2020 Honda Civic vs. 2020 Mazda3

The tenth-generation Honda Civic is redesigned with new aesthetic and technological improvements for 2020. This ultra-popular vehicle has long outperformed many competitors by its versatility, reliability and fuel economy. With its three variants and its many versions, it is ready to stay at the top. Here, we compare it to the 2020 Mazda3, another compact sedan that is quite popular in Canada.

Honda offers three variants of the Civic, which immediately gives you more options than the Mazda3. These are the Civic Sedan, the Civic Hatchback and the Civic Coupe. Overall, the Mazda3 lineup does not offer the styles and functionality of the Civic family. The Civic is a longer vehicle (up to 181 mm), with more amenities. The lower height (-24 mm) keeps the centre of gravity down, which gives the Civic the advantage for cornering.

The Civic and Mazda3 offer two engine options. The Civic is equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, with a fuel consumption rating of 7.9/6.1 litres per 100 km (city/highway).

It also has a powerful turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine that develops 205 horsepower in the Si version and 174 horsepower on the Touring. The two 1.5 L versions have a fuel consumption rating of 7.8/6.2 L/100 km and 8.9/6.4 L/100 km, respectively.

The Mazda3 has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The consumption rating of this engine is 8.7/6.6 L/100 km, so any torque gain compared to the Civic translates into higher fuel costs. The other engine is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder that generates 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque.

The Civic's most powerful engine beats the Mazda3 in terms of fuel efficiency and because it’s a turbo engine, it feels faster on the road.

Although the two vehicles can accommodate five people, the 2020 Honda Civic beats the Mazda3 in a few key dimensional aspects. The Civic offers 30 mm of extra headroom in the front and up to 60 mm more for the rear legs. In simple terms, your passengers will be quite a bit more comfortable and will enjoy more interior space in the Civic.