Both of these are fantastic cars. I own the civic hatch manual and it’s such a delight. Handles like a dream. You’ll love whichever one you go with. Hatchbacks ftw
As a second gen 2012 Mazda3 driver I will never buy any other car manufacturer. Mazda is just such a great little car company that makes really punch above the segment type of vehicles in each class they compete in. I will say this though, until Mazda starts making trucks again (which they probably never will again for the US market) I will be buying either a Chevy truck or Nissan truck. But as far as cars/crossovers/SUV's go I will never buy another brand other than Mazda
I drive a Mazda 3 2.0 2016 and its amazing on gas, with a good pick-up and its absolutely brilliant while cornering. I get an average between 36.0 to 39.0 in mixed driving, which includes stop and go traffic. The least average I experienced was 33.0 that too with a consistent heavy foot. I love driving and I did test drive many other brands before settling with Mazda and its by far the best decision I made with the cars shopping.
arkangel31787 wow thats actually amazing mpg city. how is the maintenance? have u had to fix anything other than normal maintenance?? just got an inheritance and im gonna buy a car cash. im leaning toward the gti but i wanna drive the mazda first. i dont like the civic at all and the corolla is ugly as fuck lol
BrainStorm4207 honestly I didn't have any maintenance issues till date and for me that's really impressive. Also, the regular maintenance I go for like oil change, etc., it is very economical. The thing which amazes me the most is it's driving dynamics, and I totally agree with you about the corolla! GTI is fun to drive but am not sure how economical it is, whereas Mazda is a total package.
Mazda maintenance is at Toyota level. My old man bought a top range mazda 6 back in 2008. We still have it today. Never broke down, never to get components replaced, only the usual stuff (service, brake pads, fuel for daily driving). It's nearly at 300 000 km right now, and man is it fast. One time I accidentally went up to 220 kph-240 kph without realizing it (was overtaking a cocky Golf GTI driver).
After test driving both, I must say that the Mazda definitely beats out the Civic in most categories with the exception of cargo space and, comparing the 1.5T to the 2.5L, low end torque. But it didn't feel like the Mazda was lacking for power and in fact had very usable power through each gear (I test drove the manuals). Also, Honda's ergonomics are slightly better. Otherwise, Mazda seems like the better driver that truly rewards you with its handsome styling and good road manners. Overall, though, you really can't go wrong with either - just comes down to what you want.
Myself and my car enthusiast friends actually prefer that "firmer ride." I realize it's not for everyone though. If a creamy ride is your goal, get a Corolla. (Yawn)
wuyitongXX A: Not in the northeast, although I have driven semi truck through their roads. Not sure a 1975 Delta 88 would smooth out those mine fields. You all need to ask for your fuel taxes back. Jus' sayin'.
"North Americans don't know what they're talking about" -- Yeah, those damned Canadians, they should stick to riding moose, which is probably your idea of what Canada looks like.
Kevin I was actually trying to agree with you that the gear is good, it gets high praise most places, but I did see several NA reviewers give negative reviews on it. I've tried it myself and it's one of the best I've driven, previous civic also had a good gear. I've always driven manuals. But I can see how my comment seems like an attack though :p
Agreed! comparative camera shots of cloth seats vs leather, plastic steering wheel vs leather wrapped. Both cars are available with cloth or leather packages, so of course the Mazda looks better in this video. That being said, I have a new civic touring but the white leather in the mazda looks really nice and I belive him when he says it feels a little nicer because honestly they dont use the best of leathers in the civics.
We were disappointed, too, but unfortunately these two trims were all that were available to us for this comparison. As noted in the video, it's not a comparison of trim levels, but a comparison of the cars themselves.
Both cars are great at what they do. The Mazda is just flat-out prettier. The front of the Civic isn't so bad, but the rear end is all kinds of not good, most of call because of the massive fake spoiler openings in the bottom half. I've driven these cars and while the Civic is a Civic, it was definitely the cheaper feeling car. Not always a bad thing when you have kids, but the Mazda does feel a cut above from pretty much any angle, and you just cannot beat that white interior in the class. I ended up buying the Mazda3. The size difference isn't significant enough, I like the looks a lot more, and it's just a total package from driving dynamics to interior quality to features for the price.
I shopped these two cars against each other for a few weeks. Drove each several times, watched a bunch of reviews, and read everything I could. I chose the honda because it was a bigger car and had a much bigger trunk/hatch space. I liked both of them but the mazda was too small; though it had much superior interior styling and quality.
mazda 3 for the win... brilliant car to drive ... absolutely a pleasure. honda is a practical car ..it's for people who like to go from a to b , really isn't made for driving pleasure and that's fine. I've owned a 2007 Mazda 3 and ten years later it still is soooo fun to drive. for me it Mazda for life...i won't even thinking about test driving a honda
Bruce D'Mello I have a 2008 mazda 3 s hatchback. Love it. But the new ones.. They don't look like hatchbacks they look like long ass wagons. I'm having trouble accepting them... Our generation Mazda's are the OG zoom zoom! Now they're trying to be half ass luxury cars...
Too much time spent on privacy covers... it's neat and all but not a make or break for buyers. Not to mention (for what it's worth) the Mazda's "stupid flimsy cargo cover" is actually a lot more robust than the Civics canvas cover. I place books, bags, drinks and all sorts of thing on my privacy cover all the time. Something you can't do with the Honda. Not that the roof line allows that on the Honda.
Most have little strings that attach to the hatch so it can lift out of the way when you open the hatch. You can easily un-loop the strings from the hatch. Of course I don't drive with drinks on it but I do set drinks on it when i'm working out of the back of my car.
