2025 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2025 Toyota Corolla

Last redesigned for the 2019 model year, the Mazda 3 is getting old, yet aging gracefully. It still looks, feels, and drives better than some of its rivals. For 2025, Mazda adds value to the lineup, introducing a new base version of the 2.5 S. Moving one rung up the trim level ladder, the 2.5 S Select Sport gets Amazon Alexa Built-in for 2025, while the Premium and Premium Plus gain a cloud-based navigation system.

Verdict: Available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, there is a Mazda 3 to suit nearly anyone. Basic or upscale, turbocharged or not, and with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), the common threads across all Mazda 3s are quality, refinement, sophistication, safety, and enjoyable driving dynamics. This is a terrific compact car.

Armed with a deserved reputation for reliability, equipped with modern infotainment and safety technologies, and engineered to be surreptitiously enjoyable to drive, there is a 2025 Corolla for almost anyone. You can choose between a sedan or a hatchback, a gas or a hybrid powertrain, and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The performance-tuned GR Corolla is a legitimate hot hatch, while the Corolla Cross, a small crossover SUV, adds extra utility, but this review focuses on the Corolla sedan.

Verdict: The Toyota Corolla rightfully has a reputation for being boring. However, the current 12th-generation model is also more stylish, technologically advanced, and rewarding to drive than previous Corollas. The new-for-2025 Corolla FX sedan demonstrates that with exclusive design details and sport-tuned steering and suspension.