2019 Honda Civic vs 2019 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as striking as the Mazda3, still offered a refined and upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels, giving it a graceful silhouette reminiscent of an Audi A7. The Touring-trim test car boasted chrome door handles and LED headlights that resembled tiny crystals, adding to its appeal. The Civic Hatchback, with its tall and aggressive rear end, and the Coupe model, provided unique paint options that stood out in traffic. Inside, the Civic maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen and minimal buttons, offering a high-quality fit and finish despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

In contrast, the 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was one of the best-looking cars on the market, with a design that rivaled luxury vehicles. The hatchback version, in particular, showcased the designers' creativity with its clean paneling and sports-car-like taillights. Inside, the Mazda3's interior was a testament to Mazda's attention to detail, with a dramatic layout and seamless integration of technology. The driver and front passenger enjoyed a low, sports-car-like seating position, with controls enveloping the driver. The Mazda3's interior, especially in the Premium trims, exuded luxury with features like leather seats and a head-up display, making it feel like a more expensive car.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines, starting with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque for the LX and Sport sedans and coupes. The EX and above trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a CVT. The hatchback exclusively used the turbo engine, delivering 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport. The Si and Type R models took performance to another level, with the Si's 1.5-liter engine producing 205 hp and the Type R's 2.0-liter engine delivering a staggering 306 hp. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering better mid-range acceleration. The Civic's handling was superb, with excellent steering feel and a suspension that balanced comfort and sportiness.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower, available with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The introduction of AWD was a significant addition, although it was only available with the automatic transmission. The SkyActiv-G engine provided responsive acceleration and athletic handling, making the Mazda3 a joy to drive. The car's composed ride and cornering ability were impressive, appealing to both commuters and driving enthusiasts. The Mazda3's fuel efficiency varied, with the most efficient version being the FWD automatic sedan with the Premium package, achieving 27 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The AWD hatchback was the least efficient, returning 24/32/27 mpg.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, improving usability. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display, offering quick access to various functions. The rear seat provided ample space, with optional heated outboard seats, although air vents were absent. The sedan's trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback provided up to 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The center console offered versatile storage options, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan offered 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The low, sports-car-like seating position benefited front-seat passengers but made rear-seat headroom tight. The center console featured a deep tray and a center bin, although the armrest design was criticized. The Mazda3's interior was comfortable for daily commuting, but those needing more cargo space might consider alternatives like the Kia Soul.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while once impressive, had become dated compared to newer Honda models. However, it still offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo. Honda's LaneWatch feature provided a live feed of the blind spot, enhancing safety.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured an 8.8-inch screen running the MazdaConnect infotainment system, with crisp graphics and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was entirely remote-controlled, which some users might find less intuitive. The test model included a head-up display and a digital instrument panel, adding to the car's luxury feel.

The 2019 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing as standard on most trims, offering forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rating for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3's base hatchback trim included Mazda's i-Activsense suite, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, these features were not standard on the base sedan trim. The hatchback's large C-pillars created blind spots, and the auto-engage parking brake system was not intuitive.