Couldnt agree more with the outcome tested both Civic Sports Touring and Maz3 Grand Touring. Settled on Maz3. Could not be happier. After years of driving mid-sized vehicles and small SUVs the 3 is a blast. While not objectively fast, it handles well and is very responsive for city freeway driving. Also, in Houston we drive fast. The 3 handles well and with all the giant-ass 4x4 trucks on the road and I never feel insecure or unsure of its responsive acceleration. I put a ton of time in behind the wheel and the best thing about the 3 is that I never get out of the car and feel like my back or shoulders have been strained. I love it For the Honda it looks pretty cool today with its refreshingly angular edges, but it has that look of a car that will look severely dated in 2-3 years. Also the the interior of the 3 is so so simple. Very easy to drive and keep you eyes on the road.
You do realize that the privacy cover of the Mazda moves up automatically to make it easy to load stuff in the back... and then goes back into place without any effort by a person when you close the hatch. Whereas the Honda requires that you unhitch the cover before putting anything in the back... and then you have to then rehitch it before closing the hatch. This is more effort and more time. Honda's cover looks cool but fails in the real-life test.
I test drove both cars and went with the Civic EX hatchback. Honda did a great job and no complaints for me. My first Honda and I'm very pleased with it.
The wheels weren't pushed to the corners on the Civic hatchback. The corners were actually pulled in towards the wheels. (The hatchback, sedan, and coupe all have the same wheelbase.)
Many people have asked and wonder if the Mazda 3 is loud, and if so is the 2017-18 quieter. I finally have the answer! I have a 2016 i touring hatchback (2.0) with the 6-speed manual. On the way to work there are several miles of two-lane highway that is very coarse, and therefore quite loud. I have to turn up the radio to hear it, and even then it isn't very clear. However, the car is quite acceptable on smooth pavement. Yesterday, I was given a loaner 2017 Mazda 3 sedan, also with the 2.0 engine but with 18" wheels instead of my 16". I drove it this morning on the same coarse road and what a difference! I can clearly hear talk radio, it is much quieter and just feels more refined. The suspension is more compliant too, but not soft. It corners better than my car, I'm sure because of the 18" wheels and wider tires. The leatherette seats are softer and more comfortable, and they are heated. The automatic transmission worked very well, it actually makes it seem faster because you don't have to do any work, just push the accelerator pedal. However, I prefer my manual gearbox as I like to be involved and it's more fun. One thing I did with my car to make it a little more quiet is I installed the Mazda rubber floor mats, front and back. Doing that took some of the edge off the noise, and made the car feel a little more refined. I also installed the Mazda rubber mat in the back. They are made of a nice, thick rubber and I think they absorb some of the road noise. I would buy this car again, I really enjoy it! (But I would get a 2017 or '18 because of the improvements in noise control)
There seems to be a lot of people who do not like the look of the Honda. I have been looking at the Mazda but I confess that I think the Honda looks great also. I will drive an Mazda 3, Honda civic, Impreza and Corolla and then decide.
The Mazda as two long a bonnet hard to judge the kerb, Many blind spots hard ride noisy to busy looking to be good looking,I had a Mazda 3 sport nav got rid after 1 month boy racers car.
Honda looks nice until you get a chance to look at that rear... They went full absynth-geometry on it 'throw an extra triangle here and here and here and here. And one more here.'
The Mazda3 can be operated as a touchscreen while driving you just need to know a certain cheat code to do. There's a TH-cam video on it, you don't need equipment just a few buttons to push in sequence and you'll be able to remove speed limiter.
You're a Honda guy. I've heard it way before your video was over second the only thing better on the Civic is the cargo cover the front bumper and the Apple carplay.
I'll get the mazda3. It has better interior, steering and safety tech (since this has blind spot monitoring while civic uses the stupid lanewatch camera). The only thing the mazda is bad at is the space
I'm totally fine with having the base civic as most of the hatchbacks sold, and most cars in general, are sold at the base trim or one trim up. And I'm looking into getting a new hatchback and can only afford a bottom trim version, so it helps for the average person. However, what I'm NOT ok with is comparing a bottom trim car to a top trim of a car. Why? Every other comparison between these two shows the Civic is better in almost every way, except a slight handling loss to the Mazda. It almost seems like you're trying to make the Mazda seem better, even when it just straight up isn't as good. It's not bad, in fact the Mazda is VERY GOOD, but it loses to the Civic, but only the Civic. The Mazda is better than any other hatchback. The main points of a hatchback is storage and fuel economy. Civic got that better than Mazda. The civic is FAR safer with Honda Sensing. And I've driven the new Honda Civics (the sedan) and the CVT isn't as bad as some reviewers are saying. KBB got it right when they said this CVT is one of the best out there. It's no 6-speed or 7-speed, but it's very good for a CVT. Yes, the Mazda is more fun (who knew a Mazda was fun... I mean really, that's Mazda's whole marketing theme). The civic focuses more on being a hatchback where the Mazda focuses more on being a Mazda. Again, it's not a bad thing, but you have to realize these things and factor it into your decision when you buy it.
Plus he didn't mention about lack of Android Auto/Apple Car play in Mazda. Trust me, its a big deal. If you don't get navigation system, that screen is useless. I've recently rented a Mazda 3, that system is nice & beautiful but just to see your FM station details or your songs artist, you don't need that large of a touch screen!! & Mazda's "zoom zoom" thing is overrated!!!
It’s hard to go by what others say. You see people drive chevys, fords, Chrysler’s or whatever cars you would never drive but they personally love it. To each their own. You can’t go by what reviewers recommend, but it’s interesting to get opinions.
I gotta say, both manufactures are great, I’ve always liked Honda (because of my Grom), but overall for a car I would buy Mazda, mainly because for me, I love the way Mazda focuses on cornering, but honorable mentions to the Mazdaspeed 6, 3, and Miata. About transmissions driving manual wise I learned on a Honda Civic because it was easy, and I recommend learning manual on a Honda. But the Mazda always comes with the hook up on that SHORT SHIFTER which honestly makes the drive enjoyable and the clutch is light, but not as lightweight as the Civic. And to add my personal opinion I would rather buy the Mazda hatch or sedan just because it’s more appealing to me, but to each his own on the decision and I love the whole N/A, 6-speed on both manual and auto that Mazda does to their cars.
