2024 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced a bold new design language for BMW's luxury lineup, featuring a distinctive front-end with an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements. The LED accent lights, positioned where headlights typically go, gave the car a focused squint, while the actual headlights were recessed below, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. The design was initially polarizing, but over time, it became less jarring. The 7 Series offered two style themes: the M Sport with chrome accents and the M Sport Professional with a more aggressive blacked-out look. The profile maintained the classic 7 Series silhouette, though the black plastic door handles seemed out of place on lighter paint. Inside, the 7 Series boasted a modern, minimalistic interior with a horizontal layout, crystal-like accent strips, and a curved glass housing for the instrument panel and infotainment screen. The materials were of premium quality, with open-pore wood trims preferred over high-gloss options to avoid glare. The leather upholstery featured a faceted design, with the light gray cashmere wool-blend option adding a cozy feel. The rear seats exuded luxury, especially with the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package, which included a reclining seat and a theater screen.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3, despite its last redesign in 2019, looked remarkably modern with its swooping lines and sculpted bodywork, aligning it with luxury vehicles. The front featured squinting headlights with LED turn signals and stylish round lighting elements, adding to its dramatic and expensive appearance. Available in sedan and hatchback forms, the Mazda3 offered six trim levels for each body style. The hatchback was favored for its better looks and more usable storage space, with the S Premium trim providing superior appointments without needing a turbo engine upgrade. The test model, a 2024 Mazda3 Hatchback with Turbo Premium Plus trim, impressed with its material quality and value, especially when compared to luxury brands like Audi or BMW. The interior featured red leather upholstery, with leather trimmings extending across the doors and dashboard. The steering wheel and shift knob were wrapped in black leather, contributing to the car's beautifully designed and furnished driver’s seat.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two initial powertrains. The base 740i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The 760i xDrive upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The V8-powered 760i xDrive provided quick and fluid acceleration, with smooth gear changes and a soft brake pedal for easy modulation. The handling was sportier than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, offering a slightly stiffer ride but not intrusive. Sport mode enhanced cornering and steering responsiveness, appealing to performance-oriented drivers.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder for the Carbon Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus trims. The Turbo Premium Plus test vehicle delivered 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, providing a delightful driving experience. The intelligent AWD system managed traction well, though the car's low ground clearance made it less suitable for snowy conditions. Fuel economy varied by configuration, with the turbocharged powertrain achieving 23/31/26 mpg for the hatchback. The Mazda3 excelled on back roads, with tight and precise steering and minimal body roll. The chassis handled corners well, despite the torsion beam suspension, offering a stiff but enjoyable ride for enthusiastic drivers.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, which could be frustrating due to their sensitivity to nearby objects. Inside, the front seats were comfortable with ample adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seats were spacious, accommodating tall passengers, with an optional lounge seating package adding a reclining seat and massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen folded down from the panoramic sunroof, though its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk offered 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, larger than some competitors, with adequate interior storage for personal items.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with some rivals but less than the Honda Civic Hatchback. Total cargo space reached 47.1 cubic feet. Rear passenger space was limited, with tight legroom and headroom, making it uncomfortable for taller adults. The sedan provided 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space and similarly cramped rear quarters. The hatchback's design created significant blind spots, compounded by a small rear window and rear lip spoiler, resulting in poor rearward visibility.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series came with iDrive 8, featuring a touchscreen, central dial, and voice commands. While basic functions were easy to use, deeper menu navigation was complex. Voice controls helped mitigate this, though they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System provided excellent audio quality. The optional theater screen had inconsistent touchscreen inputs, with a missing remote control in the test vehicle. Overall, iDrive 8 felt less intuitive compared to previous versions and competitors' systems.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 featured a rotary controller for its infotainment system, which Mazda argued was safer than a touchscreen. The system required some acclimation but was better than other non-touchscreen solutions. The 2024 model introduced a 10.25-inch screen in top trims, with touchscreen functionality limited to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Standard features included wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and Mazda Connect with Wi-Fi, remote services, navigation, and roadside assistance. The Bose stereo in higher trims offered good sound quality. The system was well-featured, with the rotary controller being a highlight.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, which was common for luxury vehicles. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign reader, adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and safe exit warnings. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways, which performed well in testing, reducing driver fatigue on long trips.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 received five stars from NHTSA and was named a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go was standard, with the Turbo Premium Plus trim adding Cruising and Traffic Support for enhanced traffic management. While not hands-free, the system was effective in heavy traffic.