2020 Honda Civic vs 2019 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was one of the best-looking cars on the market, despite not being a sports or luxury car. Mazda designers created a dramatic design that captured attention, especially with the hatchback model. The clean rear quarter panel and sharply raked rear window flowing into sports-car-like taillights made the Mazda3 hatchback a head-turner. Inside, the Mazda3 continued to impress with a luxurious interior featuring clean, uncluttered spaces and seamless technology integration. The driver and front passenger sat low and leaned back, enhancing the sporty feel. The new 8.8-inch screen running the MazdaConnect infotainment system was seamlessly integrated into the dash, adding to the car's premium feel.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Civic was the crown jewel of Honda's lineup, offering a sharp design in three body styles: sedan, coupe, and hatchback. The sedan featured a svelte roofline, while the hatchback had a quirky tall rump. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over to 2020. The Civic Si sedan had new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and standard LED headlights. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements. The 2020 model introduced new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si trim.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower, paired with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available only with the automatic transmission. The SkyActiv-G engine provided responsive acceleration, athletic handling, and a composed ride. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient version being the FWD automatic sedan with the Premium package, returning 27 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The least efficient was the AWD hatchback, returning 24/32/27. Our test model achieved 28.2 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered four engines and two transmissions, all FWD. The base LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The EX and above trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 making 174 hp, with the hatchback versions in Sport or Sport Touring trims producing 180 hp. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp, while the Type R boasted 306 hp. The Si and Type R came exclusively with a manual transmission. Fuel economy for the Si was rated at 26 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined, while most CVT-equipped models achieved at least 30 mpg city and up to 42 mpg highway.

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 accommodations tight, especially for taller individuals. The center console had a deep tray and a center bin, but the design of the center armrest/console cover was less user-friendly.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured a more user-friendly interior with a volume knob, better cupholders, and more sound insulation in the hatchback. The EX hatchback had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel. The center console offered configurable storage with a deep bin and removable cupholders. Rear passengers enjoyed considerable room, though the lack of rear air vents was a drawback. The sedan's trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured an 8.8-inch screen running the MazdaConnect infotainment system with crisp graphics, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, the system was entirely remote-controlled, which some users might find less intuitive. The available head-up display and fully digital instrument panel added to the car's tech appeal.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, slow, and complex compared to newer Honda models. The 7-inch touchscreen, standard on all models except the base LX, included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch, a camera system for the right-side mirror, provided a live feed of the blind spot. Automatic climate control and Honda Sensing, with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control, were standard on all models.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3's base hatchback trim came standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and driver-attention alerts. However, these features were not standard on the base sedan trim.

The 2020 Honda Civic included Honda Sensing with forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned the Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.