Though the Honda Civic hatchbacks have a long list of compelling selling points, they are much more expensive than the Mazda 3 hatch. "Get ready to feel the rear end skitter and jump around the moment you go over uneven pavement," Ogbac said. Your transmission choices are a continuously variable automatic (CVT) or a slick-shifting six-speed manual. For consumers deciding between these two, it’s a matter of personal preference and priorities. The Mazda3 was the compact sedan we recommended. The 2020 Honda Civic is available as a coupe, sedan, and hatchback. We compare design, practicality, price, features, engine, transmission, fuel consumption, driving, safety & ownership of both models and give you our expert verdict. If you're cross-shopping between these two cars, you should also know that the Mazda has worse fuel economy numbers. Mazda 3 vs Honda Civic: The third-generation Mazda 3 was launched in the year 2013. However, they don’t feel cheap or chintzy, and overall quality increases as you move up the trim ladder. We also prefer it over the Mazda's six-speed, which showed some jerkiness at low driving speeds. Gale, however, still preferred LaneWatch over blind-spot monitoring. The Mazda3, however, is just a little nicer overall. The hatchback might look a bit too much like a Transformer for some drivers, but it certainly stands out and serves up plenty of functionality with a spacious … The few rivals that retail for more include other sporty and performance-oriented models such as the 2020 Volkswagen Golf, the 2020 Golf GTI, and the 2020 Subaru WRX. But only a couple of years later we saw new generations of the Civic, Elantra, and Chevrolet Cruze, and the Mazda3 lost its crown. Power gives is a two, while five is obviously the highest handed out. Copyright 2021 © U.S. News & World Report. These two vehicles come with similar engine choices. Although the cabin is mostly quiet in normal driving situations, when you step on the gas, you'll hear a good roar from the engine. Lane keep assist only intervened when the car had gone over the lane on the highway, and the adaptive cruise control left such a long following distance that we kept getting cut off. The Civic, on the other hand, continues to deliver on everything it promises. A full redesign for the 2019 model year brought several improvements in handling, the result of a stiffer chassis and a simpler torsion beam rear suspension to replace a multilink setup. The Mazda3 seats five people in both its sedan and hatchback variants. The Mazda3’s higher IIHS award and the Civic’s one four-star rating give the overall safety advantage to the former car. Its independent rear suspension tackles most road imperfections before you feel any vibrations in the cabin, and when the bumps are big, the springs and shocks get to work to keep cabin movement to a minimum. In the match between the Honda and Mazda, though, it’s the Civic that has a slight edge. Your best numbers with the latter car are up to 27 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, achieved by the sedan with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Mazda3 should be first on your list if you want deft handling or want to ride around in one of the most upscale small (but affordable) cars on the market. On the following slides, we compare these well-rounded rivals in the categories that matter most to car shoppers, using U.S. News Best Cars reviews and scoring data in a number of categories. The Civic is appealing for its trio of body styles, lower starting prices, and more performance-oriented trims. Not expected at this price point." However, in keeping with Mazda's long-running ethos of making fun-to-drive vehicles, the Mazda3 emerges as the slightly better pick. Both the Civic coupe and Civic hatchback with that powertrain combination return up to 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. Mazda and Honda diverge with their interiors, even when we're comparing both brands' top-of-the-line models. Both fuel tanks are small, but the Mazda 3’s wins that battle with a 14.5 gallon tank versus only 13.2 for the Civic. bird’s eye view of the Mazda 3 | Mazda. The carefully … The detailed car comparison of Honda Civic and Mazda 3 Sedan, based on price, specifications & other features is shown below. The Hiroshima-based brand took its compact a step above and made the design and interior much more premium. While the Mazda is solidly equipped as standard, the base Civic features a standard 5-inch display screen. Bryan Siwik | Cheaper hatchback. The Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic are both compact sedans. All body styles earned five stars in the side crash and rollover tests. Use our side by side comparison to help you make a decision. An all-wheel-drive Mazda3 hatch at its highest trim level is around $29,000. The Mazda 3 is available as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Performance When it comes to horsepower, the Honda Civic Si is somewhat more powerful than the Mazda Mazda3. See the 2020 Honda Civic models for sale near you The Mazda3 has two available body st… Its value, standard equipment, and interior space are superior to Mazda's, and it simply continues to be the best car in its class. This is understandably pretty simple, as there’s no touch capability and you instead just use physical buttons and controls for everything. Ratings Comparison: 2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 Toyota Corolla Altis vs 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan We’ve put the 2020 Honda Civic, 2020 Toyota Corolla Altis, as well as the 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan through the WapCar Ratings test. It’s still a mish-mash of origami lines and angles. Both the 2020 Honda Civic and 2020 Mazda3 received a