If I was buying a base model, I think I would go for the Civic Hatch just because of the more powerful engine. Fully loaded, then Mazda 3. The interior on the Mazda 3 is just amazing when its fully loaded.
Just purchased the Mazda3 Grand Touring sedan with the Premium Equipment Package, 2.5 litre, 184 horsepower engine, black leather interior. IMHO, the best $26k sedan on the market, plenty of guts, and waaaay more fun to drive than the Civic (an excellent car as well).
I have a 2006 Mazda 3 2.3 Grand Touring S 5MT and thinking about trading it in for a 2016 Mazda 3 Grand Touring S MT... can't decide if I should make the trade. I like how the 2006 feels light on the turns, steering and shifting is communicative, and cabin is sporty yet cozy with pop-up nav dash.
Not sure if you've pulled the trigger on that, but I'll say the cabin in the 2016 is much more refined and laid out, in my opinion, better than the 2006 but the 2006 does seem more sporty. I've driven both and I've owned a 2005 as well as a 2015 and I do miss the driving aspect of the 2005 a little better. My 2015 is still fun to drive, but it feels like a new car with heavy tech and safety features. I still don't think it's a bad buy, though. I sadly, got the 2.0 engine which was is my main drawback for the car.
At first glance I thought the honda had less space but I guess it's rear end juts out more rather then using the same rear window clearance as the sedan. I own the 2016 mazda, I won't deny that honda edges out on most of the check marks, but it is so close that it doesn't really matter. However if you want a car that is funner to drive and IMO looks gorgeous, go with the mazda. Also the 2.5l option on the mazda can make a lot of difference. As one who has never owned a sports car I think the 2.0l is great, but many seasoned drivers appreciate the 2.5l option. Just bring your paint touch up skills, the mazda paint job is pretty soft and it will drive you nuts seeing those chips with the awesome pearlescent paint. :)
I am in the process of buying a car and I had my mind set on getting the 3 but then I drove the civic and now I am having a hard time deciding between the two... at first I hated the civic looks but it has grown on me and it is very spacious, efficient on gas, and has apple/android car play... my heart says Mazda3 but my mind says Honda Civic... 😩😭
lordtyranus08 OMG, I am in the same position as you, I can't decide between the two, my heart says the same as you, to take the mazda, but the civic has bigger space, and Android auto, so don't know what to choose. I will have to test drive them both again.
lordtyranus08 Just to confuse you more, you should also check out the Kia Forte5. I've driven all 3 and other than fuel economy I think the forte is extremely competitive.
Cy begon its sad to say even though kias of the past were crap and they earned their bad reputation. same thing happened to hyundai and they are great cars now. hopefully they change their image by reliable cars and smart engineering
Any other editor would have had this comparison done in 10 minutes, and without cheesy background music. Dude needs to take a bump prior to filming next time. Came to the correct conclusion at least. Even if the Civic tested was a higher trim level it wouldn't change the fact that it's saddled with a CVT for what amounted to a 3mpg advantage over the winner. I'd trade that 3mpg everytime in exchange for a superior driving experience.
Manufacturers have had plenty of problems with thier turbo direct injection engines and carbon build up. I like that the Mazda 3 comes with the larger 2.5L non-turbo and a manual. That is the hatchback I would buy today if I was ready to trade in my Focus HB and was looking for a replacement.
Who the hell says “no one buys a manual”?! It’s almost the only way to get a real transmission anymore. Manual until I have arthritis so bad I can’t push in the clutch!
I'm surprised to hear him not like the Civics manual. I've watched over a dozen reviews on TH-cam of the civic and he is the only one I've heard say anything negative about it. Just the opposite to be honest. I've heard nothing but praises.
I have a 2015 Mazda 3 and have almost 30,000 miles on it. I used it as a delivery vehicle for a pizza and sandwiches. Life time I have an average of 32 mpg. I do not do anything to keep the mileage up just drive it. On long road trips I will average 39 mpg and have the guts to make it up the on ramp.
I'm turned between the two. I like the Mazda and all the goodies it comes with plus manual transmission which is a must. The Civic hatchback is basic but you can tune it with Hondata which adds to the "fun" meter....
I've been both a Civic and Mazda owner in the past. This time, for me, the Civic lost for three reasons: 1. You cannot get a fully loaded Civic with Manual Transmission 2. The Si does not come in the hatchback nor can you get the leather interior 3. I don't like the body style changes with the Civic. I do like the Si with the center muffler, but still , no hatchback option The R-Type is also overkill for me. If I was 20 years younger, I'd probably go for it, however! :-) The cargo space and rear seat space aren't a big issue for me as it will usually just be myself and my son in the car (he's 6 years old). The mileage difference is small enough that it's still not a big deal either. I'm sold on the Mazda this time around. Will see what's out there again in 10 years when I give my son the "old" car, and shop again for a new one. :-)
That Honda isn't a hatch. As a hatch enthusiast I have trouble calling either of those a hatchback. I have a 2008 mazda 3 hatch and THAT'S a proper hatch.
i disagree with the comment that nobody buys a manual. Manuals give drivers the driving experience, fun factor. The only reason CVT are put in is for better EPA. CVT's rated on average 8% better fuel economy and that is the main reason for it. The downside is that CVT's feel like a rubber band effect. Automatic 6 speed, 8 speed with paddle shifters don't make up for the manual's enthusiasm fun factor.
I am going to buy a car this year, but can't decide. The two cars here that are reviewed here have different prices. I am on my second Civic. The mazda looks better, but the mileage to power and price are making it a tough choice. I want the 2.5 liter, but the price and mpg....the LX 6 speed Civic hatchback has good power to mileage and the price is 3 grand cheaper. I have looked at the stock online for civics and mazda3's and they rarely stock manual transmissions! Luckily my civic is showing age but is usable, so I have time to think this over.
Test drove both cars...got the 3 and LOVE it! Got the GT 2.5 with all them bells and whistles and the auto-brake saved me from one accident. Plus Honda hasn't been that reliable with their vtc actuator in the past few years with some models.
