2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a level of engineering excellence typically found in more expensive brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its small footprint. The sedan featured a sleek roofline similar to the coupe, with body panel creases and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over into 2020. The Civic Si sedan and coupe received new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and updated grilles and bumpers. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements like gloss-black trim and a pulsing red start button.

In contrast, the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, after its 2019 redesign, won the World Car Design of the Year for 2020. Its bodywork reflected a blend of drama and sophistication. The 4-door sedan was more conservative, while the 5-door hatchback had an aggressive, forward-leaning appearance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both body styles, featured all-wheel drive and a Premium Plus trim. The interior offered a choice of leatherette or Nappa leather, with the sedan providing black or white options. The high-contrast two-tone interior supported Mazda's premium aspirations, with quality materials and a driver-focused design. Despite some hard plastics, the cabin's design and execution were top-notch, making it feel like a legitimate entry-luxury car.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered four engines and two transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. The EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchback versions making 180 hp. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R boasted 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R came exclusively with a stick-shift. The Civic's engines were smooth and responsive, with the CVT performing well without hesitation. The Si offered a thrilling driving experience with adaptive dampers and precise steering, while the Type R was remarkably composed despite its power. The Si's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque with 93-octane fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft with 87-octane. It came with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbocharged powertrain added minimal weight but significantly improved performance, making the car feel smooth, predictable, and consistent. The Sport mode adjusted the transmission and G-Vectoring Control Plus software for better cornering. The Turbo model had stiffer front suspension springs and dampers, and 18-inch wheels with all-season tires. Despite lacking summer tires, the Mazda3 Turbo was delicately calibrated for maximum driving pleasure. During testing, it averaged 20.4 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg combined.

The 2020 Honda Civic's interior improvements included a volume knob and better cupholders. The hatchback had more sound insulation, and the EX hatchback featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, and the center console offered configurable storage. The Civic felt roomy for rear passengers, though it lacked rear air vents. The sedan's trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the coupe had 12 cubic feet. The hatchback offered 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior featured Nappa leather, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, it lacked front seat ventilation and rear-seat amenities like air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. In-cabin storage was adequate but limited, especially if opting for wireless smartphone charging. The sedan's trunk offered 13.2 cubic feet of space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with it folded down.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on all models except the base LX. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Garmin-based navigation on top trims. 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 blind spot, was also included. Automatic climate control and Honda Sensing, with active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams, were standard on all models.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured Mazda Connect, an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial of Mazda Connected Services. It included a WiFi hotspot and a MyMazda app for remote operations. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, and the voice-recognition technology was subpar. The system was paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which performed well with high-quality audio files. The Mazda3 Turbo also included an Active Driving Display (HUD) that remained visible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R. It received the top "Good" rating in all six crash tests and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in the passenger frontal crash test for the coupe.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured i-ActiveSense, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems designed to support the driver. It included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and an Adaptive Front Lighting System. The Premium Plus trim added a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Mazda3 earned top five-star ratings in all NHTSA assessments and retained its "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.