2023 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 featured rakish headlights framing a large, menacing grille, available in both sedan and hatchback body styles. While the sedan had conventional proportions, the hatchback boasted a daring and futuristic design, with rear angles curving up around the rear window and doors. Inside, the clean and futuristic design continued with a simple yet elegant cabin. The infotainment system rose organically from the dash, and the conventional shifter design was a welcome touch. The climate controls were easy to use, and the steering wheel, though cluttered with controls, had an elegant design.

Trim levels for the Mazda3 included the 2.5 S, Select, Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium, 2.5 Turbo, and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. Standard features on the 2.5 S included 16-inch alloy wheels, pushbutton start, keyless entry, two USB ports, and an 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, synthetic leather upholstery, moonroof, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat, and more. The top trim, 2.5 Turbo AWD Premium Plus, added reverse automatic emergency braking, surround-view parking monitoring, and other driver assistance features.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si, a sport-injected version of the Civic sedan, offered more performance and driving engagement than other Civic models. It featured LED headlights, a different upper grille insert, a gloss-black lip spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch wheels with a matte-black finish. Inside, the Civic Si was more expressive with red seat and door panel inserts, matching accents and stitching, a metal mesh strip hiding the dashboard air vents, gloss black surfaces, polished metal detailing, and simple digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system. Metal pedal covers and an aluminum shift knob added to the sporty feel.

The base price of the 2024 Honda Civic Si was $29,100, with our test car’s Blazing Orange Pearl paint adding $455 to the MSRP of $30,650. The Civic Si remained a stealth-mode sports sedan, adhering to the original styling formula of early pocket rockets, offering a blend of performance and practicality.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came with a base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engine, producing 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. It routed power to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, with AWD available. A manual transmission was also available on FWD Premium models. Our test model featured the optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel. The automatic transmission and AWD were standard with this engine.

The turbo engine emitted a fantastic sound, engaging drivers from the start. The Mazda3’s driving experience was enhanced by well-weighted steering, precise handling, and a balanced blend of precision and refinement. The Sport mode made the steering feedback more forceful and heavier, while the brake feel was akin to that of a hardcore sports car. The Mazda3’s handling was agile yet not punishing, soaking up bumps with ease. The tap-shift function for the automatic transmission was forward to downshift and back to upshift, mimicking race-car sequential shifters.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si was equipped with a high-output version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It paired with an exclusive close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with a downshift rev-matching feature. The drivetrain included a single-mass lightweight flywheel and a helical limited-slip differential, enhancing performance and driving engagement. Larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizer bars, and an Si-only dual-pinion variable-ratio steering system were standard, with 18-inch wheels and 235/50 Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires.

The Civic Si’s driving experience was characterized by its smooth engine, precise steering, and tenacious grip from the Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. The car was fun to drive, especially on twisty roads like Mulholland Highway. However, the braking system revealed a vibration due to overheating during hot testing weather, denting trust in the car. The Civic Si averaged 29.5 mpg on the testing route, close to the EPA’s estimate of 31 mpg in combined driving.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet. However, the rear seating area was cramped, with limited legroom and headroom, making it suitable for front-seat use only. The front seating area had a decently sized center console compartment, though the lid was frustrating to use. The Mazda3’s ergonomics and cupholders were helpful.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced performance with practicality. The sport-bolstered front seats were wrapped in cloth and held occupants securely in place. The manual driver’s seat height adjuster ensured a proper driving position, though entering and exiting the car required more effort due to its low stance. The Civic Si had single-zone automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, and a power sunroof, but lacked heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and rear-seat air conditioning vents and USB charging ports.

The Civic Si’s back seat was surprisingly roomy, with generous legroom and a supportive cushion. Storage space for the driver and front passenger was generous, though the bin under the center armrest was small. Cargo space was commendable at 14.4 cubic feet, with the ability to stow full-size suitcases on their sides. A standard 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for longer items, and hidden storage under the trunk’s floor added convenience.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came with an 8.8-inch infotainment display operated via a dial in the center console. The system was not a touchscreen, making menu navigation clumsy and unintuitive. The learning curve was steep, especially when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Mazda3 included two USB ports, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice control. Our test model had upgrades like navigation, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo system, which provided great sound and aesthetics.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, text-messaging support, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. Pairing an iPhone and using wireless Apple CarPlay was easy, and the system included a knob for stereo power and volume, buttons for tuning radio stations, and a Back button. Steering wheel controls allowed for volume adjustment and track selection. The 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio system sounded impressive, thanks to Honda’s collaboration with the audio component company during the Civic’s interior design stage.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, automatic cruise control, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive headlights, lane-departure warning, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the massive C-pillar created a significant blind spot, and the infotainment system’s layout posed a distraction and safety issue.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. The car also had a driver monitoring system, traffic sign recognition, and a rear seat reminder system. However, the lane-keeping assist and lane-centering assist were irksome, and the adaptive cruise control was not responsive to changing traffic conditions. The 2023 Honda Civic sedan earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.