Speaking of Civic Hatchback Vs Mazda 3. I own the new Civic Hatch EX model and I'm currently in a Mazda 3 rental for a week. No comparison whatsoever that my Civic Hatchback EX turbo is much much better car to drive overall. No bias here. Just giving my honest experience between the two. On a side note, the Civic Hatchback is much quiet car to drive specially on the freeway.
I went car shopping a while back and test drove a few cars in a few different car dealerships. The hatchback versions of cars feel cheaper and noiser than the sedan versions I found it quite odd.
Wow in Australia All trim of the Civic have the ANCIENT 1.8L multipoint Atmo, and the turbo is only on the highest trim model costing 30K+! THis is why the Mazda will always be the better and most popular option ''down here".
I just finished shopping for these cars, and the base LX Civic is nearly as pricey as the Mazda 3 with that top trim engine. This probably explains the comparison between these two uneven trim levels. I ended up buying the Mazda 3 Sport GT Premium fully loaded with winter tire changeovers and it cost me less than the MSRP for the Civic Hatch Sport (not even touring trim). The Mazda 3 was a much better drive than the Civic Sport Touring I test drove (both 6 speed manual). Clutch was too vague in the Honda, it's really bad for experienced drivers. That rev matching is sweet for beginners, but that clutch makes it about as much fun as the CVT to drive. It also seemed like I couldn't get the nice LED lights on the Honda unless I forked over 32k for the overpriced top trim level, and those lights were my favorite part of the new civic look. I felt like the Honda dealer did not want to cut me a deal on any of those higher trim levels, even as a repeat customer! Meanwhile Mazda bent over backwards to get my business.
Going for the Mazda 3 hatch gs for my next car. Got a 09 versa now with 300k next to no major issues. But seem like there slipping big time!! Either car u can't go wrong. Just hope Mazda has there rust issue resolved and kinda sceptical on long term skyactive engine reliability.
I drove both over the weekend and the Honda turbo drove a lot better than the Mazda. The Mazda felt like it was hesitating whilst the Civic had tons of torque and fun to drive.
Playing this at 1.25 speed is so much better
Brian Lane i just found out that setting on youtube
omg yes
Brian Lane And now he speaks at normal speed LOL
Brian Lane dang, wish I would've seen your comment before I watched the video. Ugh...zzz.
Thank you. Saved me a couple of minutes
I drove both cars and went with the mazda3 GT, love this car .
Love my 2018 Mazda 3 Grand Touring. Its for real people for real driving.
I’m about to buy a 2018 just like yours. Any good?
@@brnhnd07 great car! u will love it
I just bought mine 2 weeks ago. Love it
Mazda3 all the way! I got myself one last year and I’m loving it🤗
Bought the 2018 Mazda 3 GX last week and I'm loving it.
Probably a bad idea but I choose a car purely on looks and on that front it's definitely the Mazda.
not a bad idea most men marry their wives purely on looks.
and back look too on M3
Luckily in this case it's the better car
Both of these are fantastic cars. I own the civic hatch manual and it’s such a delight. Handles like a dream. You’ll love whichever one you go with. Hatchbacks ftw
The Mazda 3 has been a great car since it was introduced in 2014. I definitely love mine :)
I would go back all the way to the 2006 2.3 Grand Touring S 5MT. That is the landmark that made Mazda 3 worth mentioning.
Do yourself a flavor and adjust speed to 1.25. You're gonna be like, "daaaaaaaamn!"
As a second gen 2012 Mazda3 driver I will never buy any other car manufacturer. Mazda is just such a great little car company that makes really punch above the segment type of vehicles in each class they compete in. I will say this though, until Mazda starts making trucks again (which they probably never will again for the US market) I will be buying either a Chevy truck or Nissan truck. But as far as cars/crossovers/SUV's go I will never buy another brand other than Mazda
I drive a Mazda 3 2.0 2016 and its amazing on gas, with a good pick-up and its absolutely brilliant while cornering. I get an average between 36.0 to 39.0 in mixed driving, which includes stop and go traffic. The least average I experienced was 33.0 that too with a consistent heavy foot. I love driving and I did test drive many other brands before settling with Mazda and its by far the best decision I made with the cars shopping.
arkangel31787 wow thats actually amazing mpg city. how is the maintenance? have u had to fix anything other than normal maintenance?? just got an inheritance and im gonna buy a car cash. im leaning toward the gti but i wanna drive the mazda first. i dont like the civic at all and the corolla is ugly as fuck lol
BrainStorm4207 honestly I didn't have any maintenance issues till date and for me that's really impressive. Also, the regular maintenance I go for like oil change, etc., it is very economical. The thing which amazes me the most is it's driving dynamics, and I totally agree with you about the corolla! GTI is fun to drive but am not sure how economical it is, whereas Mazda is a total package.
I wonder where this guy on the video gets his 31mpg; I have a 2016 hatch and I always get between 33-40mpg
Alliester Devahsq is that the 2.0 or 2.5? Thinking of getting the hatchback in with the 6spd
Mazda maintenance is at Toyota level. My old man bought a top range mazda 6 back in 2008. We still have it today. Never broke down, never to get components replaced, only the usual stuff (service, brake pads, fuel for daily driving).
It's nearly at 300 000 km right now, and man is it fast. One time I accidentally went up to 220 kph-240 kph without realizing it (was overtaking a cocky Golf GTI driver).
Mazda all the way, everyday!
After test driving both, I must say that the Mazda definitely beats out the Civic in most categories with the exception of cargo space and, comparing the 1.5T to the 2.5L, low end torque. But it didn't feel like the Mazda was lacking for power and in fact had very usable power through each gear (I test drove the manuals). Also, Honda's ergonomics are slightly better. Otherwise, Mazda seems like the better driver that truly rewards you with its handsome styling and good road manners. Overall, though, you really can't go wrong with either - just comes down to what you want.
