Honda Civic vs Mazda MAZDA3

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3, despite being redesigned last in 2019, showcased a strikingly modern aesthetic. It featured gracefully swooping lines and beautifully sculpted bodywork that sat comfortably alongside luxury vehicles, fulfilling Mazda's ambitions. At its front, squinting headlights with LED turn signals and stylish round lighting elements curved along the fenders. The headlight housings, recessed under the hood’s lip, contributed significantly to the car’s dramatic and luxurious appearance. Available in both sedan and hatchback forms with six trim levels each, the hatchback was considered the better-looking option. Trims for the sedan included S, S Select Sport, S Preferred, S Carbon Edition, Carbon Turbo, and Turbo Premium Plus. Meanwhile, the hatchback offered trims starting from S Select Sport up to Turbo Premium Plus, with an exclusive S Premium trim. Our test vehicle was a 2024 Mazda3 Hatchback with the Turbo Premium Plus trim, priced at $38,210. Despite seeming high for a Mazda, when compared to Audi or BMW, it impressed with its material quality and value. When adorned in Snowflake White Pearl Mica paired with an interior draped in sumptuous red leather, the Mazda3 exuded a plush ambiance. The interior featured leather stretching across the dashboard and doors, providing a soft, luxurious touch compared to competitors offering hard plastic components. The black leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob further enhanced the driver’s experience with a tactile and plush feel, making the 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 a beautifully designed and furnished vehicle. The 2024 Honda Civic Si, conversely, continued the legacy established by the sporty 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, emphasizing that outright power wasn't the sole ingredient for driving pleasure. The Civic Si introduced a sport-injected version of the Civic sedan, maintaining an unassuming presence with stealth-mode styling. With LED headlights, a unique upper grille insert, gloss-black lip spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch matte-black wheels, the Civic Si balanced subtlety with sportiness. Vivid and neutral paint options along with discreet “Si” badges added to its charm. Inside, the Civic Si’s expressive red seat and door panel inserts, along with matching cabin accents and stitching, stood out. The metal mesh trim that camouflaged the dashboard air vents, polished metal detailing, and straightforward digital instrumentation and infotainment system reflected its sporty yet functional design. The aluminum shift knob and metal pedal covers added to the sporty aesthetic. Priced at $30,650 (including destination charge and optional Blazing Orange Pearl paint), the Civic Si offered a compelling package of sportiness combined with practicality.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 came with two engine options. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine offered 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, standard on all “S” trims. The Carbon Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus trims boasted a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, delivering 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque (premium fuel required). Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard on lower trims, while all-wheel drive (AWD) was included on higher trims. A six-speed manual transmission was available but only with the FWD Hatchback S Premium. Our test Mazda3, equipped with the Turbo Premium Plus trim, excelled with its turbocharged engine, providing robust performance across all driving scenarios. The turbo engine’s power could drop to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft torque on regular fuel, showcasing the flexibility in fuel usage. Fuel economy varied across trims, with the turbocharged AWD hatchback achieving 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined. Despite the simplified rear suspension, the Mazda3 handled corners remarkably well, delivering a precise and engaging driving experience. The 2024 Honda Civic Si operated with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, producing 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an exclusive close-ratio six-speed manual transmission featuring downshift rev-matching. The drivetrain included a single-mass lightweight flywheel, channeling power through a helical limited-slip differential for improved traction and cornering capability. Larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizers, and an Si-specific steering system complemented its performance attributes. In everyday driving, the Civic Si’s turbocharged engine offered engaging yet manageable power, handling urban and suburban settings with ease. The highway drives were marred by noise but compensated by good passing power. On twisty roads like Mulholland Highway, the Civic Si shone, with its excellent steering, forward visibility, and tire grip providing a fun and confident driving experience. However, issues with overheating brakes during intense drives suggested a need for cooler components. Fuel economy was respectable, with an average of 29.5 mpg in combined driving.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3, while beautiful, sacrificed rear passenger space for aesthetics and cargo capacity. The hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seats down. Comparatively, the sedan offered a scant 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space. Rear legroom was tight, barely accommodating taller adults, and headroom was limited. Additionally, the hatchback’s design created a substantial blind spot, compromising rearward visibility. The 2024 Honda Civic Si prioritized practicality along with performance. The front sport-bolstered seats provided secure and comfortable seating, though ingress and egress were slightly challenging due to the car's low profile. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom and supportive seating, albeit without perks like heated seats or rear USB ports. Cargo space was impressive at 14.4 cubic feet, accommodating full-size suitcases with ease. The split-folding rear seat and extra hidden storage under the trunk floor added to its versatility.

Mazda equipped the 2024 Mazda3 with a rotary controller for its infotainment system, arguing it provided safer operation by feel compared to a touchscreen. However, the system demanded acclimatization. The 8.8-inch or upgraded 10.25-inch display (upper trims) included standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the larger screen offering limited touchscreen functionality. Effective use required setting up navigation points and favorite radio stations beforehand. The system also offered wireless connectivity for CarPlay and Android Auto on higher trims, a wireless charging pad, Wi-Fi, remote services, and navigation. The integrated Bose stereo system delivered impressive sound quality. The 2024 Honda Civic Si included an 8-inch touchscreen without built-in navigation but featured Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and HondaLink services. The interface was user-friendly, with physical buttons for volume, tuning, and returning to the home screen. A 12-speaker Bose audio system designed in collaboration with Honda ensured superior sound quality. The technology in the Civic Si was straightforward and satisfying.

The 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 earned five stars from the NHTSA and achieved a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. It came with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality and Traffic Support added advanced driver aids for convenience and safety. The 2024 Honda Civic Si included Honda Sensing, offering features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, some features, especially lane-keeping and centering aids, proved intrusive and less effective in certain driving conditions. Despite disabling some aids, the Civic Si maintained strong safety credentials, earning a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS (albeit with some Acceptable ratings in specific crash tests).