2017 Honda Civic vs 2017 Mazda3: Which is Best?

2017 Honda Civic sedan vs 2017 Mazda3 sedan exterior profile

The Honda Civic and Mazda3 go head-to-head as two of the most sporty and fresh compacts on the market. The Civic is hugely popular and was the second best-selling compact in America in 2016, outselling the Mazda3 by a roughly 4-to-1 margin. Both Honda and Mazda offer four-door sedan and five-door-hatchback variants, but Honda goes one up on Mazda by offering a two-door coupe, as well. With the reintroduction of the Si and the U.S. debut of the high-performance Type R, the Civic range is unparalleled.

The tenth generation Civic debuted in the 2016 model year, with a completely new platform. The Mazda3 entered its fourth generation in the 2014 model year and was refreshed for 2017, with notable changes to exterior styling and the addition of G-Vectoring Control.

Civic vs Mazda3: Pricing and Trim Levels

2017 Honda Civic sedan prices range from $18,740 through $26,660. It’s offered in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-T, EX-L, and the top-of-the-line Touring. Civic hatchback prices range from $19,700 through $28,300, with LX, Sport, EX, EX-L Navi, and Sport Touring trim levels offered. Civic Coupe prices range from $19,150 through $26,225, with LX, LX-P, EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trim levels. The 2017 Mazda3 starts at $17,845 for the four-door sedan and $19,095 for the five-door hatchback with pricing topping out at $24,195 and $24,945, respectively. There are three trim levels for the sedan: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. The hatchback adds a Touring 2.5 model. The 205 horsepower Civic Si Coupe and Sedan are due to be released in May. Pricing has not been announced but is expected to be in the mid-$20,000 range. The 306 HP 2.0-liter Civic Type-R will follow, with an MSRP the mid-thirties.

Civic vs Mazda3: Options

Honda offers limited options, choosing to progressively bundle features with the trim levels. The Honda Sensing safety package is an exception. Honda Sensing is standard on the higher trim levels and optional ($1,000) on the Civic EX, EX-T, and EX-L sedans. The Appearance package ($1,500) is offered across the Mazda3 range, with an aero kit that includes a black air dam, rear hatch spoiler, side sills, and a rear bumper skirt. You’ll need to step up to the Grand Touring to add the Premium package ($1,600) and iActiveSense package ($1,100). The Premium option package includes adaptive Bi-LED headlamps with auto-leveling, a heated steering wheel (with paddle shifters for automatic-equipped cars), and a navigation system. The iActiveSense option package includes Mazda’s suite of safety technology. The i-Eloop option package ($800) includes regenerative engine braking and active grille shutters for improved fuel economy.

Civic vs Mazda3: Powertrains and Efficiency

The 2017 Civic LX and EX sedans are fitted with a naturally aspirated 158 horsepower (HP) 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The LX is offered with a six-speed manual transmission, which is rated at 28 city / 40 highway. When equipped with the continuously variable transmission (CVT), the LX and EX are EPA rated at 31 city / 40 highway miles per gallon (MPG). The Civic EX-T, EX-L, and Touring sedans benefit from a 174 HP turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. The EX-T, EX-L, and Touring are EPA rated at 32 city / 42 highway MPG with the CVT. The EX-T can be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The Civic Hatchback Sport’s turbo 1.5L produces 180 HP. The 2017 Mazda3 Sport and Touring are equipped with a 155 HP 2.0-liter inline four cylinder Skyactiv engine. The 2.0L hatchback is rated at 27 city / 37 highway MPG with the six-speed manual and 28 city / 37 highway with the six-speed automatic. The Mazda3 Touring 2.5 and Grand Touring are fitted with a 184 HP 2.5-liter Skyactiv four. The 2.5L-equipped hatch carries an EPA rating of 257 city / 33 highway MPG with the six-speed manual and 26 city / 35 highway with the six-speed automatic

Civic vs Mazda3: Stand-out Features

It's all about infotainment these days, and the systems in the 2017 Civic and Mazda3 differ in two distinct ways. The Civic supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Mazda3 does not. The Civic’s infotainment system uses a traditional touchscreen, while the Mazda3 uses a jog wheel on the center console to reduce distraction. The Mazda3 also includes a heads-up display to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road. Both the Civic and Mazda3 offer high-end safety technology. Honda Sensing is standard on the top end models and is available in the LX and EX. It includes active lane keep, adaptive cruise control, and collision mitigation braking The Mazda3 Grand Touring’s i-ActiveSense option package includes active lane keep and adaptive cruise control. The Mazda3 2.5 Touring and Grand Touring include blind spot mirrors, smart city brake support as standard features.

