2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2021 Honda Civic

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, following its 2019 redesign, continued to impress with its award-winning design. The sedan version, which we tested, showcased a blend of drama and sophistication, with its sleek bodywork and refined details. The interior, especially in the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim, exuded a premium feel with its white Nappa leather and high-contrast two-tone design. Despite some use of hard plastics, the overall quality and attention to detail were evident, making it a legitimate entry-luxury car.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Civic, while still a strong contender in the compact car segment, showed signs of aging in its design. The Touring sedan we tested featured a striking Cosmic Blue Metallic paint and 18-inch wheels, giving it a handsome appearance. However, the interior, though roomy and practical, lacked the dramatic flair of its earlier years. The infotainment system, with its 7-inch screen, felt outdated, but the cabin materials and thoughtful detailing maintained the Civic's reputation for quality.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo stood out with its turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. Even with 87-octane, it produced 227 hp and 310 lb-ft. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and i-Activ AWD, the Mazda3 Turbo offered a smooth, predictable, and exhilarating driving experience. The car's dynamic tuning, including stiffer front suspension springs and improved steering feel, made it a joy to drive on twisty roads. However, our test drive yielded an average of 20.4 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg.

The 2021 Honda Civic, available with a 2.0-liter engine producing 158 hp or a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with 174 hp, offered a more modest performance. The turbo engine, standard on higher trims, provided sufficient power and a satisfying driving experience, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) detracted from the overall driving pleasure, with its droning and lack of responsiveness. Despite this, the Civic excelled in fuel economy, averaging 34.8 mpg on our test loop, surpassing the EPA estimate of 33 mpg.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior, lined with Nappa leather and equipped with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, felt luxurious. However, it lacked some premium features like ventilated seats and rear-seat amenities such as air conditioning vents and USB ports. Storage space was adequate, but the trunk offered a competitive 13.2 cubic feet. The hatchback version provided more utility with 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with it folded down.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan, though low to the ground, offered a comfortable and spacious interior. The driver's seat featured eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats provided excellent thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle, though rear air vents were missing. The center console offered remarkable storage space, and the trunk was generous at 15.1 cubic feet, slightly reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

Mazda Connect, the infotainment system in the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, featured an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial of Mazda Connected Services. However, the lack of a touchscreen and subpar voice-recognition technology were significant drawbacks. The 12-speaker Bose premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality, especially with FLAC files, but struggled with satellite radio. The Active Driving Display (HUD) was a useful feature, showing speed, speed limits, and safety technology status.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology felt dated, especially in the lower trims. The LX trim offered a basic 5-inch LCD screen, while the Sport trim upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an eight-speaker sound system. Higher trims added features like HD Radio, SiriusXM, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Touring trim's voice recognition system was unsophisticated, and the premium sound system was decent but not exceptional.

Mazda's i-ActiveSense safety suite in the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 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 high-definition 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 NHTSA crash tests and was expected to retain its IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2021 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The EX trim and above featured LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system. However, the Civic lacked a traditional radar-based blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert. Despite these shortcomings, the Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.