2020 Lexus ES 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 stunning hatchback with clean panels, a sharply raked rear window, and sports-car-like taillights. The interior was equally impressive, featuring forward-positioned cupholders, clean and uncluttered spaces, and seamless technology integration. The driver and front passenger sat low and leaned back, with controls enveloping the driver, including a naturally positioned controller dial for the 8.8-inch MazdaConnect infotainment system. The Premium trims offered leather seats, a power moonroof, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights, with the manual transmission available only in these trims.

The 2020 Lexus ES, once labeled as "boring," evolved into a more aggressive-looking vehicle with a large spindle grille and thin taillamps. The cabin elegantly blended modern technology with soft-touch materials, featuring a large infotainment screen integrated into the dash. The ES 350 F Sport trim added unique design elements like a black mesh grille, dark window accents, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside, it had aluminum trim accents, unique heated and ventilated front bucket seats, and an exclusive Circuit Red color option. The ES offered trims like Luxury and Ultra Luxury, each adding upscale features such as perforated leather seats, woodgrain trim, and a hands-free power trunk.

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. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) and newly available all-wheel drive (AWD). The SkyActiv-G engine provided responsive acceleration, athletic handling, and a composed ride. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient being the FWD automatic sedan at 27 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The least efficient was the AWD hatchback at 24/32/27. Our test model achieved 28.2 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Lexus ES featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It accelerated from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds and had a top speed of 131 mph. The ES provided a comfortable and refined ride, with precise turn-ins and a suspension that absorbed bumps well. The F Sport trim offered an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with adjustable dampers and additional drive modes, including Sport+ for a more engaging driving experience. The ES was not a high-performance machine but provided confident acceleration and a smooth ride.

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 rear seats folded. The low and leaned-back seating position benefited front-seat passengers but made rear-seat accommodations tight, especially for taller occupants. The center console had a deep tray and a center bin, but the armrest/console cover design was criticized for its complexity.

The 2020 Lexus ES had a spacious cabin with ample head- and legroom in both rows. The front doors had deep pockets, and the center console featured multiple retractable panels for storage. The ES offered 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, mid-pack for the midsize luxury segment. However, the rear seats did not fold down, limiting cargo space for larger items.

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 provided excellent graphics, and the instrument panel had a fully digital center panel with customizable content.

The 2020 Lexus ES used the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlled by a touch-sensitive pad in the center console. The system included an 8-inch or available 12.3-inch display, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The ES also offered a 10-speaker premium audio system or an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system. The available head-up display provided crisp graphics and customization options.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 hatchback 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 auto-engage system for the parking brake was noted as unintuitive.

The 2020 Lexus ES came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and lane-tracing assist for limited semi-autonomous driving. The ES included a full array of airbags, traction control, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.