Toyota Prius vs Mazda MAZDA3

Decades ago, few cars were anywhere near as fuel efficient as the Toyota Prius. Today, the 2025 Prius remains the fuel economy champion, but numerous alternatives are close behind. Some even offer more interior room at a lower price. That reality, coupled with the Prius’ cramped interior, limited trunk space, and general weirdness, means hybrid car buyers have options. In response, Toyota adds a new Nightshade trim level with a blacked-out look to the 2025 Prius lineup.

Verdict: The point of the 2025 Toyota Prius is fuel economy, but our Prius Nightshade test car averaged 39.2 mpg, falling significantly short of the EPA estimate of 52 mpg in combined driving. That certainly isn’t superior to roomier hybrid cars from Honda, Hyundai, or from within Toyota’s own lineup.

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.