2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2020 Toyota Camry

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its reputation for reliability and value. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. The TRD model added red trim accents, including bright red seatbelts, enhancing its sporty appeal. Despite these improvements, the Camry remained a mainstream sedan with a starting price of $25,380, not quite reaching the luxury or sport sedan status.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, after its 2019 redesign, won the World Car Design of the Year for 2020. Its bodywork reflected drama and sophistication, with the 5-door hatchback adopting a more aggressive stance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both sedan and hatchback forms, featured all-wheel drive and a Premium Plus trim. The interior, especially in the Premium Plus trim, was lined with Nappa leather and featured high-contrast two-tone colors, metallic accents, and clear gauges, aiming to move Mazda into premium territory. Despite some use of hard plastics, the design and quality were impressive.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD or AWD, a 3.5-liter V6 with FWD, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 203 hp (206 in XSE trim) and was lighter, making the XSE trim nearly as fun to drive as the TRD. The AWD system, similar to that in the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's 184 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, improving traction without significantly impacting fuel economy. The FWD Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD, and 26 mpg for the V6 models.

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. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and Mazda's i-Activ AWD system, enhancing corner-exit capability. The turbocharged powertrain added only 120 pounds to the car, significantly boosting performance. The Mazda3 Turbo's driving experience was smooth, predictable, and consistent, with Sport mode enhancing transmission shifts and G-Vectoring Control Plus improving turn-in during cornering. The car's steering feel and response were improved, and it featured stiffer front suspension springs and dampers. Despite averaging 20.4 mpg during testing, the Mazda3 Turbo was a joy to drive, offering a natural and engaging driving character.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to drive, with most controls falling easily to hand. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room, but the rear seat had reduced legroom and overall passenger volume compared to competitors. The trunk space was 15.1 cubic feet, smaller than some rivals. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger space, although it required some modifications to the floor structure and fuel tank.

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

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto to its standard features, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system, while functional and quick to respond, felt dated with low-resolution graphics. The base models had a 7-inch screen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. A single USB-A port was available for phone use, with additional USB-A charging ports in the center console. Higher trims offered a 10-inch head-up display and a three-month trial of WiFi Connect.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial of Mazda Connected Services. The system was not touch-sensitive, relying on voice recognition and a control knob, which proved frustrating. The 12-speaker Bose premium sound system offered good audio quality, especially with FLAC files. The car also included an Active Driving Display (HUD) that remained visible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with Toyota Safety Sense, including a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as options. The Camry earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. There was one recall for leaking engine coolant affecting up to 44,191 cars.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured i-ActiveSense, designed to support rather than replace the driver. The system 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, parking sensors, low-speed reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Mazda3 earned top five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.