Mazda 3 has noisier cabin, tighter rear passenger space and firmer ride, not as good for a family hatchback as a civic
Myself and my car enthusiast friends actually prefer that "firmer ride." I realize it's not for everyone though. If a creamy ride is your goal, get a Corolla. (Yawn)
Just one question: where do you live?
If you live with harsh roads such as Toronto and still prefer the firm ride, I admire you.
wuyitongXX A: Not in the northeast, although I have driven semi truck through their roads. Not sure a 1975 Delta 88 would smooth out those mine fields. You all need to ask for your fuel taxes back. Jus' sayin'.
1.25x squad, where you at
Here.
Here. Soooo much better!
2.0
The Mazda just looks more like an automobile than the Civic.
So strange- legit everyone has praised the Civic's manual transmission except this vid
North Americans don't know what they're talking about when it comes to manual gears. Sorry if that includes you :p
Michael Hansen chill chill man no need to attack
"North Americans don't know what they're talking about" -- Yeah, those damned Canadians, they should stick to riding moose, which is probably your idea of what Canada looks like.
Kevin Abraham Honda usually are good manuals, but a few reviewers are not happy this time round. Main grip is rev hang, check out Savage Geese review.
Kevin I was actually trying to agree with you that the gear is good, it gets high praise most places, but I did see several NA reviewers give negative reviews on it. I've tried it myself and it's one of the best I've driven, previous civic also had a good gear. I've always driven manuals. But I can see how my comment seems like an attack though :p
I'm disappointed that you had to compare with a BASE civic!
Agreed! comparative camera shots of cloth seats vs leather, plastic steering wheel vs leather wrapped. Both cars are available with cloth or leather packages, so of course the Mazda looks better in this video.
That being said, I have a new civic touring but the white leather in the mazda looks really nice and I belive him when he says it feels a little nicer because honestly they dont use the best of leathers in the civics.
We were disappointed, too, but unfortunately these two trims were all that were available to us for this comparison. As noted in the video, it's not a comparison of trim levels, but a comparison of the cars themselves.
AutoGuide.com so who won?
i agree they should have chosen a higher trim level for the civic ..... where were the as tested prices?
Bad Drivers of Northern Virginia its not fair to compare normal engine to turbo engine civic!
That privacy cover from Honda though. Damn good and I want it in my Mazda
I owned Mazda 3 Sport for 11 years, loved the car, BUT then I bought Lexus IS 250 Sport Crafted Line, WOW just insane car!
civics are great first cars. but mazda3 for adults who want an awesome car!!
Both cars are great at what they do. The Mazda is just flat-out prettier. The front of the Civic isn't so bad, but the rear end is all kinds of not good, most of call because of the massive fake spoiler openings in the bottom half. I've driven these cars and while the Civic is a Civic, it was definitely the cheaper feeling car. Not always a bad thing when you have kids, but the Mazda does feel a cut above from pretty much any angle, and you just cannot beat that white interior in the class.
I ended up buying the Mazda3. The size difference isn't significant enough, I like the looks a lot more, and it's just a total package from driving dynamics to interior quality to features for the price.
I shopped these two cars against each other for a few weeks. Drove each several times, watched a bunch of reviews, and read everything I could. I chose the honda because it was a bigger car and had a much bigger trunk/hatch space. I liked both of them but the mazda was too small; though it had much superior interior styling and quality.
honda looks so much better.. and yeah, size is also the reason why i tend towards civic.
man, the 10th gen, turbo hatchbscks are so slick!!
@@E_free90 it doesn’t look better but that’s your opinion
@@E_free90 it definitely doesn’t look better lmao
@@E_free90The Mazda is the much better looking vehicle
mazda 3 for the win... brilliant car to drive ... absolutely a pleasure. honda is a practical car ..it's for people who like to go from a to b , really isn't made for driving pleasure and that's fine. I've owned a 2007 Mazda 3 and ten years later it still is soooo fun to drive. for me it Mazda for life...i won't even thinking about test driving a honda
Bruce D'Mello I have a 2008 mazda 3 s hatchback. Love it. But the new ones.. They don't look like hatchbacks they look like long ass wagons. I'm having trouble accepting them... Our generation Mazda's are the OG zoom zoom! Now they're trying to be half ass luxury cars...
Too much time spent on privacy covers... it's neat and all but not a make or break for buyers. Not to mention (for what it's worth) the Mazda's "stupid flimsy cargo cover" is actually a lot more robust than the Civics canvas cover. I place books, bags, drinks and all sorts of thing on my privacy cover all the time. Something you can't do with the Honda. Not that the roof line allows that on the Honda.
I dont have neither of that thing in my car. Please tell me how do you open the trunk with books, bags, and drinks on that cover.
Most have little strings that attach to the hatch so it can lift out of the way when you open the hatch. You can easily un-loop the strings from the hatch. Of course I don't drive with drinks on it but I do set drinks on it when i'm working out of the back of my car.
He left me confused at the end of the video😂
haha same,
yes, It sounded like he was gonna say, the Mazda would have taken it, but and then it transitions to it winning. I"m like uhhhhh wait huh?
Couldnt agree more with the outcome tested both Civic Sports Touring and Maz3 Grand Touring. Settled on Maz3. Could not be happier. After years of driving mid-sized vehicles and small SUVs the 3 is a blast. While not objectively fast, it handles well and is very responsive for city freeway driving. Also, in Houston we drive fast. The 3 handles well and with all the giant-ass 4x4 trucks on the road and I never feel insecure or unsure of its responsive acceleration. I put a ton of time in behind the wheel and the best thing about the 3 is that I never get out of the car and feel like my back or shoulders have been strained. I love it
For the Honda it looks pretty cool today with its refreshingly angular edges, but it has that look of a car that will look severely dated in 2-3 years. Also the the interior of the 3 is so so simple. Very easy to drive and keep you eyes on the road.
Mazda3 all day! Screw the Civic.
You do realize that the privacy cover of the Mazda moves up automatically to make it easy to load stuff in the back... and then goes back into place without any effort by a person when you close the hatch.