predicted reliability rating of three out of five from J.D. For 2019, Honda made the Civic sleeker, adding updated headlights across the board and a black grille to the Touring model. The Mazda 3 is a compact sedan with an upscale cabin and sporty handling. There’s nothing dramatically new about the styling of the refreshed 2019 Civic. Both of these cars impress with a wide use of soft-touch surfaces, sleek designs, and overall pleasing cabin atmospheres. It came in fourth place in a follow-up comparison, losing to the three aforementioned sedans. Warranty The Honda Civic comes with essentially the same basic warranty as the Mazda Mazda3. All Civic models seat five, with the exception of the four-seat Type R. There’s plenty of legroom in the back, but headroom varies with body style. The updated engine made the compact sedan 0.1 second faster than the last Mazda3 we tested, getting from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Those figures apply to the sedan with the optional 174-horsepower turbo engine and automatic transmission. With the debut of the fourth generation for the 2019 model year, we decided to pit it against our current favorite and Big Test winner: the 2019 Honda Civic. A power-adjustable driver’s seat is available, but electric controls for the passenger aren’t to be found. During our drive, the lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control worked really well on the highway; the Civic kept a good distance between the car in front of us and read the lane marks correctly. Even straight from the factory, the Type R would look at home in a “Fast and the Furious” movie. Sometimes, though, cost-cutting can be evident in interior quality and the variety of materials used. Optional headlights in the Civic received a rating of Good. Mazda3 vs. Civic: People’s choice Mazda 3 The driver’s car of the compact class, the best thing about the 2021 Mazda3 is that it handles … Our Civic Touring had a price of $28,220. Both of these cars come with front-wheel drive. The new Mazda3 is here with a new trick up its sleeve: AWD, but is that enough to make it the best in the class? Civic Si and Type R models are further tailored to enthusiasts by only being available with a manual transmission. That distance, though, means it lacks touch functionality. The Mazda3’s standard headlights were rated Acceptable – the second-highest mark – which led it to be named a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 Civic an overall crash test rating of five out of five stars. The manual transmission also makes acceleration more engaging. The previous Mazda3's driving abilities made the vehicle one of our favorites. So, which is the better pick? Mazda 2 vs Mazda 3: A buyer's guide for Mazda's compact & subcompact cars; Auto brawl 101: Mazda 6 vs Honda Civic in the Philippines...while the Honda Civic RS Turbo, like it's exterior, has sharp aggressive lines. The final decision in this comparison wasn't difficult. March 16, 2020. To learn more about the Mazda3 and Honda Civic check out their individual reviews. Though the Civic’s base engine is relatively tame, it’s a trio of optional powertrains that give the compact Honda the win overall. Mazda3 trims above the base level all feature a rear-seat center armrest, which is a better use of that space than an additional passenger. Hatchback models are more squared-off, so they’re the best choice if you regularly carry people in the back seats. Safety Ratings The new Mazda 3 has stunning good looks. The sporty Civic Si coupe and sedan each carry a price of $25,200. The Civic also feels planted in the corners, showing low body roll and also providing a fun driving experience. The Civic has a fair share of harder plastics, which are more noticeable in lower trims. Your information will be collected and used in accordance with our  Privacy Policy. The front seats are welcoming, and have enough room around them to feel spacious. In 2014, it won a Big Test comparison against the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, and Toyota Corolla. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy ", On the other hand, although the Civic's infotainment is slow and looks a bit outdated, it's easier to control. All of that added luxury comes with a price: Our Mazda3 Premium package had a price tag of $29,415, or $1,195 more than our Civic Touring. Select configuration: LX CVT. While once the Civic was almost a default choice for a small import car, today other brands have upped their game to produce some excellent competitors. But only a … The current-generation Honda Civic might be the best-looking incarnation in the car’s long history and comes with three distinct body styles. A volume knob is "new" for 2019, returning after a three-year absence. The Honda Civic comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 158 horsepower. As of this writing, you can look at our comprehensive compact car rankings and see that the 2020 Civic and 2020 Mazda3 have excellent – and identical – overall scores. © 2021 MotorTrend | MOTOR TREND GROUP, LLC. At the track, the Civic showed slightly better numbers than the Mazda, getting from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and completing the quarter mile in 15.4 seconds at 90.8 mph (15.7 seconds at 90.3 mph for the Mazda3). "I do wish you could get a larger touchscreen because the 7.0-inch looks tiny next to the Mazda3's 8.8-inch display," Ogbac said. Declaring the Civic the overall winner is a result of it trumping the Mazda3 in more of the categories that we outline in this slideshow. Despite operating on a five-point scale, the lowest score that J.D. The Honda just got a slight facelift in 2019 to keep its look modern and competitive. This Mazda also has an edge in infotainment friendliness and usability. The