;
-    for (entity, uinode, transform, text, visibility, clip) in uinode_query.iter() {
+    for (entity, uinode, global_transform, text, visibility, clip) in uinode_query.iter() {
         if !visibility.is_visible() {
             continue;
         }
@@ -305,15 +305,15 @@ pub fn extract_text_uinodes(
                 let rect = atlas.textures[index];
                 let atlas_size = Some(atlas.size);
 
-                let transform =
-                    Mat4::from_rotation_translation(transform.rotation, transform.translation)
-                        * Mat4::from_scale(transform.scale / scale_factor)
-                        * Mat4::from_translation(
-                            alignment_offset * scale_factor + text_glyph.position.extend(0.),
-                        );
+                // NOTE: Should match `bevy_text::text2d::extract_text2d_sprite`
+                let extracted_transform = global_transform.compute_matrix()
+                    * Mat4::from_scale(Vec3::splat(scale_factor.recip()))
+                    * Mat4::from_translation(
+                        alignment_offset * scale_factor + text_glyph.position.extend(0.),
+                    );
 
                 extracted_uinodes.uinodes.push(ExtractedUiNode {
-                    transform,
+                    transform: extracted_transform,
                     color,
                     rect,
                     image: texture,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/update.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/update.rs
index dbdef551c2da6b..05628555f1980b 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/update.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/update.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ fn update_clipping(
     let children_clip = match style.overflow {
         Overflow::Visible => clip,
         Overflow::Hidden => {
-            let node_center = global_transform.translation.truncate();
+            let node_center = global_transform.translation().truncate();
             let node_rect = Rect {
                 min: node_center - node.size / 2.,
                 max: node_center + node.size / 2.,
diff --git a/examples/ecs/iter_combinations.rs b/examples/ecs/iter_combinations.rs
index 73bc15519bbbae..b66f9148b33a1e 100644
--- a/examples/ecs/iter_combinations.rs
+++ b/examples/ecs/iter_combinations.rs
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ fn interact_bodies(mut query: Query<(&Mass, &GlobalTransform, &mut Acceleration)
     while let Some([(Mass(m1), transform1, mut acc1), (Mass(m2), transform2, mut acc2)]) =
         iter.fetch_next()
     {
-        let delta = transform2.translation - transform1.translation;
+        let delta = transform2.translation() - transform1.translation();
         let distance_sq: f32 = delta.length_squared();
 
         let f = GRAVITY_CONSTANT / distance_sq;
diff --git a/examples/tools/scene_viewer.rs b/examples/tools/scene_viewer.rs
index d62ca5ec1614ec..0bb91b35737122 100644
--- a/examples/tools/scene_viewer.rs
+++ b/examples/tools/scene_viewer.rs
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ fn setup_scene_after_load(
             // a Sphere, and then back to an Aabb to find the conservative min and max points.
             let sphere = Sphere {
                 center: Vec3A::from(transform.mul_vec3(Vec3::from(aabb.center))),
-                radius: (Vec3A::from(transform.scale) * aabb.half_extents).length(),
+                radius: transform.radius_vec3a(aabb.half_extents),
             };
             let aabb = Aabb::from(sphere);
             min = min.min(aabb.min());
diff --git a/examples/transforms/global_vs_local_translation.rs b/examples/transforms/global_vs_local_translation.rs
index 67377b4e67d5fb..815cdab22f4650 100644
--- a/examples/transforms/global_vs_local_translation.rs
+++ b/examples/transforms/global_vs_local_translation.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Illustrates the difference between direction of a translation in respect to local object or
 //! global object Transform.
 
-use bevy::prelude::*;
+use bevy::{math::Vec3A, prelude::*};
 
 // Define a marker for entities that should be changed via their global transform.
 #[derive(Component)]
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ fn move_cubes_according_to_global_transform(
     timer: Res<Time>,
 ) {
     for mut global_transform in &mut cubes {
-        global_transform.translation += direction.0 * timer.delta_seconds();
+        *global_transform.translation_mut() += Vec3A::from(direction.0) * timer.delta_seconds();
     }
 }