2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, following its 2019 redesign, continued to impress with its award-winning design. The sedan version, which was tested, showcased a blend of drama and sophistication, while the hatchback variant, though not tested, was noted for its aggressive stance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both body styles, featured all-wheel drive and a range of trims, with the Premium Plus trim offering luxurious touches like Nappa leather. Despite some use of hard plastics, the interior design was driver-centric, with a focus on quality and attention to detail.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, though subtly redesigned, maintained its classic GTI look with a longer and lower body. The new model featured a honeycomb-patterned air intake and signature red accent line, with optional LED light bars adding drama. Aerodynamic improvements were made, and the GTI came with red brake calipers and varying wheel sizes depending on the trim. The interior offered plaid cloth seats as standard, with leather options available, and retained the iconic golf-ball shifter knob for manual transmission models.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower with 93-octane fuel and 227 horsepower with 87-octane. The engine delivered 320 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm with premium fuel and 310 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm with regular fuel. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, the Mazda3 Turbo offered a smooth and predictable driving experience. The car's performance was enhanced by stiffer front suspension springs and dampers, and it featured 18-inch wheels with all-season tires. Despite its sporty nature, the Mazda3 Turbo averaged 20.4 mpg during testing, below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, produced 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque at 1,750 rpm. The engine was paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, both driving the front wheels. The GTI's retuned suspension and various drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, and Sport, contributed to its agile handling. The top-tier Autobahn trim featured adaptive damping, capable of 200 adjustments per second. The GTI's fuel economy was estimated at 24 mpg city, 34 highway, and 28 combined with the manual transmission, slightly higher with the automatic.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior, lined with Nappa leather and equipped with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, exuded luxury. 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, with a trunk capacity of 13.2 cubic feet. The hatchback variant offered more utility with 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI balanced performance and practicality with 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 34.5 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The driver-centric interior featured a center stack angled towards the driver and a unique "light and sight" panel for adjusting headlights and defogging settings. Rear-seat legroom was surprisingly generous, making the GTI suitable for family use.

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. However, the lack of a touchscreen and subpar voice-recognition technology were notable drawbacks. The system was paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which performed well with high-quality audio files but struggled with satellite radio. The car also included a useful head-up display showing speed, speed limits, and safety technology status.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI boasted a fully digital 10.25-inch driver information display, customizable with various gauge layouts and colors. The infotainment system featured an 8.25-inch touchscreen in the S trim and a 10-inch screen with navigation in higher trims. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system in the SE and Autobahn trims. However, the touch-capacitive volume and climate controls were less user-friendly. Volkswagen's Car-Net system offered various remote access and safety features, some at additional costs.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3's i-ActiveSense suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) aimed to support rather than replace the driver. Features 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 in NHTSA crash tests and was expected to retain its IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI's IQ.Drive system provided a range of ADAS, including Travel Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist for semi-autonomous driving. Other features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear traffic alert. However, IQ.Drive was only available on automatic GTIs. All trims featured Park Distance Control, with the Autobahn trim adding Park Assist for automatic parking. As a new model, the GTI had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.