Civic vs Mazda3: Exterior Design

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as the saying goes, and the 2017 Civic’s angular front fascia is polarizing. Some folks love the aggressive look, while others shun it. The upper and lower grille are nicely integrated with headlamps, but the gaping lower side grilles look oversized and are echoed at the rear of the car. The Mazda3, on the other hand, blends smoothly from nose to tail. Long gone is the goofy smile of years past, replaced with a handsome wide center grille that flows into the hood. The overall look is windswept. Let's put this one in the Mazda3’s win column.

Civic vs Mazda3: Interior Design

Both the Civic and Mazda3 cabins are crisply designed and well-trimmed at the top of their ranges, with cockpit-like configurations that deliver the feeling of flight. The bucket seats are nicely bolstered and seat heating is offered, with rear seat heating available in the high-end Civics. The Mazda3 is the more driver-focused of the two, with the center flat screen floating above the dashboard and a heads-up display directly in the driver’s line of sight. But the Civic’s instrumentation has a more modern and colorful design. The Mazda3’s monochrome side displays feel dated, by comparison. Both steering wheels are well designed with comprehensive controls. Tough to pick a clear winner in this category.

Civic vs Mazda3: Interior and Cargo Capacity

Sedan rear seat room is a close battle. The 2017 Civic sedan’s rear seat provides 36.8 inches of headroom (with a moonroof), 37.4 inches of leg room, and 55 inches of shoulder room, The Mazda3 sedan’s rear seat provides 36.7 inches of headroom (without a moonroof), 37.4 inches of leg room, and 53.9 inches of shoulder room. The 2017 Civic sedan wins on trunk space, with 15.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity (the Touring model is slightly less, at 14.7 cubic feet) vs 12.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity for the Mazda3 sedan.

Civic vs Mazda3: Safety Ratings

The Civic and Mazda3 are among the safest compacts on the road today. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the 2017 Honda Civic two-door coupe and four-door sedan a Top Safety Pick when equipped with optional front crash prevention technology. The Mazda3 is rated a IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with the optional front crash prevention and high-end LED headlamps. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Civic a five star rating, across the board. NHTSA rates the 2017 Mazda3 five stars overall, with four stars for rollover. Pick either one and you win.

Civic vs Mazda3: Performance

The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter Mazda3 and turbocharged 1.5-liter Civic are capable of 0-60 MPH times in the high-six to the mid-seven-second range, depending on the transmission and driver. As is often the case, it takes more skill to coax faster times out of the manual transmissions, but the Honda is the faster of the two. Traditionalists will likely prefer the Mazda3’s six-speed automatic over the Civic’s CVT. Both the Civic and Mazda3 deliver tight handling and a refined ride. These are solid little cars that are a joy to hustle through the twisty bits. The Mazda’s G-Vectoring control and superb manual shifter deliver a superior experience that transcends its price. While it may not be as fast, the Mazda3 feels remarkably balanced and precise, overall.

Alas, Mazda doesn't have an answer to the Civic Si or Type R. Yet.

Civic vs Mazda3: Which is Best?

The 2017 Honda Civic and Mazda3 are fuel efficient, fun to drive, versatile, and easy on the wallet. They offer attractive styling, both inside and out, with a host of technology. This is a tough purchase decision. Answering these key questions will help you decide which car to buy. Do you absolutely need Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? If so, you’ll lean towards the Civic. Do you prefer a naturally-aspirated engine, rather than a turbocharged power plant, or visa-versa? While the Mazda’s power delivery is more linear, the Honda’s turbo is slightly quicker. Do the Mazda3’s fluid design lines speak your language, or are you more tuned into the Civic’s angular approach? As always, the best way to decide is to test drive the cars back-to-back to determine which car fits you best.