winner in a matchup of fuel economy, by a longshot, is the Honda Civic. The Mazda3 was the compact sedan we recommended. Photo: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. / Mazda North American Operations, Photo: John M. Vincent / U.S. News & World Report. One of these marques is Mazda. Everything is well organized, and you can get to where you want easier. The sedan’s truncated rear end makes it look almost like the hatchback, so we’ll forgive you for not being able to tell the difference between the two right awa… Even the sedan’s roof is vaulted enough to encroach on head space for taller people. The Mazda3 has a head-up display and a bigger screen, and the display is located on top of the dashboard, making it easier for the driver to operate the screen without being distracted from the road. "Using a knob is really distracting, taking your concentration away from the road. Utility In terms of seating you'll be able to fit the same number of people in both the Honda Civic and the Mazda Mazda3. A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 174 horsepower (and 180 horses in select hatchback trims). At best, both of these models historically have around an “average” reputation for predicted reliability. In the match between the Honda and Mazda, though, it’s the Civic that has a slight edge. The 2020 Civic sedan starts at $20,650, compared to the Mazda3 sedan’s base price tag of $21,500. We also weren't in love with the 2.5-liter engine. The new Mazda3 is still fun to drive, but it doesn't have the same character it used to. Policy, 2020 Honda Civic vs. 2020 Mazda3: Head to Head. Quality comes from each vehicle’s overall U.S. News score, while value takes into account average new-car transaction prices and five-year ownership costs. "The upgraded audio system is pretty good, too, second best behind the Mazda's Bose unit.". The Civic’s current generation began with the 2016 model year – the most notable change for 2020 is a refreshed exterior for the hatchback version. The 2020 Mazda3 also comes in sedan and hatchback versions, and it’s one of few compact cars that you can get with all-wheel drive. You can upgrade to a 7-inch touch screen, which comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Neither the Honda Civic nor the Mazda3 has the best infotainment system because the former is slow to respond and the latter has a significant learning curve. In comparing the sedan versions of the Honda and the Mazda, the Civic still comes out on top. And lastly, the Mazda3’s air conditioning has an advantage over the Civic’s by having rear vents. In 2014, it won a Big Test comparison against the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, and Toyota Corolla. When you’re ready for your new car, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealer in your area with the lowest prices. The back seat feels tight, lacking both head- and legroom. Dive into the numbers and you’ll see that the Civic Hatchback is the winner. These cars have a similarly impressive list of standard active safety features, which includes automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assist. The new 3's dash, door panels, and seats are appointed with nice soft-touch leather. The Mazda has that premium design language that’s been spreading through the brand and it works really well on this compact. Use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find great deals and get upfront pricing on the. Ogbac, our resident infotainment-meister, described Mazda's system as "a step backward" for being a maze of menus. There’s a sedan, a sporty coupe and a roomy hatchback. Although our Mazda3 with the Premium package had these options, we weren't as pleased with the way they worked. You get real leather in the highest trim, which is luxury-like in its quality. It’s not the real thing, but still a welcome respite that adds a little class and comfort to your daily drive. On the other hand, the Civic felt pretty familiar with its punchy 1.5-liter turbo, which doesn't exert itself much to go uphill or merge onto the freeway. That’s due in no small part to their dialed-in handling, excellent steering response, and comfortable, composed ride qualities. Lows: Squishy … Not so with the Honda Civic and Mazda3. We prefer Mazda's 8.8-inch screen over Honda's 7.0-inch screen, but we'd rather have Honda's touch-controlled infotainment system than Mazda's rotary knob. SEE MORE 1. Even rear passengers get soft-touch plastics, something Honda doesn't offer. That mode’s trunk measures 15.1 cubic feet, compared to 13.2 cubic feet in the Mazda3 sedan. The Honda Civic is available as a four-door sedan, a two-door coupe and a five-door hatchback. Fortunately, both engines pack a punch, with the 2015 Honda Civic kicking out 143 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque and the Mazda 3's engine generating 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission sends all the power to the front wheels. The Civic and Mazda3 earn some of the best overall performance scores in the compact car segment. The Honda Civic priced at RM 109,326 - RM 134,661 while the Mazda 3 Sedan car has a price tag of RM 137,660 - … Customers get adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and other additional techs. 2019 Toyota Corolla. 2021 Mazda 3 vs 2021 Honda Civic . Admittedly, the Civic is louder than the Mazda3 and can feel less refined as well. But one thing we missed on the Civic was blind-spot monitoring; the Honda still uses the outdated LaneWatch, which displays a camera view of the car's right side on the infotainment screen when the right turning signal is on. For 2019, every Civic comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety technologies suite. You get around 12 cubic feet of space in a Civic coupe.