Whereas the Honda requires that you unhitch the cover before putting anything in the back... and then you have to then rehitch it before closing the hatch. This is more effort and more time.
Honda's cover looks cool but fails in the real-life test.
I just got the civic and I'm in love with it
I test drove both cars and went with the Civic EX hatchback. Honda did a great job and no complaints for me. My first Honda and I'm very pleased with it.
Honda also offers the 2.0l engine in some of those trim models. Is not just the 1.5turbo.
Mazda 3 hands down
The wheels weren't pushed to the corners on the Civic hatchback. The corners were actually pulled in towards the wheels. (The hatchback, sedan, and coupe all have the same wheelbase.)
Many people have asked and wonder if the Mazda 3 is loud, and if so is the 2017-18 quieter. I finally have the answer! I have a 2016 i touring hatchback (2.0) with the 6-speed manual. On the way to work there are several miles of two-lane highway that is very coarse, and therefore quite loud. I have to turn up the radio to hear it, and even then it isn't very clear. However, the car is quite acceptable on smooth pavement. Yesterday, I was given a loaner 2017 Mazda 3 sedan, also with the 2.0 engine but with 18" wheels instead of my 16". I drove it this morning on the same coarse road and what a difference! I can clearly hear talk radio, it is much quieter and just feels more refined. The suspension is more compliant too, but not soft. It corners better than my car, I'm sure because of the 18" wheels and wider tires. The leatherette seats are softer and more comfortable, and they are heated. The automatic transmission worked very well, it actually makes it seem faster because you don't have to do any work, just push the accelerator pedal. However, I prefer my manual gearbox as I like to be involved and it's more fun. One thing I did with my car to make it a little more quiet is I installed the Mazda rubber floor mats, front and back. Doing that took some of the edge off the noise, and made the car feel a little more refined. I also installed the Mazda rubber mat in the back. They are made of a nice, thick rubber and I think they absorb some of the road noise. I would buy this car again, I really enjoy it! (But I would get a 2017 or '18 because of the improvements in noise control)
The Honda stands out for being weird. The Mazda stands out for being drop dead gorgeous!
There seems to be a lot of people who do not like the look of the Honda. I have been looking at the Mazda but I confess that I think the Honda looks great also. I will drive an Mazda 3, Honda civic, Impreza and Corolla and then decide.
What'd you pick?
They both look weird. Honestly, previous generations looks better.
The Mazda as two long a bonnet hard to judge the kerb, Many blind spots hard ride noisy to busy looking to be good looking,I had a Mazda 3 sport nav got rid after 1 month boy racers car.
Honda looks nice until you get a chance to look at that rear... They went full absynth-geometry on it 'throw an extra triangle here and here and here and here. And one more here.'
The Mazda3 can be operated as a touchscreen while driving you just need to know a certain cheat code to do. There's a TH-cam video on it, you don't need equipment just a few buttons to push in sequence and you'll be able to remove speed limiter.
You're a Honda guy. I've heard it way before your video was over second the only thing better on the Civic is the cargo cover the front bumper and the Apple carplay.
@@Aethenthebored I hope it's a 2019 or newer 💪🏾
I'll get the mazda3. It has better interior, steering and safety tech (since this has blind spot monitoring while civic uses the stupid lanewatch camera). The only thing the mazda is bad at is the space
Both interiors are great and styling for both is excellent as well
I bought this mazda 3..
satisfied.
Me too . Love the 2017 same as the one in the video but soul red .
Play at 1.25x speed and it sounds normal lmao
The MAZZDA. 😂 that accent
kdog18ful it bugs me soo bad!!!
it was abooot
Sam Sheth I think it sound more like a-boat. and oat-put.
kdog18ful it's saying the r... no r in Mazda
MAZ-Duh vs. MOHZ-Duh vs. MAZ-Dah vs. MOHZ-Dah...
I test drove both back to back and the Civic does feel quite a bit more modern with a lot stronger acceleration.
This guy talks slow
Not when I watched it (watched at 1.25 speed).
watched it at .75 speed
Nice Guy Eddie An Apology for talking so slow, he should be SORRY!
I'm totally fine with having the base civic as most of the hatchbacks sold, and most cars in general, are sold at the base trim or one trim up. And I'm looking into getting a new hatchback and can only afford a bottom trim version, so it helps for the average person. However, what I'm NOT ok with is comparing a bottom trim car to a top trim of a car. Why? Every other comparison between these two shows the Civic is better in almost every way, except a slight handling loss to the Mazda. It almost seems like you're trying to make the Mazda seem better, even when it just straight up isn't as good. It's not bad, in fact the Mazda is VERY GOOD, but it loses to the Civic, but only the Civic. The Mazda is better than any other hatchback. The main points of a hatchback is storage and fuel economy. Civic got that better than Mazda. The civic is FAR safer with Honda Sensing. And I've driven the new Honda Civics (the sedan) and the CVT isn't as bad as some reviewers are saying. KBB got it right when they said this CVT is one of the best out there. It's no 6-speed or 7-speed, but it's very good for a CVT.
Yes, the Mazda is more fun (who knew a Mazda was fun... I mean really, that's Mazda's whole marketing theme). The civic focuses more on being a hatchback where the Mazda focuses more on being a Mazda. Again, it's not a bad thing, but you have to realize these things and factor it into your decision when you buy it.
If you need a Collision Prevention System (Honda Sense) in your car, you shouldn't even be driving.
Homemedrunkimtake that's not the point he was making
If you can't buy manual, get the mazdas automatic, cvt is crap by design regardless which manufacturer made it
Plus he didn't mention about lack of Android Auto/Apple Car play in Mazda. Trust me, its a big deal. If you don't get navigation system, that screen is useless. I've recently rented a Mazda 3, that system is nice & beautiful but just to see your FM station details or your songs artist, you don't need that large of a touch screen!! & Mazda's "zoom zoom" thing is overrated!!!
