2023 Toyota Prius vs 2024 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous utilitarian image for a more stylish and modern appearance. This redesign was a response to increasing competition from electric and hybrid vehicles, prompting Toyota to create a car that was both efficient and visually appealing. The new Prius featured a sleek exterior with a blend of curves and edges, giving it a futuristic look while maintaining appeal for traditional buyers. The car's dimensions were altered, making it longer, lower, and wider, which improved handling and gave it a more athletic stance. Inside, the Prius offered a high-quality feel with top-notch materials and a solid build, moving away from the economy car vibe of its predecessors. The cabin was functional, with a pair of screens for the driver, although it lacked decorative elements to add warmth.

In contrast, the 2024 Mazda MAZDA3, despite its last redesign in 2019, maintained a modern and luxurious appearance. Its swooping lines and sculpted bodywork allowed it to stand alongside luxury vehicles, aligning with Mazda's aspirations. The car's design featured squinting headlights with LED elements, adding to its dramatic and expensive look. Available in both sedan and hatchback forms, the Mazda3 offered multiple trim levels, with the hatchback being the more attractive option due to its better storage space and appointments. The Turbo Premium Plus trim, priced at $38,210, impressed with its material quality and value compared to luxury brands. The interior boasted red leather upholstery, leather trimmings, and a well-designed driver's seat, creating a beautifully furnished environment.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an upgrade from the previous 1.8-liter unit. This engine, combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, delivered 194 horsepower in front-wheel-drive models and 196 horsepower in all-wheel-drive models, a significant increase from the previous 121 horsepower. The continuously variable automatic transmission provided smooth acceleration, making the Prius feel more athletic and responsive. The 0-60 mph time improved to 7.1 seconds from the previous 10.5 seconds. While road and wind noise were well-isolated, the engine's noise became noticeable during hard acceleration. The revised suspension and longer wheelbase contributed to agile handling, although the brakes had a slight squishiness typical of hybrids.

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 with 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo Premium Plus trim, with its turbo engine, provided an exhilarating driving experience. The car's intelligent all-wheel-drive system managed traction effectively, although its low ground clearance made it less suitable for snowy conditions. Fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain and engine choice, with the turbocharged model achieving 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The Mazda3 excelled on back roads, with precise steering and minimal body roll, offering a more engaging driving experience compared to its competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, despite its larger exterior, had a slightly smaller interior compared to its predecessor. Headroom decreased in both front and rear seats, but legroom improved, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The optional fixed glass roof on the XLE trim enhanced the cabin's openness, although it didn't open for airflow. Cargo space decreased to 20 cubic feet on XLE and Limited models and 24 cubic feet on the LE. The cabin featured practical touches like cupholders, a wireless charging pocket, and USB-C ports. The cargo area had small underfloor storage cubbies and a flexible cargo cover for added convenience.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3, while visually appealing, sacrificed practicality for style. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with some rivals but less than others. Rear passenger space was limited, with tight legroom and headroom, making it uncomfortable for taller adults. The sedan's trunk space was only 13.2 cubic feet, and rear visibility was compromised by the hatchback's design. The beautiful bodywork created significant blind spots, and the rear window and lip spoiler further hindered rearward visibility.

The 2023 Toyota Prius came with an 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment system on the base LE and mid-grade XLE models, with an optional 12.3-inch screen on the XLE and standard on the Limited trim. The larger screen was recommended for its responsiveness and intuitive menus. The navigation system required a subscription to Toyota's Drive Connect for real-time updates. All models featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, although it was criticized for being too busy. The Prius offered six USB-C ports, wireless smartphone charging on XLE and Limited trims, and an AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription. Additional subscription-based connectivity bundles included Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Drive Connect.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 featured a rotary controller for its infotainment system, a departure from the touchscreen interfaces used by most automakers. While the rotary dial had a learning curve, it was considered safer as it allowed drivers to operate it by feel. The system became easier to use once personalized, with key points of interest and favorite radio stations set. The top two trims received a new 10.25-inch screen, offering touchscreen functionality only with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Wireless connectivity for these systems was standard on higher trims, along with a wireless charging pad. The Mazda Connect system included Wi-Fi, remote services, navigation, and roadside assistance. The Bose stereo in higher trims was praised for its sound quality.

The 2023 Toyota Prius was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of active safety features including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure alerts, lane-tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. These features were standard across all trims. The Proactive Driving Assist impressed with its minimal intrusion, resembling regenerative braking in EVs. The system could be disabled for those preferring a traditional driving experience. Additional safety features included stability control, traction control, eight airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The Limited trim offered an optional hands-free automatic parallel parking feature. The Prius had not yet been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 received five stars from NHTSA and was named a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS, indicating excellent crash test performance. 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 also standard, with the Turbo Premium Plus trim adding Cruising and Traffic Support for enhanced traffic management. While not a hands-off system, it effectively assisted in heavy traffic situations.