Power With Purpose

You like to make the most of your mornings, often up before your phone even buzzes. Like you, the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic value efficiency without sacrificing spirit. The Mazda3 starts strong with a Skyactiv®-G 2.5L engine that delivers 186 horsepower (HP) for confident getaways. Craving more? Consider the turbocharged version.

The Civic holds its own with smooth performance delivery. While it offers solid numbers, it falls behind the Mazda3 when it comes to pure, precise performance.

Pace With Precision

The Mazda3 and the Honda Civic come standard with front-wheel drive—great for sipping less gas on weekday commutes and spontaneous weekend escapes. But the Mazda3 levels up with available i-Activ AWD®. It actively monitors road conditions and driving patterns in real time, offering smarter grip and greater peace of mind.

Every Mazda3 also comes standard with Skyactiv®-Vehicle Dynamics with G-Vectoring Control Plus. This advanced handling system fine-tunes torque and braking to help you feel more connected, confident, and in control—helpful when you’re weaving through traffic or taking that tight freeway exit. It’s engineering that works quietly behind the scenes, so you can focus on enjoying the drive.

Power and efficiency are part of the deal, but the Mazda3 also gets the how of driving. While the Civic is steady and competent, the Mazda3’s tuned suspension and balanced handling give you more: a ride that feels sharp when it should, smooth when it matters. Whether you’re cornering with confidence or cruising home late, it’s the kind of drive that makes you look forward to the journey, not just the destination.

Design With Depth

The Honda Civic rolls in with a fresh design and a mature look, but it still leans more practical than bold. In contrast, the Mazda3 makes a lasting impression. Its Kodo: “Soul of Motion” design gives it a sculpted, fluid silhouette that reflects light and energy, creating a sense of movement, even when parked.

Mazda gives you more ways to express your style, with five trims to the Civic’s four and a more refined color palette. Both offer classic shades, but only the Mazda3 adds elevated shades like Platinum Quartz. This hue aligns with your upward momentum. In a parking lot full of status updates, the Mazda3 is your personal brand: polished, intentional, and built to stand out.

Interior With Intention

Inside, Mazda brings luxury-lite to life with soft-touch materials, modern accents, and a clean horizontal dash layout. While the Civic’s interior is sleek and user-friendly, the Mazda3’s artistic flair sets it apart. Regarding amenities, both models offer many of the same standard and optional comfort and convenience features, including:

• Leather-trimmed sport seats
• Heated front seats
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and memory
• Dual-zone automatic climate control system

Headed to an early client meeting or squeezing in a pre-work gym class on a cold morning? The Mazda3 has you covered with an available heated steering wheel that warms your hands fast. On the other hand—literally—Civic drivers may want to keep their gloves handy.

Tech That Talks Your Language

Whether you’re calling into a client meeting, getting directions to an off-site task, or ordering take-out on your way home, the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic make it easy with standard features like:

• Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio
• Voice command
• USB-C ports

The Mazda3 takes usability further with a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen, an interface as streamlined as your home office setup. The Civic’s 7-inch screen gets the job done, but Mazda’s layout is cleaner, more intuitive, and easier on the eyes when you’re juggling directions, playlists, and messages. Need a soundtrack for your commute? The Mazda3 gives you eight standard speakers to the Civic’s four, offering a more crisp listening experience without needing to upgrade the vehicle.

Features That Guard You on the Go

Whether you’re off to a team-building retreat, a weekend getaway, or your college reunion, having a virtual copilot brings peace of mind—no matter if you’re flying solo or have friends in tow. The Mazda3 and the Honda Civic come standard with advanced safety suites designed to watch the road so you can focus on the drive.

Each model includes brand-specific versions of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic emergency braking. But the Mazda3 goes further, with standard Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, features that stay vigilant, keeping an eye on those areas where you can’t. In the Civic, you’ll need to upgrade to higher trims for similar protection.