It’s hard to go by what others say. You see people drive chevys, fords, Chrysler’s or whatever cars you would never drive but they personally love it. To each their own. You can’t go by what reviewers recommend, but it’s interesting to get opinions.
I'm glad some cars still come with a stick.. its the only way to drive a car
Agree.
Dude, I drove my dart 6 speed for 4 years, drove the civic and it's was like butter. I love the honda manual. It's so fluid
the Mazda version is a lot more beautiful
I gotta say, both manufactures are great, I’ve always liked Honda (because of my Grom), but overall for a car I would buy Mazda, mainly because for me, I love the way Mazda focuses on cornering, but honorable mentions to the Mazdaspeed 6, 3, and Miata. About transmissions driving manual wise I learned on a Honda Civic because it was easy, and I recommend learning manual on a Honda. But the Mazda always comes with the hook up on that SHORT SHIFTER which honestly makes the drive enjoyable and the clutch is light, but not as lightweight as the Civic. And to add my personal opinion I would rather buy the Mazda hatch or sedan just because it’s more appealing to me, but to each his own on the decision and I love the whole N/A, 6-speed on both manual and auto that Mazda does to their cars.
If I was buying a base model, I think I would go for the Civic Hatch just because of the more powerful engine. Fully loaded, then Mazda 3. The interior on the Mazda 3 is just amazing when its fully loaded.
I have the civic sport touring and the Manuel gear is so perfect
Touched on slot of key points. Great video.
Just purchased the Mazda3 Grand Touring sedan with the Premium Equipment Package, 2.5 litre, 184 horsepower engine, black leather interior. IMHO, the best $26k sedan on the market, plenty of guts, and waaaay more fun to drive than the Civic (an excellent car as well).
".. like some pissed off sewing machine when you put your foot into it.' !!😆😆😂🤣🤣🤣!! That made my day!
Not a Honda fan but I do like the design of both Sedan and hatch
- Headroom: How tall is the reviewer?
- Cabin noise: An important metric completely missing in the comparison.
inside corner braking isn't torque vectoring, it may come off the same but it isn't the same at all
strange enough..base civic vs upper trim mazda
there is only a $2500 price difference. I am sure we all have around that much lying around somewhere. No bias in this video at all.
Base civic has no turbo, while this one does :)
Peter Condescending all hatches have turbos.
abaj006 2500 can get you to the ex trim... you know how many more features an ex has compared to the lx in this video..?
I was being sarcastic, this video is obviously biased.
I have a 2006 Mazda 3 2.3 Grand Touring S 5MT and thinking about trading it in for a 2016 Mazda 3 Grand Touring S MT... can't decide if I should make the trade. I like how the 2006 feels light on the turns, steering and shifting is communicative, and cabin is sporty yet cozy with pop-up nav dash.
Not sure if you've pulled the trigger on that, but I'll say the cabin in the 2016 is much more refined and laid out, in my opinion, better than the 2006 but the 2006 does seem more sporty. I've driven both and I've owned a 2005 as well as a 2015 and I do miss the driving aspect of the 2005 a little better. My 2015 is still fun to drive, but it feels like a new car with heavy tech and safety features. I still don't think it's a bad buy, though. I sadly, got the 2.0 engine which was is my main drawback for the car.
how come i can get 50mpg on my Mazda 3 2.0? i done it with 70%highway and 30% city driving. is it because you rev the car quite frequently?
At first glance I thought the honda had less space but I guess it's rear end juts out more rather then using the same rear window clearance as the sedan. I own the 2016 mazda, I won't deny that honda edges out on most of the check marks, but it is so close that it doesn't really matter. However if you want a car that is funner to drive and IMO looks gorgeous, go with the mazda. Also the 2.5l option on the mazda can make a lot of difference. As one who has never owned a sports car I think the 2.0l is great, but many seasoned drivers appreciate the 2.5l option.
Just bring your paint touch up skills, the mazda paint job is pretty soft and it will drive you nuts seeing those chips with the awesome pearlescent paint. :)
I am in the process of buying a car and I had my mind set on getting the 3 but then I drove the civic and now I am having a hard time deciding between the two... at first I hated the civic looks but it has grown on me and it is very spacious, efficient on gas, and has apple/android car play... my heart says Mazda3 but my mind says Honda Civic... 😩😭
lordtyranus08 OMG, I am in the same position as you, I can't decide between the two, my heart says the same as you, to take the mazda, but the civic has bigger space, and Android auto, so don't know what to choose. I will have to test drive them both again.
lordtyranus08 Just to confuse you more, you should also check out the Kia Forte5. I've driven all 3 and other than fuel economy I think the forte is extremely competitive.
Cy begon its sad to say even though kias of the past were crap and they earned their bad reputation. same thing happened to hyundai and they are great cars now. hopefully they change their image by reliable cars and smart engineering
lordtyranus08 follow your heart. 😉
Get the Mazda, they announced Apple CarPlay for their car line up. It’ll be a software update.
Any other editor would have had this comparison done in 10 minutes, and without cheesy background music. Dude needs to take a bump prior to filming next time.
Came to the correct conclusion at least. Even if the Civic tested was a higher trim level it wouldn't change the fact that it's saddled with a CVT for what amounted to a 3mpg advantage over the winner. I'd trade that 3mpg everytime in exchange for a superior driving experience.
Manufacturers have had plenty of problems with thier turbo direct injection engines and carbon build up. I like that the Mazda 3 comes with the larger 2.5L non-turbo and a manual. That is the hatchback I would buy today if I was ready to trade in my Focus HB and was looking for a replacement.
How is the hatchback for taller people? I'm 6'2
This is the most Canadian car review I’ve ever herd
what about reliability and resale price?
What's the colour called on this Mazda?
The Mazda 3 is the winner for sure
Who the hell says “no one buys a manual”?! It’s almost the only way to get a real transmission anymore. Manual until I have arthritis so bad I can’t push in the clutch!
I'm surprised to hear him not like the Civics manual. I've watched over a dozen reviews on TH-cam of the civic and he is the only one I've heard say anything negative about it. Just the opposite to be honest. I've heard nothing but praises.
