2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Mazda MAZDA3

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, along with a nicely-tapered front end. The body sides featured some scalloping for visual flair, and the previously awkward wheel arch sheet metal 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 interior design was typical for compact cars, with a split dashboard housing the infotainment touchscreen and various forms of plastic throughout. The Impreza Sport added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the top-tier Impreza Limited featured standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued with its four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, offering a range of models from the affordable Mazda3 2.0 to the speedy Mazda3 2.5 Turbo. The 2.5 S lineup provided the most variety, with five trim levels and a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The 2.5 S Premium hatchback was the only model offering a six-speed manual transmission. Prices ranged from $20,800 to $34,400, excluding the $1,015 destination charge. The top-of-the-line 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus hatchback, with extra-cost Polymetal Gray Metallic paint, had an MSRP of $35,810. The Mazda3's appearance, with its deeply sculpted flanks, was not universally appealing, but it had a certain artistry. The interior featured refined materials and sophisticated design, with polished metallic finishes creating an upscale, elegant environment. The Mazda3 was seen as a more cost-effective alternative to entry-level luxury cars, offering more value except in perceived cachet.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This Subaru-signature boxer engine allowed for a lower center of gravity. Most models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual transmission was available on the base sedan and hatchback, and the Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport model also featured specific suspension tuning and a torque vectoring system for the AWD. The Impreza was a solid and refined daily driver, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda3. The Impreza Sport's suspension provided a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the steering was noncommunicative, and the engine's power was relatively modest.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 offered a range of engine options. The base 2.0 sedan had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, focusing on fuel economy with 31 mpg combined. The popular 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission and optional AWD. The 2.5 S Premium hatchback offered a six-speed manual transmission. Fuel economy for the 2.5 S ranged from 27 to 30 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo model had a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with power output varying based on fuel type: 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque with 87-octane gas, or 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet with 93-octane fuel. The Turbo achieved 26-27 mpg combined. The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo was a fun car to drive, with smooth power delivery, nimble handling, and excellent balance. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during intense driving, suggesting a need for an upgrade.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza hatchback and sedan offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least 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 as an option.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 had a low seating position, making entry and exit challenging, especially with small door openings. Once inside, the front seats provided a snug but comfortable fit, with most versions offering an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats. The interior featured user-friendly controls, except for the Mazda Connect infotainment system. The back seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom for taller passengers and no rear air conditioning vents or USB ports. Storage space was adequate, with large door panel bins, a big glove compartment, and a sizable center console bin. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth on the base and Premium trims, 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 housed in a hood over the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant with the small LCD display in the gauge cluster. The infotainment system was easy to use, with large touchscreen icons and minimal menu digging for important functions.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 came with the Mazda Connect infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch static display integrated into the dashboard and primary controls on the center console. Steering wheel controls and a voice recognition system were also included. Mazda avoided touchscreens, believing them to be distracting, but the lack of a physical tuning function and a cumbersome voice recognition system were drawbacks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could mitigate some of these issues. Mazda Connected Services, complimentary for three years, provided remote access to vehicle functions via a smartphone app, including remote engine starting and a car finder function. An eight-speaker audio system was standard, with a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system available on higher trims. An Active Driving Display projected data onto the windshield, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award, with the highest “Good” score in all crash tests. It missed the “Top Safety Pick+” award due to “Marginal” standard headlights, though the Limited trim’s headlights received a “Good” rating. The NHTSA gave the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating. Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped 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 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 excelled in safety, with standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.