2024 Toyota Prius vs 2023 Mazda MAZDA3

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 straightforward, and the steering wheel, though cluttered with controls, had an elegant design.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Prius retained its familiar wedge-shaped profile but introduced distinctive and appealing styling, especially in the XLE and Limited trims with their 19-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Prius remained quirky, with the instrumentation moving from the center of the dashboard to in front of the driver. The digital panel was close to the windshield, which could be partially obscured depending on the seat and steering wheel position. Hard plastic materials dominated the interior, leading to creaks and squeaks, and the padding was thin in areas where comfort was expected.

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, with a six-speed automatic transmission and optional AWD. A manual transmission was available for FWD Premium models. The test model featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel. The turbo engine provided a fantastic sound and engaging driving experience, with well-weighted steering and impressive handling. Sport mode enhanced the driving dynamics, making the steering feedback more forceful and the brake feel akin to a sports car.

The 2024 Toyota Prius, redesigned in 2023, offered a significant power boost. The hybrid system combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an 83-kilowatt electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, producing 194 hp with FWD and 196 hp with AWD. The Prius accelerated to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds with FWD and seven seconds flat with AWD. The LE trim was the most fuel-efficient, achieving 57 mpg combined (54 mpg with AWD), while the XLE and Limited trims offered 52 mpg (49 mpg with AWD). The Prius provided a more enjoyable driving experience than previous models, though the steering felt artificial, and the CVT could groan under hard acceleration.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback provided 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's design was frustrating. The ergonomics and cupholders were helpful.

The 2024 Toyota Prius's interior felt snug due to its dramatic exterior styling. The driver’s seat was comfortable, but the 7-inch digital instrumentation panel was too small and crammed with data. The rear seats were cramped but comfortable for two passengers. The Prius offered 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the XLE and Limited trims (23.8 cubic feet for the LE). However, with the cargo cover in place, it could only accommodate two full-size suitcases. The optional digital rearview mirror provided a 180-degree panoramic view when the cargo hold was packed.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came with an 8.8-inch infotainment display operated via a dial in the center console, which was a major weak spot. The menu navigation was clumsy, and the learning curve was steep. The standard features included two USB ports, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice control. The test model had upgrades like navigation, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo system, which provided great sound quality.

The 2024 Toyota Prius featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system with an 8-inch (LE/XLE) or 12.3-inch (Limited) touchscreen display. It included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and various connected services plans. The Limited trim offered an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system, which was bass-heavy but left something to be desired. The Limited trim also provided a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a semi-autonomous parking assistance system.

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. The Select trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Turbo Premium Plus included 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 presented a safety issue.

The 2024 Toyota Prius included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. TSS 3.0 featured adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a road sign recognition system. The Prius earned high crash-test ratings, with five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.