10 Top Competitors of the 2019 Mazda Mazda3

2018 mazda 3 sedan compact car ・ Photo by Mazda

The compact 2019 Mazda Mazda3 is available as both a four-door sedan (starting at $18,095) and a five-door hatchback (starting at $19,345). While on paper it might seem down on power compared to its competitors, it’s quite frugal with a combined fuel economy rating of up to 32 mpg. And while the Mazda3 is not necessarily quick in a straight line, it's still considerably fun to drive.

The Mazda is a good car but there are many alternatives, some good and some bad. Thankfully if you’re in the market for a compact car, the editors at Autobytel have created a list of 10 top Mazda3 competitors to consider. Read on to discover if the Mazda3 really is the best option for you.

2019 Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 is a little bit smaller than the Mazda3 (especially when it comes to front seat headroom, rear seat legroom, and the cargo area), but with a starting price of $20,390, it’s just $1,045 more than a five-door Mazda3 but with the option of all-wheel drive (for an extra $1,400).

At 31 mpg combined (or 29 mpg in AWD models), the CX-3 almost matches the Mazda3 in fuel economy, and it’s nearly as fun to drive, too. Unfortunately the tradeoff is a bit less power and the lack of a manual transmission. All-wheel drive versions aren’t meant for off-road use, but the system works well enough in slippery conditions.

Photo by Mazda

2019 Kia Forte

The Kia Forte is new for 2019, and the first things you’ll notice are its new better-looking exterior and upscale interior, both of which are major improvements over the outgoing version. Despite its looks, the Forte isn’t particularly sporty with meager power from its efficient Atkinson-cycle engine that returns up to 35 mpg combined.

The ride isn’t especially comfortable and the interior is a bit loud compared to some of its competitors, but everything is easy to use and there’s plenty of front seat and luggage room. Starting at $17,690 with a fair amount of standard equipment, the Kia Forte might be perfect if you’re looking for reasonably comfortable transportation at a fairly affordable price.

Photo by Jeff Zurschmeide

2018 Hyundai Elantra

With a starting price of just $16,950 before incentives, the Hyundai Elantra is one of the cheapest cars on our list of 10 Mazda3 competitors to consider. Base models are rated 29 mpg combined with the manual transmission, and 33 mpg with the automatic, but some models are rated up to 35 mpg.

The exterior is one of the most stylish in the class, and the interior is well designed and nice other than a few harder plastics here and there. The front seats are comfortable, but the rear is a bit small compared to some rivals. The ride is quite comfortable, but unlike the Mazda3, the Elantra’s handling isn’t sporty, with vague steering.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is getting a bit dated these days, and rumor has it that this generation will be the last before Ford transitions the Focus name to a crossover, as it plans on eliminating nearly all of its traditional cars in the coming years. Still, the Focus offers an attractive exterior and fairly good handling at a starting price of $17,950 for a sedan and $20,540 for a hatchback.

Downsides include a small interior and an engine selection that isn’t particularly powerful (aside from the more expensive and much more entertaining ST and RS models, that is). The manual turbocharged three-cylinder version is fairly economical with a combined rating of 34 mpg, but most other versions use considerably more fuel.

Photo by Ford

2019 Honda Fit

Though categorized as a subcompact, the Fit makes the most of its svelte dimensions and offers an impressive amount of interior space. It has front seat space that’s comparable to the Mazda3 and a cargo area almost as big as the five-door Mazda3, though with a smaller rear seat.

Fuel economy at up to 36 mpg combined also is quite good for our list, but not exceptional considering its size. Handling is quite good, but the Fit could use a bit more power and it never feels particularly fun, even with the manual transmission. With a starting price of just $16,190 (the lowest on our list), it is, however, quite a bargain considering all the utility it offers.

Photo by Honda

2019 Chevrolet Cruze

Whether you go for the sedan (with a starting price of $17,850) or the hatchback (starting at $22,195), the Chevrolet Cruze is the perfect small car for road trips or long commutes, especially when equipped with the available diesel engine. The diesel lets you drive well over 600 miles without refueling, though it does bump the price up considerably.

The ride is good, the interior is quiet and comfortable, there’s plenty of storage space, and it comes with a good infotainment system and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Cruze isn’t sporty and none of the available engines are particularly powerful, but even the base engine returns a relatively frugal 32 mpg combined.

Photo by Chevrolet

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback is all new for 2019 (with the sedan following shortly behind it), and the new model features an attractive and sporty design. The interior is sleek and modern, and even base versions use rather nice materials. Though its engine isn’t particularly powerful, it is considerably up on power compared to the previous version.

The new Corolla Hatchback offers some unique features, including a six-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matching. The ride is firmer than you’d expect from a Corolla (but still quite comfortable), the handling is surprisingly good (though still not quite as good as the best in the class), and the Corolla Hatchback now actually is fun to drive.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2018 Hyundai Ioniq

The Hyundai Ioniq is an attractive and almost regular-looking hybrid with a combined fuel economy rating of up to 58 mpg that you can buy starting at only $22,200. It also drives pretty much like a normal car and has decent handling and acceleration, making it one of the more entertaining hybrids to drive (though it isn’t sporty or quick by any stretch of the imagination).

The Ioniq has a pleasant and comfortable interior that makes use of sustainable eco-friendly materials. The ride is quiet and comfortable, and there’s a good amount of room in the front, though the rear is a bit tight. If you’re looking for a greener alternative to the Mazda3, the Ioniq is hard to beat.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf always has been near the top of the compact car class, especially for those looking for a bit of fun and sophistication in a reasonably affordable car. Starting at $20,910, you get the most recent take on the traditional Golf styling, lots of storage and cargo space, and a very nice interior. Handling is good, and combined with the engine’s power, it makes the Golf predictably fun to drive, while ride quality is firm but comfortable.

The main downside of the Golf (other than the fact that it isn’t a GTI or Golf R) is its fuel economy, where the best version is rated at an unremarkable 29 mpg combined.

Photo by Volkswagen

2018 Honda Civic

Starting at $18,940 for a sedan, $19,350 for a coupe, and $20,150 for a hatchback, the Honda Civic is available in a model that’s right for just about anyone (as long as they like the Civic’s somewhat exuberant looks). The engines are smooth, powerful and economical (with the best models reaching 36 mpg combined), and all models are fun to drive, with a good balance between ride and handling.

The interior is nice, even in low-end versions, but two of the only cracks in the Civic’s armor are the level of interior noise (which seems louder than in some of the competition), and the difficult infotainment system (which should be updated as part of a refresh expected in the next year).

Photo by Honda