I have a 2015 Mazda 3 and have almost 30,000 miles on it. I used it as a delivery vehicle for a pizza and sandwiches. Life time I have an average of 32 mpg. I do not do anything to keep the mileage up just drive it. On long road trips I will average 39 mpg and have the guts to make it up the on ramp.
Increasing the speed to 1.25 made it so much watchable.
How are the seats in the two? Do they have strong lumbar support?
I'm turned between the two. I like the Mazda and all the goodies it comes with plus manual transmission which is a must. The Civic hatchback is basic but you can tune it with Hondata which adds to the "fun" meter....
I've been both a Civic and Mazda owner in the past. This time, for me, the Civic lost for three reasons:
1. You cannot get a fully loaded Civic with Manual Transmission
2. The Si does not come in the hatchback nor can you get the leather interior
3. I don't like the body style changes with the Civic. I do like the Si with the center muffler, but still , no hatchback option
The R-Type is also overkill for me. If I was 20 years younger, I'd probably go for it, however! :-)
The cargo space and rear seat space aren't a big issue for me as it will usually just be myself and my son in the car (he's 6 years old). The mileage difference is small enough that it's still not a big deal either. I'm sold on the Mazda this time around. Will see what's out there again in 10 years when I give my son the "old" car, and shop again for a new one. :-)
5:49 "...nobody buys a manual..."
That one sentence told me everything I need to know about you.
Real men drive manual
That Honda isn't a hatch. As a hatch enthusiast I have trouble calling either of those a hatchback. I have a 2008 mazda 3 hatch and THAT'S a proper hatch.
I have a civic with 2.0 cvt and avg about 29 because i have a heavy foot, down side is cvt is slow a launch and only has 150 hp, wish i got the manual
@12:46 It took me a good second to realize that 22.5 was the temperature in celsius.
Wow, it's 2017-2018 and Honda has fallen down so far..this NEVER should have happened!
2018 Elantra GT hatch is the way to go! Better outward visibility, no turbo, real auto gearbox, radio with real buttons.
goldpilgrim wait for the GT Sport, leather, loaded and 6MT
i disagree with the comment that nobody buys a manual. Manuals give drivers the driving experience, fun factor. The only reason CVT are put in is for better EPA. CVT's rated on average 8% better fuel economy and that is the main reason for it. The downside is that CVT's feel like a rubber band effect. Automatic 6 speed, 8 speed with paddle shifters don't make up for the manual's enthusiasm fun factor.
I am going to buy a car this year, but can't decide.
The two cars here that are reviewed here have different prices.
I am on my second Civic.
The mazda looks better, but the mileage to power and price are making it a tough choice. I want the 2.5 liter, but the price and mpg....the LX 6 speed Civic hatchback has good power to mileage and the price is 3 grand cheaper.
I have looked at the stock online for civics and mazda3's and they rarely stock manual transmissions!
Luckily my civic is showing age but is usable, so I have time to think this over.
Test drove both cars...got the 3 and LOVE it! Got the GT 2.5 with all them bells and whistles and the auto-brake saved me from one accident. Plus Honda hasn't been that reliable with their vtc actuator in the past few years with some models.
Speaking of Civic Hatchback Vs Mazda 3. I own the new Civic Hatch EX model and I'm currently in a Mazda 3 rental for a week. No comparison whatsoever that my Civic Hatchback EX turbo is much much better car to drive overall. No bias here. Just giving my honest experience between the two. On a side note, the Civic Hatchback is much quiet car to drive specially on the freeway.
the civic looks like it has breathrite nasal strips stuck on its front and rear bumper
wait till you have to replace the civics turbocharger, the 3 mpg will not matter if you have to pay 3-5000 to fix it.
is the Honda civic hatchback featured in this video a LX trim?
At the end of the day the true winner is us!!
Its amazing how when I put it to 1.25x speed and it still feels damn normal. Proves to show how slow he talks.
I went car shopping a while back and test drove a few cars in a few different car dealerships. The hatchback versions of cars feel cheaper and noiser than the sedan versions I found it quite odd.
can't wait for the new elantra gt comparison
Wow in Australia All trim of the Civic have the ANCIENT 1.8L multipoint Atmo, and the turbo is only on the highest trim model costing 30K+! THis is why the Mazda will always be the better and most popular option ''down here".
I just finished shopping for these cars, and the base LX Civic is nearly as pricey as the Mazda 3 with that top trim engine. This probably explains the comparison between these two uneven trim levels. I ended up buying the Mazda 3 Sport GT Premium fully loaded with winter tire changeovers and it cost me less than the MSRP for the Civic Hatch Sport (not even touring trim). The Mazda 3 was a much better drive than the Civic Sport Touring I test drove (both 6 speed manual). Clutch was too vague in the Honda, it's really bad for experienced drivers. That rev matching is sweet for beginners, but that clutch makes it about as much fun as the CVT to drive. It also seemed like I couldn't get the nice LED lights on the Honda unless I forked over 32k for the overpriced top trim level, and those lights were my favorite part of the new civic look. I felt like the Honda dealer did not want to cut me a deal on any of those higher trim levels, even as a repeat customer! Meanwhile Mazda bent over backwards to get my business.
Do you guys film in Oakville?
Bottom line :
Honda has an Oil Dilution defect , Mazda doesn’t. Which is why I’m getting rid of my Civic EX-L for a Mazda.
Only the Turbo-charged Civic engines have oil dilutions last time I checked.
Doesn't the Honda Hatch require premium fuel?
Going for the Mazda 3 hatch gs for my next car. Got a 09 versa now with 300k next to no major issues. But seem like there slipping big time!! Either car u can't go wrong. Just hope Mazda has there rust issue resolved and kinda sceptical on long term skyactive engine reliability.
I drove both over the weekend and the Honda turbo drove a lot better than the Mazda. The Mazda felt like it was hesitating whilst the Civic had tons of torque and fun to drive.