2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2021 Subaru Impreza

The 2021 Subaru Impreza showcased a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had featured bold styling elements like large round headlights and box fender flares. The current generation, while not immediately recognizable as a Subaru, still maintained a handsome appearance. Both the sedan and hatchback versions sported sleek headlights and taillights, giving an impression of width, and a nicely-tapered front end. The body sides featured some scalloping for visual flair, and the awkward wheel arch sheetmetal from the previous generation was toned down. The Impreza Sport models had specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while base models came with 16-inch steel wheels.

The Impreza was built on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other models like the Legacy, Outback, Forester, and Ascent. This platform contributed to the overall refinement of the vehicle. Inside, the design was typical of compact cars, with the infotainment touchscreen splitting the dashboard and the rest of the interior featuring various forms of plastic. The Impreza Sport had contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, after its 2019 redesign, won the World Car Design of the Year for 2020, thanks to its dramatic and sophisticated bodywork. The 4-door sedan was the more conservative version, while the 5-door hatchback had an aggressive, forward-leaning appearance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both body styles, included all-wheel drive and came in standard or Premium Plus trim. The base price for the sedan was $29,900, and $33,750 for the hatchback with Premium Plus trim. The test car, a sedan with Premium Plus trim and Machine Gray Metallic paint, was priced at $33,890, including the destination charge.

Interior options varied by trim level and body style, with standard black or greige leatherette, and Premium Plus offering Nappa leather. The hatchback had black and red leather options, while the sedan offered black or white. The test car's white leather interior looked and smelled luxurious, though it was prone to staining from dark blue jeans. The interior featured high-contrast two-tone design, bright metallic accents, and clear, legible gauges. Despite the use of hard plastic in the lower cabin, the design was driver-focused, with the asymmetrical Mazda Connect infotainment system blending into the dashboard.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine design allowed for a lower center of gravity. Most models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual was available on the base sedan and hatchback, and the Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also featured model-specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for the all-wheel-drive system.

The Impreza was a solid daily driver, offering a nice ride but lacking the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda3. The Sport's suspension tuning balanced ride quality and handling, with torque vectoring providing a neutral balance. However, the steering was noncommunicative, and the engine's power was modest, making it less of a driver's car compared to the WRX.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque with 93-octane fuel, or 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet with 87-octane. The turbo engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with Sport and Manual modes, and the i-Activ AWD system, which improved corner-exit capability. Non-turbo models could have either AWD or front-wheel drive.

The turbocharged powertrain added minimal weight but significantly boosted performance, transforming the driving experience. The engine and transmission were tuned for smooth, predictable, and consistent response, delivering impressive speed without the freneticism of typical high-powered compacts. Sport mode enhanced transmission shifts and G-Vectoring Control Plus for better turn-in during cornering. The 2.5 Turbo had stiffer front suspension springs and dampers, 18-inch wheels with all-season tires, and optional BBS forged aluminum wheels. Despite lacking summer tires, the car was finely calibrated for driving pleasure, with a torsion beam rear axle that didn't detract from the experience.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza offered reasonable legroom in both sedan and hatchback versions, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the smallest among compact sedans, but featured a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, more than the Mazda3 or Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim featured a six-way power driver’s seat and automatic climate control. A power moonroof was available on most trims.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior, lined in Nappa leather with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, felt luxurious. However, it lacked some premium features, such as ventilation for the front seats and air conditioning vents or USB charging ports for the rear seats. The driver’s seat had eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger seat did not. In-cabin storage was adequate but limited, and the optional wireless smartphone charging pad was inconveniently located at the bottom of the center console bin.

The sedan's trunk space was competitive at 13.2 cubic feet, while the hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with the seat folded down, providing more utility for those seeking a fun car with ample cargo space.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza's base and Premium trims featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth, while higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen. The top Limited trim offered an option package with TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant given the small LCD in the gauge cluster. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and minimal menu navigation required for important functions.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3's Mazda Connect infotainment system included an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial of Mazda Connected Services. A WiFi hotspot was available with a six-month or 2GB free trial, and the MyMazda app allowed remote operation of the car. However, the screen was not touch-sensitive, and the voice-recognition technology was subpar. Changing radio stations or skipping presets required using the center console control knob, which was cumbersome. The system was paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which included Audio Pilot road noise reduction and was designed for high-quality sound, though satellite radio performance was lacking.

The Mazda3 also featured an Active Driving Display (HUD) that remained visible with polarized sunglasses, showing speed, speed limits, and safety technology status.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award, with the highest “Good” scores in all crash tests. They missed the “Top Safety Pick+” award due to “Marginal” standard headlights, though the Limited trim's headlights received a “Good” rating. The NHTSA gave both body styles a five-star overall safety rating. Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT models, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights were available as options.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3's i-ActiveSense ADAS aimed to support rather than replace the driver. The system included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic high-beam LED headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting, and lane-centering assistance with Traffic Jam Assist. 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 ADAS operated smoothly, encouraging use rather than deactivation. The Mazda3 earned top five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests, and the 2020 IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating was expected to carry over.